Exhibit 4.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ATLAS ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.

Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended, the “DGCL”), hereby certifies as follows:

1. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Original Certificate of Incorporation”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 3, 2022.

2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates, integrates and also further amends the Original Certificate of Incorporation, has been declared advisable by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation and duly executed and acknowledged by an authorized officer of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 103, 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL. References to this “Certificate of Incorporation” herein refer to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time (including by any Preferred Stock Designation as defined in this Certificate of Incorporation).

3. The Original Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended, integrated and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

SECTION 1.1. Name. The name of the Corporation is Atlas Energy Solutions Inc.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED AGENT

SECTION 2.1. Registered Agent. The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

SECTION 3.1. Purpose. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL, and the Corporation shall have the power to perform all lawful acts and activities.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITALIZATION

SECTION 4.1. Number of Shares.

(A) The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 2,000,000,000 shares of stock, classified as:

(i) 500,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”);

(ii) 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”); and

(iii) 500,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”).

(B) Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding or reserved for the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of any authorized and outstanding convertible securities) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of either Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

SECTION 4.2. Provisions Relating to Preferred Stock.

(A) Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations and powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board as hereafter prescribed (a “Preferred Stock Designation”).

(B) Subject to any limitations prescribed by law and the rights of any series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any, authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, and with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix and state by the Preferred Stock Designation the designations and powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each series of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) whether or not the series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate series either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

(ii) the number of shares to constitute the series and the designation thereof;

(iii) the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to any series;

(iv) whether or not the shares of any series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable or issuable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

(v) whether or not the shares of a series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

(vi) the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable, the preference to or the relation to the payment of dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate;

 

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(vii) the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

(viii) whether or not the shares of any series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable or redeemable for, the shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes or series of stock, securities or other property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange or redemption may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions; and

(ix) such other powers, preferences, privileges and rights, protective provisions and qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any series as may to the Board seem advisable.

(C) The shares of each series of Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects. The Board may increase the number of shares of the Preferred Stock designated for any existing series by a resolution adding to such series authorized and unissued shares of the Preferred Stock not designated for any other series. Unless otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation, the Board may decrease the number of shares of the Preferred Stock designated for any existing series by a resolution subtracting from such series authorized and unissued shares of the Preferred Stock designated for such existing series, and the shares so subtracted shall become authorized, unissued and undesignated shares of the Preferred Stock.

SECTION 4.3. Provisions Relating to Common Stock.

(A) Except as may otherwise be provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, each share of Common Stock shall have identical rights and privileges in every respect. Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of Preferred Stock and any series thereof. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on all matters to which stockholders are entitled to vote, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters upon which stockholders are entitled to vote, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders, other than as provided in any Preferred Stock Designation. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law on all matters put to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise required in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all actions to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, the holders of Common Stock and the Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class).

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

(C) Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared thereon by the Board at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock unless (i) the dividend consists of shares of Class B Common Stock or of

 

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rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for shares of Class B Common Stock paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock and (ii) a dividend consisting of shares of Class A Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for shares of Class A Common Stock on equivalent terms is simultaneously paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock. If dividends are declared on the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock that are payable in shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for Common Stock in accordance with this Section 4.3(C), the dividends payable to the holders of Class A Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for Class A Common Stock), the dividends payable to the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class B Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for Class B Common Stock), and such dividends shall be paid in the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively (or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively). In no event shall the shares of either Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock be split, subdivided, combined or reclassified unless the outstanding shares of the other class shall be concurrently proportionately split, subdivided, combined or reclassified in a manner that maintains the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record or effective date for such split, division or combination or reclassification; provided, however, that shares of one such class may be split, subdivided, combined or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such split, subdivision, combination or reclassification is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

(D) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, and subject to the right of participation, if any, of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock in any dividends, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. A dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this paragraph (D), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

