|
Australia
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
| |
4911
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
| |
Not Applicable
(IRS Employer
Identification Number) |
|
|
Alec Waugh
Vast Renewables Limited 226-230 Liverpool Street Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia |
| |
Joel Rennie
Elliott Smith Matthew Barnett Nirangian Nagarajah White & Case LLP Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place Sydney NSW 2000, Australia +61 2 8249 2600 |
| |
Michael Rasmuson
Nabors Corporate Services, Inc. 515 West Greens Road, Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 (281) 874-0035 |
| |
Douglas E. McWilliams
Scott D. Rubinsky Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 845 Texas Street Suite 4700 Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 758-2222 |
|
| | |
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Page
|
| |||
| | | | 335 | | | |
| | | | F-1 | | | |
| | | | A-1 | | | |
| | | | A-1-1 | | | |
| | | | B-1 | | | |
| | | | C-1 | | | |
| | | | C-1-1 | | | |
| | | | D-1 | | | |
| | | | E-1 | | | |
| | | | F-1 | | | |
| | | | G-1 | | | |
| | | | H-1 | | | |
| | | | I-1 | | | |
| | | | J-1 | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
100% Redemptions(7) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 52.4% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 66.7% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 67.8% | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 25.2% | | | | | | 1,477,596 | | | | | | 4.8% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 11.5% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.6% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.9% | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 8.4% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.7% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.9% | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing transactions(5)
|
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 2.5% | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 3.2% | | | | | | 490,196 | | | | | | 1.6% | | |
Nabors Backstop(6)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | | | | | 4.9% | | |
Total
|
| | | | 39,122,209 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,749,164 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,251,960 | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
100% Redemptions(7) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 52.4% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 66.7% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 67.8% | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 25.2% | | | | | | 1,477,596 | | | | | | 4.8% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 11.5% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.6% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.9% | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 8.4% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.7% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.9% | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing transactions(5)
|
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 2.5% | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 3.2% | | | | | | 490,196 | | | | | | 1.6% | | |
Nabors Backstop(6)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | | | | | 4.9% | | |
Total
|
| | | | 39,122,209 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,749,164 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,251,960 | | | | | | | | |
Total Proforma Book Value as of June 30,
2023 |
| | | | 107,196,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | 15,911,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | (4,949,000) | | | | | | | | |
Pro Forma Book Value Per Share
|
| | | | 2.74 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0.52 | | | | | | | | | | | | (0.16) | | | | | | | | |
Name of Holder
|
| |
NETC Position
|
| |
Total
Purchase Price and Capital Contributions |
| |
Number
of Private Placement Warrants |
| |
Value of
Private Placement Warrants as of November 3, 2023 |
| |
Number
of Founder Shares(1) |
| |
Value of
Founder Shares as of November 3, 2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
Nabors Lux
|
| |
N/A
|
| | | $ | 10,347,414 (2) | | | | | | 7,441,500 | | | | | $ | 1,041,810 | | | | | | 3,698,750 | | | | | $ | 40,427,338 | | |
Anthony Petrello
|
| |
President, Chief
Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman |
| | | $ | 4,076,573(2) | | | | | | 3,300,000(3) | | | | | $ | 462,000 | | | | | | 1,640,244 | | | | | $ | 17,927,867 | | |
William Restrepo
|
| |
Chief Financial
Officer |
| | | $ | 710,312(2) | | | | | | 575,000 | | | | | $ | 80,500 | | | | | | 285,800 | | | | | $ | 3,123,794 | | |
Siggi Meissner
|
| |
President,
Engineering and Technology |
| | | $ | 277,948(2) | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | $ | 31,500 | | | | | | 111,835 | | | | | $ | 1,222,357 | | |
Guillermo Sierra
|
| |
Vice President –
Energy Transition |
| | | $ | 247,065(2) | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | $ | 28,000 | | | | | | 99,409 | | | | | $ | 1,086,540 | | |
John Yearwood
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 864,728(2) | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | $ | 98,000 | | | | | | 347,931 | | | | | $ | 3,802,886 | | |
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 150,300 | | | | | | 150,000 | | | | | $ | 21,000 | | | | | | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 819,750 | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 50,200 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 7,000 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Jennifer Gill Roberts
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 200 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
100% Redemptions(7) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 52.4% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 66.7% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 67.8% | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 25.2% | | | | | | 1,477,596 | | | | | | 4.8% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 11.5% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.6% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.9% | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 8.4% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.7% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.9% | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing transactions(5)
|
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 2.5% | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 3.2% | | | | | | 490,196 | | | | | | 1.6% | | |
Nabors Backstop(6)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | | | | | 4.9% | | |
Total
|
| | | | 39,122,209 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,749,164 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,251,960 | | | | | | | | |
Total Proforma Book Value as of June 30,
2023 |
| | | | 107,196,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | 15,911,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | (4,949,000) | | | | | | | | |
Pro Forma Book Value Per Share
|
| | | | 2.74 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0.52 | | | | | | | | | | | | (0.16) | | | | | | | | |
Name of Holder
|
| |
NETC Position
|
| |
Total
Purchase Price and Capital Contributions |
| |
Number
of Private Placement Warrants |
| |
Value of
Private Placement Warrants as of November 3, 2023 |
| |
Number
of Founder Shares(1) |
| |
Value of
Founder Shares as of November 3, 2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
Nabors Lux
|
| |
N/A
|
| | | $ | 10,347,414(2) | | | | | | 7,441,500 | | | | | $ | 1,041,810 | | | | | | 3,698,750 | | | | | $ | 40,427,338 | | |
Anthony Petrello
|
| |
President, Chief
Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman |
| | | $ | 4,076,573(2) | | | | | | 3,300,000(3) | | | | | $ | 462,000 | | | | | | 1,640,244 | | | | | $ | 17,927,867 | | |
William Restrepo
|
| |
Chief Financial
Officer |
| | | $ | 710,312(2) | | | | | | 575,000 | | | | | $ | 80,500 | | | | | | 285,800 | | | | | $ | 3,123,794 | | |
Siggi Meissner
|
| |
President,
Engineering and Technology |
| | | $ | 277,948(2) | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | $ | 31,500 | | | | | | 111,835 | | | | | $ | 1,222,357 | | |
Guillermo Sierra
|
| |
Vice President −
Energy Transition |
| | | $ | 247,065(2) | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | $ | 28,000 | | | | | | 99,409 | | | | | $ | 1,086,540 | | |
John Yearwood
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 864,728(2) | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | $ | 98,000 | | | | | | 347,931 | | | | | $ | 3,802,886 | | |
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 150,300 | | | | | | 150,000 | | | | | $ | 21,000 | | | | | | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 819,750 | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 50,200 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 7,000 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Jennifer Gill Roberts
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 200 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
|
Craig Wood | | |
46
|
| | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Marshall (Mark) D. Smith | | |
63
|
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
Kurt Drewes | | |
50
|
| | Chief Technology Officer | |
Alec Waugh | | |
57
|
| | General Counsel | |
Sue Opie | | |
56
|
| | Chief People Officer | |
Colleen Calhoun | | |
57
|
| | Director Appointee | |
William Restrepo | | |
63
|
| | Director Appointee | |
Colin Richardson | | |
62
|
| | Director Appointee | |
John Yearwood | | |
64
|
| | Director Appointee | |
| | |
NETC Units
(NETC.U) |
| |
NETC Class A
Common Stock (NETC) |
| |
NETC Public
Warrants (NETC.WS) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
High
|
| |
Low
|
| |
High
|
| |
Low
|
| |
High
|
| |
Low
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended December 31, 2022
|
| | | $ | 10.27 | | | | | $ | 10.07 | | | | | $ | 10.28 | | | | | $ | 10.06 | | | | | $ | 0.14 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | |
Quarter ended March 31, 2023
|
| | | $ | 11.04 | | | | | $ | 10.27 | | | | | $ | 10.52 | | | | | $ | 10.28 | | | | | $ | 0.25 | | | | | $ | 0.05 | | |
Quarter ended June 30, 2023
|
| | | $ | 11.03 | | | | | $ | 10.52 | | | | | $ | 11.59 | | | | | $ | 10.45 | | | | | $ | 0.21 | | | | | $ | 0.12 | | |
Quarter ended September 30, 2023
|
| | | $ | 11.34 | | | | | $ | 10.65 | | | | | $ | 11.16 | | | | | $ | 10.62 | | | | | $ | 0.19 | | | | | $ | 0.14 | | |
Name of Holder
|
| |
NETC Position
|
| |
Total
Purchase Price and Capital Contributions |
| |
Number
of Private Placement Warrants |
| |
Value of
Private Placement Warrants as of November 3, 2023 |
| |
Number
of Founder Shares(1) |
| |
Value of
Founder Shares as of November 3, 2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
Nabors Lux
|
| |
N/A
|
| | | $ | 10,347,414(2) | | | | | | 7,441,500 | | | | | $ | 1,041,810 | | | | | | 3,698,750 | | | | | $ | 40,427,338 | | |
Anthony Petrello
|
| |
President, Chief
Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman |
| | | $ | 4,076,573(2) | | | | | | 3,300,000(3) | | | | | $ | 462,000 | | | | | | 1,640,244 | | | | | $ | 17,927,867 | | |
William Restrepo
|
| |
Chief Financial
Officer |
| | | $ | 710,312(2) | | | | | | 575,000 | | | | | $ | 80,500 | | | | | | 285,800 | | | | | $ | 3,123,794 | | |
Siggi Meissner
|
| |
President,
Engineering and Technology |
| | | $ | 277,948(2) | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | $ | 31,500 | | | | | | 111,835 | | | | | $ | 1,222,357 | | |
Guillermo Sierra
|
| |
Vice President –
Energy Transition |
| | | $ | 247,065(2) | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | $ | 28,000 | | | | | | 99,409 | | | | | $ | 1,086,540 | | |
John Yearwood
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 864,728(2) | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | $ | 98,000 | | | | | | 347,931 | | | | | $ | 3,802,886 | | |
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 150,300 | | | | | | 150,000 | | | | | $ | 21,000 | | | | | | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 819,750 | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 50,200 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 7,000 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Jennifer Gill Roberts
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 200 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Company
|
| |
Sector
|
| |
Enterprise
Value ($mil) |
| |||
Nuscale Power Corporation
|
| | Nuclear | | | | $ | 2,155 | | |
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc.
|
| | Storage | | | | | 308 | | |
Heliogen, Inc.
|
| |
CSP Components
|
| | | | (86) | | |
Fusion Fuel Green PLC
|
| |
Green Hydrogen
|
| | | | 50 | | |
EOS Energy Enterprises, Inc.
|
| | Storage | | | | | 237 | | |
ESS Tech, Inc.
|
| | Storage | | | | |
157
|
| |
Median Enterprise Value
|
| | | | | | | 197 | | |
Company
|
| |
Sector
|
| |
Invested Capital
($mil)(1) |
| |
Rollover Equity
($mil) |
| |
Rollover
Equity/Invested Capital |
| |||||||||
Nuscale Power Corporation
|
| | Nuclear | | | | $ | 1,300 | | | | | $ | 1,875 | | | | | | 1.4x | | |
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc.
|
| | Storage | | | | | 172 | | | | | | 1,140 | | | | | | 6.6x | | |
Heliogen, Inc.
|
| | CSP Components | | | | | 131 | | | | | | 1,850 | | | | | | 14.1x | | |
Fusion Fuel Green PLC
|
| | Green Hydrogen | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
EOS Energy Enterprises, Inc.
|
| | Storage | | | | | 130 | | | | | | 300 | | | | | | 2.3x | | |
ESS Tech, Inc.
|
| | Storage | | | | | 57 | | | | | | 1,003 | | | | | | 17.7x | | |
X Energy Reactor Company, LLC
|
| | Nuclear | | | | | 505 | | | | | | 2,000 | | | | | | 4.0x | | |
NET Power, LLC
|
| |
Carbon Capture and Storage
|
| | | | 237 | | | | | | 1,357 | | | | | | 5.7x | | |
LanzaTech Global, Inc.
