Exhibit 3.8

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS

OF THE SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF

HERITAGE DISTILLING HOLDING COMPANY, INC.

 

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Heritage Distilling Holding Company, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and validly existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies that this Certificate of Designation containing the following resolutions has been duly adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors by written consent dated May 17, 2024 pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation:

 

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate”), authorizes a class of stock designated as Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), comprising 5,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share, provides that such Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, and vests authority in the Board of Directors, within the limitations and restrictions stated in the Certificate, to fix or alter the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, rights and terms of redemption, the redemption price or prices and the liquidation preferences of any series of Preferred Stock within the limitations set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;

 

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors to designate one new series of Preferred Stock and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Corporation does hereby designate 500,000 shares of the authorized but unissued Preferred Stock as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and does hereby fix the powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock to be as follows:

 

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

 

1. Designation. 500,000 shares of the authorized, but undesignated preferred stock, $.0001 par value per share, of the Corporation are hereby constituted as a series of the preferred stock designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” (“Series A Preferred Stock”). The date on which the Corporation initially issues any share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be its “Original Issuance Date” or “date of issuance” regardless of the number of times transfer of such share is made on the stock records maintained by or for the Corporation and regardless of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such share. The Series A Preferred Stock shall have rights and preferences relative to all other classes and series of the capital stock of the Corporation as set forth herein.

 

2. Dividends.

 

2.1 Dividend Rights. Commencing on June 15, 2024, cumulative dividends (“Class A Dividends”) shall accrue on each share of Class A Preferred Stock, at the rate of fifteen percent (15%) (the “Dividend Rate”) of the Series A Stated Amount (as defined below) per annum (accrued daily, from but not including the next preceding Dividend Payment Date (as defined in Section 2.2 below), or, in the case of the first Dividend Payment Date, from June 15, 2024, to and including the respective Dividend Payment Date, on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve (12) 30-day months). The “Series A Stated Amount” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of $12.00 per share plus the amount, if any, of Class A Dividends that have been added to the Series A Stated Amount on any Stated Amount Adjustment Date (as defined below) pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

 

 

 

2.2 Dividend Payment Dates. The Class A Dividends shall be payable when and if declared by the board of directors of the Corporation, on such date or dates as the board of directors shall determine (each a “Dividend Payment Date”), to holders of record as of the fifth (5th) business day next preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date. The Class A Dividends shall accrue and accumulate whether or not they have been declared and whether or not there are profits, surplus or other funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on each June 15, commencing on June 15, 2025 (each such day, a “Stated Amount Adjustment Date”), the amount of all accrued and unpaid Class A Dividends on each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be paid and shall be added to the Stated Amount of such share of Series A Preferred Stock. Each Stated Amount Adjustment Date shall be deemed to be a Dividend Payment Date. Class A Dividends shall also be payable as set forth in Subsections 3.1 and 5.1 hereof.

 

2.3 Method of Payment of Accrued Class A Dividends. Accrued Class A Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock that have not been added to the Stated Amount pursuant to Section 2.2 may be paid (i) in cash; (ii) by delivery of shares of Common Stock; or (iii) through any combination of cash and Common Stock. If the Corporation elects to make any such payment, or any portion thereof, in shares of Common Stock, the holder shall be issued a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of 110% of the amount of accrued dividends to be paid in Common Stock divided by the Series A Conversion Price (as defined below). The Corporation may make payments of Class A Dividend declared pursuant to Section 1.2 (but not Class A Dividends added to the Stated Amount or payable pursuant to Subsections 3.1 and 5.1 hereof) only if the closing price of the Common Stock on a national securities exchange over the five trading days preceding the dividend payment date is at or above the Series A Conversion Price.

 

3. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up; Certain Mergers, Consolidations and Asset Sales.

 

3.1 Payments to Holders of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders before any payment shall be made to the holders of any other shares of capital stock of the Corporation, including the Common Stock, by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to the greater of (i) 110% of the sum of (a) the Series A Stated Amount, plus (b) the amount of the aggregate Class A Dividends then accrued on such share of Series A Preferred Stock and not previously paid, or (ii) such amount per share as would have been payable had all shares of Series A Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock pursuant to Section 5 immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up (the amount payable pursuant to this sentence is hereinafter referred to as the “Series A Liquidation Amount”). If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Subsection 3.1, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.

 

3.2 Payments to Holders of Other Classes of Stock. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be distributed first among the holders of each other class of preferred stock pursuant to the terms of each such class of preferred stock and, thereafter, among the holders of all shares of outstanding Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares held by each such holder.

 

4. Voting. Except as provided by law or by the other provisions of the Certificate or this Certificate of Designation, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights.

 

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5. Optional Conversion.