(E) Shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued or transferred only in connection with the simultaneous issuance or transfer of an identical number of Units (as defined below). Any purported issuance or transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock not accompanied by an issuance or transfer of the identical number of Units shall be null and void and of no force or effect. For this purpose “Unit” means a membership interest of Atlas Sand Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entity, that constitutes a “Unit” as defined in the in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Atlas Sand Operating, LLC dated as of March 8, 2023, or the limited liability company agreement or other similar document of such successor entity, as the relevant agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “LLC Agreement”). The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the redemption of all outstanding Units that are subject to the Redemption Right (as defined in the LLC Agreement) for shares of Class A Common Stock; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such redemption by delivery of cash in lieu of shares of Class A Common Stock in the amount permitted by and provided in the LLC Agreement or shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issued upon any such redemption will, upon issuance in accordance with the LLC Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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(F) No stockholder shall, by reason of the holding of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, have any preemptive or preferential right to acquire or subscribe for any shares or securities of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, which may at any time be issued, sold or offered for sale by the Corporation, unless specifically provided for in a Preferred Stock Designation.

SECTION 4.4. Restrictions on Transfer.

(A) No holder of Common Stock that acquired its shares thereof prior to the consummation of the initial public offering of Class A Common Stock (the “IPO,” and each such holder an “Initial Stockholder”) shall be permitted to, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of (collectively, a “Disposition”) any Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, which includes engaging in any hedging, collar (whether or not for any consideration) or other transaction that is designed to or reasonably expected to lead or result in a Disposition, any Common Stock held by such Initial Stockholder or acquired by such Initial Stockholder immediately after the consummation of the IPO, or that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such Initial Stockholder (collectively, the “Lock-Up”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for a period of 180 days following the consummation of the IPO (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Representatives”). If an Initial Stockholder executes a separate agreement covering any Dispositions during the Lock-Up Period as may be reasonably requested by the Representatives that is necessary to give further effect hereto, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of such separate agreement and this Section 4.4, the terms of such separate agreement shall control. Following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Initial Stockholders may effect a Disposition of all or any portion of their Common Stock, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, policies of the Corporation, this Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation and any other requirements imposed by the Corporation or the transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Common Stock.

(B) Notwithstanding Section 4.4(A), the Lock-Up shall not apply to (i) bona fide gifts, sales or other dispositions of shares of any class of the Corporation’s capital stock, in each case, that are made exclusively between and among an Initial Stockholder and members of the Initial Stockholder’s family, or affiliates of the Initial Stockholder, including its partners (if a partnership) or members (if a limited liability company); provided that it shall be a condition to any transfer pursuant to this clause (i) that (A) the transferee/donee, through its subsequent ownership of such transferred shares of Common Stock, is bound by the restrictions set forth in Section 4.4(A) to the same extent as the transferor/donor, (B) each party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) shall not be required by law (including without limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any filing or public announcement of the transfer or disposition prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, and (C) the Initial Stockholder notifies the Representatives at least two business days prior to the proposed transfer or disposition; (ii) any exercise of options or vesting or exercise of any other equity-based award, in each case, under the Corporation’s equity incentive plan or any other plan or agreement described in the prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with the IPO, including any Common Stock withheld by the Corporation for the payment of taxes due upon such exercise or vesting; provided that (A) no filing or public announcement by any party under the Exchange Act or otherwise shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such exercise or vesting and (B) any Common Stock received upon such exercise or vesting, following any applicable net settlement or net withholding, will also be subject to the Lock-Up; and (iii) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 (a “Rule 10b5-1 Plan”) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that no sales of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Common Stock, shall be made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period; provided further, that the Corporation is not required to report the establishment of such Rule 10b5-1 Plan in any public report or filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period and does not otherwise voluntarily effect any such public filing or report regarding such Rule 10b5-1 Plan.

