UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Introductory Note
As previously announced on the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 28, 2026 (the “May 28 Current Report”), Hadron Energy, Inc. (f/k/a GigCapital7 Corp. (“GigCapital7”)) (the “Company” or “Combined Company” or “Hadron Energy”) consummated its business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Hadron Energy Operating Company Inc. (f/k/a Hadron Energy, Inc.) (“Hadron Energy Operating Company”) on May 22, 2026, pursuant to that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2025, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2025, and by that certain Second Amendment to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2026 (the “Second Amendment”), by and among GigCapital7, MMR Merger Sub, Inc. and Hadron Energy Operating Company (the “Business Combination Agreement”). Certain terms used in this Current Report on Form 8-K have the same meaning as set forth in the final proxy statement/prospectus (the “Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026 by GigCapital7, as supplemented by the Supplement.
| Item 2.01. | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
As previously reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2026, on May 7, 2026, GigCapital7 held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Extraordinary Meeting”). At the Extraordinary Meeting, the GigCapital7 shareholders considered and adopted, among other matters, the Business Combination Agreement. As previously reported in the May 28 Current Report, on May 22, 2026, the parties to the Business Combination Agreement consummated the Business Combination (such consummation, the “Closing” and the date thereof, the “Closing Date”).
As also previously reported in the May 28 Current Report, prior to the Extraordinary Meeting, the holders of 16,834,491 shares of GigCapital7’s common stock that were sold in its initial public offering (“Public Shares”), out of 20,000,000 shares of common stock (or about 84% of the Public Shares), exercised their right to redeem those shares for cash at a price of $10.71267171 per share, for an aggregate of $180,342,375.50, which redemption occurred concurrent with the Closing, and the balance of 3,165,509 shares (or about 16% of the Public Shares) reflected cash that remained in the trust account upon the Closing. Immediately after giving effect to the Business Combination (including as a result of the redemptions described above and the automatic separation of GigCapital7 units into Hadron Energy common stock (“Combined Company Common Stock”) and warrants for the purchase of shares of Combined Company Common Stock), there were (i) 71,498,842 shares of Hadron Energy’s issued and outstanding common stock, (ii) public warrants for the purchase of 20,000,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock with an exercise price of $11.50 per share, (iii) private warrants for the purchase of 3,719,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock with an exercise price of $11.50 per share, and (iv) warrants for the purchase of 5,000,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock issued to former warrant holders of Hadron Energy Operating Company pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, with an exercise price of $12.00 per share. Upon the Closing, GigCapital7’s units ceased trading, and Hadron Energy’s common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “HDRN” and the public warrants began trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “HDRNW.” As of the Closing Date, the directors and executive officers and their affiliated entities beneficially owned approximately 77.2% of Hadron Energy’s outstanding shares of common stock, and the former shareholders of GigCapital7 beneficially owned approximately 23% of Hadron Energy’s outstanding shares.
As noted above, the per share redemption price of $10.71267171 for holders of Public Shares electing redemption was paid out of GigCapital7’s trust account, which after taking into account the redemptions, had a balance immediately prior to the Closing of approximately $33.9 million.
FORM 10 INFORMATION
Item 2.01(f) of Form 8-K states that if the predecessor registrant was a shell company, as GigCapital7 was immediately before the Business Combination, then the registrant must disclose the information that would be required if the registrant were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10. Accordingly, the Company is providing the information below that would be included in a Form 10 if the Company were to file a Form 10. The information provided below relates to the Company following the consummation of the Business Combination, unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the “safe harbor” provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “designed,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “seem,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions, or their negative variations, and terminology that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s future manufacturing capacity and plant performance; market opportunity and market share; estimates and projections of adjacent energy sector opportunities; the Company’s projected commercialization costs and timeline; the Company’s ability to demonstrate scientific and engineering feasibility of its technologies; the Company’s ability to attract, retain and expand its future customer base; the Company’s ability to timely and effectively meet construction and development timelines and scale its production and manufacturing processes; the Company’s ability to develop products and services and bring them to market in a timely manner; the Company’s ability to compete successfully with energy products and solutions offered by other companies; the Company’s expectations concerning relationships with strategic partners, suppliers, governments, regulatory bodies and other third parties; the Company’s ability to maintain, protect, and enhance its intellectual property; the Company’s expectations regarding regulatory framework development; the potential for and timing of receipt of licenses and permits for current and future operations, including licenses to operate nuclear facilities from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the safety profile of the Company’s technology; and the Company’s expectations with respect to future performance. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
| • | the financial and business performance of the Company, including financial projections and business metrics and any underlying assumptions thereunder; |
| • | changes in the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; |
| • | the Company’s product development timeline and expected start of production; |
| • | the implementation, market acceptance and success of the Company’s business model; |
| • | the Company’s ability to scale in a cost-effective manner; |
| • | developments and projections relating to the Company’s competitors and industry; |
| • | risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding the classification and management of nuclear energy resources, including evolving environmental standards, permitting requirements, and potential changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
| • | the Company’s expectations regarding its ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; |
| • | expectations regarding the time during which the Company will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act; |
| • | the Company’s future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; |
| • | the Company’s ability to obtain funding for its operations; |
| • | the Company’s business, expansion plans and opportunities; and |
| • | the outcome of any known and unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings. |
These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, those described in “Risk Factors” in this Current Report on Form 8-K and in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as supplemented by the Supplement. Accordingly, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should, however, review the factors and risks that the Company describes in the reports it will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
In addition, statements that “the Company believes” and similar statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. And while the Company believes that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. The Company’s statements should not be read to indicate that it has conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and you are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements were reasonable at the time made, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section in connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K and any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that may be issued by the Company or persons acting on the Company’s behalf. The inclusion of any statement in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
Business
The business of the Company is described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Information About GigCapital7” and “Information About Hadron Energy” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Risk Factors
The risks associated with the Company’s business are described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Risk Factors” and are incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Information
The financial information of the Company and related discussion and analysis by the management of the Company is contained in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hadron Energy” and is incorporated herein by reference. Hadron Energy Operating Company Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of March 31, 2026 and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock of the Company upon the Closing of the Business Combination by:
| • | each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the shares of Combined Company Common Stock upon the Closing of the Business Combination; |
| • | each of the Company’s officers and directors; and |
| • | all officers and directors of the Company, as a group upon the Closing of the Business Combination. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
Unless otherwise indicated, the Company believes that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock of the Company beneficially owned by them.
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Number of Shares(2) |
% of Class |
||||||
| Dr. Avi S. Katz (3) |
13,738,746 | 18.3 | % | |||||
| Samuel Gibson (4) |
43,624,075 | 61.0 | % | |||||
| Gibson Family Holdings LLC |
20,249,584 | 28.3 | % | |||||
| SG 2026 Irrevocable Exempt Trust |
427,491 | * | % | |||||
| Rahul Shukla |
— | — | ||||||
| Ken Canavan |
— | — | ||||||
| Ross T. Ridenoure |
499,990 | * | % | |||||
| Dr. Andrew M. Ward |
124,997 | * | % | |||||
| Dr. Raluca Dinu (5) |
13,738,746 | 18.3 | % | |||||
| GigAcquisitions7 Corp. (6) |
13,651,246 | 18.1 | % | |||||
| Raanan I. Horowitz |
— | — | ||||||
| Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman |
— | — | ||||||
| Ralph L. Hunter |
— | — | ||||||
| Robert J. Lewis |
— | — | ||||||
| Bryan L. Timm |
— | — | ||||||
| All directors and officers as a group (12 individuals) |
58,075,308 | 77.2 | % | |||||
| * | Represents less than 1%. |
| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is 3 Twin Dolphin Drive, Ste 260, Redwood City, CA 94065. |
| (2) | Based on 71,498,842 shares of Combined Company Common Stock outstanding as of May 22, 2026. |
| (3) | Represents (i) 87,500 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by Dr. Avi S. Katz, (ii) 9,932,246 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by GigAcquisitions7 Corp. (the “Sponsor”) and (iii) private warrants for the purchase of 3,719,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by the Sponsor. Such shares and warrants held by the Sponsor are jointly beneficially owned by Dr. Katz and Dr. Raluca Dinu, each of whom are directors of the Company, who both have the voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the Sponsor. |
| (4) | Represents (i) 22,947,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held directly by Mr. Gibson, (ii) 20,249,584 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by Gibson Family Holdings LLC, and (iii) 427,491 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by SG 2026 Irrevocable Exempt Trust. Mr. Gibson has voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Gibson Family Holdings LLC and SG 2026 Irrevocable Exempt Trust. |
| (5) | Represents (i) 87,500 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by Dr. Dinu, (ii) 9,932,246 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by the Sponsor and (iii) private warrants for the purchase of 3,719,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by the Sponsor. Such shares and warrants held by the Sponsor are jointly beneficially owned by Dr. Katz and Dr. Raluca Dinu, each of whom are directors of the Company, who both have the voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the Sponsor. |
| (6) | Represents (i) 9,932,246 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by GigAcquisitions7 Corp. (the “Sponsor”) and (ii) private warrants for the purchase of 3,719,000 shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by the Sponsor. Such shares and warrants held by the Sponsor are jointly beneficially owned by Dr. Katz and Dr. Dinu, each of whom are directors of the Company, who both have the voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the Sponsor. |
Directors and Executive Officers
The Company’s directors and executive officers after the Closing are described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management of Domesticated GigCapital7 Following the Business Combination” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Compensation
The executive compensation of the Company’s executive officers and directors is described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation of Hadron Energy” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The certain relationships and related party transactions of the Company are described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and are incorporated herein by reference. Director independence is described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management of Domesticated GigCapital7 Following the Business Combination—Director Independence” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Legal Proceedings
The Company is not subject to any legal proceedings.
Properties
The description of the Company’s properties is contained in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Information About Hadron Energy—Facilities” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
The Company’s common stock and warrants began trading on the Nasdaq under the symbols “HDRN” and “HDRNW” on May 26, 2026, subject to ongoing review of the Company’s satisfaction of all listing criteria post-Business Combination. The Company has not paid any cash dividends on shares of its common stock to date and does not intend to pay cash dividends. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon the Company’s revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition. The payment of any dividends will be within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. It is the present intention of the Company’s board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in the Company’s business operations and, accordingly, the Company’s board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Information regarding GigCapital7’s common stock, units and warrants and related stockholder matters are described in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Market Price and Dividends of Securities” and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 3.02 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2026 concerning the sale and issuance of a convertible note in the principal amount of $148,000, and the disclosure set forth under Item 3.02 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 16, 2026 concerning the issuance of the amended and restated convertible note in the principal amount of $293,000 (which amended, restated, superseded and replaced the prior convertible note), each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The amended and restated convertible note was repaid in full at the Closing in accordance with its terms.
Description of Registrant’s Securities
The description of the Company’s securities is contained in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Description of Domesticated GigCapital7’s Securities” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning indemnification agreements entered into with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the financial statements and supplementary data of Hadron Energy Operating Company and the Company.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 9.01 of this Report concerning the financial information of Hadron Energy Operating Company and the Company.
| Item 3.03. | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders |
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Immediately prior to the Closing of the Business Combination, GigCapital7’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), was further amended and restated in its entirety (as so amended and restated, the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) to, among other things:
| (a) | change the post-combination company’s name to Hadron Energy, Inc.; |
| (b) | classify and divide the Board into three classes, each with terms expiring at different times; |
| (c) | delete all provisions relating to Domesticated GigCapital7 as a special purpose acquisition company, the Business Combination and the redemption rights of the Public Shares in connection with the Closing of the Business Combination (including the prior provisions of Article IV, Section 4.8 (Business Combination) and references thereto); |
| (d) | increase the authorized share capital of the Company to 625,000,000 total shares, consisting of (i) 615,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (eliminating the Class B common stock previously authorized under the interim certificate of incorporation); |
| (e) | amend certain terms in Article IX (Corporate Opportunities) with respect to certain non-employee directors of the combined company pursuing outside business activities and corporate opportunities; and |
| (f) | amend the exclusive forum provision (Article XI) to provide that (i) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if it lacks jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain internal corporate claims, and (ii) the U.S. federal district courts shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, while specifying that such provision does not apply to claims under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; |
In addition, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders, and that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board. As previously reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2026, the GigCapital7 shareholders approved this amendment and restatement of the Charter at the Extraordinary Meeting. A more complete summary of the key changes effected by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is set forth in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “The Organizational Documents Proposals” and is incorporated herein by reference. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which is included as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Bylaws
In connection with the Closing of the Business Combination, GigCapital7’s bylaws were amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). The Amended and Restated Bylaws, among other things, (i) establish advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals and director nominations to be brought before meetings of stockholders, (ii) restrict the transfer of shares of Combined Company Common Stock issued as consideration pursuant to the Merger, and shares issued to directors, officers and employees upon the settlement or exercise of equity awards, subject to certain customary transfer exceptions, from the Closing until the earliest of (a) six months following the Closing Date, (b) subsequent to Closing, the date on which the closing price of Combined Company Common Stock equals or exceeds $11.50 per share for any 20 Trading Days within any 30 consecutive Trading Day period commencing at least 90 days after the Closing Date, or (c) subsequent to the Closing, the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their securities for cash, securities or other property, and (iii) provide for certain other customary governance provisions for a post-business combination Delaware corporation. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which is included as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 4.01. | Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountants. |
Upon the Closing of the Business Combination, Hadron Energy Operating Company is considered the “accounting acquiror” of Hadron Energy, Inc. (f/k/a GigCapital7 Corp.), even though Hadron Energy, Inc. is the legal acquiror. BPM LLP (“BPM”), which prior to the Closing, was the independent registered public accounting firm of GigCapital7 Corp., and therefore has been and remains the independent registered public accounting firm of the legal acquiror Company, was engaged by the Board of Directors of Hadron Energy Operating Company and its audit committee to replace WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”) on April 24, 2026 with an intent for BPM to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm of the accounting acquiror upon the Closing. The Boards of Directors of Hadron Energy Operating Company and Hadron Energy, Inc., and the audit committee of the Board of Directors of Hadron Energy, Inc. did not take any action with respect to the status of Withum as the audit committee of the Board of Directors of Hadron Energy, Inc. had previously named BPM as the independent registered public accounting firm of Hadron Energy, Inc.
The reports of Withum on Hadron Energy Operating Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period from July 8, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024 did not contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period from July 8, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024, and the subsequent interim period through April 24, 2026, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
The Company has provided Withum with a copy of the above disclosures, and Withum has furnished the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating that it agrees with the statements made above. A copy of Withum’s letter, dated May 29, 2026, is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
During the two most recent fiscal periods, consisting of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and the period from July 8, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024, and the subsequent interim period through April 23, 2026, neither Hadron Energy Operating Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted BPM LLP regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Hadron Energy Operating Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to Hadron Energy Operating Company that BPM LLP concluded was an important factor considered by Hadron Energy Operating Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” or a “reportable event”, each as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and 304(a)(1)(v), respectively.
| Item 5.01. | Changes in Control of Registrant. |
Reference is made to the disclosure in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No. 1— The Business Combination Proposal,” which is incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Immediately after giving effect to the Business Combination, there were approximately 71,498,842 shares of common stock of the Company outstanding. As of such time, the Company’s officers and directors and their affiliated entities held 58,075,308 of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Appointment of Directors and Officers
The following persons are serving as executive officers and directors of the Company upon the Closing, with Samuel Gibson, Rahul Shukla, Ken Canavan, Ross T. Ridenoure, and Dr. Andrew M. Ward having been named as executive officers effective upon the Closing on May 22, 2026, and each of the directors having been elected by the GigCapital7 stockholders to the board also upon the Closing on May 22, 2026. For biographical and current compensatory information concerning the executive officers and directors, see the disclosure in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Management of the Domesticated GigCapital7 Following the Business Combination” which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Name |
Age | Position | ||||
| Dr. Avi Katz |
68 | Independent Director and Executive Chairman | ||||
| Samuel Gibson |
25 | Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||
| Rahul Shukla |
43 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
| Ken Canavan |
61 | Chief Operating Officer | ||||
| Ross T. Ridenoure |
71 | Chief Nuclear Officer | ||||
| Dr. Andrew M. Ward |
44 | Chief Technology Officer | ||||
| Dr. Raluca Dinu |
52 | Independent Director | ||||
| Raanan I. Horowitz |
65 | Independent Director | ||||
| Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman |
69 | Independent Director | ||||
| Ralph L. Hunter |
61 | Independent Director | ||||
| Robert J. Lewis |
58 | Independent Director | ||||
| Bryan L. Timm |
62 | Independent Director | ||||
Effective upon the Closing on May 22, 2026, Dr. Avi Katz and Christine M. Marshall resigned as executive officers of GigCapital7, and each of Karen Rogge and Professor Darius Moshfeghi resigned as directors of GigCapital7.
Indemnification Agreements for Company Directors and Officers
In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers (the “Indemnification Agreements”). The Indemnification Agreements provide the directors and executive officers with contractual rights to indemnification and expense advancement. The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the form of Indemnification Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
2026 Equity Incentive Plan
As previously reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2026, at the Extraordinary Meeting, the GigCapital7 stockholders considered and approved the Hadron Energy, Inc. 2026 Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) and reserved 10,021,784 shares of common stock for issuance thereunder. The Incentive Plan with the reserved number of shares, which as approved by the GigCapital7 stockholders was to have an amount reserved equal to 10% of the fully-diluted number of shares of Hadron Energy as of the Closing of the Business Combination, was approved by the Board of GigCapital7 on May 7, 2026 once that number was determined. The Incentive Plan
became effective immediately upon the Closing of the Business Combination. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2027 and continuing through January 1, 2037, by 5% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares as may be determined by the board of directors.
A more complete summary of the terms of the Incentive Plan is set forth in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No. 6—The Incentive Plan Proposal”. That summary and the foregoing description of the Incentive Plan are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the Incentive Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
The information set forth in Item 3.03 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
| Item 5.06. | Change in Shell Company Status. |
As a result of the Business Combination, the Company ceased being a shell company. Reference is made to the disclosure in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No. 1— The Business Combination Proposal,” which is incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
| Item 8.01. | Other Events |
As a result of the Business Combination and by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), Hadron Energy is a successor issuer to GigCapital7. Hadron Energy hereby reports this succession in accordance with Rule 12g-3(f) under the Exchange Act.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(a)-(b) Financial Statements.
The audited consolidated balance sheets of GigCapital7 Corp., as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period from May 8, 2024 (Date of Inception) through December 31, 2024, and the related notes thereto and report of independent registered public accounting firm, included in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS— GigCapital7 Corp. Financial Statements” are incorporated herein by reference.
The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of GigCapital7 Corp., as of March 31, 2026, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and the related notes thereto, included in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 6, 2026 are incorporated herein by reference.
The audited balance sheets of Hadron Energy Operating Company, Inc. as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related statements of operations, and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period from July 8, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024, and the related notes thereto and report of independent registered public accounting firm, included in the Final Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS— Hadron Energy Inc. Financial Statements” are incorporated herein by reference.
