Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

EX-10.6 11 d764215dex106.htm EX-10.6 EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT1

This Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of [•], 2024 is by and between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., an Ontario corporation (the “Company”), and Glencore Canada Corporation, an Ontario corporation having an address at 100 King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3 (the “Holder”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2022 (the “Existing Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and Glencore Ltd. (“Glencore Intermediate”), on May 31, 2022, the Company issued to Glencore Intermediate $200,000,000 original principal amount of unsecured convertible notes due May 31, 2027 (the “Existing Convertible Note” and, together with any additional notes that may be issued to Glencore Intermediate in respect of any interest paid by the Company in kind as permitted by the Initial Note, the “Existing Convertible Notes”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Existing Note Purchase Agreement, the Company and Glencore Intermediate previously entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2022 (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of [•], 2024 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company, the Holder and Glencore Intermediate, on the Closing Date, the Company issued to the Holder $75,000,000 original principal amount of senior secured convertible notes due [•], 2029 (the “Secured Convertible Note” and, together with any additional notes that may be issued to the Holder in respect of any interest paid by the Company in kind as permitted by the Secured Convertible Note, the “Secured Convertible Notes”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of [•], 2024, Glencore Intermediate assigned the Existing Convertible Notes, and its rights under the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, to the Holder;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company and the Holder amended and restated the Existing Convertible Notes (as amended, the “A&R Notes” and, together with the Secured Convertible Notes, the “Convertible Notes”) as of the Closing Date;

WHEREAS, upon any conversion of the Convertible Notes in accordance with their terms, the Company will issue to the Holder Common Shares in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Notes (such Common Shares, the “Conversion Shares”);

WHEREAS, in connection with any redemption of the Convertible Notes by the Company in accordance with their terms, the Company is required to issue to the Holder warrants (the “Redemption Warrants”) to acquire Common Shares (such Common Shares, the “Redemption Warrant Shares”);

WHEREAS, the Company is party to that Investor and Registration Rights Agreement by and between the Company and the parties thereto dated as of August 10, 2021 (the “IRA”);

WHEREAS, the entry into this Agreement is a condition precedent to the Holder’s obligation to purchase the Secured Convertible Notes; and

 

 

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Note to Draft. This Agreement is subject to amendment prior to the Closing Date to facilitate multiple Noteholders.


WHEREAS, in connection with the Closing, the Company and the Purchaser have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement and hereto agree that this Agreement shall supersede the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings set forth below:

A&R Notes” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Adverse Disclosure shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain a Misstatement, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making public.

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. For purposes of this Agreement, neither Sponsor nor its Affiliates shall be considered to be an Affiliate of the Company or any Person Controlled by the Company.

Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

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 term “Beneficially Own shall have a correlative meaning.

Block Trade” means an offering and/or sale of Registrable Securities by the Holder on a block trade or underwritten basis (whether firm commitment or otherwise) without substantial marketing efforts prior to pricing, including, without limitation, a same day trade, overnight trade or similar transaction.

Business Day means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Closing means the closing of the Transactions.

 

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Closing Date means the date hereof or such other date and/or time as may be agreed pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.

Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Shares means the common shares of the Company.

Company shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

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.

Conversion Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Convertible Notes” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Demand Registration shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Effective Time means the moment in time at which the Closing occurs.

Existing Convertible Note” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Existing Note Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Existing Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

Form S-1 means a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or any comparable successor form or forms thereto.

Form S-3 means a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any comparable successor form or forms thereto.

Governmental Entity means any United States, Canadian or other (a) federal, state, provincial, local, municipal or other government, (b) governmental or quasi-governmental entity of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal) or (c) body exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature, including any arbitral tribunal (public or private).

Holder shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

IRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

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Law means any federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, national or supranational statute, law (including common law), act, statute, ordinance, treaty, rule, Order, code, regulation or other binding directive or guidance issued, promulgated or enforced by a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over a given matter.

Maximum Number of Securities shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

Misstatement shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

New Registration Statement shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.