 

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(C) Unless the written approval of the Representatives is obtained with respect to a Disposition after the consummation of the IPO until the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, such purported Disposition shall not be effective to transfer record, beneficial, legal or any other ownership of such Common Stock, and the transferee shall not be entitled to any rights as a stockholder of the Corporation with respect to the Common Stock purported to be purchased, acquired or transferred in the Disposition (including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends with respect thereto). Each such share of Common Stock subject to the Lock-Up Period shall bear the following legend (or any substantially similar legend):

THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD AS SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF ATLAS ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.

ARTICLE V

DIRECTORS

SECTION 5.1. Term and Classes.

(A) 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 them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

(B) The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock as specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes designated as “Class I Directors,” “Class II Directors” and “Class III Directors,” as nearly equal in number as is reasonably possible, with the initial term of office of the Class I Directors to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board becomes effective, the initial term of office of the Class II Directors to expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board becomes effective, and the initial term of office of the Class III Directors to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board becomes effective, with each director to hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal, and the Board shall be authorized to assign members of the Board, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, to such classes. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until their successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

SECTION 5.2. Vacancies. Subject to applicable law, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders, dated as of March 8, 2023 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of such director’s predecessor, or if it is a newly created directorship, shall be included in the class as designated by the Board and shall hold office until the first meeting of stockholders held after their election for the purpose of electing directors of that class and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal from office. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

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SECTION 5.3. Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, (A) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), any director may be removed from office with or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors and (B) from and after the Trigger Date, any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors.

SECTION 5.4. Additional Preferred Stock Directors. During any period when the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock have the separate right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (A) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such number of directors that the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have a right to elect, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions; and (B) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to such additional director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock having a separate right to elect additional directors cease to have or are otherwise divested of such right pursuant to said provisions, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such additional director shall cease to be qualified as a director and shall cease to be a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be automatically reduced accordingly.

SECTION 5.5 Number. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, and the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

SECTION 5.6. Committees. The Board may designate and appoint from among its members one or more committees, which may have one or more members, and may designate one or more of its members as alternate members, who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the Board, replace absent or disqualified members at any meeting of such committee. The stockholders of the Corporation shall have no power to appoint or remove directors as members of committees of the Board, nor to abrogate the power of the Board to establish any such committees or the power of any such committee to exercise the powers and authority of the Board.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

SECTION 6.1. Stockholder Consents.

(A) Prior to the date on which the stockholders party to the Stockholders’ Agreement (collectively, the “Principal Stockholders”) and their respective Affiliates (as such term is defined in Section 10.2) no longer collectively beneficially own more than a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Trigger Date”), any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of

 

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the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and such consent or consents are delivered to the Corporation.

(B) On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent of such stockholders.

ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS

SECTION 7.1. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation, and any proposals to be considered at such meetings, may be called and proposed only by the Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board, by the Board; provided, however, that prior to the Trigger Date, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The Board shall fix the date, time and place, if any, of such special meeting. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation shall not have the power to call or request a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously.

ARTICLE VIII

BYLAWS

SECTION 8.1. Bylaws. In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. Stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation only (A) prior to the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, and (B) on and after the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 66 2/3% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the bylaws of the Corporation shall be deemed to limit the ability of the parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof, provided that no amendment to the Stockholders’ Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement to which the bylaws of the Corporation are subject) shall amend the bylaws of the Corporation. The bylaws of the Corporation shall not contain any provision inconsistent with this Certificate of Incorporation. No bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

 

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ARTICLE IX

LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY

SECTION 9.1. Limitation of Director and Officer Liability. No director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article IX that purports to limit the liability of a director or officer shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director or officer, as applicable, for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE X

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

SECTION 10.1.