The unaudited condensed balance sheet of Hadron Energy Operating Company, Inc., as of March 31, 2026, and the related condensed statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and the related notes thereto, are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by this reference. Also included as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference is Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hadron Energy as of March 31, 2026 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of the Company as of March 31, 2026 and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.3 and incorporated herein by this reference.
(d) Exhibits.
| # | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement. |
| † | Schedules and similar attachments to this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of such omitted materials to the SEC upon request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Hadron Energy, Inc. | ||||||
| Dated: May 29, 2026 | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Samuel Gibson | |||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
GIGCAPITAL7 CORP.
May 22, 2026
GigCapital7 Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
| 1. | The name of the Corporation is “GigCapital7 Corp.”. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 8, 2026 (the “Original Certificate”), which was filed concurrently with the certificate of corporate domestication in connection with the domestication of GigCapital7 Corp., as an exempted company limited by shares duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, to a Delaware corporation. |
| 2. | This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Original Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands and the Corporation’s Cayman constitutional documents, and effected pursuant to Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”). |
| 3. | This Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware. |
| 4. | The text of the Original Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows: |
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is “Hadron Energy, Inc.” (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
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”).
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19801, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 625,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 615,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3 Common StockSection 4.1 .
(a) Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to 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 of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
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(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
Section 4.4 Rights and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (as they may be amended from time to time, “Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate, and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
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(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II, and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II, or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, and the term of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the next annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4 Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office, but only for cause, by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting called for that purpose.
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Section 5.5 Preferred Stock—Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at a regular or special meeting of the Board at which there is a quorum or by unanimous written consent. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 7.3 Action by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.
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ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability. 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, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her actions as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to 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 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, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee 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 or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
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(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE IX
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
Section 9.1 Corporate Opportunities and Non-Employee Directors.
(a) In recognition and anticipation that members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (the “Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith. For purposes of this Article IX, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean, (a) in respect of each Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and (ii) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.
(b) No Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (such Persons being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent
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permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX. Subject to said Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person.
(c) The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Corporation) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.
(d) In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is unable, financially or legally, or is not contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
(e) To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.
(f) Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) inconsistent with this Article IX, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any corporate opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption.
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ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article X.
ARTICLE XI
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 11.1 Forum.
(a) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the name or right of the Corporation or on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, agent or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action or proceeding arising or asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the Bylaws or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Furthermore, unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, with respect to claims that are not internal corporate claims, stockholders, when acting in their capacity as stockholders or in the right of the Corporation, shall bring any or all such claims only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, if such claims relate to the business of the Corporation, the conduct of its affairs, or the rights or powers of the Corporation or its stockholders, directors or officers, subject to such Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, as applicable having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.
If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of this Section 11.1(a), is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce this Section 11.1(a) (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by law. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.1(a).
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(b) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts 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, as amended. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.1(b). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 11.1(b) shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Section 11.2 Equitable Relief. Failure to enforce the provisions contained in this Article XI 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.
ARTICLE XII
SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of this Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person, entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GigCapital7 Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
| GIGCAPITAL7 CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Samuel Gibson | |
| Name: | Samuel Gibson | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
(THE “CORPORATION”)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be located at either (a) the principal place of business of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or (b) the office of the corporation or individual acting as the Corporation’s registered agent in Delaware.
Section 1.2. Additional Offices. The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 2.1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 10.5(a). At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters shall elect those directors of the Corporation to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of such annual meeting and may transact any other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 2.2. Special Meetings. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of the preferred stock of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”), and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and may not be called by any other person. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated by the Board in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 10.5(a). Any special meeting previously called may be cancelled upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board (as defined below). The “Whole Board” consists of the total number of authorized directors, whether or not there are any vacancies in previously authorized directorships or unfilled newly created directorships.
Section 2.3. Notices. Written notice of each stockholders meeting stating the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and 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, shall be given in the manner permitted by Section 10.3 to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, by the Corporation (and may not be given by any other person) not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). If said notice is for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it shall in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, which shall be determined by the Chairman of the Board or the Board in its sole discretion pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, and the business transacted at such meeting shall be limited to the matters so stated by the Board in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and subject to Section 2.2, any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board upon public announcement (as defined in Section 2.7(c)) given before the date previously scheduled for such meeting.
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Section 2.4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy, at a stockholders meeting of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation representing fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. If a quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.6 until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any such other corporation to vote shares held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.5. Voting of Shares.
(a) Voting Lists. The Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”) shall prepare, or shall cause the officer or agent who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting; provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address and the number and class of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 2.5(a) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If a meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of remote communication as permitted by Section 10.5(a), the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5(a) or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
(b) Manner of Voting. At any stockholders meeting, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy. If authorized by the Board, the voting by stockholders or proxy holders at any meeting conducted by remote communication may be effected by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 10.3), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the Corporation can determine that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder. The Board, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in such person’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
(c) Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting 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 years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Proxies need not be filed with the Secretary until the meeting is called to order, but shall be filed with the Secretary before being voted. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority. No stockholder shall have cumulative voting rights.
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(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
(d) Required Vote. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. All other matters presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.
(e) Inspectors of Election. The Board may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, designate one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Board may appoint one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.
Section 2.6. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the stockholders, or the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, 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 shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 10.2, 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.
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Section 2.7. Advance Notice for Business.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote at such annual meeting on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.7(a) and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.7(a) to the contrary, only persons nominated for election as a director to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of the annual meeting pursuant to Section 3.2 will be considered for election at such meeting.
(i) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business (other than nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary, even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or public announcement from the Board, and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. Subject to Section 2.7(a)(iii), a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to such business, to be timely, must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Corporation. The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.7(a).
(ii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to any business (other than nominations) must set forth as to each such matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and record address of such stockholder and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, (D) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings between or among such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, (E) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of such stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the business proposal is being made and any other person or persons (including their names), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of such person or any other person or persons (including their names) with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, (F) any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal of such business is made
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and any other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (G) the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial and record owners) known by such stockholder to support the proposal, and to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholders and (H) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting.
(iii) The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder as to any proposal (other than nominations) if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of such stockholder’s intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such stockholder has complied with the requirements of such rule for inclusion of such proposal in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a), provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the Board or the chairman of the annual meeting determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.7(a) or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 2.7(a), such proposal shall not be presented for action at the annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7(a), if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.
(iv) In addition to the provisions of this Section 2.7(a), a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(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 as determined by the Chairman of the Board or the majority of the Whole Board in its sole discretion as provided for in Section 2.3. In addition to the foregoing, nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which the Chairman of the Board or two-thirds of the Whole Board, in its sole discretion as provided for in Section 2.3 has provided that directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting only pursuant to Section 3.2.
(c) Public Announcement. For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean 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 the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor thereto).
Section 2.8. Conduct of Meetings. The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, a chairman as shall be appointed by a majority of the directors present at the meeting from the majority of the independent directors as determined by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange present at the meeting. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with these Bylaws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of 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
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constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting 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. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairman of the meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.9. Consents in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.
Section 3.2. Advance Notice for Nomination of Directors.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting as determined by the Chairman of the Board or two-thirds of the Whole Board, in its sole discretion as provided for in Section 2.3, may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 3.2 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.2.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Corporation; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 3.2.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is greater than the number of directors whose terms expire on the date of the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for the additional directors to be elected or specifying the size of the increased Board before the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice
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required by this Section 3.2 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships created by such increase that are to be filled by election at such annual meeting, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such public announcement was first made by the Corporation.
(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the proposed nominee, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the proposed nominee, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by the proposed nominee, (D) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee, completed and executed by such proposed nominee, in the form to be provided by the Secretary upon written request of any stockholder of record within 10 days of such request, and a written statement and agreement executed by each such proposed nominee acknowledging that such person: (x) consents to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, (y) intends to serve as a director for the full term for which such person is standing for election and (z) makes the following representations: (1) that the proposed nominee has read and agrees to adhere to the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, any other of the Corporation’s policies or guidelines applicable to directors, including with regard to (A) reporting related party transactions for approval pursuant to the Board’s Audit Committee Charter and (B) securities trading, and (2) that the proposed nominee is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any nomination or other business proposal, issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, and (3) that the proposed nominee is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification (“Compensation Arrangement”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation in connection with such person’s nomination for director or service as a director and (E) any other information relating to the proposed nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and record address of such stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, (C) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to the nomination to be made by such stockholder among such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of such stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made and any other person or persons (including their names), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of such person or any other person or persons (including their names) with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, (E) a representation whether such stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination, (F) the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial and record owners) known by such stockholder to support the nomination, and to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholders, (G) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the
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Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice and (H) any other information relating to such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee, including any relationships, whether of a personal or business nature, with any of the officers or directors of the Corporation or its subsidiaries that such proposed nominee has or is planning to have.
(e) If a majority of the Board or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2, or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 3.2, then such nomination shall not be considered at the meeting in question. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.
(f) In addition to the provisions of this Section 3.2, a stockholder shall also comply with all of the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 3.2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.3. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board, including for service on a committee of the Board, and may be paid either a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or other compensation as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees of the Board may be allowed like compensation and reimbursement of expenses for service on the committee.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD MEETINGS
Section 4.1. Annual Meetings. The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board. No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 4.1.
Section 4.2. Regular Meetings. Regularly scheduled, periodic meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times, dates and places (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
Section 4.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board (a) may be called by the Chairman of the Board and (b) shall be called by any director on the written request of at least a majority of the Whole Board, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request. Notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be given, as provided in Section 10.3, to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail. If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the
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directors who requested the meeting. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board may be transacted at a special meeting. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A special meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 10.4.
Section 4.4. Quorum; Required Vote. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
Section 4.5. Consent In Lieu of Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 4.6. Organization. The chairman of each meeting of the Board shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, a chairman elected by a majority of the directors present at the meeting from the majority of the independent directors as determined by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange present at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary at such meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1. Establishment. The Board may by resolution passed by a majority of the Board designate one or more committees (including special or select committees), each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.
Section 5.2. Available Powers. Any committee established pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law and by resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board 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 that may require it.
Section 5.3. Alternate Members. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. 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 to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 5.4. Procedures. Unless the Board otherwise provides, the time, date, place, if any, and notice of meetings of a committee shall be determined by such committee. At meetings of a committee, a majority of the number of members of the committee (but not including any alternate member, unless such alternate member has replaced any absent or disqualified member at the time of, or in connection with, such meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the
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transaction of business. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the Board. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of a committee, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. Unless the Board otherwise provides and except as provided in these Bylaws, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board is authorized to conduct its business pursuant to Article III and Article IV of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 6.1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers (including without limitation, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and a Treasurer) as the Board from time to time may determine. Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VI. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer or President may also appoint such other officers other than the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer, if any, (including without limitation one or more Vice Presidents and Controllers) as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation, so long as such officers would not constitute executive officers under the U.S. securities laws. Such other officers shall have such powers and duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or, if such officer has been appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as may be prescribed by the appointing officer.
(a) Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by a majority of the Board members and shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The Chairman of the Board, which may be an Executive Chairman of the Board, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, shall be responsible to provide the focus and general supervision of the acquisition and financing activities of the Corporation and the selection of outside counsel, subject to the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board to the contrary, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, a chairman elected by a majority of the directors present at the meeting from the majority of the independent directors as determined by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange present at the meeting shall preside at meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board shall not include supervision or control of the preparation of the financial statements of the Corporation (other than through participation as a member of the Board). The position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may not be held by the same person.
(b) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters, except to the extent any such powers and duties have been prescribed to the Chairman of the Board pursuant to Section 6.1(a) above. The position of Chief Executive Officer and President may be held by the same person.
(c) President. The President shall make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer on all operational matters that would normally be reserved for the final executive responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall also perform such duties and have such powers as shall be designated by the Board. The position of President and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person.
(d) Vice Presidents. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Board) shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President. Any one or more of the Vice Presidents may be given an additional designation of rank or function.
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(e) Secretary.
(i) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders, the Board and (as required) committees of the Board and shall record the proceedings of such meetings in books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and the Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof by his or her signature.
(ii) The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, if one has been appointed, a stock ledger, or duplicate stock ledger, showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each and, with respect to certificated shares, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of certificates cancelled.
(f) Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretary or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, perform the duties and have the powers of the Secretary.
(g) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be elected by two-thirds of the Board members, and shall perform all duties commonly incident to that office (including, without limitation, the care and custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, which from time to time may come into the Chief Financial Officer’s hands and the deposit of the funds of the Corporation in such banks or trust companies as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may authorize).
(h) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be elected by two-thirds of the Board members, and shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Financial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer.
Section 6.2. Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified by the Board or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board. Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may also be removed, with or without cause, by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be, unless the Board otherwise provides. Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer, or President, as the case may be, unless the Board then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board, in which case the Board shall elect such officer.
Section 6.3. Other Officers. The Board may delegate the power to appoint such other officers and agents, and may also remove such officers and agents or delegate the power to remove same, as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable.
Section 6.4. Multiple Officeholders; Stockholder and Director Officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide. Officers need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.
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ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 7.1. Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, subject to the sole discretion of the Board and the requirements of the DGCL.
Section 7.2. Multiple Classes of Stock. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.
Section 7.3. Signatures. Each certificate representing capital stock of the Corporation shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (a) the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all 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, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue.
Section 7.4. Consideration and Payment for Shares.
(a) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having in the case of shares with par value a value not less than the par value thereof, and to such persons, as determined from time to time by the Board. The consideration may consist of any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation including cash, promissory notes, services performed, contracts for services to be performed or other securities, or any combination thereof.
(b) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid, unless upon the face or back of each certificate issued to represent any partly paid shares of capital stock or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of partly paid uncertificated shares, there shall have been set forth the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon up to and including the time said certificate representing certificated shares or said uncertificated shares are issued.
Section 7.5. Lost, Destroyed or Wrongfully Taken Certificates.
(a) If an owner of a certificate representing shares claims that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form if the owner: (i) requests such a new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate representing such shares has been acquired by a protected purchaser; (ii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, wrongful taking or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares; and (iii) satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.
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(b) If a certificate representing shares has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the Corporation of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of such loss, apparent destruction or wrongful taking and the Corporation registers a transfer of such shares before receiving notification, the owner shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation any claim for registering such transfer or a claim to a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form.
Section 7.6. Transfer of Stock.
(a) If a certificate representing shares of the Corporation is presented to the Corporation with an endorsement requesting the registration of transfer of such shares or an instruction is presented to the Corporation requesting the registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall register the transfer as requested if:
(i) in the case of certificated shares, the certificate representing such shares has been surrendered;
(ii) (A) with respect to certificated shares, the endorsement is made by the person specified by the certificate as entitled to such shares; (B) with respect to uncertificated shares, an instruction is made by the registered owner of such uncertificated shares; or (C) with respect to certificated shares or uncertificated shares, the endorsement or instruction is made by any other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person;
(iii) the Corporation has received a guarantee of signature of the person signing such endorsement or instruction or such other reasonable assurance that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized as the Corporation may request;
(iv) the transfer does not violate any restriction on transfer imposed by the Corporation that is enforceable in accordance with Section 7.8(a); and
(v) such other conditions for such transfer as shall be provided for under applicable law have been satisfied.
(b) Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, the Corporation shall so record such fact in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate for such shares is presented to the Corporation for transfer or, if such shares are uncertificated, when the instruction for registration of transfer thereof is presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.
Section 7.7. Registered Stockholders. Before due presentment for registration of transfer of a certificate representing shares of the Corporation or of an instruction requesting registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to inspect for any proper purpose the stock ledger and the other books and records of the Corporation, vote such shares, receive dividends or notifications with respect to such shares and otherwise exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of such shares, except that a person who is the beneficial owner of such shares (if held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person) may, upon providing documentary evidence of beneficial ownership of such shares and satisfying such other conditions as are provided under applicable law, may also so inspect the books and records of the Corporation.
Section 7.8. Effect of the Corporation’s Restriction on Transfer.
(a) A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares, may be enforced against the holder of such shares or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder.
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(b) A restriction imposed by the Corporation on the transfer or the registration of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, even if otherwise lawful, is ineffective against a person without actual knowledge of such restriction unless: (i) the shares are certificated and such restriction is noted conspicuously on the certificate; or (ii) the shares are uncertificated and such restriction was contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares prior to or within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares.
Section 7.9. Regulations. The Board shall have power and authority to make such additional rules and regulations, subject to any applicable requirement of law, as the Board may deem necessary and appropriate with respect to the issue, transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock or certificates representing shares. The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars and may require for the validity thereof that certificates representing shares bear the signature of any transfer agent or registrar so appointed.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1. Right to Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she 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, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Section 8.2. Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon the Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.
Section 8.3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the
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Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 8.4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Section 8.5. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 8.6. Indemnification of Other Persons. This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation and to any other person who 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 or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VIII.
Section 8.7. Amendments. Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VIII, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 66.7% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 8.8. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, (a) references to “other enterprise” shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.
Section 8.9. Contract Rights. The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 8.10. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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ARTICLE IX
LOCK-UP
Section 9.1 Lock-Up
(a) Each Lock-Up Holder may not effect any Transfer of any Lock-Up Securities Beneficially Owned or otherwise held by such Lock-Up Holder during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below); provided, that such prohibition shall not apply to Transfers permitted pursuant to Section 9.2. The “Lock-Up Period” shall be the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is the earlier to occur of: (a) six (6) months following the Closing Date; (b) subsequent to the Closing, the date on which the reported closing price of one share of Common Stock quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the New York Stock Exchange or the NYSE American (or the exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed) equals or exceeds eleven dollars and fifty cents ($11.50) per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the Closing Date) for any twenty (20) Trading Days (as defined below) within any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Day period commencing at least ninety (90) days after the Closing Date; and (c) subsequent to the Closing, the date on which the Corporation completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Corporation’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Securities for cash, securities or other property. “Trading Day” means a day on which shares of Common Stock are actually traded on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which shares of Common Stock are then traded; provided, however, that if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, Trading Day means a business say. For the avoidance of any doubt, each Lock-Up Holder shall retain all of his, her or its rights as a stockholder of the Corporation during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote, and to receive any dividends and distributions in respect of, any Securities.
(b) Where used in this Article IX, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 9.1(b):
“Affiliate” of a specified person means a Person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (provided that if a Lock-Up Holder is a venture capital, private equity or angel fund, no portfolio company of such Lock-Up Holder will be deemed an Affiliate of such Lock-Up Holder).
“Beneficially Own” means, with regard to any securities, having “beneficial ownership” of such securities for purposes of Rule 13d-3 or 13d-5 under the Exchange Act. Similar terms such as “Beneficial Ownership” and “Beneficial Owner” have the corresponding meanings.