|
| | Sustainable Aviation Fuels | | | | |
509
|
| | | | |
1,817
|
| | | | |
3.6x
|
| |
Median Rollover Equity/Invested Capital
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4.8x | | |
| | |
2023E – 2030E
|
| |
2031E – 2040E
|
| |
2041E – 2050E
|
| |||||||||
Cumulative Free Cash Flow (USD in millions) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Low Adoption Case
|
| | | $ | 353 | | | | | $ | 2,701 | | | | | $ | 4,536 | | |
High Adoption Case
|
| | | $ | 1,261 | | | | | $ | 6,948 | | | | | $ | 9,993 | | |
| | |
Probability of Success Sensitivity
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Low Adoption Case
|
| |
100.0%
|
| |
75.0%
|
| |
50.0%
|
| |
25.0%
|
| ||||||||||||
Illustrative Net Present Value | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
20.0% WACC-discounted NPV
|
| | | $ | 511 | | | | | $ | 392 | | | | | $ | 273 | | | | | $ | 154 | | |
17.5% WACC-discounted NPV
|
| | | $ | 653 | | | | | $ | 501 | | | | | $ | 347 | | | | | $ | 194 | | |
15.0% WACC-discounted NPV
|
| | | $ | 853 | | | | | $ | 653 | | | | | $ | 451 | | | | | $ | 249 | | |
High Adoption Case
|
| |
100.0%
|
| |
75.0%
|
| |
50.0%
|
| |
25.0%
|
| ||||||||||||
Illustrative Net Present Value | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
20.0% WACC-discounted NPV
|
| | | $ | 1,413 | | | | | $ | 1,073 | | | | | $ | 733 | | | | | $ | 393 | | |
17.5% WACC-discounted NPV
|
| | | $ | 1,779 | | | | | $ | 1,349 | | | | | $ | 920 | | | | | $ | 490 | | |
15.0% WACC-discounted NPV
|
| | | $ | 2,285 | | | | | $ | 1,731 | | | | | $ | 1,177 | | | | | $ | 623 | | |
Name of Holder
|
| |
NETC Position
|
| |
Total
Purchase Price and Capital Contributions |
| |
Number
of Private Placement Warrants |
| |
Value of
Private Placement Warrants as of November 3, 2023 |
| |
Number
of Founder Shares(1) |
| |
Value of
Founder Shares as of November 3, 2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
Nabors Lux
|
| |
N/A
|
| | | $ | 10,347,414(2) | | | | | | 7,441,500 | | | | | $ | 1,041,810 | | | | | | 3,698,750 | | | | | $ | 40,427,338 | | |
Anthony
Petrello |
| |
President, Chief
Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman |
| | | $ | 4,076,573(2) | | | | | | 3,300,000(3) | | | | | $ | 462,000 | | | | | | 1,640,244 | | | | | $ | 17,927,867 | | |
William Restrepo
|
| |
Chief Financial
Officer |
| | | $ | 710,312(2) | | | | | | 575,000 | | | | | $ | 80,500 | | | | | | 285,800 | | | | | $ | 3,123,794 | | |
Siggi Meissner
|
| |
President,
Engineering and Technology |
| | | $ | 277,948(2) | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | $ | 31,500 | | | | | | 111,835 | | | | | $ | 1,222,357 | | |
Guillermo Sierra
|
| |
Vice President –
Energy Transition |
| | | $ | 247,065(2) | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | $ | 28,000 | | | | | | 99,409 | | | | | $ | 1,086,540 | | |
John Yearwood
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 864,728(2) | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | $ | 98,000 | | | | | | 347,931 | | | | | $ | 3,802,886 | | |
Maria Jelescu
Dreyfus |
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 150,300 | | | | | | 150,000 | | | | | $ | 21,000 | | | | | | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 819,750 | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 50,200 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 7,000 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Jennifer Gill
Roberts |
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 200 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
100% Redemptions(7) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 52.4% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 66.7% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 67.8% | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 25.2% | | | | | | 1,477,596 | | | | | | 4.8% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 11.5% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.6% | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.9% | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 8.4% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.7% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.9% | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing
transactions(5) |
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 2.5% | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 3.2% | | | | | | 490,196 | | | | | | 1.6% | | |
Nabors Backstop(6)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | | | | | 4.9% | | |
Total
|
| | | | 39,122,209 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,749,164 | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,251,960 | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
100% Redemptions(7) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in Shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 30.8% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 35.2% | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 35.5% | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 23,650,641 | | | | | | 35.5% | | | | | | 15,277,596 | | | | | | 26.2% | | | | | | 13,800,000 | | | | | | 23.9% | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 18,230,000 | | | | | | 27.4% | | | | | | 18,230,000 | | | | | | 31.3% | | | | | | 18,230,000 | | | | | | 31.5% | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 4.9% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 5.6% | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 5.7% | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing transactions(5)
|
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 1.5% | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 1.7% | | | | | | 490,196 | | | | | | 0.8% | | |
Nabors Backstop(6)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0% | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | | | | | 2.5% | | |
Total
|
| | | | 66,652,209 | | | | | | | | | | | | 58,279,164 | | | | | | | | | | | | 57,781,960 | | | | | | | | |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
|
Craig Wood | | |
46
|
| | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Marshall (Mark) D. Smith | | |
63
|
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
Kurt Drewes | | |
50
|
| | Chief Technology Officer | |
Alec Waugh | | |
57
|
| | General Counsel | |
Sue Opie | | |
56
|
| | Chief People Officer | |
Colleen Calhoun | | |
57
|
| | Director Appointee | |
William Restrepo | | |
63
|
| | Director Appointee | |
Colin Richardson | | |
62
|
| | Director Appointee | |
John Yearwood | | |
64
|
| | Director Appointee | |
| | |
Scenario 1 Assuming
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2 Assuming
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3 Assuming
100% Redemptions |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Ownership
in shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Ownership
in shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares
outstanding – basic and diluted |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 52.4 | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 66.7 | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 67.8 | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 25.2 | | | | | | 1,477,596 | | | | | | 4.8 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0 | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 11.5 | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.6 | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 14.9 | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 8.4 | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.7 | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 10.9 | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing transactions(5)
|
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 2.5 | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 3.2 | | | | | | 490,196 | | | | | | 1.6 | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux pursuant to Nabors Backstop(6)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 0.0 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.0 | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | | | | | 4.9 | | |
Total
|
| | | | 39,122,209 | | | | | | 100.0 | | | | | | 30,749,164 | | | | | | 100.0 | | | | | | 30,251,960 | | | | | | 100.0 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Scenario 1 Assuming
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2 Assuming
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3 Assuming
100% Redemptions |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Vast
Solar (IFRS) |
| |
NETC
(US GAAP) |
| |
NETC
Historical Financials adjustments (See Note 2) |
| | | | |
NETC
(US GAAP) – Pro Forma |
| |
IFRS
conversion and alignment (See Note 3) |
| | | | |
Transaction
Accounting Adjustments |
| | | | |
Pro
Forma Combined |
| |
Additional
Transaction Accounting Adjustments |
| | | | |
Pro
Forma Combined |
| |
Additional
Transaction Accounting Adjustments |
| | | | |
Pro
Forma Combined |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Deferred legal fees
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 5,460 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 5,460 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (5,460) | | | |
F
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 28 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 28 | | |
Provisions
|
| | | | 117 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 117 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 117 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 117 | | |
Warrant liabilities
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4,405 | | | |
ii
|
| | | | — | | | | | | | | | 4,405 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 4,405 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 4,405 | | |
Borrowings
|
| | | | 7,134 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (7,134) | | | |
Q
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Derivative financial
instruments |
| | | | 174 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 729 | | | |
P
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (903) | | | |
Q
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Class A common stock subject
to possible redemption |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 105,910 | | | |
i
|
| | | | (105,910) | | | |
E
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Total non-current liabilities
|
| | | | 7,453 | | | | | | 5,460 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 5,460 | | | | | | 110,315 | | | | | | | | | (118,678) | | | | | | | | | 4,550 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 4,550 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 4,550 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | | 34,071 | | | | | | 10,784 | | | | | | 888 | | | | | | | | | 11,672 | | | | | | 110,315 | | | | | | | | | (147,789) | | | | | | | | | 8,269 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 8,269 | | | | | | 14,750 | | | | | | | | | 23,019 | | |
Commitments and Contingencies
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A common stock, $0.0001
par value; 9,850,641 shares subject to redemption at $10.79 per share |
| | | | — | | | | | | 105,022 | | | | | | 888 | | | |
a
|
| | | | 105,910 | | | | | | (105,910) | | | |
i
|
| | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class F common stock, $0.0001
par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 6,900,000 shares issued and outstanding |
| | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | (1) | | | |
iii
|
| | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Class F common stock
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25 | | | |
iii
|
| | | | (25) | | | |
K
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Issued capital
|
| | | | 2,354 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (888) | | | |
a
|
| | | | (888) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 22,500 | | | |
J
|
| | | | 386,971 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 294,823 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 273,781 | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (480) | | | |
B
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 273 | | | |
B
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 21 | | | |
B
|
| | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 105,910 | | | |
E
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (23,403) | | | |
D
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 25 | | | |
K
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 165,338 | | | |
I
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (1,869) | | | |
N
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (904) | | | |
N
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (159) | | | |
N
|
| | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | (90,381) | | | |
H
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (15,951) | | | |
H
|
| | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 95,982 | | | |
L
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (1,136) | | | |
L
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (203) | | | |
L
|
| | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 8,037 | | | |
Q
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 9,650 | | | |
R
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | (4,750) | | | |
R
|
| | | | — | | |
Share-based payment reserve
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (4) | | | |
I
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Reserves | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
– Foreign Currency translation
reserve |
| | | | 3,285 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 3,285 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 3,285 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 3,285 | | |
– Capital contribution reserve
|
| | | | 4,591 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (4,591) | | | |
I
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Accumulated losses
|
| | | | (39,649) | | | | | | (9,410) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (9,410) | | | | | | (24) | | | |
iii
|
| | | | 23,403 | | | |
D
|
| | | | (283,060) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (282,197) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (282,015) | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | (4,405) | | | |
ii
|
| | | | (1,972) | | | |
B
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (273) | | | |
B
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (21) | | | |
B
|
| | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (9,564) | | | |
C
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (95,982) | | | |
L
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 1,136 | | | |
L
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 203 | | | |
L
|
| | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (729) | | | |
P
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (140,913) | | | |
G
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Total equity
|
| | | | (29,415) | | | | | | (9,409) | | | | | | (888) | | | | | | | | | (10,297) | | | | | | (4,405) | | | | | | | | | 151,313 | | | | | | | | | 107,196 | | | | | | (91,285) | | | | | | | | | 15,911 | | | | | | (20,860) | | | | | | | | | (4,949) | | |
Total liabilities and equity
|
| | | | 4,656 | | | | | | 106,397 | | | | | | 888 | | | | | | | | | 107,285 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 3,524 | | | | | | | | | 115,465 | | | | | | (91,285) | | | | | | | | | 24,180 | | | | | | (6,110) | | | | | | | | | 18,070 | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Scenario 1 Assuming
No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2 Assuming
85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3 Assuming
100% Redemptions |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Vast
Solar (IFRS) |
| |
NETC
(US GAAP) |
| |
IFRS
conversion and alignment |
| | | | |
Transaction
Accounting Adjustments |
| | | | |
Pro
Forma Combined |
| |
Additional
Transaction Adjustments |
| | | | | | | |
Pro
Forma Combined |
| |
Additional
Transaction Adjustments |
| | | | | | | |
Pro
Forma Combined |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue from customers
|
| | | | 268 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 268 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 268 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 268 | | |
Grant revenue
|
| | | | 651 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 651 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 651 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 651 | | |
Total Revenue
|
| | | | 919 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 919 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 919 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 919 | | |
Employee benefits
expenses |
| | | | 2,984 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 2,984 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,984 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,984 | | |
Consultancy expenses
|
| | | | 2,134 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 2,134 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,134 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,134 | | |