Note Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Order means any writ, order, judgment, injunction, decision, determination, award, ruling, subpoena, verdict or decree entered, issued or rendered by any Governmental Entity.

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.

Piggyback Registration shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

Prospectus shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Redemption Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Redemption Warrant Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Registrable Security and “Registrable Securities shall mean (a) the Conversion Shares, (b) the Redemption Warrant Shares, (c) any Common Shares hereafter acquired by the Holder to the extent such Common Shares are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or otherwise are held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company and (d) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to Common Shares referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earlier of: (A) when the following conditions have been satisfied: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further

 

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transfer shall have been delivered by the Company to the transferee, and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities have been sold under Rule 144 (or other similar exemption under the Securities Act then in force); or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction and (B) the date on (1) with respect to the Holder’s right to request a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or a Resale Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.3, five (5) years after the Holder’s receipt of the Conversion Shares or the Redemption Warrant Shares, as applicable, in respect of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes or the exercise in full of the Redemption Warrant, as applicable and (2) with respect to any Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, seven (7) years the Holder’s receipt of the Conversion Shares or the Redemption Warrant Shares, as applicable, in respect of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes or the exercise in full of the Redemption Warrant, as applicable.

Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration or Underwritten Offering, as applicable, including, without limitation, the following:

(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any fees of the securities exchange on which Common Shares are then listed;

(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and

(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration or Underwritten Offering.

Registration Statement shall mean any registration statement under the Securities Act that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Resale Shelf Registration shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

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Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

Rule 144 shall mean such rule promulgated under the Securities Act, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

SEC Guidance shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.

Secured Convertible Notes” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Transactions shall have the meaning given in the Note Purchase Agreement.

Transfer means to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, any interest owned by a Person or any interest (including a beneficial interest) in, or the ownership, control or possession of, any interest owned by a Person.

Underwriter shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

Underwritten Registration or “Underwritten Offering shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public, including for the avoidance of doubt an Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.4.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION

Section 2.1. Demand Registration.

2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.5 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time, the Holder may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of its Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting Registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by the Holder), which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Holder when making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Resale Shelf Registration). The Company shall comply in all respects with all notification requirements and obligations to include other holders in such registration pursuant to Section 2.2 of the IRA. The Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Holder pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than six (6) Demand Registrations for the Holder.

 

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2.1.2 Holder Information. The Company’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities held by the Holder in any Registration Statement are contingent upon the Holder furnishing in writing to the Company such information regarding the Holder, the securities of the Company held by the Holder and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by the Company to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and the Holder shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request that are customary of a selling shareholder in similar situations.

2.1.3 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and remains effective for not less than 180 days (or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or withdrawn), or if such Registration Statement relates to an Underwritten Offering, such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter or Underwriters, a Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Registrable Securities by an Underwriter or dealer and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency, the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective for purposes of counting Registrations under subsection 2.1.1 above unless and until (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and the Holder thereafter affirmatively elects to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; provided, further, however, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or has been terminated.

2.1.4 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.5 and Section 2.4 hereof, if the Holder advises the Company as part of its Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of the Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon the Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of the Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. In the event the Holder is proposing to distribute its Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.4, it shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Holder, which Underwriter(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

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2.1.5 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holder in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Holder desires to sell, taken together with all other Common Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other shareholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Holder that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Common Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Shares or other equity securities of other Persons that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such Persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

2.1.6 Demand Registration Withdrawal. The Holder shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter(s) (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration (i) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, prior to the launch of the roadshow for the offering, and (ii) otherwise, prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. If the Holder initiating a Demand Registration withdraws from a proposed offering pursuant to this Section 2.1.6, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.6.

Section 2.2. Piggyback Registration.