“Business Combination Agreement” means that certain Business Combination Agreement by and between GigCapital7 Corp. (a predecessor to the Corporation), MMR Merger Sub, Inc. a Delaware corporation, and Hadron Energy, dated as of September 27, 2025, as amended from time to time.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date that the closing of the Merger contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
“Family Member” means with respect to any individual, a spouse, lineal descendant (whether natural or adopted) or spouse of a lineal descendant of such individual or any trust created for the benefit of such individual or of which any of the foregoing is a beneficiary.
“Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Hadron Energy” means Hadron Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, prior to its Merger into MMR Merger Sub, Inc.
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“Lock-Up Holder” means a holder of shares of Common Stock issued (i) as consideration pursuant to the merger of MMR Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with and into Hadron Energy (the “Merger”), and (ii) to directors, officers and employees of the Corporation upon the settlement or exercise of stock options or other equity awards outstanding as of immediately following the closing of the Merger in respect of awards of Hadron Energy outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger.
“Lock-Up Securities” means any Securities Beneficially Owned by a Lock-Up Holder as of immediately following the Closing Date, other than (i) any security received pursuant to an incentive plan adopted by the Corporation on or after the Closing Date, or (ii) any Securities acquired in open market transactions.
“Permitted Transferee” means with respect to any Person, (a) in the case of an individual: (i) any Family Member of such Person by bona fide gift, (ii) any Affiliate of any Family Member of such Person or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Family Member or an Affiliate of such Person, or to a charitable organization, (iii) a Person by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such Person, (iv) a Person pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and (b) in the case of an entity, (i) any Affiliate of such Person or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by such Person, (ii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, its stockholders, partners, members or other equityholders, and (c) the Corporation in connection with the repurchase of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“Securities” means (a) any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any shares of capital stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any warrant or other right to acquire shares of such capital stock and (c) any equity securities of the Corporation that may be issued or distributed or be issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (a) or (b) by way of conversion, dividend, stock split or other distribution, merger, consolidation, exchange, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction.
“Transfer” means, excluding entry into the Business Combination Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including entry into any lock-up agreements therewith, any (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) the public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
Section 9.2 Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article IX, during the Lock-Up Period, each Lock-Up Holder may Transfer, without the consent of the Corporation, any of such Lock-Up Holder’s Lock-Up Securities (a) to any of such Lock-Up Holder’s Permitted Transferees, upon written notice to the Corporation or (b) pursuant to any liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Corporation’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Securities for cash, securities or other property; provided, that in connection with any Transfer of such Lock-Up Securities, the restrictions and obligations contained in Section 9.1 and this Section 9.2 will continue to apply to such Lock-Up Securities after any Transfer of such Lock-Up Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a Lock-Up Holder may enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act relating to the sale of Lock-Up Holder’s Lock-Up Securities, provided that (A) the securities subject to such plan may not be sold until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and (B) the Corporation shall not be required to effect, and the Lock-Up Holder shall not effect or cause to be effected, any public filing, report or other public announcement regarding the establishment of the trading plan.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Place of Meetings. If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these Bylaws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 10.5 hereof, then such meeting shall not be held at any place.
Section 10.2. Fixing Record Dates.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board 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 making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, 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 business day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. 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 may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.2(a) at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 10.3. Means of Giving Notice.
(a) Notice to Directors. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone. A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.
(b) Notice to Stockholders. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given (i) in writing and sent either by hand delivery, through the United States mail, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or (ii) by means of a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, to the extent permitted by, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, when actually received by the stockholder, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the
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stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, and (iv) if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given and otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above, (A) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (B) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (C) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (D) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent to receiving notice by means of electronic communication by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the Corporation’s transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
(c) Electronic Transmission. “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process, including but not limited to transmission by telex, facsimile telecommunication, electronic mail, telegram and cablegram.
(d) Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
(e) Exceptions to Notice Requirements. Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholder’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL. The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.
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Section 10.4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a written waiver of such notice, signed before or after the date of such meeting by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, shall be deemed equivalent to such required notice. All such waivers shall be kept with the books of the Corporation. Attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 10.5. Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication Equipment.
(a) Stockholder Meetings. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(i) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(ii) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (A) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and, if entitled to vote, to vote on matters submitted to the applicable stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such votes or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
(b) Board Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 10.6. Dividends. The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 10.7. Reserves. The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
Section 10.8. Contracts and Negotiable Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
Section 10.9. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board.
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Section 10.10. Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.
Section 10.11. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.
Section 10.12. Resignation. Any director, committee member or officer may resign by giving notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board (directors), or the Chief Executive Officer (officers). The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or at the time of receipt of such notice if no time is specified or the specified time is earlier than the time of such receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective; provided, however, that the resignation of any officer should be reviewed and accepted by the Board before it becomes effective.
Section 10.13. Surety Bonds. Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
Section 10.14. Securities of Other Corporations. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or any officers authorized by the Board. Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 10.15. Amendments. The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power (except as otherwise provided in Section 8.7) of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws.
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Exhibit 10.1
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement, dated May [__], 2026, is made between Hadron Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [______________] (the “Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of talented and experienced individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve as directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and wishes to indemnify its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by law;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize that corporate litigation in general has subjected directors and officers to expensive litigation risks;
WHEREAS, Section 145 (“Section 145”) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (“DGCL”), under which the Company is organized, empowers the Company to indemnify its directors and officers by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the request of the Company, as the directors and officers of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides that the indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive;
WHEREAS, Section 145(g) of the DGCL allows for the purchase of director and officer liability insurance (“D&O Insurance”) by the Company, which in theory can cover asserted liabilities without regard to whether they are indemnifiable by the Company or not;
WHEREAS, individuals considering service or presently serving expect to be extended market terms of indemnification commensurate with their position, and that entities such as Company will endeavor to maintain appropriate D&O Insurance; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company and/or one or more subsidiaries of the Company, or otherwise serve the Company in an indemnifiable capacity as set forth below, the Company and Indemnitee enter into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants made herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are mutually acknowledged, Indemnitee and the Company agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(a) “Agent” means any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Company or a direct or indirect subsidiary or parent of the Company; or is or was serving at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company, or a direct or indirect subsidiary or parent of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, manager, partner, fiduciary, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, employee benefit plan, nonprofit entity, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; or was a director, officer, employee, manager, partner, fiduciary, or agent of a foreign or domestic entity which was a predecessor of the Company or a direct or indirect parent or subsidiary of the Company, or was a director, officer, employee, manager, partner, fiduciary, or agent of another enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent
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the interests of such predecessor entity. For the purposes of this Agreement, (i) “director, officer, employee, manager, partner, fiduciary, or agent” and “foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, employee benefit plan, nonprofit entity, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise” shall be deemed to include foreign equivalents of such positions and such entities, and (ii) “direct or indirect subsidiary or parent” means any degree of ownership or control.
(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing a majority of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities, (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board, together with any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board, (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets with or to another entity, other than a merger, consolidation or asset sale that would result in the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least a majority of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or successor entity outstanding immediately thereafter, or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company.
(d) “ERISA” means Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(e) “Exchange Act” means Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(f) “Expenses” shall include all out-of-pocket costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related costs and disbursements), actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with either the investigation, defense, or appeal of a Proceeding, or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement, or Section 145 or otherwise; provided, however, that “Expenses” shall not include any judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, or amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding.
(g) “Final Adjudication” and “finally adjudged” means a final judgment or other binding determination from which there is no further procedural recourse, including without limitation following exhaustion or expiration of all available appeals.
(h) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a partner (or, if applicable, member) of such a law firm, that is experienced in relevant matters of corporation law and neither currently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to or witness in the proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder; provided however, that “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. Where required by this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be retained at the Company’s sole expense.
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(i) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action, claim, demand, discovery request, subpoena, hearing, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing, or any other proceeding whether formal or informal, civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, including any such investigation or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the Company or its Board of Directors, including any appeal of the foregoing, in which Indemnitee is or reasonably may be involved as a party or target, that is associated with Indemnitee’s being an Agent of the Company.
(j) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2. Agreement to Serve. Indemnitee agrees to serve and/or continue to serve as an Agent of the Company, at its will (or under separate agreement, if such agreement exists), in the capacity Indemnitee currently serves as an Agent of the Company, or in such additional Agent capacities as Indemnitee may agree in the future to serve, so long as Indemnitee is duly appointed or elected and qualified until such time as Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation in writing; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to create any right to continued employment or other service by Indemnitee.
3. Liability Insurance.
(a) Maintenance of D&O Insurance. The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as Indemnitee shall continue to serve as an Agent of the Company and thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact that Indemnitee was an Agent of the Company, the Company, subject to Section 3(c), shall promptly obtain and maintain in full force and effect D&O Insurance in reasonable amounts from established and reputable insurers of a minimum A.M. Best rating of A-VII, and as more fully described below. In the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall, as set forth in Section 3(c), either: (i) maintain such D&O Insurance for six (6) years; or (ii) purchase a six (6) year tail for such D&O Insurance.
(b) Rights and Benefits. In all policies of D&O Insurance, Indemnitee shall qualify as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s Agents of the same standing as Indemnitee.
(c) Limitation on Required Maintenance of D&O Insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain D&O Insurance at all, or of any type, terms, or amount, if the Company determines in good faith and after using commercially reasonable efforts that: such insurance is not reasonably available; the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided; the coverage provided by such insurance is limited so as to provide an insufficient or unreasonable benefit; Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance maintained by a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the Company; or the Company is to be acquired and a tail policy of reasonable terms and duration can be purchased for pre-closing acts or omissions by Indemnitee.
4. Mandatory Indemnification. Subject to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) Third Party Actions. If Indemnitee is a person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses and liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of such Proceeding; provided that Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
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(b) Actions By or In the Right Of the Company. If Indemnitee is a person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of such Proceeding; provided that Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; except that no indemnification under this Section 4(b) shall be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Indemnitee is liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts which the Delaware Court of Chancery shall deem proper.
(c) Actions where Indemnitee is Deceased. If Indemnitee is a person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity, and if, prior to, during the pendency of or after completion of such Proceeding Indemnitee is deceased, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators against all Expenses and liabilities of any type whatsoever to the extent Indemnitee would have been entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement were Indemnitee still alive.
(d) Certain Terminations. The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue, or matter therein by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal action or Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(e) Limitations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d), but subject to the exception set forth in Section 13 which shall control, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee for Expenses or liabilities of any type whatsoever for which payment (and the Company’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement shall be reduced by such payment) is actually made to or on behalf of Indemnitee, by the Company or otherwise, under a corporate insurance policy, or under a valid and enforceable indemnity clause, right, by-law, or agreement; and, in the event the Company has previously made a payment to Indemnitee for an Expense or liability of any type whatsoever for which payment is actually made to or on behalf of the Indemnitee from any such source, Indemnitee shall return to the Company the amounts subsequently received by the Indemnitee that source.
(f) Witness. In the event that Indemnitee is not a party or threatened to be made a party to a Proceeding, but is subpoenaed (or given a written request to be interviewed by or provide documents or information to a government authority of any jurisdiction) in such a Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company, or by reason of anything witnessed or allegedly witnessed by the Indemnitee in that capacity, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all actually and reasonably incurred out of pocket costs (including without limitation legal fees) incurred by the Indemnitee in responding to such subpoena or written request for an interview. As a condition to this right, Indemnitee must provide notice of such subpoena or request to the Company within 14 days, otherwise the Company’s obligation to pay such costs shall only attach for costs incurred from the date of notice.
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5. Indemnification for Expenses in a Proceeding in Which Indemnitee is Wholly or Partly Successful.
(a) Successful Defense. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the extent Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding (including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Company) in which Indemnitee was a party by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company at any time, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of such Proceeding.
(b) Partially Successful Defense. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to any Proceeding (including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Company) in which Indemnitee was a party by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company at any time and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.
(c) Dismissal. For purposes of this section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided in this Agreement is unavailable and may not be paid to Indemnitee, then to the extent allowed by law, in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee contribute to the amount of expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Indemnitee on the other hand from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose, and (ii) the relative fault of Company on the one hand and of Indemnitee on the other in connection with the events which resulted in such Expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of Indemnitee on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, active or passive conduct, and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts. The Company agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this section were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the foregoing equitable considerations.
(e) Settlements by Company. The Company may not settle any claim held by Indemnitee without express written consent of Indemnitee, which may be given or withheld in Indemnitee’s sole discretion; provided, the foregoing provision shall not apply to any claim held by Indemnitee for which Indemnitee has been indemnified or held harmless by the Company, in which case consent of the Indemnitee to such settlement shall be given on reasonable request of the Company.
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6. Mandatory Advancement of Expenses.
(a) Subject to the terms of this Agreement and following notice pursuant to Section 7(a) below, the Company shall advance, interest free, all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company (unless there has been a Final Adjudication such that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification for such Expenses) upon receipt satisfactory documentation supporting such Expenses. Such advances are intended to be an obligation of the Company to Indemnitee hereunder and shall in no event be deemed to be a personal loan. Such advancement of Expenses shall otherwise be unsecured and without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee within 30 days following delivery of a written request therefore by Indemnitee to the Company, along with such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to advancement (which shall include without limitation reasonably detailed invoices for legal services, but with disclosure of confidential work product not required if that would work a waiver of privilege as to an adverse party). The Company shall discharge its advancement duty by, at its option, (a) paying such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advancing to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimbursing Indemnitee for Expenses already paid by Indemnitee. In the event that the Company fails to pay Expenses as incurred by Indemnitee as required by this paragraph, Indemnitee may seek mandatory injunctive relief (including without limitation specific performance) from any court having jurisdiction to require the Company to pay Expenses as set forth in this paragraph. If Indemnitee seeks mandatory injunctive relief pursuant to this paragraph, it shall not be a defense to enforcement of the Company’s obligations set forth in this paragraph that Indemnitee has an adequate remedy at law for damages. This Section 6 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.
(b) Undertakings. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which constitutes an undertaking whereby Indemnitee promises to repay any amounts advanced if and to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification by the Company.
7. Notice and Other Indemnification Procedures.
(a) Notice by Indemnitee. Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of or the threat of commencement of any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if Indemnitee believes that indemnification with respect thereto may be sought from the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company in writing of the commencement or threat of commencement thereof provided, however, that a delay in giving such notice will not deprive Indemnitee of any right to be indemnified under this Agreement unless, and then only to the extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of the Proceeding and such delay is materially prejudicial to the Company; provided, further, that notice will be deemed to have been given without any action on the part of Indemnitee in the event the Company is a party to the same Proceeding and already has notice of all the matters for which Indemnitee is demanding indemnification and advancement.
(b) Insurance. If the Company receives notice pursuant to Section 7(a) of the commencement of a Proceeding that may be covered under D&O Insurance then in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.
(c) Defense. In the event the Company shall be obligated to pay the Expenses of any Proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of the Company’s election so to do. After delivery of such notice, and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not
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be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding; provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his or her own counsel in any such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense; and (ii) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his or her own counsel in any such Proceeding at the Company’s expense if (A) the Company has authorized the employment of counsel by Indemnitee at the expense of the Company; (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded based on the written advice of Indemnitee’s legal counsel that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense; or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding. In addition to all the requirements above, if the Company has D&O Insurance, or other insurance, with a panel counsel requirement that may cover the matter for which indemnity is claimed by Indemnitee, then Indemnitee shall use such panel counsel or other counsel approved by the insurers, unless there is an actual conflict of interest posed by representation by all such counsel, or unless and to the extent Company waives such requirement in writing. Indemnitee and his or her counsel shall provide reasonable cooperation with such insurer on request of the Company.
8. Right to Indemnification.
(a) Right to Indemnification. In the event that Section 5(a) is inapplicable, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement unless, and except to the extent that, it shall have been determined by one of the methods listed in Section 8(b) that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct required to entitle Indemnitee to such indemnification.
(b) Determination of Right to Indemnification. A determination of Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Section 8 shall be made at the election: (i) by a majority vote of directors who are not parties to the Proceeding for which indemnification is being sought, even though less than a quorum; (ii) by a committee of the Board consisting of directors who are not parties to the Proceeding for which indemnification is being sought, who, even though less than a quorum, have been designated by a majority vote of the disinterested directors; (iii) if there are no such disinterested directors or if the disinterested directors so direct, by Independent Counsel chosen by the Company in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (iv) by the Company’s stockholders. However, in the event there has been a Change in Control, then the determination shall, at Indemnitee’s sole option, be made by Independent Counsel as in (b)(iii) above, with Company choosing the Independent Counsel subject to Indemnitee’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
(c) Submission for Decision. As soon as practicable, and in no event later than 30 days after Indemnitee’s written request for indemnification, the Board shall select the method for determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person or persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity, upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel or member of the Board shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement.
(d) Application to Court. If (i) a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses is denied, in whole or in part, (ii) no disposition of such claim is made by the Company within 60 days after the request therefore, (iii) the advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement or (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall have the right at his or her option to apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery, for the purpose of enforcing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification (including the advancement of Expenses) pursuant to this Agreement. Upon written request by Indemnitee, the Company shall consent to service of process.
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(e) Expenses Related to the Enforcement or Interpretation of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all reasonable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any hearing or proceeding under this Section 8 involving Indemnitee, and against all reasonable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any other proceeding between the Company and Indemnitee to the extent involving the interpretation or enforcement of the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, if and to the extent Indemnitee is successful.
(f) Determination of Final Adjudication. In no event shall Indemnitee’s right to indemnification (apart from advancement of Expenses) be determined prior to a Final Adjudication in a Proceeding at issue if the Proceeding is both ongoing, and of the nature to have a Final Adjudication, unless a Final Adjudication in another Proceeding establishes that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification in the first Proceeding
(g) Standard. In any proceeding to determine Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advancement, with the burden of proof on the Company to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence (or higher standard if required by relevant law) that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
(h) Good Faith. Indemnitee shall be fully indemnified for those matters where, in the performance of his or her duties for the Company, he or she relied in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the Company’s officers or employees, or committees of the board of directors, or by any other person as to matters Indemnitee reasonably believed were within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who was selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.
9. Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated:
(a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee with respect to Proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee (including cross actions), with a reasonable allocation where appropriate, unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the Proceeding was authorized by the Board, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the Company, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under the DGCL or (iv) the Proceeding is brought pursuant to Section 8 specifically to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 in advance of a Final Adjudication, in which case Section 8(e) provision shall control. For clarity, the raising of defenses by the Company by way of argument or affirmative defenses in an Indemnitee-initiated Proceeding against the Company shall not themselves be deemed to be a Proceeding.
(b) Fees on Fees. To indemnify Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, to the extent Indemnitee is not successful in such a Proceeding.
(c) Unauthorized Settlements. To indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding unless the Company consents to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses associated with any Proceeding related to, or the payment of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law (provided, however, that the Company must advance Expenses for such matters as otherwise permissible under this Agreement).
(e) Payments Contrary to Law. To indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee for which payment is prohibited by applicable law.
(f) Required Reimbursement. To indemnify Indemnitee for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation, including bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (including without limitation reimbursements that (i) arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of Sarbanes-Oxley, or (ii) arise pursuant to regulations or policies adopted in compliance with Section 954 of the Investor Protection and Securities Reform Act of 2010, as amended).
10. Non-Exclusivity. The provisions for indemnification and advancement of Expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, the vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors, other agreements, or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while occupying Indemnitee’s position as an Agent of the Company. Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased acting as an Agent of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. This Agreement shall supersede all prior indemnification agreements with the Company; provided, Indemnitee is entitled to any advancement or indemnification rights (pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, a prior indemnification agreement, or other agreement) in effect at the time of Indemnitee’s service that is at issue in the matter potentially subject to indemnification, to the extent such rights are more favorable to Indemnitee than those granted herein.
11. Permitted Defenses. It shall be a defense to any action for which a claim for indemnification is made under this Agreement (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for Expenses pursuant to Section 6; provided that the required documents have been tendered to the Company) that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification because of the limitations set forth in Sections 4 and 9 . Neither the failure of the Company or an Independent Counsel to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such enforcement action that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances, nor an actual determination by the Company or an Independent Counsel that such indemnification is improper, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise. In making any determination concerning Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, there shall be a presumption that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct. Any determination by the Company concerning Indemnitee’s right to indemnification that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
12. Subrogation. Subject to the limitations of Section 13, in the event the Company is obligated to make a payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents reasonably required and take all action that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights (provided that the Company pays Indemnitee’s costs and expenses of doing
9
so), including without limitation by assigning all such rights to the Company or its designee to the extent of such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Subject to the limitations of Section 13, the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance expenses under this Agreement shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has collected from such other source, and in the event that Company has fully paid such indemnity or expenses, Indemnitee shall return to the Company any amounts subsequently received from such other source of indemnification.
13. Primacy of Indemnification. The Company acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, or liability insurance, neither procured or provided by the Company (including for this section any parent, affiliate, or investment vehicle) nor any entity Indemnitee served or is serving at the direction of the Company, from a third party (collectively, the “Third Party Indemnitors”). The Company agrees that (i) it is the indemnitor of first resort, i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee under this Agreement and any indemnity provisions set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or elsewhere (collectively, “Indemnity Arrangements”) are primary, and any obligation of the Third Party Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee is secondary and excess, (ii) it shall advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to the extent legally permitted and as required by any Indemnity Arrangement, without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Third Party Indemnitors, and (iii) it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Third Party Indemnitors from any claims against the Third Party Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind arising out of or relating to any Indemnity Arrangement. The Company further agrees that no advancement or indemnification payment by any Third Party Indemnitor on behalf of Indemnitee shall affect the foregoing, and the Third Party Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Third Party Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 13. The Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its insurers to the extent allowed by its insurance policies, waives subrogation rights against Indemnitee and Third Party Indemnitors. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, “Third Party Indemnitors” shall not include any subsidiary of the Company nor any entity Indemnitee served or is serving at the request or direction of the Company, nor any joint venture.
14. No Imputation. The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, or the Company itself shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for the purpose of determining Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.
15. Survival of Rights.
(a) All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an Agent of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible claim or threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by reason of the fact that Indemnitee was serving in the capacity referred to herein.
(b) The Company shall require any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
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16. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, such remaining provisions shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable.
17. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is in a writing signed by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions (even if similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
18. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) upon delivery if delivered by hand to the party to whom such notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, return receipt requested, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt, or (d) on the same day as delivered by electronic transmission if delivered during business hours or on the next successive business day if delivered by electronic transmission after business hours. Addresses for notice to either party shall be as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or to such other address as may have been furnished by either party in the manner set forth above.
19. Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed according to the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Delaware. This Agreement is intended to be an agreement of the type contemplated by Section 145(f) of the DGCL. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement, and electronically transmitted signatures shall be valid.
(Signature page follows)
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The parties hereto have entered into this Indemnification Agreement, including the undertaking contained herein, effective as of the date first above written.
| COMPANY: | ||
| HADRON ENERGY, INC. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Samuel Gibson | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| INDEMNITEE: | ||
| [NAME] | ||
|
| ||
| Address: | ||
| Email: | ||
(Signature page to Indemnification Agreement)
Exhibit 10.2
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
2026 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| 1 |
ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN | 1 | ||||
| 1.1 |
Establishment | 1 | ||||
| 1.2 |
Purpose | 1 | ||||
| 1.3 |
Term of Plan | 1 | ||||
| 2 |
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION | 1 | ||||
| 2.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
| 2.2 |
Construction | 9 | ||||
| 3 |
ADMINISTRATION | 9 | ||||
| 3.1 |
Administration by the Committee | 9 | ||||
| 3.2 |
Authority of Officers | 10 | ||||
| 3.3 |
Administration with Respect to Insiders | 10 | ||||
| 3.4 |
Powers of the Committee | 10 | ||||
| 3.5 |
Option or SAR Repricing | 12 | ||||
| 3.6 |
Indemnification | 12 | ||||
| 4 |
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN | 12 | ||||
| 4.1 |
Maximum Number of Shares Issuable | 12 | ||||
| 4.2 |
Share Counting | 12 | ||||
| 4.3 |
Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure | 13 | ||||
| 4.4 |
Assumption or Substitution of Awards | 14 | ||||
| 5 |
ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION AND AWARD LIMITATIONS | 14 | ||||
| 5.1 |
Persons Eligible for Awards | 14 | ||||
| 5.2 |
Participation in the Plan | 14 | ||||
| 5.3 |
Incentive Stock Option Limitations | 14 | ||||
| 5.4 |
Nonemployee Director Award Limit | 15 | ||||
| 6 |
STOCK OPTIONS | 15 | ||||
| 6.1 |
Exercise Price | 15 | ||||
| 6.2 |
Exercisability and Term of Options | 15 | ||||
| 6.3 |
Payment of Exercise Price | 16 | ||||
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||
| 6.4 |
Effect of Termination of Service | 17 | ||||
| 6.5 |
Transferability of Options | 18 | ||||
| 7 |
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS | 18 | ||||
| 7.1 |
Types of SARs Authorized | 18 | ||||
| 7.2 |
Exercise Price | 19 | ||||
| 7.3 |
Exercisability and Term of SARs | 19 | ||||
| 7.4 |
Exercise of SARs | 19 | ||||
| 7.5 |
Deemed Exercise of SARs | 20 | ||||
| 7.6 |
Effect of Termination of Service | 20 | ||||
| 7.7 |
Transferability of SARs | 20 | ||||
| 8 |
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS | 20 | ||||
| 8.1 |
Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized | 21 | ||||
| 8.2 |
Purchase Price | 21 | ||||
| 8.3 |
Purchase Period | 21 | ||||
| 8.4 |
Payment of Purchase Price | 21 | ||||
| 8.5 |
Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer | 21 | ||||
| 8.6 |
Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions | 22 | ||||
| 8.7 |
Effect of Termination of Service | 22 | ||||
| 8.8 |
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights | 22 | ||||
| 9 |
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS | 22 | ||||
| 9.1 |
Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 22 | ||||
| 9.2 |
Purchase Price | 23 | ||||
| 9.3 |
Vesting | 23 | ||||
| 9.4 |
Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 23 | ||||
| 9.5 |
Effect of Termination of Service | 24 | ||||
| 9.6 |
Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 24 | ||||
| 9.7 |
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 24 | ||||
| 10 |
PERFORMANCE AWARDS | 24 | ||||
| 10.1 |
Types of Performance Awards Authorized | 24 | ||||
| 10.2 |
Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units | 25 | ||||
| 10.3 |
Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula | 25 | ||||
| 10.4 |
Measurement of Performance Goals | 25 | ||||
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||
| 10.5 |
Settlement of Performance Awards | 26 | ||||
| 10.6 |
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 27 | ||||
| 10.7 |
Effect of Termination of Service | 27 | ||||
| 10.8 |
Nontransferability of Performance Awards | 28 | ||||
| 11 |
CASH-BASED AWARDS AND OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS | 28 | ||||
| 11.1 |
Grant of Cash-Based Awards | 28 | ||||
| 11.2 |
Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards | 28 | ||||
| 11.3 |
Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards | 29 | ||||
| 11.4 |
Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards | 29 | ||||
| 11.5 |
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 29 | ||||
| 11.6 |
Effect of Termination of Service | 29 | ||||
| 11.7 |
Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards | 30 | ||||
| 12 |
STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT | 30 | ||||
| 12.1 |
Award Agreements | 30 | ||||
| 12.2 |
Authority to Vary Terms | 30 | ||||
| 13 |
CHANGE IN CONTROL | 30 | ||||
| 13.1 |
Effect of Change in Control on Awards | 30 | ||||
| 13.2 |
Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards | 32 | ||||
| 13.3 |
Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code | 32 | ||||
| 14 |
COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW | 33 | ||||
| 15 |
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A | 33 | ||||
| 15.1 |
Awards Subject to Section 409A | 33 | ||||
| 15.2 |
Deferral and/or Distribution Elections | 34 | ||||
| 15.3 |
Subsequent Elections | 34 | ||||
| 15.4 |
Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation | 35 | ||||
| 16 |
TAX WITHHOLDING | 37 | ||||
| 16.1 |
Tax Withholding in General | 37 | ||||
| 16.2 |
Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares | 37 | ||||
| 17 |
AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF PLAN | 38 | ||||
| 18 |
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 38 | ||||
| 18.1 |
Repurchase Rights | 38 | ||||
| 18.2 |
Forfeiture Events | 38 | ||||
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||
| 18.3 |
Provision of Information | 39 | ||||
| 18.4 |
Electronic Delivery and Participation | 39 | ||||
| 18.5 |
Change in Time Commitment | 39 | ||||
| 18.6 |
Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director | 40 | ||||
| 18.7 |
Rights as a Stockholder | 40 | ||||
| 18.8 |
Delivery of Title to Shares | 40 | ||||
| 18.9 |
Fractional Shares | 40 | ||||
| 18.10 |
Provisions for Non-U.S | 40 | ||||
| 18.11 |
Lock-Up Period | 40 | ||||
| 18.12 |
Data Privacy | 40 | ||||
| 18.13 |
Retirement and Welfare Plans | 41 | ||||
| 18.14 |
Beneficiary Designation | 41 | ||||
| 18.15 |
Severability | 41 | ||||
| 18.16 |
No Constraint on Corporate Action | 42 | ||||
| 18.17 |
Unfunded Obligation | 42 | ||||
| 18.18 |
Choice of Law | 42 | ||||
iv
Hadron Energy, Inc.
2026 Equity Incentive Plan
| 1 | ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN. |
1.1 Establishment. The Hadron Energy, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby established effective as of May 22, 2026, the date of the closing of each of the transactions contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement entered into by and between GigCapital7 Corp., MMR Merger Sub, Inc., and Hadron Energy, Inc. (the “Business Combination Agreement”), following the Plan’s approval by the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”).
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.
1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Incentive Stock Options shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date that the Plan was approved by the Board or the stockholders of the Company.
| 2 | DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION. |
2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) “Affiliate” means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned to such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
(b) “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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(e) “Cash-Based Award” means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.
(f) “Cashless Exercise” means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).
(g) “Cause” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award and which is in effect as of the date of grant of such Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement (except with respect to a disclosure protected by applicable law); or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.
(h) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:
(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or
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(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a “Transaction”) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(ee)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the “Transferee”), as the case may be; or
(iii) a date specified by the Committee following approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(h) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple events described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.1(h) are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5). The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations and administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.
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(j) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers and, in such instances, references herein to the Committee shall mean the Board. Unless the Board specifically determines otherwise, each member of the Committee shall, at the time it takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an “independent director” under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Stock is listed. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as “non-employee director” or an “independent director” shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.
(k) “Company” means GigCapital7 Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (which shall transfer by way of continuation and domesticate as a Delaware corporation prior to the Effective Date and be renamed “Hadron Energy, Inc.” upon the completion of the merger contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement), and any successor corporation thereto.
(l) “Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
(m) “Director” means a member of the Board.
(n) “Disability” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award and which is in effect as of the date of grant of such Award, the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(o) “Dividend Equivalent Right” means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.
(p) “Employee” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its
4
discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.
(q) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(ii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code to the extent applicable.
(s) “Full Value Award” means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock-Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.
(t) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
5
(u) “Incumbent Director” means a director who either (i) is a member of the Board as of the Effective Date or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but excluding a director who was elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).
(v) “Insider” means an Officer, a Director or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(w) “Materially Impair” means any amendment to the terms of the Award that materially adversely affects the Participant’s rights under the Award. A Participant’s rights under an Award will not be deemed to have been Materially Impaired by any such amendment if the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s rights. For example, the following types of amendments to the terms of an Award do not Materially Impair the Participant’s rights under the Award: (i) imposition of reasonable restrictions on the minimum number of shares subject to an Option that may be exercised, (ii) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iii) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option in a manner that disqualifies, impairs or otherwise affects the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iv) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with or qualify it for an exemption from, Section 409A; or (v) to comply with other applicable laws.
(x) “Net Exercise” means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).
(y) “Nonemployee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(z) “Nonemployee Director Award” means any Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.
(aa) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(bb) “Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
(cc) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(dd) “Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.
(ee) “Ownership Change Event” means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
6
(ff) “Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(gg) “Participant” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(hh) “Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(ii) “Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(jj) “Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
(kk) “Performance Award Formula” means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.
(ll) “Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.
(mm) “Performance Period” means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.
(nn) “Performance Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
(oo) “Performance Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
(pp) “Plan Administrator” means the person, persons, and/or third-party administrator designated by the Company to administer the day to day operations of the Plan and the Company’s other equity incentive programs.
(qq) “Post-Termination Exercise Period” means the period following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service within which an Option or SAR is exercisable, as specified in Section 6.4(a).
7
(rr) “Restricted Stock Award” means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
(ss) “Restricted Stock Bonus” means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(tt) “Restricted Stock Purchase Right” means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(uu) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or occurrence of a future event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(vv) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(ww) “SAR” or “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.
(xx) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.
(yy) “Section 409A Deferred Compensation” means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
(zz) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(aaa) “Service” means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether as an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted or terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety-first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of and reason for such termination.
8
(bbb) “Stock” means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.
(ccc) “Stock Tender Exercise” means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).
(ddd) “Subsidiary Corporation” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(eee) “Ten Percent Owner” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
(fff) “Trading Compliance Policy” means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.
(ggg) “Vesting Conditions” mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service or failure of a performance condition to be satisfied.
2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
| 3 | ADMINISTRATION. |
3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
9
3.2 Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to a committee comprised of one or more Officers the authority to grant one or more Awards, without further approval of the Committee, to any Employee, other than a person who, at the time of such grant, is an Insider, and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that (a) the Committee shall fix the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that may be granted by such Officers, (b) each such Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the appropriate standard form of Award Agreement approved by the Board or the Committee and shall conform to the provisions of the Plan, and (c) each such Award shall conform to such other limits and guidelines as may be established from time to time by the Committee.
3.3 Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.
3.4 Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;
(b) to determine the type of Award granted;
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of any Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
10
(e) to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;
(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
(g) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto; provided however, that, a Participant’s rights under any Award will not be Materially Impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing;
(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service; provided however, that, a Participant’s rights under any Award will not be Materially Impaired by any such action unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing;
(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards;
(j) to prohibit the exercise of any Option, SAR or other exercisable Award during a period of up to 30 days prior to the consummation of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock including any Change in Control, for reasons of administrative convenience;
(k) to effect, at any time and from time to time, subject to the consent of any Participant whose Award is Materially Impaired by such action, (i) the reduction of the exercise price (or strike price) of any outstanding Option or SAR; (i) the cancellation of any outstanding Option or SAR and the grant in substitution therefor of (A) a new Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, RSU Award or Other Award, under the Plan or another equity plan of the Company, covering the same or a different number of shares of Stock, (B) cash and/or (C) other valuable consideration (as determined by the Board); or (iii) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; and
(l) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
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3.5 Option or SAR Repricing. The Committee shall have the authority, without additional approval by the stockholders of the Company, to approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock (“Underwater Awards”) and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options or SARs covering the same or a different number of shares but with an exercise price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share on the new grant date, Full Value Awards, or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof to the Fair Market Value per share on the date of amendment.
3.6 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
| 4 | SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN. |
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to 10,021,784 shares, plus an annual increase, effective as of the first day of the calendar year beginning in the year following the calendar year in which the Effective Date occurs and the first day of each subsequent calendar year through and including the first day of the calendar year beginning on the ninth (9th) anniversary of the commencement of such annual increase, by a number of shares equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the number of shares of Stock outstanding as of such date of the annual increase, or (ii) such amount, if any, as the Board may determine, and such shares shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof; provided, however that in no event shall any such annual increase occur on any date that is on or later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the stockholders of the Company approved the Plan.
4.2 Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the
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terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the net number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares purchased in the open market with proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be added to the limit set forth in Section 4.1. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the exercise or settlement of Options or SARs pursuant to Section 16.2 and Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the vesting or settlement of Full Value Awards pursuant to Section 16.2 shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.
4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Section 409A and Section 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, the annual increase set forth in Section 4.1, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the “New Shares”), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion and in accordance with Section 409A and Section 424 of the Code to the extent applicable. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the exercise or purchase price per share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the exercise or purchase price, if any, under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
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4.4 Assumption or Substitution of Awards. The Committee may, without reducing or otherwise affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of equity awards under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code. In addition, subject to compliance with applicable laws, and listing requirements, shares available for grant under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for awards under the Plan to individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Participating Company Group prior to the transaction and shall not reduce the number of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan.
| 5 | ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION AND AWARD LIMITATIONS. |
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.
5.2 Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.
5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
(a) Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed 10,021,784 shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares determined in accordance with Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3.
(b) Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an “ISO-Qualifying Corporation”). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(c) Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated
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as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise of the Option, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.
5.4 Nonemployee Director Award Limit. Annual compensation awarded to any Nonemployee Director during each calendar year, including both shares of Stock subject to Awards and any cash fees paid to such Nonemployee Director (but excluding any cash retainer fees, including cash retainer fees converted into equity awards at the election of the Nonemployee Director, expense reimbursements or distributions from any deferred compensation program applicable to the Nonemployee Director) may not exceed $1,500,000 in total value, or $2,000,000 in the calendar year in which any Nonemployee Director is initially elected to the Board (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes).
| 6 | STOCK OPTIONS. |
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
6.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price less than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A or Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years
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after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
6.3 Payment of Exercise Price.
(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Stock Tender Exercise or (3) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) if permitted by the Committee, by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
(i) Cashless Exercise. A “Cashless Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.
(ii) Stock Tender Exercise. A “Stock Tender Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice accompanied by a Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.
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(iii) Net Exercise. A “Net Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.
6.4 Effect of Termination of Service.
(a) Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this Plan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in an Award Agreement, an Option shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period specified below, or if applicable, such other period provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company; provided however, in no event may such Option be exercised after expiration of its maximum permitted term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option or any earlier date the Option is terminated in connection with a Change in Control (the “Option Expiration Date”), and thereafter shall terminate if not exercised during such period. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercisable following the date that is three (3) months following the date as of which a Participant ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or Disability, such Option shall be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(i) Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated.