Administrative and other expenses
|
| | | | 8,080 | | | | | | 6,714 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (180) | | | |
BB
|
| | | | 112,568 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 111,705 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 111,523 | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 95,982 | | | |
EE
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (1,136) | | | | | | EE | | | | | | — | | | | | | (203) | | | | | | EE | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 1,972 | | | |
CC
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 273 | | | | | | CC | | | | | | — | | | | | | 21 | | | | | | CC | | | | | | — | | |
Raw materials and consumables used
|
| | | | 600 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 600 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 600 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 600 | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | 49 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 49 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 49 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 49 | | |
Finance costs, net
|
| | | | 2,518 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (2,166) | | | |
DD
|
| | | | 352 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 352 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 352 | | |
Interest income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (8,750) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 8,750 | | | |
AA
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | |
Share of loss of jointly
controlled entities |
| | | | 254 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 254 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 254 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 254 | | |
(Gain)/loss on derivative financial instruments (including warrants)
|
| | | | (105) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (2,753) | | | |
FF
|
| | | | — | | | | | | | | | (2,753) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (2,753) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (2,753) | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | 105 | | | |
DD
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | |
Total expenses (income)
|
| | | | 16,514 | | | | | | (2,036) | | | | | | (2,753) | | | | | | | | | 104,463 | | | | | | | | | 116,188 | | | | | | (863) | | | | | | | | | | | | 115,325 | | | | | | (182) | | | | | | | | | | | | 115,143 | | |
Net (loss) income before income tax
|
| | | | (15,595) | | | | | | 2,036 | | | | | | 2,753 | | | | | | | | | (104,463) | | | | | | | | | (115,269) | | | | | | 863 | | | | | | | | | | | | (114,406) | | | | | | 182 | | | | | | | | | | | | (114,224) | | |
Income tax benefit
(expense) |
| | | | 378 | | | | | | (1,861) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | (1,483) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (1,483) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (1,483) | | |
Net income (loss)
|
| | | | (15,217) | | | | | | 175 | | | | | | 2,753 | | | | | | | | | (104,463) | | | | | | | | | (116,752) | | | | | | 863 | | | | | | | | | | | | (115,889) | | | | | | 182 | | | | | | | | | | | | (115,707) | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding basic and diluted
|
| | | | 25,129 | | | | | | 24,300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 39,122 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,749 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,252 | | |
Net income (loss) per share – basic and diluted
|
| | | | (0.61) | | | | | | 0.01 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (2.98) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (3.77) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (3.82) | | |
Class F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares
outstanding basic and diluted |
| | | | | | | | | | 6,900 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) per share – basic and diluted
|
| | | | | | | | | | 0.01 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands)
|
| |
Scenario 1 –
Assuming No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2 –
Assuming 85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3 –
Assuming 100% Redemptions |
| |||||||||
Vast Ordinary Shares issued in exchange for the following
NETC classes of stock: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A Common Stock
|
| | | | 9,851 | | | | | | 1,478 | | | | | | — | | |
Class F Common Stock
|
| | | | 3,000 | | | | | | 3,000 | | | | | | 3,000 | | |
Accelerated Earnback Shares and Incremental Funding Commitment Fee
|
| | | | 1,850 | | | | | | 1,850 | | | | | | 1,850 | | |
Vast Ordinary Shares issued
|
| | | | 14,701 | | | | | | 6,328 | | | | | | 4,850 | | |
Fair value of Vast shares issued in exchange for NETC shares valued at $10.93 per share(a)
|
| | | $ | 160,682 | | | | | $ | 69,165 | | | | | $ | 53,011 | | |
Fair value of earnout for NETC Sponsor(b)
|
| | | | 16,944 | | | | | | 16,944 | | | | | | 16,944 | | |
Fair value of share consideration
|
| | | | 177,626 | | | | | | 86,109 | | | | | | 69,955 | | |
Adjusted NETC’s net (assets)/liabilities(c)
|
| | | | (81,644) | | | | | | 8,737 | | | | | | 24,688 | | |
Transaction expense
|
| | | $ | 95,982 | | | | | $ | 94,846 | | | | | $ | 94,643 | | |
| | |
June 30,
2023 |
| |||
Share price at Closing
|
| | | $ | 10.64 | | |
Expected volatility
|
| | | | 25.0% | | |
Expected dividend
|
| | | | 0.0% | | |
Risk-free rate
|
| | | | 4.15% | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
Assuming No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
Assuming 85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
Assuming 100% Redemptions |
| |||||||||
Total assets
|
| | | | 107,285 | | | | | | 107,285 | | | | | | 107,285 | | |
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | (6,212) | | | | | | (6,212) | | | | | | (6,212) | | |
Deferred legal fees
|
| | | | (5,460) | | | | | | (5,460) | | | | | | (5,460) | | |
Warrant liabilities
|
| | | | (4,405) | | | | | | (4,405) | | | | | | (4,405) | | |
NETC transaction costs
|
| | | | (9,564) | | | | | | (9,564) | | | | | | (9,564) | | |
Redemptions of Trust Account
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (90,381) | | | | | | (106,332) | | |
Net Assets/(Liabilities)
|
| | | | 81,644 | | | | | | (8,737) | | | | | | (24,688) | | |
| | |
Scenario 1
Assuming No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
Assuming 85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
Assuming 100% Redemptions |
| |||||||||
Pro forma net loss (in thousands)
|
| | | | (116,752) | | | | | | (115,889) | | | | | | (115,707) | | |
Net loss per share – basic and diluted
|
| | | | (2.98) | | | | | | (3.77) | | | | | | (3.82) | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Legacy Vast shareholders(1)
|
| | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | |
Current NETC public stockholders(2)
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 1,477,596 | | | | | | — | | |
NETC initial stockholders(3)
|
| | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | | | | | 4,500,000 | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux and AgCentral in connection with financing transactions(4)
|
| | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | | | | | 3,291,176 | | |
Shares issued to CAG in connection with financing transactions(5)
|
| | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 980,392 | | | | | | 490,196 | | |
Shares issued to Nabors Lux pursuant to Nabors
Backstop(6) |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,470,588 | | |
Total
|
| | | | 39,122,209 | | | | | | 30,749,164 | | | | | | 30,251,960 | | |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
|
Anthony G. Petrello | | |
68
|
| | President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman | |
William J. Restrepo | | |
63
|
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
Guillermo Sierra | | |
39
|
| | Vice President – Energy Transition | |
Siggi Meissner | | |
70
|
| | President, Engineering and Technology | |
John Yearwood. | | |
63
|
| | Director | |
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus | | |
43
|
| | Director | |
Colleen Calhoun | | |
56
|
| | Director | |
Jennifer Gill Roberts | | |
60
|
| | Director | |
Name of Holder
|
| |
NETC
Position |
| |
Total
Purchase Price and Capital Contributions |
| |
Number
of Private Placement Warrants |
| |
Value of
Private Placement Warrants as of November 3, 2023 |
| |
Number
of Founder Shares(1) |
| |
Value of
Founder Shares as of November 3, 2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
Nabors Lux
|
| |
N/A
|
| | | $ | 10,347,414(2) | | | | | | 7,441,500 | | | | | $ | 1,041,810 | | | | | | 3,698,750 | | | | | $ | 40,427,338 | | |
Anthony Petrello
|
| |
President, Chief
Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman |
| | | $ | 4,076,573(2) | | | | | | 3,300,000(3) | | | | | $ | 462,000 | | | | | | 1,640,244 | | | | | $ | 17,927,867 | | |
William Restrepo
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer
|
| | | $ | 710,312(2) | | | | | | 575,000 | | | | | $ | 80,500 | | | | | | 285,800 | | | | | $ | 3,123,794 | | |
Siggi Meissner
|
| |
President, Engineering
and Technology |
| | | $ | 277,948(2) | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | $ | 31,500 | | | | | | 111,835 | | | | | $ | 1,222,357 | | |
Guillermo Sierra
|
| |
Vice President – Energy
Transition |
| | | $ | 247,065(2) | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | $ | 28,000 | | | | | | 99,409 | | | | | $ | 1,086,540 | | |
John Yearwood
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 864,728(2) | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | $ | 98,000 | | | | | | 347,931 | | | | | $ | 3,802,886 | | |
Maria Jelescu
Dreyfus |
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 150,300 | | | | | | 150,000 | | | | | $ | 21,000 | | | | | | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 819,750 | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 50,200 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 7,000 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Jennifer Gill
Roberts |
| |
Director
|
| | | $ | 200 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 546,500 | | |
Name of Individual
|
| |
Entity Name
|
| |
Entity’s Business
|
| |
Affiliation
|
|
Anthony G. Petrello | | | Nabors Industries Ltd. | | | Oilfield Services | | |
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
| | |
Greens Road Energy LLC
|
| | Energy Services | | | Sole Managing Member | |
| | | Hilcorp Energy Company | | | Energy | | | Director | |
| | | Nabors Energy Transition Corp. II | | | Energy Transition | | | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
| | | Greens Road Energy II LLC | | | Energy Services | | | Sole Managing Member | |
William J. Restrepo | | | Nabors Industries Ltd. | | | Oilfield Services | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
| | |
Nabors Energy Transition Corp. II
|
| | Energy Transition | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
Guillermo Sierra | | | Nabors Industries Ltd. | | | Oilfield Services | | |
Vice President-Strategic Initiatives, Energy Transition
|
|
| | | Nabors Energy Transition Corp. II | | | Energy Transition | | | Vice President-Energy Transition | |
Siggi Meissner | | | Nabors Industries Ltd. | | | Oilfield Services | | |
President, Energy Transition & Industrial Automation
|
|
John Yearwood | | |
Saudi Aramco Nabors Drilling
|
| | Oilfield Services | | | Director | |
| | | Foro Energy LLC | | | Oilfield Services | | | Director | |
| | | Bazean LLC | | | Energy Private Equity | | | Director | |
Name of Individual
|
| |
Entity Name
|
| |
Entity’s Business
|
| |
Affiliation
|
|
| | |
Coil Tubing Partners LLC
|
| | Oilfield Services | | | Director | |
| | | Nabors Industries Ltd. | | | Oilfield Services | | | Director | |
| | | TechnipFMC plc | | | Oilfield Services | | | Director | |
| | | Sheridan Production Partners | | | Oil and Gas Exploration and Production | | | Director | |
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus | | | Ardinall Investment Management | | | Investments | | | Chief Executive Officer | |
| | | Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation | | | Infrastructure | | | Director | |
| | | CDPQ | | | Pension fund | | | Director | |
| | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Company
|
| | Oil & Gas | | | Director | |
| | | Cadiz Inc. | | |
Natural Resources (Water)
|
| | Director | |
Colleen Calhoun | | | The Engine | | | Investments | | | Operating Partner | |
| | | Quaise, Inc. | | | Geothermal Energy | | | Director | |
| | |
Nabors Energy Transition Corp. II
|
| | Energy Transition | | | Director Nominee | |
Jennifer Gill Roberts | | |
Grit Ventures Cognitive Space
|
| |
Investments Artificial Intelligence and Automation
|
| |
Managing Partner Director
|
|
| | | RIOS Corporation | | | Artificial Intelligence and Robotics | | | Director | |
| | | Apptronik | | | Robotics Logistics | | | Director | |
| | | Agtonomy | | | Vehicle Automation | | | Director | |
| | |
For the Year Ended
June 30, |
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(in thousands of $ unless
otherwise indicated) |
| |||||||||
Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue from customers
|
| | | | 268 | | | | | | 163 | | |
Grant revenue
|
| | | | 651 | | | | | | 1,754 | | |
Total revenue
|
| | | | 919 | | | | | | 1,917 | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Employee benefits expense
|
| | | | 2,984 | | | | | | 2,756 | | |
Consultancy expense
|
| | | | 2,134 | | | | | | 1,934 | | |
Administrative and other expenses
|
| | | | 8,080 | | | | | | 1,618 | | |
Raw materials and consumables used
|
| | | | 600 | | | | | | 241 | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | 49 | | | | | | 47 | | |
Finance costs, net
|
| | | | 2,518 | | | | | | 2,119 | | |
Share in loss of jointly controlled entities
|
| | | | 254 | | | | | | 10 | | |
(Gain)/loss on derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | (105) | | | | | | 3 | | |
Total expenses
|
| | | | 16,514 | | | | | | 8,728 | | |
Net loss before income tax
|
| | | | (15,595) | | | | | | (6,811) | | |
Income tax benefit
|
| | | | 378 | | | | | | 618 | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | (15,217) | | | | | | (6,193) | | |
Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to profit or net loss in
subsequent periods: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gain on foreign currency translation, net of tax
|
| | | | 891 | | | | | | 1,379 | | |
Total Comprehensive Loss for the year
|
| | | | (14,326) | | | | | | (4,814) | | |
| | |
Year Ended
June 30, |
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands)
|
| |||||||||
ARENA grant
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 1,001 | | |
R&D tax credit recoveries
|
| | | | 651 | | | | | | 753 | | |
| | | | $ | 651 | | | | | $ | 1,754 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands)
|
| |||||||||
Refundable R&D tax offset for the year
|
| | | $ | 651 | | | | | $ | 753 | | |
R&D Tax credit recoveries recognized as grant income
|
| | | $ | 651 | | | | | $ | 753 | | |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
|
Craig Wood | | |
46
|
| | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Marshall (Mark) D. Smith | | |
63
|
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
Kurt Drewes | | |
50
|
| | Chief Technology Officer | |
Alec Waugh | | |
57
|
| | General Counsel | |
Sue Opie | | |
56
|
| | Chief People Officer | |
Colleen Calhoun | | |
57
|
| | Director Appointee | |
William Restrepo | | |
63
|
| | Director Appointee | |
Colin Richardson | | |
62
|
| | Director Appointee | |
John Yearwood | | |
64
|
| | Director Appointee | |
|
Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
| |
Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
|
|
Notice of general meetings
|
| |||
| A notice of a general meeting must be given by a listed company at least 28 days before the date of the meeting. The company is required to give notice only to shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, as well as the directors and auditor of the company. | | | Notice of general meetings is not governed by the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Additionally, Foreign Private Issuers are not subject to U.S. proxy rules. Notice of general meetings will be governed by the Constitution. | |
|
Continuous disclosure
|
| |||
| Under the ASX Listing Rules, subject to some exceptions, a listed company must immediately disclose to ASX any information concerning it, which a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of the company’s shares. | | |
Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Nasdaq-listed company shall make prompt disclosure to the public through a Regulation FD compliant method of any material information that would reasonably be expected to affect the value of its securities or influence investor’s decisions. In the absence of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, Foreign Private Issuers are not subject to Regulation FD, which governs the fair disclosure of material non-public information.