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If at any time or from time to time, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed pursuant to Section 2.1, (ii) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (iii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iv) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (v) to register the offering of securities in connection with a transaction to be registered Form S-4 or (vi) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holder as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration

 

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Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter(s), if any, in such offering, and (B) subject to the expiration or waiver by the Company of any applicable lock up with respect to the Common Shares pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, offer to the Holder the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as the Holder may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter(s) of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holder pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Holder when proposing to distribute Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holder when participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of Common Shares that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) Common Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with Persons other than the Holder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) Common Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

  (i)

If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing section (A), the Registrable Securities of the Holder exercising its rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof and any other Common Shares or other equity securities for the account of other Persons as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such other Persons, in each case pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that the Holder and such other shareholders have requested be included, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

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  (ii)

If the Registration is pursuant to a request by Persons or entities other than the Holder, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Shares or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting Persons, other than the Holder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing section (A), the Registrable Securities of the Holder exercising its rights to register its Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, and any other Common Shares or other equity securities for the account of other Persons as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such Persons, in each case pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that the Holder and such other shareholders have requested be included, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. The Holder shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to (i) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the date on which the roadshow for the offering is launched, and (ii) otherwise, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by Persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof, and there shall be no limit on the number of Piggyback Registrations.

2.2.5 Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2.2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder of Registrable Securities has elected to include securities in such registration.

 

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Section 2.3. Resale Shelf Registrations.

2.3.1 Registration Statement Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the right of the Holder to request a Resale Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1, upon the written request of the Holder, the Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the Commission as soon as practicable (but in any case no later than 45 calendar days after notice from the Holder) a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act or any successor thereto registering the resale from time to time by Holder of all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holder (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after filing, but no later than the earlier of (i) forty-five (45) calendar days after the filing of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (or seventy-five (75) calendar days after the filing of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) and (ii) fifteen (15) Business Days after the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. The Company shall cause the Resale Registration Statement or a replacement Resale Registration Statement to remain effective until five (5) years after the Holder’s receipt of the Conversion Shares or the Redemption Warrant Shares, as applicable, in respect of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes or the exercise in full of the Redemption Warrant, as applicable. The Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be filed on any then applicable form. If the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is initially filed on Form S-1 and thereafter the Company becomes eligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause such Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is on Form S-3. If any Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.3.1 is filed on Form S-3 and thereafter the Company becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall promptly notify the Holder of such ineligibility and use its best efforts to file a shelf registration on an appropriate form as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and have such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holder until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities; provided, however that at any time the Company once again becomes eligible to use Form S-3, the Company shall cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is once again on Form S-3. Once effective, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement that is required to be filed pursuant to this Section 2.3.1 and Prospectus included therein continuously effective and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available at all times until the date on which the Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 shall contain a Prospectus in such form as to permit the Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement (subject to compliance or waiver by the Company of any lock up provisions contained in the Note Purchase Agreement), and shall provide that such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holder. The Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed hereunder may also register Common Shares or other securities other than Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including shares sold by the Company to other shareholders.

 

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2.3.2 Notification and Distribution of Materials. The Company shall notify the Holder in writing of the effectiveness of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as soon as practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days after the Resale Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective (which may be accomplished by the issuance of a press release with such information), and shall furnish to the Holder, without charge, at its request, such number of copies of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (including any amendments, supplements and exhibits), the Prospectus contained therein (including each preliminary prospectus and all related amendments and supplements) and any documents incorporated by reference in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or such other documents as the Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale of the Registrable Securities in the manner described in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (to the extent any of such documents are not available on EDGAR).

2.3.3 SEC Cutback. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2.3, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform the Holder and use its reasonable best efforts to file amendments to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”) on Form S-3, or if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company for such registration statement, on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff (the “SEC Guidance”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by the Holder as to further limit its Registrable Securities to be included on the Registration Statement, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holder, subject to a determination by the Commission that the Holder must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by the Holder. In the event the Company amends the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement.

 

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2.3.4 Underwritten Shelf Takedown. At any time and from time to time after a Resale Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, to the extent such Resale Shelf Registration may be used for an underwritten offering, the Holder may request to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, including a Block Trade (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided, however that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $5,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Company shall comply in all respects with all notification requirements and obligations to include other holders in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.3.4 of the IRA. The Holder when proposing to distribute its Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under this subsection 2.3.4 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Holder (who must be reasonably acceptable to the Company).

2.3.5 Reduction of Underwritten Shelf Takedown. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advise the Company and the Holder in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Holder desires to sell, taken together with all other Common Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) Common Shares, if any, as to which participation in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with Persons other than the Holder, and (ii) Common Shares, if any, as to which participation in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Holder that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing section (i), any other Common Shares or other equity securities for the account of other Persons as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such Persons, in each case pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that the Holder and such other shareholders have requested be included; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

2.3.6 Registrations effected by the Company pursuant to Section 2.3.1 or Section 2.3.6 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.

2.3.7 Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than two (2) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns for the Holder within any consecutive twelve (12) month period.

 

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Section 2.4. Restrictions on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to (but may, at its sole option) file a Registration Statement pursuant to a Demand Registration request made under Section 2.1 during the period starting with the date thirty (30) days prior to Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that Company has delivered written notice to the Holder prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective.

Section 2.5. Block Trades. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Sections 2.4 and 3.4, if the Holder desire to effect a Block Trade, then notwithstanding any other time periods in this Article II, the Holder shall provide written notice to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date such Block Trade will commence. As expeditiously as possible, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade, provided that the Holder(s) engaging in such Block Trade use their commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the Underwriters (including by disclosing the maximum number of Registrable Securities proposed to be the subject of such Block Trade) in order to facilitate preparation of the Registration Statement, Prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade and any related due diligence and comfort procedures. In the event of a Block Trade, and after consultation with the Company, the Holder shall determine the Maximum Number of Securities, the underwriter or underwriters (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), reasonably acceptable to the Company, and share price of such offering.

Section 2.6. Other Registration Rights. The Company represents that, as of the date hereof and other than as set forth herein, no Person has the right to request or require it to register any equity securities issued by it, other than such registration rights granted pursuant (i) to those certain subscription agreements, entered into as of February 15, 2021, with investors participating in the private placement of securities of the Company in connection with the financing of the Company’s completed business combination, (ii) the IRA; (iii) the Existing Note Purchase Agreement and (iv) the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 29, 2021. The Company will not grant any Person any registration rights with respect to the capital shares of the Company that are prior in right or in conflict or inconsistent with the rights of the Holder as set forth in this Article II in any material respect (it being understood that this shall not preclude the grant of additional demand and piggyback registration rights in and of themselves so long as such rights are not prior in right to the rights under this Agreement and no piggyback registration rights shall apply to any Block Trade effected by the Holder).

ARTICLE III

COMPANY PROCEDURES

Section 3.1. General Procedures. If at any time on or after the Effective Time the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

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3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding;

3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holder or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or are no longer outstanding;

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriter(s), if any, and the Holder, and the Holder’s legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holder or the legal counsel for any the Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Holder; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;

3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to: (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holder (in light of its intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holder to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

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3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

3.1.8 advise 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 (provided that any such notice may be made by the issuance of a press release including such information);

3.1.9 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is or will become available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;

3.1.10 notify the Holder at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

3.1.11 permit a representative of the Holder, the Underwriter(s), if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by the Holder or such Underwriter(s) to participate, at each such Person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter(s), attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriter(s) enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

3.1.12 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory the Holder and such managing Underwriter;

3.1.13 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, in the event of an Underwritten Offering, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Underwriter(s), if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Underwriter(s) may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;

3.1.14 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter(s) of such offering;

 

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3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

3.1.16 if a Registration, including an Underwritten Offering, involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $5,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter(s) in any Underwritten Offering; and

3.1.17 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holder, in connection with such Registration.

Section 3.2. Registration Expenses. All Registration Expenses shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holder that the Holder shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holder.

Section 3.3. Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

Section 3.4. Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. The Company shall promptly notify the Holder in writing if a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement and, upon receipt of such written notice from the Company, the Holder shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement, provided that the Company hereby covenants promptly to prepare and file any required supplement or amendment correcting any Misstatement promptly after the time of such notice and, if necessary, to request the immediate effectiveness thereof. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement or Prospectus included in any Registration Statement at any time (a) would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, (c) requires the Company to update the financial statements contained in such Registration Statement pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission through the filing of a post-effective amendment which is subject to potential Commission review, or (d) in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, which judgment shall be documented in writing and provided

 

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to the Holder in the form of a written certificate signed by such officer, such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement would be materially detrimental to the Company. The Company shall have the right to defer the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of any Registration Statement pursuant to (a), (b) or (c) for a period of not more than ninety (90) days in any three hundred and sixty (360)-day period. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holder agrees to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.

Section 3.5. Reporting Obligations. As long the Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to, upon request, promptly furnish the Holder with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as the Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holder to sell Common Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including using commercially reasonable efforts to provide any legal opinions. Upon the request of the Holder, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

Section 3.6. Limitations on Registration Rights. The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holder and in the event of any conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

Section 4.1. Indemnification.

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Holder, its officers and directors and agents and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by the Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriter(s), their officers and directors and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Underwriter(s) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

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4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Holder is participating, the Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) the Company against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by the Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among the Holder, and the liability of the Holder shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by the Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holder of shall indemnify the Underwriter(s), their officers, directors and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Underwriter(s) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

4.1.3 Any Person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided, however, that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or Affiliate of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and the Holder to the extent participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution (pursuant to subsection 4.1.5) to such party in the event the Company’s or the Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

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4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall to the extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of the Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by the Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.2, 4.1.2 and 4.13 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(D of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

ARTICLE V

Section 5.1. [Reserved]

ARTICLE VI

Section 6.1. [Reserved]

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

Section 7.1. Termination. The Company’s obligations under Article II and Article III of this Agreement shall terminate upon the date on which neither the Holder nor any of its permitted assignees holds any Registrable Securities.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 8.1. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by e-mail or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses or e-mail addresses (or at such other address or email address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 8.1):

(i) If to the Company, to it at:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attn: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ***@***

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

66 Wellington St W Suite 5300

Toronto, ON M5K 1E6 Attn: Jonathan Grant and Fraser Bourne

Email: ***@***; ***@***

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10007

Attn: Paul M. Tiger; Andrea Basham

Email: ***@***; ***@***

(ii) If to the Holder:

Glencore Ltd.

330 Madison Ave.

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Legal Department

E-Mail: ***@***

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

Attention: Heather Emmel, Nitin Konchady

Email: ***@***

***@***

and

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

 

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CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attn: General Counsel

Email: ***@***

Section 8.2. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 8.3. Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise), by any party without the prior express written consent of the other parties hereto; except that the Holder may, without consent, assign its rights under this Agreement to any transferee of Common Shares permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement.

Section 8.4. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto (and its respective permitted assigns), and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 8.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any conflict of law that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

 

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Section 8.6. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 8.6.

Section 8.7. Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If any ambiguity or question of intent arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, use of the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa, and the definitions of terms contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. The words “includes” or “including” shall mean “including without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular section or article in which such words appear, the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” Any reference to a law shall include any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and shall mean such law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. References herein to any contract (including this Agreement) mean such contract as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Section 8.8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Section 8.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

 

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Section 8.10. Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.

Section 8.11. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, and no provision herein may be waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Holder.

Section 8.12. Waiver. At any time, (i) the Company may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any Holder, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of any Holder contained herein or in any document delivered by the Holder pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of the Holder or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. At any time, (i) the Holder may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of the Company, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in any document delivered by the Company pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of the Company or any condition to their own obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.

Section 8.13. Further Assurances. At the request of the Company, in the case of any Holder, or at the request of the Holder, in the case of the Company, and without further consideration, each party shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional documents and instruments and take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 8.14. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(Next Page is Signature Page)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Company and the Holder has caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:
LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
HOLDER:
GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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