Nomination Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2021, by and among the Company, EVgo Holdings, LLC and the Principal Stockholders

EX-10.7 8 tm2120697d1_ex10-7.htm EXHIBIT 10.7

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

 

This NOMINATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 1, 2021, is entered into by and between EVgo Inc., a Delaware corporation f/k/a Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”), and each of the stockholders of the Company whose name appears on the signature pages hereto (each a “Principal Stockholder,” and collectively, the “Principal Stockholders”).

 

WHEREAS, on January 21, 2021, the Company, CRIS Thunder Merger LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, EVgo Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“EVgo Holdings”), EVgo HoldCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and EVgo Opco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of EVgo Holdings, entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, pursuant to which the parties thereto will undertake certain transactions to effect an initial business combination (the “Business Combination”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with, and effective upon, the consummation of the Business Combination, the Principal Stockholders and the Company have entered into this Agreement to set forth certain understandings among such parties, including with respect to certain governance matters.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1              Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this Agreement, no party to this Agreement shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another party to this Agreement solely by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Affiliated Investor” means, with respect to any Principal Stockholder, (i) any investment fund or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed or advised by a manager or advisor of such Principal Stockholder and (ii) any of its Affiliates or any other Person who or which is otherwise an Affiliate of any such Principal Stockholder (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Beneficial Owner” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, each of the Principal Stockholders is deemed to Beneficially Own the shares of Common Stock owned by it, notwithstanding the fact that such shares or other securities are subject to this Agreement.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1

 

 

Class A Common Stock” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class B Common Stock” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Closing” means the Closing of the Business Combination.

 

Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, collectively.

 

Control” (including the terms “Controls,” “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Initial Share Ownership” means, with respect to the Principal Stockholders, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Principal Stockholders as of the closing of the Business Combination.

 

LS Directors” means the designees of the Principal Stockholders.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof or other entity, and also includes any managed investment account.

 

Principal Stockholder Group” means the Principal Stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates and Affiliated Investors and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Transfer” shall mean the (a) (i) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of (ii) or agreement to dispose of or (iii) establishment or increase of a “put equivalent position” or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, in each case (i), (ii) and (iii), any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b)

 

Section 1.2              Rules of Construction.

 

(a)                Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iv) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (v) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (vi) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (vii) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; (viii) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and (ix) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated.

 

2

 

 

(b)                The headings in this Agreement are for convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision thereof.

 

(c)                This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party that drafted or caused this Agreement to be drafted.

 

Article II
VOTING AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

Section 2.1              Designees.

 

(a)                Upon the closing of the Business Combination, the Board shall initially consist of nine directors, including Cathy Zoi, Elizabeth Comstock, Rodney Slater, Patricia K. Collawn, David Nanus, Joseph Esteves, Darpan Kapadia, John King and Kate Brandt (the “Initial Directors”). The audit committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Patricia K. Collawn, Rodney Slater and Elizabeth Comstock. Of the Initial Directors, David Nanus, Joseph Esteves, Darpan Kapadia, John King and Kate Brandt are each deemed to be LS Directors. The Board will be divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. Class I, Class II and Class III directors will serve until the Company’s annual meetings of shareholders in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Elizabeth Comstock, Joseph Esteves and John King will be assigned to Class I, Darpan Kapadia, Rodney Slater and Kate Brandt will be assigned to Class II, and Cathy Zoi, David Nanus and Patricia K. Collawn will be assigned to Class III. From and after the closing of the Business Combination, the rights of the Principal Stockholders to designate directors to the Board and its committees shall be as set forth in the remainder of this Section 2.1. Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the Board shall include the applicable LS Directors referred to in this paragraph (a), and such other individuals as shall be nominated and elected to the Board from time to time by the Board or the Company’s stockholders consistent herewith and with applicable law.

 

(b)                (i)          For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 50% of its Initial Share Ownership, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in five (5) LS Directors serving on the Board. For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing less than 50% of its Initial Share Ownership but at least 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in four (4) LS Directors serving on the Board. For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing less than 40% of its Initial Share Ownership but at least 30% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in three (3) LS Directors serving on the Board. For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing less than 30% of its Initial Share Ownership but at least 15% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in two (2) LS Directors serving on the Board. For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing less than 15% of its Initial Share Ownership but at least 2.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in one (1) LS Director serving on the Board.

 

3

 

 

(ii)               Subject to applicable laws and stock exchange regulations, for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 10% of its Initial Share Ownership, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to appoint one (1) LS Director to serve on each committee of the Board.

 

(iii)              Following the closing of the Business Combination and for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group is entitled to designate any Person to the Board pursuant to Section 2.1, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to appoint one (1) LS Director to serve as Chair of the Board.

 

(c)                In the event that the Principal Stockholders have nominated fewer than the total number of designees that the Principal Stockholders shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 2.1(b), then the Principal Stockholders shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, to nominate such additional designee(s) to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company shall take all necessary corporate action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to (x) increase the size of the Board as required to enable such Principal Stockholders to so nominate such additional designee(s), and (y) designate such additional designees nominated by the Principal Stockholders to fill such newly created vacancy or vacancies, as applicable.

 

(d)                Following the closing of the Business Combination and for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group is entitled to designate any Person to the Board pursuant to Section 2.1, the Board shall consist of nine members (other than as contemplated by Section 2.1(c) or Section 2.1(e) or to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or listing standards).

 

(e)                The Principal Stockholders may cause any LS Director to resign from time to time and at any time upon notice to the Company.

 

(f)                 In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, resignation or removal of a LS Director, the Principal Stockholders shall be entitled to designate an individual to fill the vacancy so long as the total number of LS Directors serving on the Board immediately following the filling of such vacancy will not exceed the total number of persons the Principal Stockholders are entitled to designate pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) on the date of such replacement designation. The Company shall take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause such replacement designee to become a member of the Board as soon as reasonably possible.

 

4

 

 

(g)                The Company agrees to take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors the Persons designated pursuant to this Section 2.1 (to the extent that directors of such nominee’s class are to be elected at such meeting for so long as the Board is classified) and to nominate and recommend each such individual to be elected as a director as provided herein, and to solicit proxies or consents in favor thereof. The Company is entitled to identify such individual as a LS Director pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2              [Reserved].

 

Section 2.3              Lock-Up. Each Principal Stockholder agrees that, following the Closing, it, he or she, severally and not jointly, shall not Transfer any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of any common units of EVgo Opco, LLC held by such Principal Stockholder equal to the number set forth opposite such Principal Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A under the heading “Lock-Up Shares” (the “Lock-Up Shares”) until the earlier of (i) 180 days after the Closing, and (ii) subsequent to the Closing, the date the VWAP (as defined below) of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share for any 20 Trading Days (as defined below) within any 30-Trading Day period or (y) the date following the Closing on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction with a third party that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “VWAP” of the Class A Common Stock on any Trading Day means the per share volume-weighted average price of the Class A Common Stock as displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg (or, if Bloomberg ceases to publish such price, any successor service reasonably chosen by the Company) page https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/CLII:US (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the open of trading on the relevant Trading Day until the close of trading on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market price of one share of the Class A Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm (unaffiliated with the Company) retained for this purpose by the Company) and (ii) “Trading Day” shall mean a day during which trading in the Class A Common Stock generally occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchanges on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading. If the Class A Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, Trading Day means a Business Day.

 

Article III
INFORMATION

 

Section 3.1              Access. Each LS Director is permitted to disclose to the Principal Stockholder Group information about the Company and its Affiliates that he or she receives as a result of being a Director.

 

5

 

 

Article IV
EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1              Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the Business Combination. To the extent the closing of the Business Combination does not occur, the provisions of this Agreement shall be without any force or effect.

 

Section 4.2              Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the delivery of written notice to the Company by the Principal Stockholders. Further, at such time as the Principal Stockholder Group no longer Beneficially Owns at least 2.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, all rights and obligations of the Principal Stockholder Group under this Agreement shall terminate.

 

Article V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1              Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, mailed by registered or certified mail or be sent by facsimile or electronic mail to such party at the address set forth below (or such other address as shall be specified by like notice). Notices will be deemed to have been duly given hereunder if (i) personally delivered, when received, (ii) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, one business day after deposit with the nationally recognized overnight courier, (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail, five business days after the date on which it is so mailed, and (iv) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date sent so long as such communication is transmitted before 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on a business day, otherwise, on the next business day.

 

(a)           If to the Company, to:

 

EVgo Inc.
11835 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90064
Attention: Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
Email: ***@***

 

(b)          If to the Principal Stockholders, to:

 

EVgo Holdings, LLC
c/o LS Power Equity Advisors, LLC
1700 Broadway, 35th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attention: General Counsel
Email: ***@***

 

Section 5.2              Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

6

 

 

Section 5.3              Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be considered one and the same agreement.

 

Section 5.4              Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) except as provided in Section 3.2 with respect to any individual associated with the Principal Stockholder Group, is not intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

Section 5.5              Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the other parties hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein. The Company shall not directly or indirectly take any action that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to result in, any Principal Stockholder Group entity being deprived of the rights contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.6              Governing Law; Equitable Remedies. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF). The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto. Each party hereto further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

Section 5.7              Consent To Jurisdiction. With respect to any suit, action or proceeding (“Proceeding”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts therefrom (the “Selected Courts”) and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided, however, that a party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts; (b) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to their respective addresses referred to in Section 5.1 hereof; provided, however, that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (c) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.

 

7

 

 

Section 5.8              Amendments; Waivers.

 

(a)                No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed (i) in the case of an amendment, by each of the parties hereto and the consent of a majority of the Directors that are not LS Directors, and (ii) in the case of a waiver, by each of the parties against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(b)                No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 5.9              Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, however, that any Principal Stockholder may assign any of its respective rights hereunder to any of its Affiliated Investors. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 5.10           No Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

8

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  EVgo Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Cathy Zoi
    Name:   Cathy Zoi
    Title:     Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 

 

 

  PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS:
   
  EVgo Holdings, LLC
   
  By: /s/ David Nanus
    Name:   David Nanus
    Title:     EVP

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Principal
Stockholder
  Address  Total Shares   Lock-Up
Shares
 
EVgo Holdings, LLC 

EVgo Holdings, LLC

c/o LS Power Equity Advisors, LLC

1700 Broadway, 35th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Attention: General Counsel

Email: ***@***

   195,800,000    195,800,000