Foreign Private Issuers are also required to publicly
|
|
|
Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
| |
Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
|
| | | | report certain types of material information on Form 6-K under the Exchange Act. A Nasdaq-listed Foreign Private Issuer is required to submit a Form 6-K to the SEC containing semi-annual unaudited financial information no later than six months following the end of the company’s second fiscal quarter. | |
|
Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
| |
Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
|
|
Disclosure of substantial shareholdings
|
| |||
| A person who obtains a voting power in 5% or more of an ASX listed company is required to publicly disclose that fact within two business days after becoming aware of that fact via the filing of a substantial holding notice. A person’s voting power consists of their own relevant interest in shares plus the relevant interests of their associates. A further notice must be filed within two business days after each subsequent voting power change of 1% or more, and after the person ceases to have a voting power of 5% or more. The notice must attach all documents which contributed to the voting power the person obtained or provide a written description of arrangements which are not in writing. | | |
Disclosure of substantial shareholdings is not governed by the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Disclosure requirements are governed by U.S. securities laws.
Shareholders who acquire more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act must file beneficial ownership reports on Schedule 13D or 13G until their holdings drop below 5%.
Schedule 13G is an abbreviated version of 13D that may be available based on facts and circumstances. Schedule 13D reports the acquisition and other information within 10 days after the purchase. Prompt amendment must be made regarding any material changes in the facts contained in the schedule.
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Financial reporting
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| Under the ASX Listing Rules, subject to some exceptions, a listed company must prepare and lodge with ASIC and the ASX financial reports and statements on an annual, half-yearly and, in some cases, quarterly basis. | | |
Under the Exchange Act, a Foreign Private Issuer must file an annual report on Form 20-F containing detailed financial and non-financial disclosure. Foreign Private Issuers must make their U.S. investors aware of the significant ways in which their corporate governance practices differ from those required of domestic companies under Nasdaq Listing Rules by including a brief, general summary in the annual report on Form 20-F.
Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a Foreign Private Issuer must:
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submit on Form 6-K an interim balance sheet and income statement as of the end of its second quarter, within six months of the end of the second quarter.
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make available to shareholders an annual report containing the company’s financial statements within a reasonable period of time following the filing of the annual report with the SEC.
However, a Foreign Private Issuer may follow its home country practice in lieu of certain requirements related to financial reporting under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
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Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
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Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
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Issues of new shares
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Subject to specific exceptions, the ASX Listing Rules apply to restrict a listed company from issuing, or agreeing to issue, more equity securities (including shares and options) in a 12 month period without the approval of shareholders, than the number calculated as follows:
15% of the total of:
•
the number of fully paid ordinary shares on issue 12 months before the date of the issue or agreement; plus
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the number of fully paid ordinary shares issued in the 12 months under a specified exception; plus
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the number of partly paid ordinary shares share that became fully paid in the 12 months; plus
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the number of fully paid ordinary shares issued in the 12 months with shareholder approval; less
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the number of fully paid ordinary shares cancelled in the 12 months; less
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the number of equity securities issued or agreed to be issued in the 12 months before the date of issue or agreement to issue but not under a specified exception or with shareholder approval.
Subject to certain exceptions, the ASX Listing Rules require the approval of shareholders by ordinary resolution in order for a listed entity to issue shares or options to directors.
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Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a Company must notify Nasdaq when listing additional shares. Such notification shall happen at least 15 calendar days prior to:
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establishing or materially amending a stock option plan, purchase plan or other equity compensation arrangement pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants without shareholder approval (with some timing exceptions for certain equity grants to induce employment subject exception); or
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issuing securities that may potentially result in a change of control of the company; or
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issuing any common stock or security convertible into common stock in connection with the acquisition of the stock or assets of another company, if any officer or director or Substantial Shareholder of the company has a 5% or greater interest (or if such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest) in the company to be acquired or in the consideration to be paid; or
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issuing any common stock, or any security convertible into common stock in a transaction that may result in the potential issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) greater than 10% of the either the total shares outstanding or the voting power outstanding on a pre-transaction basis.
Additionally, under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company cannot create a new class of security that votes at a higher rate than an existing class of securities or take any other action that has the effect of restricting or reducing the voting rights of an existing class of securities.
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Remuneration of directors and officers
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Under the ASX Listing Rules, the maximum amount to be paid to directors for their services as a director (other than the salary of an executive director) is not to exceed the amount approved by shareholders in a general meeting.
The company’s annual report includes a remuneration report within the directors’ report. This remuneration report is required to include a discussion of the company directors’ policy in relation to remuneration of key management personnel of the company.
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Nasdaq Listing Rules require a Nasdaq-listed company to publicly disclose the material terms of agreements between directors or director nominees and any third-party relating to compensation in connection with their service as a director. A Foreign Private Issuer, however, may follow home country practice in lieu of certain requirements related to director compensation, but must (a) disclose to the SEC in its annual reports each requirement it does not follow and describe the home country practice followed, and (b) submit to Nasdaq a written statement from an independent
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Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
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Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
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| Under the Corporations Act, a listed company must put its remuneration report to a shareholder vote at its annual general meeting. If in two consecutive annual general meetings, 25% or more of the votes cast on the resolution vote against adopting the remuneration report, a ‘spill resolution’ must then be put to shareholders. A spill resolution is a resolution that a spill meeting be held and all directors (other than a managing director who is exempt from the retirement by rotation requirements) cease to hold office immediately before the end of the spill meeting. If the spill resolution is approved by the majority of votes cast on the resolution, a spill meeting will be held within 90 days at which directors wishing to remain directors must stand for re-election. | | |
counsel in the home country certifying that the company’s practices are not prohibited by the home country’s laws.
Under Regulation S-K, Foreign Private Issuers must report certain information with respect to executive and director compensation and benefits, as well as information related to director and executive share ownership.
Generally, the size and net worth of the company are taken into consideration when determining director and officer compensation. In the U.S., most public companies utilize a consultant to provide peer benchmarking for reasonable compensation metrics.
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Termination benefits
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| Under the ASX Listing Rules, a listed entity must ensure that no director or other officer will be, or may be, entitled to termination benefits if the value of those benefits and the termination benefits that are or may become payable to all officers together exceed 5% of the equity interests of the entity as set out in its latest financial statements given to the ASX. The 5% limit may, however, be exceeded with shareholder approval. | | |
Termination benefits are not governed by the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the CEO and CFO of a U.S. publicly listed company must forfeit previously paid bonuses if the company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material non-compliance of the company.
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Transactions involving related parties
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Related party financial benefits
The Corporations Act prohibits a public company from giving a related party a financial benefit unless:
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it obtains the approval of shareholders and gives the benefit within 15 months after receipt of such approval; or
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the financial benefit is exempt.
A related party is defined by the Corporations Act to include any entity which controls the public company, directors of the public company, directors of any entity which controls the public company and, in each case, spouses and certain relatives of such persons.
Exempt financial benefits include indemnities, insurance premiums and payments for legal costs which are not otherwise prohibited by the Corporations Act and benefit given on arm’s length terms.
Acquisition and disposal of a substantial asset to a related party
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Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, each company shall conduct an appropriate review and oversight of all related party transactions for potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis by the audit committee or another independent body of the board of directors.
For non-U.S. issuers, the term “Related Party Transaction” refers to transactions that must be disclosed pursuant to Form 20-F, which requires the company to provide certain information (nature and extent of any transactions or presently proposed which are material to the company or related party, or that are unusual; and amount of loans and guarantees made by the company to or for the benefit of a related party) with respect to transactions or loans between the company and
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enterprises that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by, or are under common control with, the company;
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associates;
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Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
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Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
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The ASX Listing Rules prohibit a listed entity from acquiring a substantial asset (an asset the value or consideration for which is 5% or more of the entity’s equity interests) from, or disposing of a substantial asset to, certain related parties of the entity, unless it obtains the approval of shareholders. The related parties include directors, persons who have or have had (in aggregate with any of their associates) in the prior six month period an interest in 10% or more of the shares in the company and, in each case, any of their associates. The provisions apply even where the transaction may be on arm’s length terms.
Issue of shares to directors
The ASX Listing Rules also prohibit a listed entity from issuing or agreeing to issue shares to a director unless it obtains the approval of shareholders or the share issue is exempt. Exempt share issues include issues made pro rata to all shareholders, under an underwriting agreement in relation to a pro rata issue, under certain dividend or distribution plans or under an approved employee incentive plan.
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individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of the company that gives them significant influence over the company, and close members of any such individual’s family;
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key management personnel, that is, those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the company, including directors and senior management of companies and close members of such individuals’ families; and
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enterprises in which a substantial interest in the voting power is owned, directly or indirectly, by any person described in the two preceding bullets or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence. This includes enterprises owned by directors or major shareholders of the company and enterprises that have a member of key management in common with the company. Close members of an individual’s family are those that may be expected to influence, or be influenced by, that person in their dealings with the company.
An associate is an unconsolidated enterprise in which the company has a significant influence or which has significant influence over the company. Significant influence over an enterprise is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the enterprise but is less than control over those policies. Shareholders beneficially owning a 10% interest in the voting power of the company are presumed to have a significant influence on the company.
A Foreign Private Issuer may follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series, except as described under “Corporate governance” below.
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Significant transactions
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| Under the ASX Listing Rules, where a company proposes a significant change to the nature or scale of its activities or floats significant assets, it must provide full details to the ASX as soon as practicable. It must do so in any event before making the change. If the significant change involves the entity disposing of its main undertaking, the entity must get the approval of all holders of its ordinary shares and comply with any requirements of the ASX in relation to the notice of meeting, which must include a voting exclusion | | |
Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, shareholder approval is prior to an issuance of securities in connection with:
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the acquisition of the stock or assets of another company;
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equity-based compensation of officers, directors, employees or consultants;
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a change of control; and
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transactions other than public offerings.
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Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
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Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
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| statement. Any agreement to dispose of its main undertaking must be conditional on the entity getting approval. A company must not dispose of a major asset without offer or approval for no offer. | | | A Foreign Private Issuer may follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series, except as described under “Corporate governance” below. | |
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Nomination and rotation of directors
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Nomination
Under the ASX Listing Rules, a listed company must accept nominations for the election of directors up to 35 business days (or 30 business days in the case of a meeting requested by shareholders) before the date of a general meeting at which the directors may be elected, unless the company’s constitution provides otherwise.
Rotation
The ASX Listing Rules require that:
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a director, other than the managing director and directors appointed to fill casual vacancies or as additions to the board, must not hold office past the third annual general meeting following the director’s appointment or three years, whichever is longer, without submitting himself or herself for re-elections; and
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directors appointed to fill casual vacancies or as additions to the board do not hold office (without re-election) past the next annual general meeting.
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Nomination
Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, director nominees must either be selected or recommended for the board’s selection, either by:
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Independent Directors constituting a majority of the Board’s Independent Directors in a vote in which only Independent Directors participate, or
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A nomination committee comprised solely of Independent Directors.
Each company must certify it has adopted a formal written charter or board resolution addressing the nominations process.
Rotation.
There is no formal rotation or term limit requirement under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, although the Company can institute term limits in its corporate governance policies.
Directors are subject to re-election every year at the annual meeting of shareholders, unless a classified board is put in place.
A Foreign Private Issuer may follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series, except as described under “Corporate governance” below.
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Corporate governance
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The ASX Corporate Governance Council has published the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (the “Recommendations”), which sets out eight central principles which are intended to assist companies to achieve good governance outcomes and meet the reasonable expectations of most investors.
Listed companies are required to provide a
statement in their annual report to shareholders disclosing the extent to which they have followed the Recommendations in the reporting period and where they have not followed all the Recommendations, identify the Recommendations that have not been followed and the reasons for not following them. It is not mandatory to follow the Recommendations.
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Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules 5600 Series, Nasdaq has established Corporate Governance Requirements for all listed Companies. Companies are required to follow the published requirements, unless an applicable exemption exists. One such exemption allows a Foreign Private Issuer to follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series, except that it must comply with:
•
Notification of Noncompliance requirement (Rule 5625);
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Voting Rights requirement (Rule 5640);
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The Diverse Board Representation Rule (Rule 5605(f));
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Requirements under the ASX Listing Rules /
Corporations Act |
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Requirement under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules / Certain U.S. federal securities laws |
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The eight central principles are:
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lay solid foundations for management and oversight;
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structure the board to be effective and add value;
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instill a culture of acting lawfully, ethically and responsibly;
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safeguard the integrity of corporate reports;
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make timely and balanced disclosure;
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respect the rights of security holders;
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recognize and manage risk; and
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remunerate fairly and responsibly.
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The Board Diversity Disclosure Rule (Rule 5606);
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Having an audit committee that satisfies Rule 5605(c)(3) and ensure that members meet the independence requirement of Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(ii)
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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Authorized Capital Stock
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The authorized capital stock of NETC consists of 605,000,000 shares, of which (a) 600,000,000 shares have been designated NETC Common Stock, each having a par value of $0.0001 per share, including (i) 500,000,000 shares of NETC Class A Common Stock, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of NETC Class B Common Stock, and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of NETC Class F Common Stock, and (b) 5,000,000 shares of which have been designated NETC Preferred Stock (none of which are issued and outstanding), each having a par value of $0.0001 per share.
Under Delaware law, the board of directors without stockholder approval may approve the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of common stock that are not otherwise committed for issuance.
Under the NETC Charter, the NETC Board may provide out of the unissued shares of the NETC Preferred Stock for one or more series of NETC Preferred Stock and establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and fix the voting rights, if any, designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or
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Under Australian law, Vast does not have a limit on the authorized share capital that may be issued.
Upon Closing, Vast’s issued capital shall include only one class of ordinary shares, the Vast Ordinary Shares.
Vast may issue preference shares, including preference shares which are, or at the option of Vast or a holder are, liable to be redeemed or converted into Vast Ordinary Shares. The rights attaching to preference shares are those set out in the Constitution.
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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| restrictions thereof. | | | | |
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Reduction of Capital
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| Under Delaware law, NETC, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the NETC Board, may reduce its capital by reducing or eliminating the capital associated with shares of capital stock that have been retired, by applying some or all of the capital represented by shares purchased, redeemed, converted or exchanged or by transferring to surplus capital the capital associated with certain shares of its stock. No reduction of capital may be made unless the assets of the corporation remaining after the reduction are sufficient to pay any debts for which payment has not otherwise been provided. | | |
Under the Corporations Act, a company may reduce its share capital if the reduction:
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is fair and reasonable to the company’s members as a whole;
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does not materially prejudice the company’s ability to pay its creditors; and
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is approved by members in accordance with the Corporations Act.
A reduction of capital is either an equal reduction or a selective reduction.
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Pre-Emptive Rights
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| NETC stockholders do not have pre-emptive rights to acquire newly issued shares. | | | Vast shareholders do not have pre-emptive rights to acquire newly issued shares. | |
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Dividends, Distributions, Repurchases and Redemptions
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Dividends and Distributions by NETC
The NETC Board may set apart out of the funds of NETC available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
Under Delaware law, the NETC Board may declare and pay dividends to the holders of NETC’s capital stock out of surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the year in which the dividend is declared or the immediately preceding fiscal year. The amount of surplus is determined by reference to the current market value of assets less liabilities rather than book value. Dividends may be paid in cash, in shares of NETC’s capital stock or in other property.
Share Repurchases and Redemptions by NETC
Under applicable Delaware law, NETC may redeem or repurchase its own shares, except that generally it may not redeem or repurchase those shares if the capital of the corporation is impaired at the time or would become impaired as a result of the redemption or repurchase. If NETC were to designate and issue shares of a series of NETC Preferred Stock that is redeemable in accordance with its terms, such terms would govern the redemption of such shares. Shares that have been repurchased but have not been retired may be resold by a corporation.
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Dividends and Distributions by Vast
Subject to the Corporations Act, the Constitution and any special terms and conditions of issue, the Vast Directors may, from time to time, resolve to pay a dividend or declare any interim, special or final dividend as, in their judgement, the financial position of Vast justifies.
The Vast Directors may fix the amount, time and method of payment of the dividends. The payment, resolution to pay, or declaration of a dividend does not require any confirmation by a general meeting.
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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Lien on Shares and Calls on Shares
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| NETC has no lien on its outstanding shares under Delaware law and has no outstanding partially paid shares on which it could call for payment. | | |
Under the Constitution, Vast has a first and paramount lien on:
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each partly paid security in respect of any call (including any installment) due and payable but unpaid;
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each security in respect of any payment which Vast is required by law to pay (and has paid) in respect of that security; and
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each security acquired under an employee incentive scheme for any money payable to Vast by the holder for the acquisition of the security, including any loan under an employee incentive scheme.
The lien extends to all distributions relating to the securities, including dividends. Vast’s lien over securities will be released if its registers a transfer of the securities without giving the transferee notice of its claim.
The Vast Directors may, from time to time, make a call on any Vast shareholders for unpaid monies on their shares. The Vast Directors must give Vast shareholders notice of a call at least 20 business days before the amount called is due, specifying the time and place of payment. If a call is made, Vast shareholders are liable to pay the amount of each call by the time and at the place specified.
A call is taken to have been made when a Vast Directors’ resolution passing the call is made or on any later date fixed by the Vast Board. A call may be revoked or postponed at the discretion of the Vast Directors.
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Forfeiture of Shares
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| Not applicable. | | |
Subject to the Corporations Act, Vast may forfeit shares to cover any call which remains unpaid following any notice to that effect sent to a Vast shareholder. Forfeited shares become the property of Vast and the Vast Directors may sell, reissue or otherwise dispose of the shares in such manner as determined by the Vast Directors.
A person whose shares have been forfeited remains liable to pay Vast all amounts payable by the former holder to Vast at the date of forfeiture (including interest and costs). The liability of a holder continues until the holder pays all those amounts in full or Vast receives and applies the net proceeds from the disposal of the forfeited shares which is equal to or greater than all those amounts.
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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Election of Directors
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Under the DGCL, the board of directors must consist of at least one director. The number of directors shall be fixed by the bylaws of the corporation, unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, in which case a change in the number of directors shall only be made by an amendment of the certificate of incorporation. Under the DGCL, directors are elected at annual stockholder meetings by plurality vote of the stockholders, unless a shareholder-adopted bylaw prescribes a different required vote.
The NETC Charter and bylaws provide that the number of directors constituting the NETC Board is to be not less than one, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the NETC Board. The number of directors is currently 5. The NETC Board is divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. Under NETC’s bylaws, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting for the election of directors where a quorum is present.
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| | Under the Constitution, the number of Vast Directors shall be a minimum of three. Vast Directors are elected or re-elected by resolution by Vast shareholders at general meetings of Vast. | |
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Removal of Directors; Vacancies
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Under Delaware law, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except (i) unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, in the case of a corporation whose board of directors is classified, stockholders may effect such removal only for cause, or (ii) in the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there are classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he is a part.
Under the DGCL, vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by a sole remaining director unless (i) otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation or (ii) the certificate of incorporation directs that a particular class of stock is to elect such director, in which case a majority of the other directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director elected by such class, will fill such vacancy.
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A director may be removed by resolution at a general meeting. Subject to the Corporations Act, at least two months’ notice must be given to Vast of the intention to move a resolution to remove a director at a general meeting.
The Vast Directors may also appoint a Vast Director to fill a casual vacancy (i.e., a vacancy, which arises due to a person ceasing to be a director of a company prior to the general meeting of the company) on the Vast Board or in addition to the existing Vast Directors, who will then hold office for a term that coincides with the remaining term of the director’s vacancy they are filling.
No Vast Director may hold office without re-election for more than three years or past the third annual general meeting following the meeting at which the Vast Director was last elected or re-elected (whichever is later).
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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NETC’s bylaws provide that any vacancy or newly created directorship resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if that number is less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom such newly elected director replaced, or a successor is duly elected and qualified, or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal.
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Quorum of the Board
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Under the DGCL, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws require a greater number. The bylaws may lower the number required for a quorum to one-third the number of directors, but no less. Under NETC’s bylaws, quorum necessary for transaction of business by the NETC Board consists of a majority of the entire NETC Board.
Under the DGCL, the board of directors may take action by the majority vote of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws require a greater vote.
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| | A quorum at a Vast Board meeting is at least two of the Vast Directors present in person or a number “as fixed” by the Vast Directors. The quorum must be present at all times during the Vast Board meeting. | |
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Duties of Directors
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| Under Delaware law, a company’s directors are charged with fiduciary duties of care and loyalty. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberate manner and inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all relevant material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of corporate employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders. A party challenging the propriety of a decision of a board of directors bears the burden of rebutting the applicability of the presumptions afforded to directors by the “business judgment rule.” If the presumption is not rebutted, the business judgment rule attaches to protect the directors and their decisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Delaware courts may subject directors’ conduct to enhanced scrutiny in respect of, among | | |
The Vast Directors are responsible for managing the business of Vast and may exercise all the powers of Vast which are not required by law or by the Constitution to be exercised by Vast in general meeting.
The Vast Directors are subject to duties established by law to promote good governance of company affairs. Directors’ duties in Australia are derived from common law, statute (primarily the Corporations Act) and the Constitution.
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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| other matters, defensive actions taken in response to a threat to corporate control and approval of a transaction resulting in a sale of control of the corporation. | | | | |
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Conflicts of Interest of Directors
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Under Delaware law, a contract or transaction in which a director has an interest will not be voidable solely for this reason if (i) the material facts with respect to such interested director’s relationship or interest are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or the committee, and the board of directors or committee in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors may be less than a quorum (ii) the material facts with respect to such interested director’s relationship or interest are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote on such transaction, and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the majority of shares entitled to vote thereon, or (iii) the transaction is fair to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board of directors, a committee or the stockholders. The mere fact that an interested director is present and voting on a transaction in which he or she is interested will not itself make the transaction void. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
Under Delaware law, an interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit.
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Any Vast Director who has a material personal interest in a contract or proposed contract of Vast, holds any office or owns any property such that the director might have duties or interests which conflict with, or which may conflict, either directly or indirectly, with the directors’ duties or interests as a director, must give the Vast Directors notice of the interest at a meeting of Vast Directors.
A Vast Director who has a material personal interests in a matter that is being considered at a Vast Board meeting must not, except where permitted under the Corporations Act, vote on the matter or be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting.
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Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
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Delaware law permits a corporation to indemnify officers and directors for actions taken in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action that they had no reasonable cause to believe was unlawful.