(A) Designated Parties (defined below) may own substantial equity interests in other entities and may make investments and enter into advisory service agreements and other agreements from time to time. Certain Designated Parties may also serve as employees, partners, officers or directors of other companies and, at any given time, certain Designated Parties may be in direct or indirect competition with the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. The Corporation renounces, to the maximum extent permitted by law and in accordance with Section 122(17) of the DGCL, all interest and expectancy that it otherwise would be entitled to have in, and all rights to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that from time to time may be presented to the Designated Parties. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no Designated Party shall have any obligation to refrain from: (A) engaging in or managing the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or developing or marketing any products or services that compete (directly or indirectly) with those of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; (B) investing in or owning any (public or private) interest in any Person engaged in the same or similar activities or lines of business as, or otherwise in competition with, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (including any Designated Party, a “Competing Person”); (C) developing a business relationship with any Competing Person; or (D) entering into any agreement to provide any service(s) to any Competing Person or acting as an officer, director, member, manager or advisor to, or other principal of, any Competing Person, regardless (in the case of each of (A) through (D)) of whether such activities are in direct or indirect competition with the business or activities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (the activities described in (A) through (D) are referred to herein as “Specified Activities”). To the maximum extent permitted by law, if any Designated Party acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity both for such Designated Party or any of his or her respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, on the other hand, such Designated Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or its subsidiaries and such Designated Party may take any and all such transactions or opportunities for itself or offer such transactions or opportunities to any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 10.1(A) shall not apply to any potential transaction or business opportunity that is expressly offered to a director, officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, solely in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

(B) Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article X, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

 

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(C) If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance or any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article X 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 to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

(D) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding 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 X. This Article X shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation or any applicable law.

SECTION 10.2. Definitions. For purposes of this Article X, the following terms have the following definitions:

(A) “Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person; with respect to any Designated Party, an “Affiliate” shall include (i) any Person who is the direct or indirect ultimate holder of “equity securities” (as such term is described in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of such Designated Party, and (ii) any investment fund, alternative investment vehicle, special purpose vehicle or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed, advised or controlled by such Designated Party.

(B) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section 10.2, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

(C) “Designated Parties” means the Principal Stockholders and any member of the Board who is not at the time an officer of the Corporation, and their respective Affiliates (other than the Corporation) and all of their respective interests in other entities (existing and future) that participate in the energy industry, as applicable.

(D) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, firm, association, trust, estate or other entity.

ARTICLE XI

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 11.1. Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. The Corporation shall not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto) (“Section 203”), and the restrictions contained in Section 203 shall not apply to the Corporation, until immediately following the time at which both of the following conditions exist (if ever): (a) Section 203 by its terms would, but for the provisions of this Article XI, apply to the Corporation; and (b) none of the Principal Stockholders own (as defined in Section 203) shares of capital stock of the Corporation representing at least fifteen percent (15%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation, and the Corporation shall thereafter be governed by Section 203 if and for so long as Section 203 by its terms shall apply to the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

SECTION 12.1. Amendments.

(A) The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, from time to time, to amend this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision hereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation), on and after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, that the amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 4.1 shall only require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation), prior to, on and after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to (i) amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation to (a) include a provision authorized by Section 362(a)(1) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereof) in order for the Corporation to become a “public benefit corporation” (as defined in Section 362(a) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereof)) or (b) otherwise cause or allow the Corporation to become a “public benefit corporation” or similar entity; (ii) merge or consolidate with or into, or convert into, another entity if, as a result of such merger, consolidation or conversion, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, shares or other equity interests in a domestic or foreign “public benefit corporation” or similar entity; or (iii) amend, alter or repeal (by merger, consolidation, conversion or otherwise) this Section 12.1(C).

(D) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to limit the ability of the parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof, provided that no amendment to the Stockholders’ Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement to which this Certificate of Incorporation is subject) shall amend this Certificate of Incorporation.

ARTICLE XIII

FORUM SELECTION

SECTION 13.1. Exclusive Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, or, if the Superior Court of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, in each case, subject to that court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named defendants therein)

 

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shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (A) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (B) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (C) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or by the bylaws of the Corporation (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, this Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Corporation or (D) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIII. If any provision or provisions of this Article XIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XIII 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. The provisions of this Article XIII shall not apply to actions brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of March 8, 2023.

 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation