Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 10, 2022, between NXT and United

EX-10.22 7 fs42023ex10-22_industrial2.htm REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED NOVEMBER 10, 2022, BETWEEN NXT AND UNITED.

Exhibit 10.22

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of November 10, 2022, by and between NEXT Renewable Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and United Airlines Ventures, Ltd. (“United”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and United are parties to that certain (1) Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and United, pursuant to which United is subscribing to (a) purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), and (b) receive for no additional consideration payable at the Closing (as defined in the Subscription Agreement), a series of Warrants to Purchase Shares of the Company (collectively, the “Warrants”), (2) Investor Rights Letter Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and United and (3) Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and United (collectively, and together with this Agreement, the “Transaction Agreements”). United further contemplates purchasing (but is not at this time obligated to purchase) in the future secured convertible notes (in an aggregate principal amount of at least $15.0 million) co-issued by the Company and its subsidiary (the “Note Purchase”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

1.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, managing member, officer, director or trustee of such Person, or any venture capital fund or other investment fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one (1) or more general partners, managing members or investment adviser of, or shares the same management company or investment adviser with, such Person.

 

1.2 “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

1.3 “Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

1.4 “Damages” means any loss, damage, claim or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such loss, damage, claim or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any state securities law.

 

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1.5 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

1.6 “Excluded Registration” means (i) a registration relating to the sale or grant of securities to employees of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase, equity incentive or similar plan; (ii) a registration relating to an SEC Rule 145 transaction; (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities; or (iv) a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered.

 

1.7 “Form S-1” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC.

 

1.8 “Form S-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits forward incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

 

1.9 “Holder” means United or any person or entity to whom United transfers any or all of its Registrable Securities from time to time.

 

1.10 “IPO” means the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its Common Stock under the Securities Act.

 

1.11 “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

 

1.12 “Registrable Securities” means (i) any Common Stock, or any Common Stock issued or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise of any other securities of the Company, acquired by the Holder on or after the date hereof; and (ii) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares referenced in clause (i) above; excluding in all cases, and excluding for purposes of Section 2 any shares for which registration rights have terminated pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Agreement.

 

1.13 “Registrable Securities then outstanding” means the number of shares determined by adding the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable (directly or indirectly) pursuant to then exercisable and/or convertible securities that are Registrable Securities.

 

1.14 “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

1.15 “SEC Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

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1.16 “SEC Rule 145” means Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

1.17 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

1.18 “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holder.

 

2.Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

2.1 Demand Registration.

 

(a) Form S-1 Demand. If at any time after the earlier of (i) three (3) years after the date of this Agreement or (ii) one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO, the Company receives a request from the Holder that the Company file a Form S-1 registration statement with respect to the Registrable Securities then outstanding, then the Company shall: (x) within ten (10) days after the date such request is given, give notice thereof (the “Demand Notice”) to the Holder; and (y) as soon as practicable, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the date such request is given by the Holder, file a Form S-1 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities that the Holder requested to be registered, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Sections 2.1(c) and 2.3.

 

(b) Form S-3 Demand. If at any time when it is eligible to use a Form S-3 registration statement, the Company receives a request from the Holder that the Company file a Form S-3 registration statement with respect to outstanding Registrable Securities of the Holder having an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, of at least $5 million, then the Company shall (i) within ten (10) days after the date such request is given, give a Demand Notice to the Holder; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the date such request is given by the Holder, file a Form S-3 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Sections 2.1(c) and 2.3.

 

(c) Material Events. Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations, if the Company furnishes to the Holder a certificate signed by the Company’s chief executive officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement to either become effective or remain effective for as long as such registration statement otherwise would be required to remain effective, because such action would (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, then the Company shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing, and any time periods with respect to filing or effectiveness thereof shall be tolled correspondingly, for a period of not more than thirty (30) days after the Holder’s request is given; provided, however, that the Company may not invoke this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; provided further that the Company shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other stockholder during such thirty (30) day period.

 

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(d) Blackout Periods. The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a), (i) during the period that is sixty (60) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; (ii) after the Company has effected two registrations pursuant to Section 2.1(a); or (iii) if the Holder proposes to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 2.1(b). The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Section 2.1(b), (i) during the period that is thirty (30) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; or (ii) if the Company has effected two registrations pursuant to Section 2.1(b) within the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the date of such request. A registration shall not be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Section 2.1(d) until such time as the applicable registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, unless the Holder withdraws its request for such registration, in which case such withdrawn registration statement shall be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Section 2.1(d); provided, that if such withdrawal is during a period the Company has deferred taking action pursuant to Section 2.1(c), then the Holder may withdraw its request for registration and such registration will not be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Section 2.1(d).

 

2.2 Company Registration. If the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash (other than in an Excluded Registration), the Company shall, at such time, promptly give the Holder notice of such registration. Upon the Holder’s request given within twenty (20) days after such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, cause to be registered all of the Registrable Securities that the Holder has requested to be included in such registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2.2 before the effective date of such registration, whether or not the Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration. The expenses (including Selling Expenses) of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 2.6.

 

2.3 Underwriting Requirements.

 

(a) If, pursuant to Section 2.1, the Holder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by its request by means of an underwriting, it shall so advise the Company as a part of its request made pursuant to Section 2.1, and the Company shall include such information in the Demand Notice. The underwriter(s) will be selected by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Holder. In such event, the Holder’s right to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon its participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of its Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. Should the Holder propose to distribute its securities through such underwriting, it shall (together with the Company as provided in Section 2.4(e) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting; provided, however, that the Holder shall not be required to make any representations, warranties or indemnities except as they relate to the Holder’s ownership of shares and authority to enter into the underwriting agreement and to the Holder’s intended method of distribution, and the liability of the Holder shall be several and not joint, and limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering received by the Holder.

 

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(b) In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to Section 2.2, the Company shall not be required to include any of the Holder’s Registrable Securities in such underwriting unless the Holder accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and its underwriters, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total number of securities, including Registrable Securities, to be included in such offering exceeds the number of securities to be sold (other than by the Company) that the underwriters in their reasonable discretion determine is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters and the Company in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering. If the underwriters determine that less than all of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered can be included in such offering, then the number of such Registrable Securities shall be reduced accordingly; provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall only be reduced on a pro rata basis among all securities to be included in such registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced unless all other securities are first excluded from the offering, and in no event shall the number of such Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the total number of securities to be included in such offering.

 

(c) For purposes of Section 2.1, a registration shall not be counted as “effected” if, as a result of an exercise of the underwriter’s cutback provisions in Section 2.3(a), fewer than 50% of the total number of Registrable Securities that the Holder has requested to be included in such registration statement are actually included.

 

2.4 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

 

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, upon the Holder’s request, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120) days or, if earlier, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such one hundred twenty (120) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains, at the request of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, from selling any securities included in such registration, and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 that are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, subject to compliance with applicable SEC rules, such one hundred twenty (120) day period shall be extended for up to one hundred eighty (180) days, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold;

 

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(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement, as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

 

(c) furnish to the Holder such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, as required by the Securities Act, and such other documents as the Holder may reasonably request in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

 

(d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue-sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act;

 

(e) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the underwriter(s) of such offering;

 

(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on a national securities exchange or trading system and each securities exchange and trading system (if any) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

(g) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement and provide a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration;

 

(h) promptly make available for inspection by the Holder, any managing underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the Holder, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith;

 

(i) notify the Holder, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed; and

 

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(j) after such registration statement becomes effective, notify the Holder of any request by the SEC that the Company amend or supplement such registration statement or prospectus.

 

In addition, the Company shall ensure that, at all times after any registration statement covering a public offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act shall have become effective, its insider trading policy shall provide that the Company’s directors may implement a trading program under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act.

 

2.5 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of the Holder that the Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as is reasonably required to effect the registration of the Holder’s Registrable Securities.

 

2.6 Expenses of Registration. All expenses (including Selling Expenses) incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Section 2, including all registration, filing, and qualification fees; printers’ and accounting fees; fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be borne and paid by the Company; and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holder shall be borne and paid by the Company.

 

2.7 Indemnification. If any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 2:

 

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, and the partners, members, officers, directors, and stockholders of the Holder; legal counsel and accountants for the Holder; any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for the Holder; and each Person, if any, who controls the Holder or such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any Damages, and the Company will pay to the Holder and the Holder’s underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable for any Damages to the extent that they arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of the Holder or the Holder’s underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person expressly for use in connection with such registration except to the extent such information has been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of Registrable Securities to the Person asserting the claim.

 

(b) To the extent permitted by law, the Holder will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person (if any), who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act), and any controlling Person of any such underwriter, against any Damages, in each case only to the extent that such Damages arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of the Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of Registrable Securities to the Person asserting the claim; and the Holder will pay to the Company and each other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that in no event shall the aggregate amounts payable by the Holder by way of indemnity or contribution under Section 2.7(b) and 2.7(d) exceed the proceeds from the offering received by the Holder, except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by the Holder.

 

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(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.7 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action) for which a party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 2.7, give the indemnifying party notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in such action and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, participate jointly with any other indemnifying party to which notice has been given, and to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 2.7, only to the extent that such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party’s ability to defend such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.7.

 

(d) To provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either: (i) any party otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 2.7 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that this Section 2.7 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any party hereto for which indemnification is provided under this Section 2.7, then, and in each such case, such parties will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements, omissions, or other actions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or expense, as well as to reflect any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case (x) the Holder will not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by the Holder pursuant to such registration statement, and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and provided further that in no event shall the Holder’s liability pursuant to this Section 2.7(d), when combined with the amounts paid or payable by the Holder pursuant to Section 2.7(b), exceed the proceeds from the offering received by the Holder, except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by the Holder.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control; provided, however, that any matter expressly provided for or addressed by the foregoing provisions that is not expressly provided for or addressed by the underwriting agreement shall be controlled by the foregoing provisions.

 

(f) Unless otherwise superseded by an underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering, the obligations of the Company and the Holder under this Section 2.7 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration under this Section 2, and otherwise shall survive the termination of this Agreement or any provision(s) of this Agreement.

 

2.8 Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holder the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company shall:

 

(a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO;

 

(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(c) furnish to the Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO), the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies); and (ii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing the Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form).

 

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2.9 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights; Other Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holder, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would (i) allow such holder or prospective holder to include such securities in any registration unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the number of the Registrable Securities of the Holder that are included; or (ii) allow such holder or prospective holder to initiate a demand for registration of any securities held by such holder or prospective holder; provided that nothing set forth in this Section 2.9 or any other provision of this Agreement shall limit the right of the Company to register on Form S-4 all securities of the Company and any special purpose acquisition company with which the Company enters into a business combination in connection with such business combination. The Company represents and warrants to the Holder that except as set forth on Schedule 2.9 attached hereto, the Company and its subsidiaries have not granted registration rights to any Person.

 

2.10 Termination of Registration Rights. The right of the Holder to request registration or inclusion of Registrable Securities in any registration pursuant to this Section 2 shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of:

 

(a) the closing of a Liquidation Event (as defined in the Warrants); and

 

(b) the fifth anniversary of the IPO.

 

3.Miscellaneous.

 

3.1 Successors and Assigns. The Company may not assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of United. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned by United (or any other Holder) to transferees of its Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

 

3.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.

 

3.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

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3.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

3.5 Notices.

 

(a) All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail during the recipient’s normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses designated in writing from time to time. If notice is given to the Company, a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) shall also be emailed to Ralph V. De Martino at ArentFox Schiff LLP ***@***), and if notice is given to United, a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) shall also be given to Sidley Austin LLP, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, 17th Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attn. Stephen Ballas.

 

(b) Consent to Electronic Notice. United consents to the delivery of any stockholder notice pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), as amended or superseded from time to time, by electronic transmission pursuant to Section 232 of the DGCL (or any successor thereto) at the electronic mail address designated in writing by United from time to time, as updated from time to time by notice to the Company, or as on the books of the Company. To the extent that any notice given by means of electronic transmission is returned or undeliverable for any reason, the foregoing consent shall be deemed to have been revoked until a new or corrected electronic mail address has been provided, and such attempted electronic notice shall be ineffective and deemed to not have been given. United agrees to promptly notify the Company of any change in its electronic mail address, and that failure to do so shall not affect the foregoing.

 

3.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and United; provided that any provision hereof may be waived by any waiving party on such party’s own behalf, without the consent of the other party. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one (1) or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.

 

3.7 Severability. In case any one (1) or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

11

 

 

3.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules hereto) together with the other Transaction Agreements, constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.

 

3.9 Dispute Resolution. The parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of Delaware and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in the state courts of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

3.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

 

3.11 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or non-defaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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

 

  COMPANY:
     
  NEXT Renewable Fuels, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Christopher Efird
  Name:  Christopher Efird
  Title: CEO and Chairperson

 

[Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  UNITED:
     
  United Airlines Ventures, Ltd.
     
  By: /s/ Michael Leskinen
  Name:  Michael Leskinen
  Title: President

 

[Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2.9

 

Existing Registration Rights

 

1.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due September 24, 2022, dated as of September 24, 2019, issued to David A Bialis Revocable Trust

 

2.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due September 24, 2022, dated as of January 16, 2020, issued to David A Bialis Revocable Trust

 

3.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due October 16, 2022, dated as of October 16, 2019, issued to Morera Family Trust

 

4.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due December 20, 2022, dated as of December 20, 2019, issued to Bauer Ventures NEXT Investment LLC

 

5.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due October 31, 2022, dated as of October 31, 2019, issued to Keesling Family Trust

 

6.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due February 21, 2023, issued to Toft Solo 401K Trust

 

7.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due February 24, 2023, dated as of February 24, 2020, issued to The Collin J. Higgins Gift Trust

 

8.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due February 24, 2023, dated as of February 24, 2020, issued to The Kelsey E. Higgins Gift Trust

 

9.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due February 24, 2023, dated as of February 24, 2020, issued to The Jake Riley Higgins Gift Trust

 

10.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due February 24, 2023, dated as of February 24, 2020, issued to Dustin E. Hoffman

 

11.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due February 28, 2023, dated as of February 28, 2020, issued to IRAR Trust FBO James Duncan Jr.

 

12.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 6, 2023, dated as of July 6, 2020, issued to Mark Melbye

 

13.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 15, 2023, dated as of July 15, 2020, issued to David A Bialis Revocable Trust

 

14.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 25, 2023, dated as of July 25, 2020, issued to Keesling Family Trust

 

15.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 29, 2023, dated as of July 29, 2020, issued to Rui Chang

 

16.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 31, 2023, dated as of July 31, 2020, issued to Christopher Fiore

 

 

 

 

17.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 3, 2023, dated as of August 3, 2020, issued to BCMELCO Defined Benefit Plan

 

18.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 5, 2023, dated as of August 5, 2020, issued to Catherine Riley Cranston

 

19.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 10, 2023, dated as of August 10, 2020, issued to Sai Dwaraka, LLC

 

20.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 12, 2023, dated as of August 12, 2020, issued to Twin Oaks Equity, LLC

 

21.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 21, 2023, dated as of August 21, 2020, issued to Continent Link Energy, Inc.

 

22.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 12, 2023, dated as of July 12, 2022, issued to Xin Tan

 

23.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due June 24, 2023, dated as of June 24, 2022, issued to Heng Chan

 

24.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due June 28, 2023, dated as of June 28, 2022, issued to Siya Bibby He

 

25.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due June 24, 2023, dated as of June 24, 2022, issued to Heng Chan

 

26.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due June 24, 2023, dated as of June 24, 2022, issued to Zhu Liang

 

27.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due July 1, 2023, dated as of July 1, 2022, issued to 2012 David A. Bialis Revocable Trust Dated July 9, 2012

 

28.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 16, 2023, dated as of August 16, 2022, issued to 2012 David A. Bialis Revocable Trust Dated July 9, 2012

 

29.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 17, 2023, dated as of August 17, 2022, issued to Beth A. Carlino

 

30.12% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due August 16, 2023, dated as of August 16, 2022, issued to Heng Chen