(ii) Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of Service for any reason other than Cause.
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(iii) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.
(iv) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated.
(b) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the Post-Termination Exercise Period is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below or applicable law, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the Post-Termination Exercise Period, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
6.5 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, only as permitted by applicable regulations under Section 421 of the Code in a manner that does not disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option.
| 7 | STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. |
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “Freestanding SAR”). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.
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7.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A.
7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs.
(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
(b) Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that (i) no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR and (ii) no Freestanding SAR granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such SAR (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act).
Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
7.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over
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the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.
7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion. The Company may elect to discontinue the deemed exercise of SARs pursuant to this Section 7.5 at any time upon notice to a Participant or to apply the deemed exercise feature only to certain groups of Participants. The deemed exercise of a SAR pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall apply only to a SAR that has been timely accepted by a Participant under procedures specified by the Company from time to time.
7.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in an Award Agreement, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.
7.7 Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
| 8 | RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS. |
Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
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8.1 Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
8.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.
8.3 Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
8.4 Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.
8.5 Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
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8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5, and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that if so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid, and otherwise shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders (or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders). In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.
8.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.
8.8 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
| 9 | RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. |
Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or the Vesting Conditions with respect to such Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
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9.2 Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.
9.3 Vesting. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.
9.4 Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with a cash amount or with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. If so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such cash amount or additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions (including vesting terms) and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.
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9.5 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.
9.6 Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee in compliance with Section 409A, if applicable, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that if the settlement date with respect to any shares issuable upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the settlement date shall be deferred until the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy but in any event no later than the 15th day of the third calendar month following the year in which such Restricted Stock Units vest. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement or an Election (as defined in Section 15.2). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.
9.7 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
| 10 | PERFORMANCE AWARDS. |
Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
10.1 Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be granted in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.
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10.2 Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial monetary value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.
10.3 Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.
10.4 Measurement of Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained (“Performance Targets”) with respect to one or more measures of objective or subjective business, financial or individual performance or other performance criteria established by the Committee in its discretion (each, a “Performance Measure”), subject to the following:
(a) Performance Measures. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee no later than the grant of the Performance Award, Performance Measures based on objective criteria shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, or, if such measures are not reported in the Company’s financial statements, they shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, a method used generally in the Company’s industry, or in accordance with a methodology established by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award. Performance Measures based on subjective criteria shall be determined on the basis established by the Committee in granting the Award. As specified by the Committee, Performance Measures may be calculated with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary Corporation consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes, one or more Subsidiary Corporations or such division or other business unit of any of them selected by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee no later than the grant of the Performance Award, the Performance Measures applicable to the Performance Award shall be calculated prior to the accrual of expense for any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) on the Performance Measures of any change in accounting standards or any unusual or infrequently occurring event or transaction, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of Performance Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award.
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(b) Performance Targets. Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the Performance Target level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value, an increase or decrease in a value, or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Committee.
10.5 Settlement of Performance Awards.
(a) Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.
(b) Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.
(c) Effect of Leaves of Absence. Unless otherwise required by law or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days in unpaid leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on an unpaid leave of absence.
(d) Notice to Participants. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.
(e) Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), but in any event within the Short-Term Deferral Period described in Section 15.1 (except as otherwise provided below or consistent with the requirements of Section 409A), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the payment to be made to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred payment date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement or an Election. If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest.
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(f) Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares. If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock determined by the method specified in the Award Agreement. Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5. Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.
10.6 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant either in cash or in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be accumulated and paid to the extent that the related Performance Shares become nonforfeitable. Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 10.5. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.
10.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:
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(a) Death or Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period. Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.
(b) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety; provided, however, that in the event of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service, the Committee, in its discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture of all or any portion of any such Award and determine the final value of the Performance Award in the manner provided by Section 10.7(a). Payment of any amount pursuant to this Section shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.
10.8 Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
| 11 | CASH-BASED AWARDS AND OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. |
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
11.1 Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Committee may determine.
11.2 Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock-equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Stock-Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.
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11.3 Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met.
11.4 Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines and set forth in the Award Agreement. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash-Based Award and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.
11.5 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock-Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock-Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash-Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock-Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.
11.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.
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11.7 Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.
| 12 | STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT. |
12.1 Award Agreements. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a Company-executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means.
12.2 Authority to Vary Terms. The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
| 13 | CHANGE IN CONTROL. |
13.1 Effect of Change in Control on Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the definitive agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the Change in Control. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the following provisions will apply to Awards in the event of a Change in Control unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award. In the event of a Change in Control, then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may take one or more of the following actions with respect to Awards, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Change in Control. The Committee need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants and in each case may make such determination in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award).
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(a) Accelerated Vesting. The Committee may take such action as it deems appropriate to provide for acceleration of the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement in connection with a Change in Control of each or any outstanding Award or portion thereof and shares acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the Participant’s Service prior to, upon, or following the Change in Control, and to such extent as the Committee determines.
(b) Assumption, Continuation or Substitution. The Committee may arrange for the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiror”) to assume or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable, with appropriate adjustments in accordance with Section 4.3. For purposes of this Section, if so determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. Any Award or portion thereof which is not assumed, continued or substituted by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.
(c) Assignment or Lapse of Reacquisition or Repurchase Rights. The Committee may arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Stock issued pursuant to the Award to the Acquiror or arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Award.
(d) Cancellation. In its discretion, the Committee may cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, in exchange for no consideration ($0) or such consideration, if any, as determined by the Committee.
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(e) Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without notice or payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards or, if determined by the Committee and in compliance with Section 409A, as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control.
(f) Adjustments and Earnouts. In making any determination pursuant to this Section 13.1 in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that an Award shall or shall not be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, earnouts and similar conditions as the other holders of the Company’s Stock, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A or Section 424 of the Code.
13.2 Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, including as provided by Section 15.4(f), in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Nonemployee Director Award shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full effective immediately prior to and contingent upon the Change in Control and, except to the extent assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 13.1(b) or otherwise restricted by Section 409A, shall be settled effective immediately prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control if not exercised or settled prior to the Change in Control.
13.3 Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code.
(a) Excess Parachute Payment. If any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, then, provided such election would not subject the Participant to taxation under Section 409A, the Participant may elect to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization.
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(b) Determination by Tax Firm. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under Section 13.3(a), no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to the Participant as described in Section 13.3(a), the Company shall request a determination in writing by the professional firm engaged by the Company for general tax purposes, or, if the tax firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the Acquiror, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized tax firm to make the determinations required by this Section (the “Tax Firm”). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Tax Firm shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Tax Firm may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Tax Firm such information and documents as the Tax Firm may reasonably request in order to make its required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Tax Firm charges in connection with its services contemplated by this Section.
| 14 | COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW. |
The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
| 15 | COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A. |
15.1 Awards Subject to Section 409A. The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed. The provisions of this Section 15 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation. Such Awards may include, without limitation:
(a) A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.
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(b) Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.
Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period” means the 2 1/2 month period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.
15.2 Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A and the Company, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “Election”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:
(a) Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.
(b) Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to the Participant.
(c) Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 15.3.
15.3 Subsequent Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.
(b) Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 15.4(a)(ii), 15.4(a)(iii) or 15.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
34
(c) No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(vi) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
(d) Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the subsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of this Section 15.3.
15.4 Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.
(a) Permissible Payments. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:
(i) The Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A);
(ii) The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as defined by Section 409A);
(iii) The Participant’s death;
(iv) A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 15.2 or 15.3, as applicable;
(v) A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or
(vi) The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as defined by Section 409A).
(b) Installment Payments. It is the intent of this Plan that any right of a Participant to receive installment payments (within the meaning of Section 409A) shall, for all purposes of Section 409A, be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.
(c) Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the “Delayed Payment Date”) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
35
(d) Payment Upon Disability. All distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation payable pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(ii) by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum or commence upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.
(e) Payment Upon Death. If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.
(f) Payment Upon Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 13.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 15.4(c)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.
(g) Payment Upon Unforeseeable Emergency. The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(vi) in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by
36
cessation of deferrals under the Award. All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum upon the Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred. The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.
(h) Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A. The Company reserves the right in its discretion to accelerate the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation to the maximum extent permitted by Section 409A.
(i) No Representation Regarding Section 409A Compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A.
| 16 | TAX WITHHOLDING. |
16.1 Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
16.2 Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall be determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s withholding procedures and after considering any accounting consequences or cost). The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.
37
| 17 | AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF PLAN. |
The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Sections 4.2 and 4.3, (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may have a materially adverse effect on any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.
| 18 | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. |
18.1 Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
18.2 Forfeiture Events.
(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service, or any accounting restatement due to material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirements of securities laws as a result of which, and to the extent that, such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment is required by applicable securities laws. In addition, to the extent that claw-back or similar provisions applicable to Awards are required by applicable law, listing standards and/or policies adopted by the Company, Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to such provisions.
38
(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other applicable law or listing requirements, shall reimburse the Company for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve- (12-) month period. No recovery of compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions will constitute an event giving rise to a Participant’s right to voluntarily terminate employment upon a “resignation for good reason” or for a “constructive termination” or any similar term under any plan or agreement with the Company.
18.3 Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.
18.4 Electronic Delivery and Participation. Any reference herein or in an Award Agreement to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access). By accepting any Award, the Participant consents to receive documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through any on-line electronic system established and maintained by the Plan Administrator or another third party selected by the Plan Administrator. The form of delivery of any Stock (e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) shall be determined by the Company.
18.5 Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of absence) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Board may determine, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares, amount of cash, or other property subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
39
18.6 Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.
18.7 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4 or another provision of the Plan.
18.8 Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.
18.9 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
18.10 Provisions for Non-U.S. Participants. The Committee may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to address differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.
18.11 Lock-Up Period. The Company may, at the request of any underwriter representative or otherwise, in connection with registering the offering of any Company securities under the Securities Act, prohibit Participants from, directly or indirectly, selling or otherwise transferring any share of Stock or other Company securities during a period of up to 180 days following the effective date of a Company registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or such longer period as determined by the underwriter.
18.12 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any shares of Stock held in the Company or its Subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement,
40
administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any shares of Stock. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 18.12 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. If the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 18.12, the Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.
18.13 Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit. In addition, unless a written employment agreement or other service agreement specifically references Awards, a general reference to “benefits” or a similar term in such agreement shall not be deemed to refer to Awards granted hereunder.
18.14 Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.
18.15 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
41
18.16 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
18.17 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
18.18 Choice of Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law rules.
42
Exhibit 16.1
May 29, 2026
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have read the statements included under Item 4.01 of the Form 8-K dated May 29, 2026 to be filed by our former client Hadron Energy, Inc. We agree with the statements under Item 4.01 insofar as they relate to our Firm. We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
San Francisco, California
Exhibit 99.1
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HADRON ENERGY, INC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2026 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2025 | F-2 | |||
| Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 | F-3 | |||
| Unaudited Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 | F-4 | |||
| Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 | F-5 | |||
| Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements | F-6 |
1
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
| March 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| Assets |
||||||||
| Current assets: |
||||||||
| Cash |
$ | 2,129,451 | $ | 1,757,241 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
81,134 | 333,403 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total current assets |
2,210,585 | 2,090,644 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net |
35,419 | 37,364 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
60,611 | 81,607 | ||||||
| Other assets |
— | 6,006 | ||||||
| Deferred transaction costs |
2,290,926 | 1,874,924 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total assets |
$ | 4,597,541 | $ | 4,090,545 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit |
||||||||
| Current liabilities: |
||||||||
| Accounts payable |
$ | 1,832,384 | $ | 97,937 | ||||
| Accrued expenses |
11,908,228 | 17,383,394 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current portion |
20,946 | 37,731 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total current liabilities |
13,761,558 | 17,519,062 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities |
10,023 | 12,499 | ||||||
| Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
34,524,160 | 46,358,393 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities |
48,295,741 | 63,889,954 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) |
||||||||
| Stockholders’ deficit: |
||||||||
| Common stock: $0.0001 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025; 924,167 and 921,354 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively |
255 | 255 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital |
15,302,584 | 12,568,471 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit |
(59,001,039 | ) | (72,368,135 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total stockholders’ deficit |
(43,698,200 | ) | (59,799,409 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit |
$ | 4,597,541 | $ | 4,090,545 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
2
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| Operating expenses |
||||||||
| General and administrative, including related parties of $1,946 and $22,749, respectively (Note 9) |
$ | 1,562,910 | $ | 148,877 | ||||
| Research and development, including related parties of $0 and $3,400, respectively (Note 9) |
442,807 | 6,322 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
2,734,113 | 9,013 | ||||||
| Depreciation |
1,945 | 178 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of legal settlement liability |
(4,689,638 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total operating expenses |
52,137 | 164,390 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Loss from operations |
(52,137 | ) | (164,390 | ) | ||||
| Other income (loss) |
||||||||
| Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
13,419,233 | (55,961 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total other income (loss) |
13,419,233 | (55,961 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes |
13,367,096 | (220,351 | ) | |||||
| Provision for income taxes |
— | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | 13,367,096 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
| Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities |
(257,544 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders |
$ | 13,109,552 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) per share: |
||||||||
| Net income (loss) per share - Basic |
$ | 14.23 | $ | (0.24 | ) | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic |
921,519 | 900,213 | ||||||
| Net loss per share - Diluted |
$ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | ||
| Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted |
985,863 | 900,213 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
3
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(Unaudited)
Three months Ended March 31, 2026
| Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Paid-In | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2025 |
921,354 | $ | 255 | $ | 12,568,471 | $ | (72,368,135 | ) | $ | (59,799,409 | ) | |||||||||
| Net income |
— | — | — | 13,367,096 | 13,367,096 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
— | — | 2,734,113 | — | 2,734,113 | |||||||||||||||
| Vesting of restricted shares |
2,813 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Balances as of March 31, 2026 |
924,167 | $ | 255 | $ | 15,302,584 | $ | (59,001,039 | ) | $ | (43,698,200 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Three months Ended March 31, 2025
| Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Paid-In | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2024 |
900,104 | $ | 250 | $ | 2,755 | $ | (593,556 | ) | $ | (590,551 | ) | |||||||||
| Net loss |
— | — | — | (220,351 | ) | (220,351 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Stock based compensation |
— | — | 9,013 | — | 9,013 | |||||||||||||||
| Vesting of restricted shares |
313 | 1 | (1 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Balances as of March 31, 2025 |
900,417 | $ | 251 | $ | 11,767 | $ | (813,907 | ) | $ | (801,889 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
4
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities |
||||||||
| Net income (loss) |
$ | 13,367,096 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
| Depreciation |
1,945 | 178 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of legal settlement liability |
(4,689,638 | ) | — | |||||
| Noncash operating lease expense |
20,996 | 3,350 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
(13,419,233 | ) | 55,961 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation |
2,734,113 | 9,013 | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
252,269 | (18,023 | ) | |||||
| Due from stockholder |
— | (19,305 | ) | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities |
(19,261 | ) | (42,935 | ) | ||||
| Other assets |
6,006 | — | ||||||
| Accounts payable |
1,318,445 | — | ||||||
| Accrued expenses |
(785,528 | ) | 21,501 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash used in operating activities |
(1,212,790 | ) | (210,611 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash flows from financing activities |
||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
1,585,000 | 307,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities |
1,585,000 | 307,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net increase in cash |
372,210 | 96,389 | ||||||
| Cash - beginning of period |
1,757,241 | 17,276 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash - end of period |
$ | 2,129,451 | $ | 113,665 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Supplemental schedule of non-cash transactions |
||||||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities |
$ | — | $ | 68,914 | ||||
| Deferred transaction costs included in accounts payable |
$ | 416,002 | $ | — | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
5
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
| 1. | ORGANIZATION |
Hadron Energy, Inc. (“the Company”) was formed on July 8, 2024 as Hadron Energy LLC, a California limited liability company (“the LLC”). On October 30, 2024, the sole member of the LLC converted its entire interest in the LLC into the Company as a Delaware Corporation, in exchange for 900,000 shares of common stock of the Company. The Company is developing a maximally standardized, factory-fabricated 10 megawatt pressurized light-water micro modular reactor based on Generation III+ technology. Designed for deployment at most U.S. sites with minimal site-specific requirements, each reactor is customized to meet the power demands of data centers, industrial sites, and remote applications.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The Company’s condensed financial statements have been prepared on a basis which assumes that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had cash of $2,129,451 and accumulated deficit of $59,001,039; and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, a loss from operations of $52,137 and negative cash flows from operations of $1,212,790. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends on its ability to obtain financial support through debt and equity transactions to fund the needs of the business, and ultimately to generate profitable operations. These condensed financial statements do not reflect any adjustments or reclassifications of assets and liabilities which would be necessary if the Company were unable to continue as a going concern. Since inception, except for the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur net losses and negative operating cash flows. Management expects that future operating losses and negative operating cash flows may increase from historical levels because of additional costs and expenses related to the development of technology and the development of market and strategic relationships with other businesses. The Company’s continued existence is dependent upon its ability to obtain additional sources of funding to support, through debt and equity transactions, its ongoing operations. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to secure funding under favorable terms. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
On September 27, 2025, GigCapital7 Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“GigCapital7”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2025, by and among GigCapital7, MMR Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of GigCapital7 (“Merger Sub”), and the Company. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (such transactions, together with the Merger, the “Business Combination”). On December 12, 2025, the parties entered into a first amendment to the Business Combination Agreement (the “First Amendment”), pursuant to which the parties expanded the size of the post-Closing Board of Directors to eight (8) members. On April 16, 2026, the parties entered into a second amendment to the Business Combination Agreement (the “Second Amendment”), pursuant to which the parties amend the Business Combination Agreement to (a) adjust the valuation of the Company and (b) extend the Outside Date. On May 7, 2026, the Company and the shareholders of GigCapital7 approved the business combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and as amended. On May 22, 2026, the Business Combination was consummated and is accounted for as a reverse capitalization.
| 2. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). References to ASC and ASU included herein refer to the Accounting Standards Codification and Accounting Standards Update established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) as the source of authoritative GAAP.
In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the fiscal year 2025 audited financial statements. They include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2026, and its results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2026 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year or any other periods. The condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2025 has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements.
6
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Use of Accounting Estimates
The preparation of interim condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions made when accounting for items and matters such as, but not limited to Simple Agreements for Future Equity agreements (“SAFEs”), stock-based compensation, valuation of the Company’s common stock, and loss contingencies including estimated legal settlement, are reasonable based on information available at the time they are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the interim condensed financial statements, as well as amounts reported on the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) during the periods presented. These estimates and assumptions may change as new events occur, and additional information is obtained. As a result, actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Property and Equipment, Net
All additions are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of the assets and the related accumulated depreciation is derecognized with any gain or loss recorded in the year of disposition. Depreciation is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Furniture is depreciated over useful lives of three to seven years, and computer equipment is depreciated over three years.
Deferred Transaction Costs
The Company capitalizes deferred transaction costs, which primarily consist of incremental legal fees, accounting fees and other fees directly attributable to the anticipated Business Combination which will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization. Reverse recapitalization transactions are viewed as the issuance of equity by the accounting acquirer for the cash of the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”). Accordingly, the direct and incremental transaction costs related to the de-SPAC transaction are treated as reduction of the SPAC’s cash proceeds and deducted from additional paid-in capital. The deferred transaction costs will be reclassified to additional paid-in capital upon closing. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, deferred transaction costs of $2,290,926 and $1,874,924, respectively, were capitalized in connection with the Business Combination on the balance sheet.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the Company uses a three-level hierarchy, which prioritizes fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques (market approach, income approach and cost approach). The levels of hierarchy are described below:
| | Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments. |
| | Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. |
| | Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the most stringent level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The carrying amount of certain financial instruments, including prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, deferred transaction costs, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to their short maturities. The fair value of the Company’s SAFEs liability and legal settlement were determined using level 3 fair value determination methods. Refer to Note 5 for additional details.
7
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Leases
The Company has lease arrangements for its corporate offices and a Company vehicle. In accordance with ASC 842, Leases, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception by evaluating whether the arrangement conveys the right-of-use (“ROU”) to an identified asset and whether the Company obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from and has the ability to direct the use of the asset. Leases are recorded as an operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities on the balance sheets. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets. Lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term, including options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company uses the discount rate implicit in the lease unless that rate cannot be readily determined. In that case, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis an amount equal to the lease payments over the expected lease term. Operating lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. There were no finance leases as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
Simple Agreements for Future Equity
The Company accounts for its SAFEs as a liability stated at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 480: Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. SAFEs are subject to revaluation at the end of each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized in the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). There was no event that triggered the SAFEs to convert into equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. Refer to Note 5 for additional details.
General and Administrative
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses for executives, human resources, finance and other G&A employees, including salary, professional services costs and facility and overhead costs.
Research and Development
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses represents costs incurred for technology development and regulatory support for the development of the factory light-water micro modular reactor. The R&D expenses consist of: employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, travel, for personnel in R&D functions; expenses related to technology development; and facilities, overhead, and other expenses. All research and development costs related to product development are expensed as incurred.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation is measured using a fair value-based method for all equity-based awards. The cost of awarded equity instruments is recognized based on each instrument’s grant-date fair value over the period during which the award vests. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for awards ratably over the requisite service period. For awards subject to time-based vesting conditions, the service period is generally the vesting period.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets, including tax loss and credit carry forwards, and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is “more likely-than-not” that deferred tax assets will not be realized. On a regular basis, the Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance. Such evaluations involve the application of significant judgment. The Company considers multiple factors in its evaluation of the need for a valuation allowance. The Company’s net deferred tax assets consist of assets related to net operating losses.
8
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Until an appropriate level of profitability is attained, the Company expects to maintain a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets. Any tax benefits or tax expense recorded on its statements of operations will be offset with a corresponding valuation allowance until such time that the Company changes its determination related to the realization of deferred tax assets. In the event that the Company changes its determination as to the amount of deferred tax assets that can be realized, the Company will adjust its valuation allowance with a corresponding impact to the provision for income taxes in the period in which such a determination is made. For uncertain tax positions that meet a “more likely-than-not” threshold, the Company recognizes the benefit of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements.
The Company’s practice is to recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The prior year tax returns remain subject to examination by taxing jurisdictions. At March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company does not believe it has any uncertain tax positions that would require either recognition or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
The Company’s basic net income (loss) per share of common stock is computed based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share includes the effect, if any, from potential conversion of securities, such as the issuance of shares of common stock from SAFE notes. Participating securities (unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents) are included in the computation of net income (loss) per share, pursuant to the two-class method. The Company’s participating securities consist solely of unvested restricted stock awards, which have contractual participation rights equivalent to those of stockholders of unrestricted common stock. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an allocation method that calculates earnings per share for common stock and participating securities. During periods of net loss, no effect is given to the participating securities because they do not share in the losses of the Company. For any period in which the Company is in a net loss position, basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share, since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
| March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) |
$ | 13,367,096 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
| Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities |
(257,544 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) - basic |
$ | 13,109,552 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) |
$ | 13,367,096 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
| Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
(13,419,233 | ) | — | |||||
| Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities |
(241,038 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net loss - diluted |
$ | (293,175 | ) | $ | (220,351 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||
| Denominator for basic net income (loss) per share – common shares outstanding |
921,519 | 900,213 | ||||||
| Effect of dilutive securities: |
||||||||
| Expected shares from SAFEs |
64,344 | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Denominator for diluted net loss per share – common shares outstanding |
985,863 | 900,213 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) per share – basic |
$ | 14.23 | $ | (0.24 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share - diluted |
$ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | ||
The following outstanding potentially dilutive shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive (in common stock equivalent shares):
9
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
| March 31, 2026 |
March 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| Unvested shares of restricted stock purchase agreements |
31,833 | 2,083 | ||||||
| Expected shares from SAFE notes |
— | 22,358 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total potentially dilutive securities |
31,833 | 24,441 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Segment Information
The Company has determined that its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), is its chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The CODM reviews financial information presented for purposes of assessing performance and making decisions on how to allocate resources at the overall Company level. The Company views its operations and manages its business as a single reportable segment with a single operating segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the CODM made decisions on resource allocation, assessed performance of the business and monitored actual results using net loss, which is provided in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). When evaluating how to allocate resources, the CODM primarily focuses on contract labor and legal fees which are the significant expenses within the results of operations. Contract labor costs and legal fees were $35,216 and $145,589, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and contract labor costs and legal fees were $42,706 and $26,759, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs issued by the FASB.
In October 2023, FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. This ASU amends the ASC to incorporate certain disclosure requirements from SEC Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification that was issued in 2018. The effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. For entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosure requirements and for entities required to file or furnish financial statements with or to the SEC in preparation for the sale of or for purposes of issuing securities that are not subject to contractual restrictions on transfer, the effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. For all other entities, the amendments will be effective two years later. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2023-06 will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Clarifying the Effective Date. ASU 2025-01 clarifies the effective date for ASU 2024-03 (Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures), ensuring public business entities adopt it initially in annual reporting periods (not interim) for non-calendar year-end entities. ASU 2024-03 requires disclosure on an annual and interim basis, in the notes to the financial statements, of disaggregated information about specific categories underlying certain income statement expense line items. The effective dates of ASU 2025-01 align with ASU 2024-03: annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-03, Business Combinations (Topic 805) and Consolidation (Topic 810): Determining the Accounting Acquirer in the Acquisition of a Variable Interest Entity (“ASU 2025-03”). ASU 2025-03 changes how companies determine the accounting acquirer in certain business combinations involving variable interest entities. The new guidance requires considering the factors used for other acquisition transactions to assess which party is the accounting acquirer. ASU 2025-03 is effective for the Company’s annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-04, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) and Revenue from Contracts With Customers (Topic 606): Clarifications to Share-Based Consideration Payable to a Customer (“ASU 2025-04”). ASU 202504 revises the definition of a performance condition, eliminates the forfeiture policy election for service conditions, and clarifies that the variable consideration
10
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
constraint in ASC Topic 606 does not apply to share-based consideration payable to customers. The new guidance requires entities to consistently account for share-based awards granted to customers by clarifying the treatment of vesting conditions and ensuring alignment with ASC Topic 606 and ASC Topic 718: Compensation—Stock Compensation. ASU 2025-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-10, Government Grants (Topic 832): Accounting for Government Grants Received by Business Entities. ASU 2025-10 establishes the accounting for a government grant received by a business entity, including guidance for (1) a grant related to an asset and (2) a grant related to income. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2028, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270). ASU 2025-11 clarifies the interim disclosure requirements, the applicability of Topic 270, the types of interim reporting, and the form and content of interim financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The ASU requires entities to disclose events since the end of the last annual reporting period that have a material impact on the entity. The ASU is effective for interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-12, Codification Improvements. ASU 2025-12 represents changes to the Codification that (1) clarify, (2) correct errors, or (3) make minor improvements. The amendments make the Codification easier to understand and apply. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.
The Company believes, based on its preliminary assessment, that any other recently issued, but not yet adopted, accounting pronouncements will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or related disclosures, or do not apply to the Company.
| 3. | ACCRUED EXPENSES |
Accrued expenses was as follows at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025:
| March 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| Legal fees |
$ | 50,000 | $ | 957,751 | ||||
| Credit card obligations |
443 | 2,657 | ||||||
| Accrued compensation |
202,387 | 77,950 | ||||||
| Other |
36 | 36 | ||||||
| Accrued legal settlement |
11,655,362 | 16,345,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total accrued expenses |
$ | 11,908,228 | $ | 17,383,394 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
11
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
| 4. | PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET |
Property and equipment was as follows at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025:
| March 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| Furniture |
$ | 15,857 | $ | 15,857 | ||||
| Computer equipment |
28,215 | 28,215 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 44,072 | 44,072 | |||||||
| Accumulated depreciation |
(8,653 | ) | (6,708 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total property and equipment, net |
$ | 35,419 | $ | 37,364 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 was $1,945 and $178, respectively.
| 5. | SIMPLE AGREEMENTS FOR FUTURE EQUITY (SAFEs) |
During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company issued instruments referred to as SAFEs as its primary source of funding. Pursuant the terms of the SAFEs, upon a qualified future equity financing involving preferred shares, the SAFEs will settle into a number of preferred shares equal to the greater of (i) the number of shares of standard preferred stock (“Standard Preferred Stock”) equal to the purchase price divided by the lowest price per share of the Standard Preferred Stock, or (ii) the number of shares of SAFE preferred stock (“SAFE Preferred Stock”) divided by a discounted price to the price investors pay to purchase the standard preferred shares in the financing (with such discounted price calculated by reference to a valuation cap) (“Cap Price”).
Upon the occurrence of a change of control, a direct listing or an initial public offering (described as a “liquidity event”) (other than a qualified financing), the investors have the option to receive either (i) cash payment equal to the invested amount under such SAFE, or (ii) a number of shares of common stock equal to the invested amount divided by the liquidity price set forth in the applicable SAFE agreement. If a dissolution event occurs prior to the termination of the SAFEs, the investors would be entitled to receive a portion of the related proceeds equal to the purchase amount (or the amount received for the SAFE).
The Company determined that the SAFEs should be accounted for at fair value as a liability under ASC 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, as they are potentially settled in a variable number of shares based on future valuation, lack substantive equity characteristics, and are potentially redeemable in cash or other assets under certain conditions. Because they are classified as liabilities, the SAFEs are adjusted to fair value at each reporting date. The fair value of the Company’s SAFEs were based on significant inputs not observable in the market, which cause the instrument to be classified as a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The SAFEs are valued using the market approach for intangible asset method, which considers among other things, comparable transactions, relevant market multiples, asset characteristics, transaction type, market conditions and qualitative comparable normalization.
The fair value of the SAFEs issued during the period was determined based on the following significant unobservable inputs:
| Financing scenario |
10.0 | % | ||
| Liquidity event scenario |
90.0 | % | ||
| Project term to projected financing date (in years) |
0.42 | |||
| Project term to projected liquidity event date (in years) |
0.12 | |||
| Discount rate |
46.2 | % | ||
| Risk-free rate (continuous) |
3.7 | % | ||
| Volatility |
86.0% – 100.0 | % |
12
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table presents a reconciliation of the liabilities, measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the year ended March 31, 2026:
| Balance at December 31, 2025 |
$ | 46,358,393 | ||
| SAFEs issued during the period |
1,585,000 | |||
| Change in fair value during the period |
(13,419,233 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Balance at March 31, 2026 |
$ | 34,524,160 | ||
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the estimated fair value of the SAFEs was $34,524,160 and $46,358,393, respectively. The change in fair value during the three months ended March 31, 2026 reflected in the above table, is included in other income (loss) in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
| 6. | LEASES |
The Company has an operating lease for a vehicle entered into in February 2025 that expires in January 2028. Under the terms of the lease, base rent is $1,058 per month. There is no renewal options associated with the lease.
The Company has an operating lease for office space in Redwood City, California which was entered into in June 2025 and expires in June 2026. Under the terms of the lease, base rent is $6,006 per month. There is no renewal options associated with the lease.
Operating lease costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 were $22,926 and $4,473, respectively. Cash payments included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2026 were $21,191 and $44,058, respectively. The weighted average remaining lease term as of March 31, 2026 was 1.21 years. The weighted-average discount rate during the three months ended March 31, 2026 was 22.54%.
The Company utilizes the rate implicit in the lease or the estimated incremental borrowing rate at the commencement of the lease in determining the present value of future payments.
Variable lease expense includes rental increases that are not fixed, such as those based on amounts paid to the lessor based on cost or consumption, such as maintenance and utilities. Operating lease costs are included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Maturities of the operating lease liabilities are summarized as follows as of March 31, 2026:
| (in thousands) | ||||
| 2026 (remaining nine months) |
$ | 21,533 | ||
| 2027 |
12,694 | |||
| 2028 |
1,552 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Minimum lease payments |
35,779 | |||
| Less: imputed interest |
(4,810 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Present value of operating lease liabilities |
$ | 30,969 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Current portion |
$ | 20,946 | ||
| Noncurrent portion |
10,023 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total operating lease liabilities |
$ | 30,969 | ||
|
|
|
|||
13
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| 7. | STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
Common Stock
Pursuant to the certificate of incorporation dated October 30, 2024, the Company was authorized to issue 2,000,000 shares of common stock par value of $0.0001 per share. The holders of common stock have one vote for each share of common stock held of record by such holder as of the applicable record date. The Company’s founder contributed $250 upon the formation of Hadron Energy, LLC on July 8, 2024. On October 30, 2024, 900,000 shares of common stock were issued to the Company’s founder in exchange for his sole member interest in Hadron Energy, LLC.
Stock Based Compensation
On October 30, 2024, the Company adopted the Hadron Energy, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) whereby employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates and others performing services to the Company may be given an opportunity to acquire up to 100,000 shares of common stock in the form of options and restricted stock purchase agreements (“RSPAs”). The exercise price, vesting and expiry date is determined for each grant by the Company’s Board of Directors.
On December 22, 2025, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that the Company may award under the Plan is 160,000. The term of the Plan is 10 years.
Restricted Stock Purchase Awards
The Company issued restricted shares of its common stock under RSPAs to grantees. The grantees were given the right to purchase the shares at a discounted purchase price, with restrictions lapsing over vesting periods ranging from zero to sixty months. For RSPAs with a discounted purchase price, the compensation to the employee is the difference between the fair market value of the Company’s stock and the discounted price paid in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. This total compensation cost is then amortized to expense over the grantee’s vesting period. As no observable market price per share is available for the Company’s common stock, the Company uses a reasonable valuation method to estimate the current fair value per share of its common stock.
The following table summarizes the RSPAs activity during the year ended March 31, 2026:
| Number of Shares |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share |
|||||||
| Unvested as of December 31, 2025 |
21,146 | $ | 460.61 | |||||
| Granted |
33,500 | $ | 702.63 | |||||
| Cancelled |
(20,000 | ) | $ | 485.33 | ||||
| Vested |
(2,813 | ) | $ | 627.75 | ||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Unvested as of March 31, 2026 |
31,833 | $ | 685.02 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
14
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of March 31, 2026, total unrecognized compensation cost related to RSPAs was $20,028,499, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.2 years. The weighted average grant date fair values per share of RSPAs granted during the period from January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026 was $702.63 per share. The weighted average grant date fair values of RSPAs that vested during the period from January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026 was $627.75 per share.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation of $2,734,113 for the three months ended March 31, 2026, of which $2,101,935 related to research and development and $632,178 related to general and administrative. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $9,013 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which related to research and development.
Stock Options
No stock options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
| 8. | INCOME TAXES |
For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company recorded no provision for income taxes, resulting in an effective tax rate of 0% for each period. This reflects the US federal statutory rate of 21% on pre-tax loss offset by a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Although the Company generated pretax income during the three months ended March 31, 2026, no income tax expense was recorded due to the existence of a full valuation allowance against the Company’s federal and state deferred tax assets.
ASC 740-10, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, prescribes a comprehensive model for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure in the financial statements for any uncertain tax positions that have been taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits is not expected to significantly change over the next twelve months. No amounts, outside of valuation allowance, would impact the effective tax rate on continuing operations.
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill (“OBBB”) was signed into law, making permanent several provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and introducing additional reforms to U.S. tax law. Although enacted after the close of fiscal year 2024, certain provisions of the OBBB were retroactively effective or materially influenced tax planning and accounting estimates during the year. Management has evaluated the retroactive and prospective effects of the OBBB and concluded that the bill did not result in a material change to the Company’s effective tax rate for 2026 and 2025. However, the legislation is expected to influence future tax planning, entity structuring, and investment decisions.
All tax returns will remain open for examination by the federal and state taxing authorities for three and four years, respectively, from the date of utilization of any net operating loss carryforwards.
| 9. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
Reimbursement of costs
The Company has entered into SAFEs (Note 5) and RSPAs (Note 7) with certain individuals, who have also provided services to the Company. The Company incurred costs related to contract labor of $1,946 and $26,149 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively, to these individuals, which is included in general and administrative and research and development expenses in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Additionally, the Company paid $12,000 to a SAFE Note Holder for public relations services (monthly retainer) during the three months ended March 31, 2026, which is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying condensed statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
| 10. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
From time to time, the Company may be involved in litigation relating to claims or assessments arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. The Company records a provision for a liability when it believes that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine both probability and the estimated amount. When only a range of possible loss can be established, the most probable amount in the range is accrued. If no amount within this range is a better estimate than any other amount within the range, the minimum amount in the range is accrued.
15
HADRON ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company is engaged in an ongoing legal matter with a former employee related to their departure in December 2025. The Company was expected to incur a settlement cost of $16,345,000 to resolve the dispute, which was deemed probable and estimable and was recognized within general and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2025. The proposed settlement includes $100,000 of cash with the remaining amount to be settled in stock upon final resolution of the legal matter. As of March 31, 2026, the settlement cost to resolve the dispute was estimated to be $11,655,362, resulting in a change in fair value of legal settlement liability of $4,689,638, which was recorded in general and administrative expense in the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2026. As of March 31, 2026, the accrued legal settlement of $11,655,362 was recorded in accrued expenses.
Other than the above, management is not aware of any other legal proceedings or adverse outcome of which, in management’s opinion, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
| 11. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
The Company has evaluated all events or transactions that occurred after March 31, 2026 through May 29, 2026, which is the date that the condensed financial statements were available to be issued. During this period, there were no material subsequent events requiring disclosure except as follows:
Subsequent to March 31, 2026, the Company received gross proceeds associated with SAFE equity financings aggregating approximately $1,710,000.