 

The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows (the “Conversion Rights”):

 

5.1 Right to Convert.

 

5.1.1 Conversion Ratio. Subject to Section 5.1.2, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and from time to time, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing (a) an amount equal to 110% of the sum of (i) the Series A Stated Amount, plus (ii) the amount of all accrued and unpaid Series A Dividends of such share of Series A Preferred Stock, by (b) the Series A Conversion Price (as defined below) in effect at the time of conversion. The “Series A Conversion Price” shall initially be equal to the lesser of (i) $5.00 and (ii) the price per share of the Common Stock in the first underwritten offering of Common Stock of the Corporation following the Original Issuance Date. The Series A Conversion Price, and the rate at which shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be subject to adjustment as provided below.

 

5.1.2 Conversion Limitations. The Corporation shall not affect any conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, and a holder shall not have the right to convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock, pursuant to this Section 5 to the extent that after giving effect to the proposed conversion, the holder (together with the holder’s affiliates and any persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of the holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the holder and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Series A Preferred Stock owned by the holder or any of its affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the holder or any of its affiliates. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Subsection 5.1.2, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Subsection 5.1.2 applies, the determination of whether any share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible shall be in the sole discretion of the holder thereof, and the submission of a notice of conversion shall be deemed to be the holder’s determination of whether the share of Series A Preferred Stock may be converted, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. For purposes of this Subsection 5.1.2, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Corporation’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Corporation, or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Corporation or the transfer agent for the Common Stock setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a holder of Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall within one trading day confirm orally and in writing to the holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock held by the holder. The holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Corporation, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Subsection 5.1.2, provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock held by the holder and the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Subsection 5.1.2 shall continue to apply. Any such increase or decrease will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Corporation. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Subsection 5.1.2 to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) that may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this Subsection 5.1.2 shall apply to a successor holder of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

5.1.3 Termination of Conversion Rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the Conversion Rights shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for the payment of any such amounts distributable on such event to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

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5.2 Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Corporation. Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting into Common Stock and the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion.

 

5.3 Mechanics of Conversion.

 

5.3.1 Notice of Conversion. In order for a holder of Series A Preferred Stock to voluntarily convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, such holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates for such shares of Series A Preferred Stock (or, if such registered holder alleges that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate), at the office of the transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock (or at the principal office of the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent), together with written notice that such holder elects to convert all or any number of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock represented by such certificate or certificates and, if applicable, any event on which such conversion is contingent. Such notice shall state such holder’s name or the names of the nominees in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock to be issued. If required by the Corporation, certificates surrendered for conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the registered holder or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing. The close of business on the date of receipt by the transfer agent (or by the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) of such certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) and notice shall be the time of conversion (the “Conversion Time”), and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares represented by such certificate shall be deemed to be outstanding of record as of such date. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after the Conversion Time, (i) issue and deliver to such holder of Series A Preferred Stock, or to his, her or its nominees, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof and a certificate for the number (if any) of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock represented by the surrendered certificate that were not converted into Common Stock, and (ii) pay in cash such amount as provided in Subsection ‎4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion.

 

5.3.2 Reservation of Shares. The Corporation shall at all times when the Series A Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued capital stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, such number of its duly authorized shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to the Certificate. Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the Series A Conversion Price below the then par value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Series A Conversion Price.

 

5.3.3 Effect of Conversion. All shares of Series A Preferred Stock which shall have been surrendered for conversion as herein provided shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall immediately cease and terminate at the Conversion Time, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange therefor and to receive payment in lieu of any fraction of a share otherwise issuable upon such conversion as provided in Subsection 5.2. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted shall be retired and cancelled, and the Corporation may thereafter take such appropriate action (without the need for stockholder action) as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock accordingly.

 

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5.3.4 No Further Adjustment. Upon any such conversion, no adjustment to the Series A Conversion Price shall be made for any declared but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion or on the Common Stock delivered upon conversion.

 

5.3.5 Taxes. The Corporation shall pay any and all issue and other similar taxes, except the income taxes of recipient Holder, that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5. The Corporation shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that in which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted were registered, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the person or entity requesting such issuance has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such tax has been paid.

 

5.4 Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Series A Original Issue Date effect a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, the Series A Conversion Price in effect immediately before that subdivision shall be proportionately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Series A Original Issue Date combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Applicable Series A Conversion in effect immediately before the combination shall be proportionately increased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Any adjustment under this subsection shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

5.5 Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions. In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Series A Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable on the Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the Series A Conversion Price in effect immediately before such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the Series A Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:

 

(1) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and

 

(2) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Series A Conversion Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date and thereafter the Series A Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this subsection as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions; and (b) that no such adjustment shall be made if the holders of Series A Preferred Stock simultaneously receive a dividend or other distribution of shares of Common Stock in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.