NETC’s bylaws provide for indemnification by NETC of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law
NETC may be authorized to pay expenses incurred by directors or officers in defending an action, suit or proceeding because that person is a director or officer, including pending or threatened actions, suits or proceedings.
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| |
Pursuant to the Constitution, Vast may indemnify current and past directors and other executive officers of Vast on a full indemnity basis and to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liabilities incurred by the director or officer as a result of their holding office in Vast or a related body corporate.
Vast may also, to the extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance, or pay or agree to pay a premium for insurance, for each director and officer against any liability incurred by the director or officer as a result of their holding office in Vast or a related body corporate.
Under the Corporations Act, a company or a related body corporate must not indemnify a person
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|
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
|
| |
Rights of Vast Shareholders
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|
In addition, any director or officer may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under the bylaws. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be the determination by the court that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in the bylaws.
Expenses shall be paid by NETC in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon the receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by NETC as authorized in the bylaws.
The DGCL permits indemnification for derivative suits only for expenses (including legal fees) and only if the person is not found liable, unless a court determines the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to the indemnification.
Limitation on Director Liability
Under Delaware law, a corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation a provision that limits or eliminates the personal liability of directors to the corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, a corporation may not limit or eliminate the personal liability of a director for: any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; acts or omissions in bad faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; intentional or negligent payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions; or any transaction in which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
The NETC Charter includes such a provision.
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| |
against any liabilities incurred as an officer or auditor of the company if it is a liability:
•
owed to the company or a related body corporate of the company;
•
for a pecuniary penalty order made under section 1317G or a compensation order made under section 961M, 1317H, 1317HA, 1317HB, 1317HC or 1317HE of the Corporations Act; or
•
that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate of the company and did not arise out of conduct in good faith.
In addition, a company or related body corporate must not indemnify a person against legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer or auditor of the company if the costs are incurred in:
•
defending or resisting proceedings in which the person is found to have a liability for which they cannot be indemnified as set out above;
•
in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the person is found guilty;
•
in defending or resisting proceedings brought by ASIC or a liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the order are found to have been established (except costs incurred in responding to actions taken by ASIC or a liquidator as part of an investigation before commencing proceedings for the court order); or
•
in connection with proceedings for relief to the person under the Corporations Act in which the Court denies the relief.
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Annual Meetings
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| |||
|
Under the DGCL, an annual stockholder meeting is held on such date, at such time and at such place as may be designated by the board of directors or any other person authorized to call such meeting under the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Under Delaware law, an annual meeting of stockholders is required for the election of directors and for such other proper business as may be conducted thereat. If an annual meeting for election of directors is not held on the date designated or an action by written consent to elect directors in lieu of
|
| | Under Australian law, Vast is required to hold an annual general meeting at least once every calendar year and within five months after the end of its financial year. | |
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
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Rights of Vast Shareholders
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Advance Notice of Director Nominations and Other Proposals
|
| |||
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Quorum at Meetings
|
| |||
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Under the DGCL, quorum for a stock corporation is a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws specify a different quorum, but in no event may a quorum be less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote. Unless the DGCL, certificate of incorporation or bylaws provide for a greater vote, generally the required vote under the DGCL is a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy, except for the election of directors which requires a plurality of the votes cast.
Under NETC’s bylaws, a quorum consists of the presence, in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meetings of the stockholders.
|
| | A quorum at a general meeting is 33.3% or more of Vast shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. | |
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Voting Rights
|
| |||
|
Each share of NETC Common Stock entitles the holders thereof to one vote. Shares of a series of NETC Preferred Stock designated by the NETC Board would have such voting rights as are specified in the resolution designating such series.
Under NETC’s bylaws, except as otherwise required by law, or by the NETC Charter, all matters, other than the election of directors, presented to the stockholders at a meeting shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
|
| | At a general meeting of Vast, every Vast shareholder present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative has one vote on a show of hands and, on a poll, one vote for each Vast Ordinary Share held. On a poll, every Vast shareholder (or his or her proxy, attorney or representative) is entitled to vote for each fully paid Vast Ordinary Share held and in respect of each partly paid Vast Ordinary Share, is entitled to a fraction of a vote equivalent to the proportion which the amount paid up (not credited) on that partly paid Vast Ordinary Share bears to the total amounts paid and payable (excluding amounts credited) on that Vast Ordinary Share. The chairperson does not have a casting vote in addition to any vote cast by the chair as a Vast shareholder. | |
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Action by Written Consent
|
| |||
|
Under the DGCL, a majority of the stockholders of a corporation may act by written consent without a meeting unless such action is prohibited by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation.
Under NETC’s bylaws, until NETC consummates an initial public offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders of NETC at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent in writing is approved by not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting.
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| | No action required or permitted to be taken by the Vast shareholders at a general meeting may be taken by written consent. | |
|
Rights of NETC Stockholders
|
| |
Rights of Vast Shareholders
|
|
|
Derivative or Other Suits
|
| |||
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Under Delaware law, a stockholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the corporation to enforce the rights of the corporation. Generally, a person may institute and maintain such a suit only if such person was a stockholder at the time of the transaction that is the subject of the suit or his or her shares thereafter devolved upon him or her by operation of law. Delaware law also requires that the derivative plaintiff make a demand on the directors of the corporation to assert the corporate claim before the suit may be prosecuted by the derivative plaintiff, unless such demand would be futile.
An individual also may commence a class action suit on behalf of himself or herself and other similarly situated stockholders where the requirements for maintaining a class action have been met.
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| |
The Corporations Act includes provisions which allow for members of a company (or a person who has ceased to be a member of a company if the suit relates to the circumstances in which they ceased to be a member) to bring an action against the company or another member (among others) on the grounds that the conduct of the company’s affairs or an actual or proposed act or omission on behalf of a company (including a resolution or proposed resolution of members) is either (a) contrary to the interests of members as a whole, or (b) oppressive to, unfairly prejudicial to, or unfairly discriminatory against, a member or members whether in that capacity or in any other capacity. Upon such an application, the court has broad powers to make orders, including (among other things) that the company be wound up, the company’s constitution be modified or repealed, requiring a person to do a specified act or restraining a person from engaging in specified conduct or from doing a specified act, or the purchase of any shares by any member or the company.
In addition, under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), a person must not, in trade or commence, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) includes an analogous prohibition for conduct in relation to financial services and the Corporations Act includes provisions of a similar effect in relation to statements in disclosure or takeover documents.
Such statutory rights are conferred in addition to the rights available to shareholders at common law.
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Inspection of Books and Records
|
| |||
| Under Delaware law, a stockholder of a Delaware corporation has the right to inspect the corporation’s stock ledger, stockholder lists and other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to the person’s interest as a stockholder. | | | Vast Directors have a right of access to Vast’s books and records at all reasonable times. Vast shareholders may inspect the books and records of Vast as permitted by law, the Constitution, as authorized by the directors, or by resolution of the members. | |
|
Appraisal Rights
|
| |||
| Under Delaware law, holders of shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation have the right, in certain circumstances, to dissent from such merger or consolidation by demanding payment in cash for their shares equal to the fair value of such shares, | | | Under Australian law, shareholders do not have appraisal rights. | |
|
Rights of NETC Stockholders
|
| |
Rights of Vast Shareholders
|
|
| In addition, under the NETC Charter and bylaws, certain provisions may make it difficult for a third party to acquire NETC, or for a change in the composition of the NETC Board or management to occur, including the authorization of “blank check” NETC Preferred Stock, the terms of which may be established and shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval; the absence of cumulative voting rights, which allows the holders of a majority of the shares of NETC Common Stock to elect all of the directors standing for election; and the establishment of advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the NETC Board or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings. | | |
•
the acquisition results from an issue of securities under a rights issue under which offers are made to every person who holds securities in the class securities of which are being offered on the same terms and all of those persons have a reasonable opportunity to accept the offer; and
•
an acquisition that results from a compromise or arrangement approved by a relevant Australian Court under Part 5.1 of the Corporations Act.
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|
|
Rights Agreement
|
| |||
| NETC has adopted a registration rights agreement, which will be amended and restated at the Closing. | | | Vast will enter into the Shareholder and Registration Rights Agreement. | |
|
Variation of Rights Attaching to a Class or Series of Shares
|
| |||
| Under the NETC Charter, the NETC Board may designate a new series of NETC Preferred Stock, which may have terms different than outstanding shares, without stockholder approval. Such designation would specify the number of shares of any class or series and determine the voting rights, preferences, limitations and special rights, if any, of the shares of any class or series. | | |
Subject to the Corporations Act and the terms of issue of a class of shares, wherever the capital of Vast is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class of shares may be varied with:
•
the written consent of the holders of at least three quarters of the issued shares in the particular class; or
•
the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of shares in that class.
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|
|
Amendment to Organizational Documents
|
| |||
| Generally, under the DGCL, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote is required to approve a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation, following the adoption of the amendment by the NETC Board of the corporation, provided that the certificate of incorporation may provide for a greater vote. Under the DGCL, holders of outstanding shares of a class or series are entitled to vote separately on an amendment to the certificate of incorporation if the amendment would have certain consequences, including changes that adversely affect the rights and preferences of such class or series. | | | The Constitution may be only amended in accordance with the Corporations Act, which requires a special resolution passed by at least 75% of Vast shareholders present (in person or by proxy, attorney or representative) and entitled to vote on the resolution at a general meeting of Vast. Under the Corporations Act, Vast must give at least 21 days’ written notice of its intention to propose a resolution as a special resolution. While Vast is listed on Nasdaq, notice must be given within any time limits prescribed by the Nasdaq Listing Rules. | |
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Rights of NETC Stockholders
|
| |
Rights of Vast Shareholders
|
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Under the DGCL, after a corporation has received any payment for any of its stock, the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws shall be vested in the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that any corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, provide that bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the board of directors. The fact that such power has been conferred upon the board of directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws.
NETC’s bylaws provide that they may be amended by the approval of a majority of the NETC Board, or of the holders of a majority of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors.
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| | | |
|
Dissolution
|
| |||
|
Under Delaware law, unless the board of directors approves a proposal to dissolve, a dissolution must be approved by stockholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. If a dissolution is initially approved by the board of directors, it may be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s stockholders.
Upon dissolution, after satisfaction of the claims of creditors, the assets of NETC would be distributed to stockholders in accordance with their respective interests, including any rights a holder of shares of NETC Preferred Stock may have to preferred distributions upon dissolution or liquidation of the corporation.
|
| | If Vast is wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution of the Vast Board, (i) divide among the stockholders in kind the whole or any part of the property of Vast; and (ii) set such value as the liquidator considers fair on any property to be so divided and may determine how the division is to be carried out as between the stockholders. | |
|
Listing
|
| |||
| NETC Common Stock is currently listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “NETC,” “NETC.U” and “NETC.WS”. | | | Vast intends to apply to list the Vast Ordinary Shares and Vast Warrants on Nasdaq. It is anticipated that upon the Closing, the Vast Ordinary Shares and Vast Warrants will be listed under the ticker symbols “VSTE” and “VSTEW,” respectively. | |
|
Status as a Blank Check Company
|
| |||
| The NETC Charter and NETC’s bylaws set forth various provisions related to NETC’s status as a blank check company prior to the consummation of an Initial Business Combination. | | | The Constitution does not include such provisions since Vast will not be a blank check company. | |
| | |
Prior to the
Business Combination(1) |
| |
Prior to the
Business Combination(1) |
| |
Scenario 1
Assuming No Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 2
Assuming 85% Redemptions |
| |
Scenario 3
Assuming 100% Redemptions |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owners
|
| |
Number of
shares of NETC Common Stock |
| |
%
|
| |
Number
of Legacy Vast Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Number of
Vast Ordinary Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Number of
Vast Ordinary Shares |
| |
%
|
| |
Number of
Vast Ordinary Shares |
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Precent Holders of Vast | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AgCentral Energy Pty Ltd(2)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 20,500,000 | | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 21,970,588 | | | | | | 56.2% | | | | | | 21,970,588 | | | | | | 71.5% | | | | | | 21,970,588 | | | | | | 72.6% | | |
Five Precent Holders of NETC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nabors Energy Transition Sponsor LLC(3)(4)
|
| | | | 6,725,000 | | | | | | 40.1% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4,325,000 | | | | | | 11.1% | | | | | | 4,325,000 | | | | | | 14/1% | | | | | | 4,325,000 | | | | | | 14.3% | | |
Saba Capital Management, L.P.
|
| | | | 2,663,066 | | | | | | 15.9% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2,663,066 | | | | | | 6.8% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Directors and Executive Officers of NETC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Anthony G. Petrello (3)(4)(6)(7)
|
| | | | 6,725,000 | | | | | | 40.2% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 16,887,088 | | | | | | 33.9% | | | | | | 16,887,088 | | | | | | 40.7% | | | | | | 16,887,088 | | | | | | 41.2% | | |
William J. Restrepo(4)(8)
|
| | | | 1,500 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 576,500 | | | | | | 1.5% | | | | | | 576,500 | | | | | | 1.8% | | | | | | 576,500 | | | | | | 1.9% | | |
Siggi Meissner(4)(9)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | | * | | |
Guillermo Sierra(4)(10)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | | * | | |
John Yearwood(4)(11)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | | 1.8% | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | | 2.2% | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | | 2.3% | | |
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus(12)
|
| | | | 75,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 225,000 | | | | | | * | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | |
Jennifer Gill Roberts
|
| | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | |
All Directors and Executive Officers of NETC as a Group (8 Individuals)
|
| | | | 6,901,500 | | | | | | 41.2% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 18,963,588 | | | | | | 36.6% | | | | | | 18,963,588 | | | | | | 43.7% | | | | | | 18,963,588 | | | | | | 44.2% | | |
Directors and Executive Officers of Vast After Consummation
of the Business Combination |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Craig Wood(14)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,189,970 | | | | | | 3.0% | | | | | | 1,189,970 | | | | | | 3.9% | | | | | | 1,189,970 | | | | | | 3.9% | | |
Marshall (Mark) D. Smith
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Kurt Drewes(15)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 713,982 | | | | | | 1.8% | | | | | | 713,982 | | | | | | 2.3% | | | | | | 713,982 | | | | | | 2.4% | | |
Alec Waugh
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Sue Opie
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Colleen Calhoun
|
| | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | * | | |
William J. Restrepo(4)(8)
|
| | | | 1,500 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 576,500 | | | | | | 1.5% | | | | | | 576,500 | | | | | | 1.8% | | | | | | 576,500 | | | | | | 1.9% | | |
Colin Richardson
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
John Yearwood(4)(11)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | | 1.8% | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | | 2.2% | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | | | 2.3% | | |
All Directors and Executive Officers of Vast as a Group (9 Individuals)
|
| | | | 51,500 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 3,230,452 | | | | | | 8.3% | | | | | | 3,230,452 | | | | | | 10.5% | | | | | | 3,230,452 | | | | | | 10.7% | | |
| | |
NETC Units
(NETC.U) |
| |
NETC Class A
Common Stock (NETC) |
| |
NETC Public
Warrants (NETC.WS) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
High
|
| |
Low
|
| |
High
|
| |
Low
|
| |
High
|
| |
Low
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended December 31, 2022
|
| | | $ | 10.27 | | | | | $ | 10.07 | | | | | $ | 10.28 | | | | | $ | 10.06 | | | | | $ | 0.14 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | |
Quarter ended March 31, 2023
|
| | | $ | 11.04 | | | | | $ | 10.27 | | | | | $ | 10.52 | | | | | $ | 10.28 | | | | | $ | 0.25 | | | | | $ | 0.05 | | |
Quarter ended June 30, 2023
|
| | | $ | 11.03 | | | | | $ | 10.52 | | | | | $ | 11.59 | | | | | $ | 10.45 | | | | | $ | 0.21 | | | | | $ | 0.12 | | |
Quarter ended September 30, 2023
|
| | | $ | 11.34 | | | | | $ | 10.65 | | | | | $ | 11.16 | | | | | $ | 10.62 | | | | | $ | 0.19 | | | | | $ | 0.14 | | |
Vast
|
| |
Page
|
| |||
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements | | | | | | | |
| | | | F-2 | | | |
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-4 | | | |
| | | | F-5 | | | |
| | | | F-6 | | | |
| | | | F-7 | | |
SiliconAurora
|
| |
Page
|
| |||
Audited Financial Statements | | | |||||
| | | | F-46 | | | |
| | | | F-48 | | | |
| | | | F-49 | | | |
| | | | F-50 | | | |
| | | | F-51 | | | |
| | | | F-52 | | |
NETC
|
| |
Page
|
| |||
Audited Financial Statements | | | | | | | |
| | | | F-67 | | | |
| | | | F-68 | | | |
| | | | F-69 | | | |
| | | | F-70 | | | |
| | | | F-71 | | | |
| | | | F-72 | | | |
Unaudited Financial Statements | | | | | | | |
| | | | F-85 | | | |
| | | | F-86 | | | |
| | | | F-87 | | | |
| | | | F-88 | | | |
| | | | F-89 | | |
| | |
Year Ended
June 30, 2023 |
| |
Year Ended
June 30, 2022 |
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars,
except per share amounts) |
| |||||||||
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue from customers
|
| | | $ | 268 | | | | | $ | 163 | | |
Grant revenue
|
| | | | 651 | | | | | | 1,754 | | |
Total revenue
|
| | | | 919 | | | | | | 1,917 | | |
Expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Employee benefits expenses
|
| | | | 2,984 | | | | | | 2,756 | | |
Consultancy expenses
|
| | | | 2,134 | | | | | | 1,934 | | |
Administrative and other expenses
|
| | | | 8,080 | | | | | | 1,618 | | |
Raw materials and consumables used
|
| | | | 600 | | | | | | 241 | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | 49 | | | | | | 47 | | |
Finance costs, net
|
| | | | 2,518 | | | | | | 2,119 | | |
Share in loss of jointly controlled entities
|
| | | | 254 | | | | | | 10 | | |
(Gain)/loss on derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | (105) | | | | | | 3 | | |
Total expenses
|
| | | | 16,514 | | | | | | 8,728 | | |
Net loss before income tax
|
| | | | (15,595) | | | | | | (6,811) | | |
Income tax benefit
|
| | | | 378 | | | | | | 618 | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | (15,217) | | | | | | (6,193) | | |
Gain on foreign currency translation
|
| | | | 891 | | | | | | 1,379 | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year
|
| | | $ | (14,326) | | | | | $ | (4,814) | | |
Loss per share: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic loss per share
|
| | | $ | (0.61) | | | | | $ | (0.25) | | |
Diluted loss per share
|
| | | $ | (0.61) | | | | | $ | (0.25) | | |
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic
|
| | | | 25,129 | | | | | | 25,129 | | |
Diluted
|
| | | | 25,129 | | | | | | 25,129 | | |
| | |
June 30,
2023 |
| |
June 30,
2022 |
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents
|
| | | $ | 2,060 | | | | | $ | 423 | | |
Trade and other receivables
|
| | | | 314 | | | | | | 81 | | |
R&D tax incentive receivable
|
| | | | 638 | | | | | | 714 | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | 44 | | | | | | 31 | | |
Total current assets
|
| | | | 3,056 | | | | | | 1,249 | | |
Non-current assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment in joint venture accounted for using the equity method
|
| | | | 1,300 | | | | | | 1,597 | | |
Loans and advances to related parties
|
| | | | 225 | | | | | | 43 | | |
Property, plant and equipment
|
| | | | 30 | | | | | | 19 | | |
Right-of-use-assets
|
| | | | 45 | | | | | | 81 | | |
Total non-current assets
|
| | | | 1,600 | | | | | | 1,740 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | $ | 4,656 | | | | | $ | 2,989 | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings
|
| | | $ | 19,812 | | | | | $ | — | | |
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | 18 | | | | | | — | | |
Trade and other payables
|
| | | | 5,622 | | | | | | 1,544 | | |
Contract liabilities
|
| | | | 2 | | | | | | 104 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 26 | | | | | | 37 | | |
Deferred consideration payable
|
| | | | 955 | | | | | | 1,578 | | |
Provisions
|
| | | | 183 | | | | | | 148 | | |
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | 26,618 | | | | | | 3,411 | | |
Non-current liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 28 | | | | | | 56 | | |
Borrowings
|
| | | | 7,134 | | | | | | 15,632 | | |
Provisions
|
| | | | 117 | | | | | | 86 | | |
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | 174 | | | | | | 32 | | |
Total non-current liabilities
|
| | | | 7,453 | | | | | | 15,806 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | $ | 34,071 | | | | | $ | 19,217 | | |
Equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Issued capital
|
| | | $ | 2,354 | | | | | $ | 2,354 | | |
Share-based payment reserve
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 4 | | |
Foreign currency translation reserve
|
| | | | 3,285 | | | | | | 2,394 | | |
Capital contribution reserve
|
| | | | 4,591 | | | | | | 3,452 | | |
Accumulated losses
|
| | | | (39,649) | | | | | | (24,432) | | |
Total deficit
|
| | | $ | (29,415) | | | | | $ | (16,228) | | |
Total liabilities and equity
|
| | | $ | 4,656 | | | | | $ | 2,989 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reserves
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |
Issued
Capital |
| |
Share-based
Payment Reserve |
| |
Capital
Contribution |
| |
Foreign
Currency Translation |
| |
Accumulated
Losses |
| |
Total
Equity/ (Deficit) |
| ||||||||||||||||||
As of July 1, 2021
|
| | | $ | 2,354 | | | | | $ | 4 | | | | | $ | 1,755 | | | | | $ | 1,015 | | | | | $ | (18,239) | | | | | $ | (13,111) | | |
Loss for the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (6,193) | | | | | | (6,193) | | |
Other comprehensive income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,379 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,379 | | |
Modification of convertible notes, net of tax
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,697 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,697 | | |
As of June 30, 2022
|
| | | $ | 2,354 | | | | | $ | 4 | | | | | $ | 3,452 | | | | | $ | 2,394 | | | | | $ | (24,432) | | | | | $ | (16,228) | | |
Loss for the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (15,217) | | | | | | (15,217) | | |
Other comprehensive income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 891 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 891 | | |
Modification of convertible notes, shareholder loan, net of tax
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,139 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,139 | | |
As of June 30, 2023
|
| | | $ | 2,354 | | | | | $ | 4 | | | | | $ | 4,591 | | | | | $ | 3,285 | | | | | $ | (39,649) | | | | | $ | (29,415) | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Cash from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss
|
| | | $ | (15,217) | | | | | $ | (6,193) | | |
Adjustments to net loss: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share in loss of jointly controlled entities
|
| | | | 254 | | | | | | 10 | | |
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
| | | | 49 | | | | | | 47 | | |
Non-cash finance costs recognised in profit or loss
|
| | | | 2,518 | | | | | | 2,118 | | |
Unrealised (gain)/loss on derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | (105) | | | | | | 3 | | |
Deferred income tax expense/(benefit)
|
| | | | (378) | | | | | | (618) | | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade and other receivables
|
| | | | (233) | | | | | | 68 | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | (13) | | | | | | (28) | | |
R&D tax incentive receivable
|
| | | | 76 | | | | | | 35 | | |
Contract liabilities
|
| | | | (102) | | | | | | 104 | | |
Trade and other payables
|
| | | | 4,079 | | | | | | 1,149 | | |
Deferred income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (1,037) | | |
Provisions
|
| | | | 66 | | | | | | 17 | | |
Foreign exchange differences
|
| | | | (45) | | | | | | 215 | | |
Net cash used in operating activities
|
| | | $ | (9,051) | | | | | $ | (4,110) | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisition of interest in joint venture
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (67) | | |
Interest received
|
| | | | 9 | | | | | | 1 | | |
Loans and advances paid to related parties
|
| | | | (144) | | | | | | (43) | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
|
| | | | (33) | | | | | | (15) | | |
Net cash used in investing activities
|
| | | $ | (168) | | | | | $ | (124) | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payment of deferred consideration
|
| | | | (607) | | | | | | — | | |
Proceeds from borrowings
|
| | | | 11,515 | | | | | | 1,838 | | |
Repayment of lease liabilities
|
| | | | (37) | | | | | | (45) | | |
Net cash generated by financing activities
|
| | | $ | 10,871 | | | | | $ | 1,793 | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
| | | | 1,652 | | | | | | (2,441) | | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
|
| | | | (15) | | | | | | (234) | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
|
| | | | 423 | | | | | | 3,098 | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
|
| | | $ | 2,060 | | | | | $ | 423 | | |
Class of Property, plant and equipment
|
| |
Depreciation rate
|
| |||
Office equipment
|
| | | | 10 – 50% | | |
Title
|
| |
Key requirements
|
| |
Effective date
|
|
Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction – Amendments to IAS 12
|
| |
The amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes require companies to recognise deferred tax on transactions that, on initial recognition, give rise to equal amounts of taxable and deductible temporary differences. They will typically apply to transactions such as leases of lessees and decommissioning obligations and will require the recognition of additional deferred tax assets and liabilities. The amendment should be applied to transactions that occur on or after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. In addition, entities should recognise deferred tax assets (to the extent that it is probable that they can be utilised) and deferred tax liabilities at the beginning of the earliest comparative period for all deductible and taxable temporary differences associated with:
•
right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, and
•
decommissioning, restoration and similar liabilities, and the corresponding amounts recognised as part of the cost of the related assets.