On April 16, 2026, GigCapital7, Merger Sub, and the Company entered into a second amendment to the Business Combination Agreement (the “Second Amendment”), which amends the Business Combination Agreement to (a) adjust the valuation of the Company and (b) extend the Outside Date. The Second Amendment amends the definition of “Public Company (Pre-Capital Raise) Valuation” set forth in Article X of the Business Combination Agreement to mean $776,599,997, which has the effect of reducing the Aggregate Merger Consideration to be issued for the securities of the Company to 60,000,000 shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock, which at a nominal value of $10.00 per share would have a valuation for the Company of $600 million. The Second Amendment also amends Section 8.01(c) of the Business Combination Agreement to replace the date “April 30, 2026” with the date “May 31, 2026.” As a result, all references to the “Outside Date” in the Business Combination Agreement now refer to May 31, 2026.
On May 7, 2026, at the extraordinary general meeting, the Company and the shareholders of GigCapital7 approved the Business Combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and as amended, including the merger of Merger Sub with and into Hadron, with Hadron surviving the merger, and issuance of common stock of the Company to Hadron equity holders as merger consideration. On May 22, 2026, the Business Combination was consummated. Net proceeds to be received by the Company upon consummation of the Business Combination, after giving effect to 16,834,491 shares tendered for redemption, are approximately $33.9 million. Additionally, a forward stock purchase agreement was entered into for a purchase amount of $5.9 million paid at closing from the cash released from the GigCapital7 trust account.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, all outstanding historical Hadron Energy equity interests, including common shares, SAFEs, and stock awards, were converted or exchanged into shares of, or rights to acquire shares of, Class A or Class B common stock in the combined company in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and the applicable Exchange Ratio.
16
Exhibit 99.2
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OF HADRON ENERGY
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read together with, and is based on, our unaudited condensed financial statements as of March 31, 2026 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, appearing elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition to historical information, some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Current Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, future financial performance, expense levels and liquidity sources, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should read the sections entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this Current Report and in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 for a discussion of a variety of important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “the Company”, “us”, “our” or “we” refer to Hadron Energy, Inc
Overview
We are a micro modular reactor company utilizing light water reactor technology to generate carbon-free electricity. The Company is a leading innovator in micro modular reactor technology using a versatile, small-scale, cost-effective and rapidly deployable microreactors to the growing electricity demand driven by data centers, artificial intelligence, and industrialization. The Company is developing a standardized, factory-fabricated, 10 megawatt electric pressurized light-water micro modular reactor based on Generation III+ technology. Designed for deployment at most U.S. sites with minimal site-specific requirements, each reactor is designed to meet the power demands of data centers, industrial sites, and remote applications. Scaled commercialization is planned for 2030.
On September 27, 2025, GigCapital7 Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“GigCapital7”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2025, by and among GigCapital7, MMR Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of GigCapital7 (“Merger Sub”), and the Company. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (such transactions, together with the Merger, the “Business Combination”). On December 12, 2025, the parties entered into a first amendment to the Business Combination Agreement (the “First Amendment”), pursuant to which the parties expanded the size of the post-Closing Board of Directors to eight (8) members. On April 16, 2026, the parties entered into a second amendment to the Business Combination Agreement (the “Second Amendment”), pursuant to which the parties amend the Business Combination Agreement to (a) adjust the valuation of the Company and (b) extend the Outside Date. On May 7, 2026, the Company and the shareholders of GigCapital7 approved the business combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and as amended. The business combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization. The Company has continued to incur transaction-related professional services costs in connection with the contemplated Business Combination, certain of which have been deferred and are reflected on our condensed balance sheet as deferred transaction costs. On May 22, 2026, the Business Combination was consummated. Net proceeds to be received by the Company upon consummation of the Business Combination, after giving effect to 16,834,491 shares tendered for redemption, are approximately $33.9 million. Additionally, a forward stock purchase agreement was entered into for a purchase amount of $5.9 million paid at closing from the cash released from the GigCapital7 trust account.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, all outstanding historical Hadron Energy equity interests, including common shares, SAFEs, and stock awards, were converted or exchanged into shares of, or rights to acquire shares of, Class A or Class B common stock in the combined company in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and the applicable Exchange Ratio.
Key Factors Affecting Our Prospects and Future Results
We believe that our performance and future success depend on a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including competition from carbon-based and other non-carbon-based energy generators, the risk of perceived safety issues and their consequences for our reputation and the other factors discussed under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended. We believe that the following factors are key to our success: commencing and expanding commercial launch operations, funding our operations, maintaining and protecting our intellectual property portfolio, obtaining regulatory approvals, and adding operational and financial personnel to support our development efforts and planned future commercialization.
Impact of Macroeconomic Conditions
Our business is subject to various trends, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to cause our reported financial information not to be necessarily indicative of future operating results or of future financial condition. The macroeconomic environment both in the United States and globally has the potential to impact our business and financial performance. More specifically, factors such as trade agreements, tariffs, interest rates, inflation, tax law, labor trends, supply chain disruptions, fiscal policy and recession risks could impact the cost to construct and operate our factory, and even impact the future profitability of our operations.
Supply chain vulnerabilities represent a critical area of macro-economic risk for our business. Global disruptions from geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, or public health crises, can severely impact the availability and cost of essential components for energy infrastructure. These disruptions can lead to extended lead times for specialized equipment, shortages of critical materials, and unexpected cost escalations that complicate project planning and execution. Our reliance on supply networks for turbine components, electrical systems, and construction materials creates exposure to these global supply chain risks.
Inflation remains a significant concern, particularly as it affects construction materials, specialized equipment, and labor costs throughout our project development cycle. These inflationary pressures can erode project margins and complicate long-term capital planning efforts. Economic growth and recession cycles directly correlate with energy demand across industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. During economic downturns, we will experience reduced consumption patterns, while periods of growth drive increased energy needs, affecting our revenue projections and expansion strategies.
Demand for energy in the United States is currently being driven by the explosive growth in the data center industry, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) deployment, cloud computing adoption, digital transformation initiatives accelerate across sectors, and industrialization. Should power demand growth in the market slow, customer demand for our baseload low-carbon power could be negatively impacted.
Key Components of Our Results of Operations
General and administrative
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses for executives, human resources, finance and other G&A employees, including salary, professional services costs and facility and overhead costs. We anticipate that our G&A expenses will increase in the future in connection with one-time costs of becoming a public company as well as ongoing costs of operating as a public company, including expanding headcount and increased fees for directors and outside advisors. We expect to incur significant costs to comply with corporate governance, internal controls, and similar requirements applicable to public companies. Additionally, we expect to incur increased costs associated with establishing sales, marketing and commercialization functions prior to any potential future regulatory approvals or commercialization of our technology.
Research and development
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses consist primarily of internal and external R&D expenses. We focus our R&D activities on technology development and regulatory support for the development of the factory light-water micro modular reactor. Our R&D expenses consist of employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, travel, for personnel in R&D functions; expenses related to technology development; and facilities, overhead, and other expenses. We expect our R&D expenses to increase in the future as we continue to develop our technology. Our R&D activities are a critical component of achieving commercialization of any of our technology development and realizing our business strategy. We remain focused on using our resources to further develop our existing pipeline.
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense is measured using a fair value-based method for all equity-based awards, with the cost of awarded equity instruments recognized over the period during which the award vests. Stock-based compensation expense relates primarily to the vesting and cancellation of restricted shares granted to employees pursuant to the Hadron Energy Equity Incentive Plan.
Change in fair value of legal settlement liability
Change in fair value of legal settlement liability represents the periodic remeasurement of a previously accrued estimated legal settlement liability that was originally recorded during the year ended December 31, 2025. Changes in the estimated liability, including subsequent reversals of previously accrued amounts, are recognized within operating expenses in the period in which the estimate is revised.
Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity
The change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity (“SAFEs”) represents the periodic remeasurement of the fair value related to the SAFEs. The Company determined that the SAFEs should be accounted for at fair value as a liability under ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, as they are potentially settled in a variable number of shares based on future valuation, lack substantive equity characteristics, and are potentially redeemable in cash or other assets under certain conditions. Because they are classified as liabilities, the SAFEs are adjusted to fair value at each reporting date, with changes in fair value recorded in the statement of operations.
Provision for income taxes
We are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes based on enacted rates, as adjusted for allowable credits, deductions, uncertain tax positions, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax laws. Provision for income taxes primarily relates to changes in deferred taxes, fully offset by valuation allowances.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the three months ended March 31, 2025
The following table summarizes our results of operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| Operating expenses |
||||||||
| General and administrative |
$ | 1,562,910 | $ | 148,877 | ||||
| Research and development |
442,807 | 6,322 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
2,734,113 | 9,013 | ||||||
| Depreciation |
1,945 | 178 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of legal settlement liability |
(4,689,638 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total operating expenses |
52,137 | 164,390 | ||||||
| Loss from operations |
(52,137 | ) | (164,390 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Other income (loss) |
||||||||
| Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
13,419,233 | (55,961 | ) | |||||
| Total other income (loss) |
13,419,233 | (55,961 | ) | |||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes |
13,367,096 | (220,351 | ) | |||||
| Provision for income taxes |
— | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | 13,367,096 | $ | (220,351 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
General and administrative
G&A expenses were $1,562,910 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $148,877 for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The increase of $1,414,033 was due primarily to the expansion of personnel-related costs and third-party advisory services.
Research and development
R&D expenses were $442,807 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $6,322 for the three months ended March 31, 2025. R&D expenses relate to employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and travel, for personnel in R&D functions; expenses related to technology development; and other expenses. The increase reflects the continued ramp-up of our R&D function, including the addition of personnel performing R&D activities and increased technology development expenditures supporting the design of our pressurized light-water micro modular reactor.
Change in fair value of legal settlement liability
Change in fair value of legal settlement liability was a gain of $4,689,638 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, representing the remeasurement during the current quarter of a previously accrued estimated legal settlement liability that was originally recorded during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense was $2,734,113 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $9,013 for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The increase of $2,725,100 was primarily driven by the recognition of expense related to restricted share grants under the Hadron Energy Equity Incentive Plan, including the modification and commencement of vesting of new grants of 33,500 restricted shares to employees and advisors during the quarter. Stock-based compensation is measured at the estimated fair value of the shares on the grant date and recognized over the requisite service period.
Depreciation
Depreciation expense was $1,945 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $178 for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The increase reflects depreciation of property and equipment, principally furniture, fixtures and computer equipment, that has been placed in service since inception. There were no purchases of property and equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity
Change in fair value of SAFEs was a gain of $13,419,233 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to a loss of $55,961 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, in each case representing the remeasurement of the fair value of the SAFEs at the end of the reporting period.
Provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes was $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and for the three months ended March 31, 2025, in each case primarily due to changes in deferred tax balances offset by valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Funding Requirements and Going Concern
We have incurred operating losses since our inception. Although we recognized net income of $13,367,096 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 (compared to a net loss of $220,351 for the three months ended March 31, 2025), our net income for the current quarter was driven primarily by two non-cash and non-recurring items: a $13,419,233 gain on the remeasurement of our SAFE liability and a $4,689,638 remeasurement of a previously accrued estimated legal settlement liability. Excluding these items, we incurred an underlying operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and we expect to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had cash of $2,129,451 and an accumulated deficit of $59,001,039, and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, negative cash flows from operations of $1,212,790. We are still in
the early stages of our development and expect to continue to incur significant expenses, operating losses, and negative operating cash flows for the foreseeable future due to increases in expenses from historical levels because of additional costs and expenses related to the development of our technology and factory and the development of market and strategic relationships with other businesses.
Until such time as we can generate substantial revenue, if ever, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity and debt financings, or other capital sources, including, if and when consummated, the proceeds available to us in connection with the Business Combination. We plan to continue to fund our losses from operations through cash on hand, as well as through future equity offerings, debt financings, other third-party funding, or potential licensing or collaboration arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the future sale of equity or debt, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted. The terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our existing common stockholders. If we raise additional funds through collaboration agreements, marketing agreements, or licensing arrangements, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies or future revenue streams on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds through equity or debt financings, we may be required to delay, limit, curtail or terminate our technology development or future commercialization efforts or may be forced to cease operations or file for bankruptcy protection. This may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition and our ability to achieve our intended business objectives. Additionally, we may never become profitable, or if we do, may not be able to sustain profitability on a recurring basis. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available when needed from any source or, if available, will be available on terms that are acceptable to us. Any of these actions could materially harm our business, results of operations and future prospects.
As a result of these conditions, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends on its ability to obtain financial support and additional sources of funds and financing to support the needs of the business, ongoing operations and ultimately to generate profitable operations. As such, we have concluded that there is substantial doubt over our ability to continue as a going concern as conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that we are currently unable to meet our obligations as they become due and expect to be unable to meet our obligations within one year after the date that the financial statements included in the Current Report on Form 8-K were originally issued. The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The financial information and financial statements do not include any adjustments or reclassifications of assets and liabilities that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.
We will need to raise additional capital to continue operations based on our current business plan, and expectations and assumptions considering current macroeconomic conditions. Our ability to raise additional capital may also be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and disruptions to, and volatility in, financial markets in the U.S. and worldwide from geopolitical and macroeconomic events. There can be no assurance that we will be able to secure such additional funding on acceptable terms and conditions, or at all. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital immediately, we will not have sufficient cash flows and liquidity to finance our business operations as currently contemplated and we may need to substantially alter, or possibly even discontinue, our operations. In the event of a bankruptcy proceeding or insolvency, or restructuring of our capital structure, our stockholders could suffer a total loss of their investment.
Simple Agreement for Future Equity
During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company issued instruments referred to as “simple agreements for future equity” (“SAFEs”) as its primary source of funding. Pursuant the terms of the SAFEs, upon a qualified future equity financing involving preferred shares, the SAFEs will settle into a number of preferred shares equal to the greater of (i) the number of shares of standard preferred stock (“Standard Preferred Stock”) equal to the purchase price divided by the lowest price per share of the Standard Preferred Stock, or (ii) the number of shares of SAFE preferred stock (“SAFE Preferred Stock”) divided by a discounted price to the price investors pay to purchase the standard preferred shares in the financing (with such discounted price calculated by reference to a valuation cap) (“Cap Price”).
The Company determined that the SAFEs should be accounted for at fair value as a liability under ASC 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, as they are potentially settled in a variable number of shares based on future valuation, lack substantive equity characteristics, and are potentially redeemable in cash or other assets under certain conditions. Because they are classified as liabilities, the SAFEs are adjusted to fair value at each reporting date. The fair value of the Company’s SAFEs were based on significant inputs not observable in the market, which cause the instrument to be classified as a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The SAFEs are valued using the market approach for intangible asset method, which considers among other things, comparable transactions, relevant market multiples, asset characteristics, transaction type, market conditions and qualitative comparable normalization.
We believe these assumptions would be made by a market participant in estimating the valuation of the SAFEs. We assess these assumptions and estimates on an on-going basis as additional data impacting the assumptions and estimates are obtained. There is substantial judgment in selecting the assumptions that we use to determine the fair value of the SAFEs and other companies could use similar market inputs and experience and arrive at different conclusions with respect to those used to calculate fair value. Using alternative assumptions could cause differences in the resulting fair value.
Cash Flows
The following is a summary of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by: |
||||||||
| Operating activities |
$ | (1,212,790 | ) | $ | (210,611 | ) | ||
| Financing activities |
1,585,000 | 307,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net increase in cash |
372,210 | 96,389 | ||||||
| Cash at beginning of the period |
1,757,241 | 17,276 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash at end of the period |
$ | 2,129,451 | $ | 113,665 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities of $1,212,790 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was primarily driven by non-cash gains that reduced reported net income to cash, including a $13,419,233 change in the fair value of SAFEs and a $4,689,638 remeasurement of an accrued legal settlement liabilitypartially offset by $2,734,113 of stock-based compensation, $771,931 of net favorable changes in operating assets and liabilities, $20,996 of noncash operating lease expense, and $1,945 of depreciation.
Net cash used in operating activities of $210,611 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was primarily attributable to a net loss of $220,351 and net unfavorable changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities of $1,585,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was attributable to proceeds from the issuance of SAFEs.
Net cash provided by financing activities of $307,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was attributable to proceeds from the issuance of SAFEs.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We did not have any material commitments or contractual obligations as of March 31, 2026, other than leases under which we lease real estate for office space and a vehicle. These leases have been classified as operating leases.
As disclosed in our Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, in February 2025 the Company entered into a vehicle lease through January 2028 with aggregate minimum lease payments of $80,519, and in June 2025 the Company entered into an office lease through June 2026 with aggregate minimum lease payments of $70,270. There were no material new commitments or contractual obligations entered into during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Contractual payments under the leases as of March 31, 2026 are as follows:
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Vehicle lease |
$ | 9,520 | $ | 12,694 | $ | 1,552 | $ | 23,766 | ||||||||
| Office lease |
12,013 | — | — | 12,013 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total |
$ | 21,533 | $ | 12,694 | $ | 1,552 | $ | 35,779 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2026, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in our Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended. Our most critical accounting policies and estimates continue to relate to (i) the fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity, (ii) stock-based compensation, and (iii) accruals for loss contingencies, including for an expected legal settlement.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
We describe the recently issued accounting pronouncements that apply to us in Note 2 to our condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act provides emerging growth companies with certain exemptions from public company reporting requirements for up to five fiscal years while a company remains an emerging growth company. As part of these exemptions, the Company has reduced disclosure obligations such as for executive compensation, and it is not required to comply with auditor attestation requirements from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, regarding its internal control over financial reporting. Additionally, the JOBS Act has allowed the Company the option to delay adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards.
We also qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As a smaller reporting company, we may continue to rely on certain reduced disclosure requirements available to smaller reporting companies.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and pursuant to Item 305 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to disclose information under this section.
Exhibit 99.3
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Introduction
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of March 31, 2026 presents the combination of the unaudited consolidated combined financial statements as of March 31, 2026 of GigCapital7 Corp. (the “Company”), and to be known as Hadron Energy, Inc. upon the closing (the “Closing”) of the merger that occurred on May 22, 2026 (the “Merger”) of MMR Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”) with and into Hadron Energy, Inc. (the “Target”) and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) by and between the Company, Merger Sub and Target, dated as of September 27, 2025, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2025, and by that certain Second Amendment to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2026 (the “Business Combination”)) and the unaudited financial statements as of March 31, 2026 of the Target, adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and related transactions. Upon the Closing of the Merger, the Target’s name will be changed to Hadron Energy Operating Company Inc. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses” to depict the accounting for the transaction (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”) and present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). The Company has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements as of March 31, 2026, assumes that the Business Combination occurred on March 31, 2026. The unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 combines the historical unaudited condensed statements of operations of GigCapital7 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of Hadron Energy for the three months ended March 31, 2026, on a pro forma basis as if the Business Combination had been consummated on January 1, 2025, the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 combines the historical audited statements of operations of GigCapital7 for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the historical audited consolidated statement of operations of Hadron Energy for the year ended December 31, 2025, on a pro forma basis as if the Business Combination had been consummated on January 1, 2025.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been presented for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the Company’s financial condition upon the Closing of the Merger and the Business Combination (the Company following such Closing, the “Post-Combination Company”) or would have been had the Business Combination occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the pro forma condensed combined financial statements also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition of the Post-Combination Company. Although it is not expected, the actual financial position of the Post-Combination Company may differ from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
The historical financial information of the Company was derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of March 31, 2026 previously filed with the SEC by the Company on its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on May 6, 2026. The historical financial information of the Target was derived from the unaudited financial statements of the Target as of March 31, 2026. This information should be read together with the Company’s and the Target’s financial statements and related notes.
Description of the Business Combination
On September 27, 2025, the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement with the Target and Merger Sub, pursuant to which, among other things, subject to shareholder approval, following the domestication of the Company from the Cayman Islands to Delaware, which occurred on May 8, 2026 (the “Domestication”), Merger Sub will merge with and into the Target, with the Target surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, resulting in a combined company whereby the Company will become the parent company of the Target, and substantially all of the assets and the business of the combined company will be held by the Company and its subsidiaries.
Prior to and as a condition of the Closing, pursuant to the Domestication, GigCapital7 changed its jurisdiction of incorporation by migrating to and domesticating as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), and the Companies Act (as revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”).
The Domestication
The Company, on May 8, 2026, changed its jurisdiction of incorporation by effecting a deregistration under Section 206 of the Companies Act and a domestication under Section 388 of the DGCL, pursuant to which the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation was changed from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware. The Company has provided its public stockholders the opportunity to redeem their public shares on the terms and conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement and the Company’s governing documents. A total of 16,834,491 public shares have been tendered for redemption and the Company will complete the redemption of these properly tendered public shares promptly following the consummation of the Business Combination.
In connection with the Domestication, (i) each then issued and outstanding Class A ordinary share (other than any Class A ordinary share included in the Company’s units) was converted automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) share of the Company’s common stock, (ii) each then issued and outstanding Class B ordinary share was converted automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) share of the Company’s Class B common stock, (iii) each then issued and outstanding warrant of the Company (other than any public warrants included in the Company’s units) was converted automatically into a warrant for the purchase of the Company’s common stock, pursuant to the warrant agreement of the Company, and (iv) each then issued and outstanding unit of the Company was cancelled and thereafter entitled the holder thereof to one (1) share of the Company’s common stock and one (1) warrant for the purchase of the Company’s common stock, in each case without any action on the part of the Company, Merger Sub, target or any holder of securities of any of the foregoing.
The Merger and Consideration
Following the Domestication, at the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), by virtue of the Merger, each share of capital stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into one (1) share of common stock of the Company.
Subject to, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, immediately prior to or at the Effective Time:
(a) each issued and outstanding share of common stock of the Target (the “Target Common Stock”), except for (a) shares held by the Company or Merger Sub (or any subsidiaries of the Company), (b) shares held by the Target as treasury stock, if any (each share covered in subclause (a) and (b), an “Excluded Share”), (c) shares held by stockholders who have properly exercised and not withdrawn appraisal rights under Delaware law (the “Dissenting Shares”), and (d) shares of the Target Common Stock issued pursuant to an award of restricted stock that is, as of immediately prior to the date of the Closing, subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and is not transferable (the “Target Restricted Shares”), will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration (as defined below), as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement;
(b) each Excluded Share shall be automatically cancelled and retired without any conversion thereof and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor;
(c) each option to purchase shares of Target Common Stock (each, a “Target Option”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be automatically assumed by the Company and converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of the Company’s common stock (such option, an “Exchanged Option”), equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of shares of Target Common Stock subject to such Target Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange Ratio (as defined below), at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the quotient of (A) the exercise price per share of such Target Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio; provided, that the assumption and adjustment of the unvested Target Options shall be completed in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and, with respect to any Target Option intended to be an “incentive stock option,” Code Section 4249a and the applicable regulations promulgated thereunder;
(d) each award of the Target Restricted Shares (a “Target Restricted Share Award”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be automatically assumed by the Company such that each Target Restricted Share Award will be converted into an award for a number of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (such award, an “Exchanged RSAs”), equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of shares of Target Restricted Shares and (y) the Exchange Ratio (as defined below);
(e) each of the Target’s Simple Agreements for Future Equity (the “SAFEs”) that is outstanding, immediately prior to the Effective Time will automatically convert into a number of shares of Target Common Stock determined in accordance with the terms of such SAFE, with such shares to be treated as Target Common Stock and will receive the consideration described above for Target Common Stock at the Effective Time;
(f) each share of the Company’s Class B common stock that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be, by virtue of the Merger and the applicable provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into one (1) share of the Company’s common stock; and
(g) the Company will redeem the public shares properly tendered for redemption in connection with the Business Combination pursuant to its certificate of incorporation (the “Redemption”).
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the consideration to be paid in the Merger in respect of each share of Target Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be the Per Share Merger Consideration, which is a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. The “Exchange Ratio” means the quotient of: (a) the Aggregate Merger Consideration (as such term is defined below); divided by (b) the Target Fully Diluted Capital (as such term is defined below). The “Aggregate Merger Consideration” means the number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the difference of: (a) the Aggregate Company Common Stock (as defined below); minus (b) 13,333,333 shares of the Company’s common Stock; provided, however, that if the Target has any indebtedness outstanding as of the closing of the Merger, the Aggregate Merger Consideration shall be further reduced by a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the amount of such indebtedness divided by $10.59 (the “Per Share Price”) (rounded down to the nearest whole share). The “Aggregate Company Common Stock” means the number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the quotient of: (a) $776,599,997; divided by (b) the Per Share Price. The “Target Fully Diluted Capital” means the sum (without duplication) of the aggregate number of (a) shares of Target Common Stock (other than Target Restricted Shares) that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time assuming and after giving effect to the amendment and conversion of all SAFEs, (b) Target Restricted Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (c) all shares of Target Common Stock issuable upon full exercise of all Target Options outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (calculated using the treasury method of accounting on a cashless exercise basis).
The Sponsor Share Conversion
At the Effective Time, each share of the Company’s Class B common stock then issued and outstanding shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into one (1) share of the Company’s common stock.
The Redemption
The Company will provide an opportunity to the holders of its public shares for the Redemption. The Company will carry out the Redemption at the Effective Time in accordance with its certificate of incorporation.
The Closing
The Closing of the Merger will occur as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than three (3) business days, after the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, or at such other date, time, or place as the Company and the Target may agree.
Effective immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company will be renamed “Hadron Energy, Inc.”
Accounting Treatment
The Business Combination is accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, although the Company will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of the Target in the Business Combination, the Company will be treated as the “acquired” company and the Target will be treated as the accounting acquirer for financial statement reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of the Target issuing stock for the net assets of the Company, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of the Company will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be those of the Target.
The Target has been determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:
| | The shareholders of the Target will have the greatest voting interest in the Post-Combination Company; |
| | The shareholders of the Target will have the ability to control decisions regarding election and removal of directors and officers of the Post-Combination Company; |
| | The Target will comprise the ongoing operations of the Post-Combination Company; |
| | The Target’s existing senior management will be the senior management of the Post-Combination Company; |
| | The Target’s headquarters will become the Post-Combination Company’s headquarters; and |
| | The Post-Combination Company will assume the name Hadron Energy, Inc. |
Basis of Pro Forma Presentation
The historical financial information has been adjusted to give pro forma effect to events that are related and/or directly attributable to the Business Combination and are factually supportable. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is for illustrative purposes only. The financial results may have been different had the companies always been combined. You should not rely on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as being indicative of the historical results that would have been achieved had the companies always been combined or the future results that the Post-Combination Company will experience. The Company and the Target have not had any historical relationship prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 2026
(unaudited)
| GigCapital7 Corp. |
Hadron Energy, Inc. |
Pro Forma Adjustments |
Pro Forma Balance Sheet |
|||||||||||||||||
| ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash |
$ | 54,692 | $ | 2,129,451 | (A | ) | $ | 33,911,059 | $ | 23,726,633 | ||||||||||
| (A | ) | (5,851,464 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| (B | ) | (6,517,105 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
154,351 | 81,134 | — | 235,485 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Total current assets |
209,043 | 2,210,585 | 21,542,490 | 23,962,118 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account |
213,506,528 | — | (A | ) | (213,506,528 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net |
— | 35,419 | — | 35,419 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets |
— | 60,611 | — | 60,611 | ||||||||||||||||
| Deferred transaction costs |
— | 2,290,926 | (B | ) | (2,290,926 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Deriviateve asset |
||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 213,715,571 | $ | 4,597,541 | $ | (194,254,964 | ) | $ | 24,058,148 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE ORDINARY SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable |
$ | 333,683 | $ | 1,832,385 | (B | ) | $ | (1,475,191 | ) | $ | 357,194 | |||||||||
| (B | ) | (333,683 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Related party payable |
138,514 | — | 138,514 | |||||||||||||||||
| Accrued legal services |
2,649,839 | — | (B | ) | (2,649,839 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities |
638,453 | 11,908,228 | (B | ) | — | 252,866 | ||||||||||||||
| (B | ) | (638,453 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| (H | ) | (11,655,362 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current portion |
— | 20,946 | — | 20,946 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities |
3,760,489 | 13,761,559 | (16,752,528 | ) | 769,520 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
— | 10,022 | — | 10,022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) |
— | 34,524,160 | (C | ) | (34,524,160 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
| Warrant liability |
1,182,642 | — | 1,182,642 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Total liabilities |
4,943,131 | 48,295,741 | (51,276,688 | ) | 1,962,184 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
213,406,528 | — | (D | ) | (213,406,528 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity (deficit) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred shares, par value of $0.0001 per share |
— | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value |
255 | (E | ) | (255 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Class A ordinary shares, par value of $0.0001 per share |
— | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Class B ordinary shares, par value of $0.0001 per share |
1,333 | (E | ) | (1,333 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Post-Combination Company common stock |
(D | ) | 2,000 | 10,738 | ||||||||||||||||
| (E | ) | 1,588 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| (F | ) | 7,150 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital |
15,302,583 | (B | ) | (2,488,193 | ) | 81,086,264 | ||||||||||||||
| (C | ) | 34,524,160 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| (D | ) | 33,809,059 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| (F | ) | (7,150 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
| (G | ) | (5,858,092 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
| (A | ) | (5,851,464 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
| (H | ) | 11,655,362 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit |
(4,635,421 | ) | (59,001,038 | ) | (B | ) | (1,222,671 | ) | (59,001,038 | ) | ||||||||||
| (G | ) | 5,858,092 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) |
(4,634,088 | ) | (43,698,200 | ) | 70,428,252 | 22,095,964 | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE ORDINARY SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) |
$ | 213,715,571 | $ | 4,597,541 | $ | (194,254,964 | ) | $ | 24,058,148 | |||||||||||
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Adjustments to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2026
The pro forma notes and adjustments, based on preliminary estimates that could change materially as additional information is obtained, are as follows:
| (A) | Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of the $213,506,528 of funds held in the Company’s trust account that after the May 2026 redemptions resulted in the release of $33,911,059 held in the trust account upon consummation of the Business Combination. Additionally, a forward stock purchase agreement was entered into for a purchase amount of $5,851,464 paid at closing from the cash released from the GigCapital7 trust account. |
| (B) | Reflects estimated transaction costs of $7,332,839 incurred by the Company and the Target of $4,844,646 and $2,488,193, respectively. These transactions costs are directly incremental and attributable to the Business Combination and are accounted for as a reduction in the combined cash account with a corresponding reduction in additional paid-in capital or accumulated deficit consistent with the treatment described in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5.A. For the Company’s transaction costs, $333,683 is included in accounts payable and an aggregate of $3,288,292 is included in accrued legal services and accrued liabilities in its unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2026. None of the transaction costs have been paid as of the pro forma balance sheet date. The remaining estimate of costs to be incurred of $1,222,671 is reflected as an adjustment to accumulated deficit. For the Target’s transaction costs, $2,290,926 was capitalized as deferred transaction costs, $1,475,191 was included in accounts payable on its unaudited condensed balance sheet as of March 31, 2026. The estimate of costs to be incurred of $2,488,193 is reflected as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital. |
| (C) | Reflects the conversion of the Target’s SAFEs into 3,450,990 shares of the Post-Combination Company’s common stock and the reclassification of its fair value of the SAFEs of $34,524,160 into the equity of Post-Combination Company. The conversion of the Target’s SAFEs into shares of the Post-Combination Company’s common stock was derived based on the overall valuation and valuation cap included in each SAFE agreement. This result was then adjusted for the exchange of shares to be received in the Post-Combination Company. |
| (D) | Reflects the reclassification of the 16,834,491 Class A ordinary shares of the Company redeemed at a balance of $180,342,376, which includes interest income after March 31, 2026 to stockholders’ equity of the Post-Combination Company and the immediate conversion of the remaining shares of the Company’s public shares into shares of the Post-Combination Company’s common stock on a one-to-one basis. This adjustment impacts the Post-Combination Company’s common stock (based on the par value of $0.0001 per share) of $2,000 and the remainder of $33,809,059 is recorded in additional paid-in capital. |
| (E) | Reflects the reclassification of the par value of the 13,333,333 Class B ordinary shares of the Company of $1,333 and 924,167 shares of Target Common Stock of $255 classified under stockholders’ equity into the Post-Combination Company’s common stock. |
| (F) | Reflects the issuance of 71,498,842 shares of Post-Combination Company common stock to stockholders of the Post-Combination Company. This adjustment impacts the Post-Combination Company’s common stock (based on the par value of $0.0001 per share) and additional paid-in capital by $7,150. |
| (G) | Reflects the elimination of the Company’s historical accumulated deficit of the Company, the accounting acquiree after recording the transaction costs as described in (B) above. |
| (H) | Reflects the reclass of the legal settlement liability of $11,655,362 on the Target’s unaudited condensed balance sheet as of March 31, 2026 that will be issued and settled as equity. |
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF
OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2026
| GigCapital7 Corp. |
Hadron Energy, Inc. |
Pro Forma Adjustments |
Pro Forma Statement of Operations |
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| Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative |
$ | 1,675,288 | $ | 1,562,910 | $ | — | $ | 3,238,198 | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development |
— | 442,807 | — | 442,807 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
— | 2,734,112 | — | 2,734,112 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation |
— | 1,945 | — | 1,945 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of legal settlement liability |
— | (4,689,637 | ) | (I | ) | 4,689,637 | — | |||||||||||||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
1,675,288 | 52,137 | 4,689,637 | 6,417,062 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations |
(1,675,288 | ) | (52,137 | ) | (4,689,637 | ) | (6,417,062 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) |
— | 13,419,233 | (J | ) | (13,419,233 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of warrants and derivative liability |
356,891 | — | — | 356,891 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense |
(15,220 | ) | — | — | (15,220 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
1,869,218 | — | (K | ) | (1,869,218 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
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|
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| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes |
535,601 | 13,367,096 | (19,978,088 | ) | (6,075,391 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) and comprehensive (loss) |
$ | 535,601 | $ | 13,367,096 | $ | (19,978,088 | ) | $ | (6,075,391 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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| Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities |
$ | (257,544 | ) | (L | ) | $ | 257,544 | — | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders |
$ | 535,601 | $ | 13,109,552 | $ | (19,720,544 | ) | $ | (6,075,391 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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| Weighted-average share outstanding of Post-Combination Company Common Stock - basic and diluted |
— | — | — | (M | ) | 71,498,842 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share - Post-Combination Company Common Stock |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (0.08 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
$ | 321,361 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
20,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
$ | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares |
$ | 214,240 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted weighted-average Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares outstanding |
13,333,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares |
$ | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average share outstanding of Hadron Energy common stock basic |
921,519 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic net income (loss) per share - Hadron Energy Common Stock |
$ | 14.23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average share outstanding of Hadron Energy common stock diluted |
985,863 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income (loss) per share - Hadron Energy Common Stock |
$ | (0.30 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended March 31, 2026
The pro forma notes and adjustments, based on preliminary estimates that could change materially as additional information is obtained, are as follows:
| (I) | Reflects the elimination of $4,689,637 of income from the Change in fair value of legal settlement liability that was settled upon closing of the Business Combination. |
| (J) | Reflects the elimination of remeasurement losses on Hadron Energy SAFEs of $13,419,233 upon consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (K) | Reflects the elimination of interest and dividend income of $1,869,218 on the marketable securities held in the Trust Account as if the Business Combination was considered effective on January 1, 2025. |
| (L) | Reflects the elimination on $257,544 of undistributed earnings due to the overall net loss position on the Pro Forma Statement of Operations. |
| (M) | Reflects the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share and assumes that the Business Combination had occurred on January 1, 2025 and the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share assumes that the shares have been outstanding for the entire period presented. |
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
| GigCapital7 Corp. |
Hadron Energy, Inc. |
Pro Forma Adjustments |
Pro Forma Statement of Operations |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative |
$ | 3,340,796 | $ | 19,329,987 | — | $ | 22,670,783 | |||||||||||||||||
| Research and development |
— | 550,971 | — | 550,971 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
— | 12,565,721 | — | 12,565,721 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation |
— | 6,411 | — | 6,411 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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| Total operating expenses |
3,340,796 | 32,453,090 | — | 35,793,886 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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| Loss from operations |
(3,340,796 | ) | (32,453,090 | ) | — | (35,793,886 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of Simple Agreements for Future Equity |
— | (39,321,489 | ) | (N | ) | 39,321,489 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of warrants |
(1,283,055 | ) | — | — | (1,283,055 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income |
710 | — | — | 710 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
8,448,606 | — | (O | ) | (8,448,606 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
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|
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|
|
|
|
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| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes |
3,825,465 | (71,774,579 | ) | 30,872,883 | (37,076,231 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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| Net income (loss) and comprehensive (loss) |
$ | 3,825,465 | $ | (71,774,579 | ) | $ | 30,872,883 | $ | (37,076,231 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average share outstanding of Post-Combination Company Common Stock - basic and diluted |
(P | ) | 71,498,842 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share - Post-Combination Company Common Stock |
$ | (0.52 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
$ | 2,295,279 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
20,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
$ | 0.11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares |
$ | 1,530,186 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted weighted-average Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares outstanding |
13,333,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares |
$ | 0.11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average share outstanding of Hadron Energy common stock basic and diluted - common stock |
914,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share - Hadron Energy Common Stock |
$ | (78.53 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2025
The pro forma notes and adjustments, based on preliminary estimates that could change materially as additional information is obtained, are as follows:
| (N) | Reflects the elimination of remeasurement losses on Hadron Energy SAFEs of $39,321,489 as if the Business Combination was considered effective on January 1, 2025. |
| (O) | Reflects the elimination of interest and dividend income of $8,448,606 on the marketable securities held in the Trust Account as if the Business Combination was considered effective on January 1, 2025. |
| (P) | Reflects the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share and assumes that the Business Combination had occurred on January 1, 2025, and the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share assumes that the shares have been outstanding for the entire period presented. |