 

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5.6 Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, etc. If there shall occur any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger involving the Corporation in which the Common Stock (but not the Series A Preferred Stock) is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property, then, following any such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible in lieu of the Common Stock into which it was convertible prior to such event into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issuable upon conversion of one share of Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Corporation) shall be made in the application of the provisions in this Section 5 with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, to the end that the provisions set forth in this Section 5 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments of the Series A Conversion Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any securities or other property thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

5.7 Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Series A Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 5, the Corporation at its expense shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter, compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment (including the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property into which the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible) and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the written request at any time of any holder of Series A Preferred Stock (but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter), furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a certificate setting forth (i) the Series A Conversion Price then in effect, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other securities, cash or property which then would be received upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock, including the date through which Series A Dividends have been accrued for purposes of such calculation.

 

5.8 Notice of Record Date. In the event:

 

(a) the Corporation shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security; or

 

(b) of any capital reorganization of the Corporation or any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Corporation; or

 

(c) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation,

 

then, and in each such case, the Corporation will send or cause to be sent to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the record date for such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is proposed to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Series A Preferred Stock and the Common Stock. Such notice shall be sent at least ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice.

 

6. Mandatory Conversion.

 

6.1 Trigger Events. At the close of business at the office of the transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock (or at the principal office of the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) on June 15, 2027 (the “Mandatory Conversion Time”), all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Common Stock at the then effective conversion rate.

 

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6.2 Procedural Requirements. All holders of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be sent written notice of the Mandatory Conversion Time and the place designated for mandatory conversion of all such shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 6. Such notice need not be sent in advance of the occurrence of the Mandatory Conversion Time. Upon receipt of such notice, each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall surrender his, her or its certificate or certificates for all such shares (or, if such holder alleges that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate) to the Corporation at the place designated in such notice. If so required by the Corporation, certificates surrendered for conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the registered holder or by his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing. All rights with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock converted pursuant to Section 6.1, including the rights, if any, to receive notices and vote (other than as a holder of Common Stock), will terminate at the Mandatory Conversion Time (notwithstanding the failure of the holder or holders thereof to surrender the certificates at or prior to such time), except only the rights of the holders thereof, upon surrender of their certificate or certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) therefor, to receive the items provided for in the next sentence of this Subsection ‎6.2. As soon as practicable after the Mandatory Conversion Time and the surrender of the certificate or certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) for Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to such holder, or to his, her or its nominees, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable on such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof, together with cash as provided in Subsection 5.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion. Such converted Series A Preferred Stock shall be retired and cancelled.

 

7. Redemption.

 

7.1 Optional Redemption. From and after June 15, 2025, the Corporation, at the option of its board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may redeem the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, in whole or in part, out of funds legally available therefor. The redemption price per share for shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be an amount equal to 110% of the sum of (i) the Series A Stated Amount, plus (ii) the amount of the aggregate Class A Dividends then accrued on such share of Series A Preferred Stock and not previously paid.

 

7.2 Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 7.2 shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.

 

7.3 Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series A Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holders or by lot. Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the board of directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

 

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7.4 Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “Depositary Company”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, the holders of record of the shares so called for redemption shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated above for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest.

 

8. Amendment; Waiver. Except as otherwise required by law, this Certificate of Designation may be amended by the Corporation with the written consent or affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding. Any of the rights, powers, preferences and other terms of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth herein may be waived on behalf of all holders of Series A Preferred Stock by the written consent or affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.

 

9. Notices. Any notice required or permitted by the provisions hereof to be given to a holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the post office address last shown on the records of the Corporation, or given by electronic communication in compliance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law, and shall be deemed sent upon such mailing or electronic transmission.

 

10. Record Holders. The Corporation and its transfer agent may deem and treat the record neither the Corporation nor its transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

11. No Maturity or Sinking Fund. The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity date, and no sinking fund has been established for the retirement or redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

12. Exclusion of Other Rights. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption other than expressly set forth in the Certificate and this Certificate of Designations.

 

13. Headings of Subdivisions. The headings of the various subdivisions of this Certificate of Designations are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.

 

14. Severability of Provisions. If any preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth in the Certificate and this Certificate of Designations are invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, all other preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series A Preferred Stock set forth in the Certificate that can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable provision thereof shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect and no preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth in this Certificate of Designations shall be deemed dependent upon any other provision thereof unless so expressed therein.

 

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15. No Preemptive Rights. No holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to any preemptive rights to subscribe for or acquire any unissued shares of capital stock of the Corporation (whether now or hereafter authorized) or securities of the Corporation convertible into or carrying a right to subscribe to or acquire shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations to be signed on behalf of Heritage Distilling Holding Company, Inc. this 27th day of September, 2024.

 

  HERITAGE DISTILLING HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Justin Stiefel
  Name:  Justin Stiefel
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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