The cumulative effect of recognising these adjustments is recognised in retained earnings, or another component of equity, as appropriate. IAS 12 did not previously address how to account for the tax effects of on-balance sheet leases and similar transactions and various approaches were considered acceptable. Some entities may have already accounted for such transactions consistent with the new requirements. These entities will not be affected by the amendments.
Vast has elected to early adopt the above amendment from July 1, 2019.
|
| |
January 1, 2023
|
|
Disclosure of Accounting Policies – Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2
|
| | The IASB amended IAS 1 to require entities to disclose their material rather than their significant accounting policies. The amendments define what is ‘material accounting policy information’ and explain how to | | |
January 1, 2023
|
|
Title
|
| |
Key requirements
|
| |
Effective date
|
|
| | |
identify when accounting policy information is material. They further clarify that immaterial accounting policy information does not need to be disclosed. If it is disclosed, it should not obscure material accounting information. To support this amendment, the IASB also amended IFRS Practice Statement 2 Making Materiality Judgements to provide guidance on how to apply the concept of materiality to accounting policy disclosures.
Vast has elected to early adopt the above amendment from July 1, 2020.
|
| | | |
Definition of Accounting Estimates – Amendments to IAS 8
|
| |
The amendment to IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors clarifies how companies should distinguish changes in accounting policies from changes in accounting estimates. The distinction is important, because changes in accounting estimates are applied prospectively to future transactions and other future events, but changes in accounting policies are generally applied retrospectively to past transactions and other past events as well as the current period.
The adoption of this amendment had no effect for Vast.
|
| |
January 1, 2023
|
|
Title
|
| |
Key requirements
|
| |
Effective date
|
|
Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current – Amendments to IAS 1
|
| | The narrow-scope amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements clarify that liabilities are classified as either current or non-current, depending on the rights that exist at the end of the reporting period. Classification is unaffected by the expectations of the entity or events after the reporting date (e.g. the receipt of a waiver or a breach of covenant). The amendments also clarify what IAS 1 means when it refers to the ‘settlement’ of a liability. The amendments could affect the classification of liabilities, particularly for entities that previously considered management’s intentions to determine classification and for some liabilities that can be converted into equity. They must be applied retrospectively in accordance with the normal requirements in IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. | | |
January 1, 2024
|
|
Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback – (Amendments to IFRS 16) | | |
The amendment clarifies how a seller-lessee subsequently measures sale and leaseback transactions that satisfy the requirements in IFRS 15 to be accounted for as a sale.
|
| |
January 1, 2024
|
|
Non-current Liabilities with Covenants – (Amendments to IAS 1) | | |
The amendment clarifies how conditions with which an entity must comply within twelve months after the reporting period affect the classification of a liability.
|
| |
January 1, 2024
|
|
Title
|
| |
Key requirements
|
| |
Effective date
|
|
Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture – Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28
|
| |
The IASB has made limited scope amendments to IFRS 10 Consolidated financial statements and IAS 28 Investments in associates and joint ventures.
The amendments clarify the accounting treatment for sales or contribution of assets between an investor and its associates or joint ventures. They confirm that the accounting treatment depends on whether the non-monetary assets sold or contributed to an associate or joint venture constitute a ‘business’ (as defined in IFRS 3 Business Combinations).
Where the non-monetary assets constitute a business, the investor will recognise the full gain or loss on the sale or contribution of assets. If the assets do not meet the definition of a business, the gain or loss is recognised by the investor only to the extent of the other investor’s interests in the associate or joint venture. The amendments apply prospectively.
|
| | n/a** | |
| | |
Year ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Consulting fees
|
| | | $ | 170 | | | | | $ | 140 | | |
Margin fees
|
| | | | 98 | | | | | | 23 | | |
| | | | $ | 268 | | | | | $ | 163 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
CSIRO
|
| | | $ | 253 | | | | | $ | 163 | | |
Other
|
| | | | 15 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | $ | 268 | | | | | $ | 163 | | |
Timing of revenue recognition:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
At a point in time
|
| | | $ | 199 | | | | | $ | 23 | | |
Over time
|
| | | | 69 | | | | | | 140 | | |
| | | | $ | 268 | | | | | $ | 163 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
ARENA grant
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 1,001 | | |
R&D tax credit recoveries
|
| | | | 651 | | | | | | 753 | | |
| | | | $ | 651 | | | | | $ | 1,754 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Refundable R&D tax offset for the year
|
| | | $ | 651 | | | | | $ | 753 | | |
R&D Tax credit recoveries recognised as grant income
|
| | | $ | 651 | | | | | $ | 753 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Raw materials and consumables used: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Raw materials and consumables cost
|
| | | $ | 572 | | | | | $ | 205 | | |
Power and fuel expense
|
| | | | 28 | | | | | | 36 | | |
| | | | | 600 | | | | | | 241 | | |
Consultancy expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consulting – Corporate
|
| | | | 926 | | | | | | 760 | | |
Consulting – Projects
|
| | | | 1,208 | | | | | | 1,174 | | |
| | | | | 2,134 | | | | | | 1,934 | | |
Administrative and other expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Legal and accounting expenses
|
| | | | 7,151 | | | | | | 1,163 | | |
Subscriptions, software and licences
|
| | | | 239 | | | | | | 137 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US
Dollars) |
| |||||||||
Travelling expenses
|
| | | | 253 | | | | | | 84 | | |
Marketing expenses
|
| | | | 111 | | | | | | 58 | | |
Other expenses
|
| | | | 326 | | | | | | 176 | | |
| | | | | 8,080 | | | | | | 1,618 | | |
Employee benefits expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and wages
|
| | | | 2,554 | | | | | | 2,412 | | |
Superannuation
|
| | | | 242 | | | | | | 215 | | |
Payroll tax
|
| | | | 111 | | | | | | 92 | | |
Employee entitlements – annual leave (AL)
|
| | | | 42 | | | | | | 15 | | |
Employee entitlements – long service leave (LSL)
|
| | | | 34 | | | | | | 22 | | |
Share-based payment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | $ | 2,984 | | | | | $ | 2,756 | | |
|
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Current tax expense
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
Deferred tax expense
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Decrease/(increase) in deferred tax assets
|
| | | | 176 | | | | | | (91) | | |
(Decrease)/increase in deferred tax liabilities
|
| | | | (554) | | | | | | (527) | | |
| | | | | (378) | | | | | | (618) | | |
Income tax (expense) / benefit
|
| | | $ | 378 | | | | | $ | 618 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Loss before income tax:
|
| | | $ | (15,595) | | | | | $ | (6,811) | | |
Income tax benefit calculated at 25%
|
| | | | (3,899) | | | | | | (1,703) | | |
Add: Non-deductible expenses
|
| | | | 1,401 | | | | | | 60 | | |
Add: Tax losses not recognised
|
| | | | 1,907 | | | | | | 781 | | |
Add: Accounting expenditure subject to R&D
|
| | | | 374 | | | | | | 432 | | |
Less: R&D tax recovery
|
| | | | (163) | | | | | | (188) | | |
Income tax benefit
|
| | | $ | (378) | | | | | $ | (618) | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Current tax assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
R&D tax incentive receivable
|
| | | $ | 638 | | | | | $ | 714 | | |
| | | | | 638 | | | | | | 714 | | |
Deferred tax assets
|
| | | | 419 | | | | | | 618 | | |
Deferred tax liabilities
|
| | | | (419) | | | | | | (618) | | |
Net deferred tax (liability)/asset
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
| | |
As of July 1,
2022 |
| |
(Charged)/
credited to profit or loss |
| |
Movement in
equity |
| |
Exchange
differences (charged)/credited to comprehensive loss |
| |
As of June 30,
2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | $ | 8 | | | | | $ | (8) | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
Contract liabilities
|
| | | | 26 | | | | | | (24) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1) | | | | | | 1 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 23 | | | | | | (9) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1) | | | | | | 13 | | |
Share of loss of equity-accounted investee
|
| | | | 2 | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 15 | | |
Unused tax losses carryforwards
|
| | | | 466 | | | | | | (58) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (18) | | | | | | 390 | | |
Provisions and accruals
|
| | | | 93 | | | | | | (90) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (3) | | | | | | — | | |
Deferred tax assets
|
| | | $ | 618 | | | | | $ | (176) | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | (23) | | | | | $ | 419 | | |
| | |
As of July 1,
2022 |
| |
(Charged)/
credited to profit or loss |
| |
Movement in
equity |
| |
Exchange
differences (charged)/credited to comprehensive loss |
| |
As of June 30,
2023 |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings – convertible notes
|
| | | $ | (585) | | | | | $ | 551 | | | | | $ | (378) | | | | | $ | 22 | | | | | $ | (390) | | |
Property, plant and equipment
|
| | | | (5) | | | | | | (3) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (8) | | |
Right of use asset
|
| | | | (20) | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (10) | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | (8) | | | | | | (4) | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | (11) | | |
| | | | $ | (618) | | | | | $ | 554 | | | | | $ | (378) | | | | | $ | 23 | | | | | $ | (419) | | |
| | |
As of July 1,
2021 |
| |
(Charged)/
credited to profit or loss |
| |
Movement in
equity |
| |
Exchange
differences (charged)/credited to comprehensive loss |
| |
As of June 30,
2022 |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | $ | 8 | | | | | $ | 1 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | (1) | | | | | $ | 8 | | |
Deferred income
|
| | | | 259 | | | | | | (223) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (10) | | | | | | 26 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 35 | | | | | | (9) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (2) | | | | | | 23 | | |
Share of loss of equity-accounted investee
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1) | | | | | | 2 | | |
Unused tax losses carryforwards
|
| | | | 220 | | | | | | 278 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (32) | | | | | | 466 | | |
Provisions and accruals
|
| | | | 59 | | | | | | 41 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (7) | | | | | | 93 | | |
Deferred tax assets
|
| | | $ | 581 | | | | | $ | 91 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | (53) | | | | | $ | 618 | | |
| | |
As of July 1,
2021 |
| |
(Charged)/
credited to profit or loss |
| |
Movement in
equity |
| |
Exchange
differences (charged)/credited to comprehensive loss |
| |
As of June 30,
2022 |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings – convertible notes
|
| | | $ | (544) | | | | | $ | 527 | | | | | $ | (618) | | | | | $ | 50 | | | | | $ | (585) | | |
Property, plant and equipment
|
| | | | (4) | | | | | | (1) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (5) | | |
Right of use asset
|
| | | | (32) | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | (20) | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | (1) | | | | | | (7) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (8) | | |
| | | | $ | (581) | | | | | $ | 527 | | | | | $ | (618) | | | | | $ | 54 | | | | | $ | (618) | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars, except per
share amounts) |
| |||||||||
Basic loss per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic loss per share
|
| | | | (0.61) | | | | | | (0.25) | | |
Diluted loss per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diluted loss per share
|
| | | | (0.61) | | | | | | (0.25) | | |
Reconciliations of loss used in calculating loss per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic loss per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | (15,217) | | | | | | (6,193) | | |
Diluted loss per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss used in calculating diluted loss per share
|
| | | | (15,217) | | | | | | (6,193) | | |
Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator (in
thousands) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating basic loss per share
|
| | | | 25,129 | | | | | | 25,129 | | |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and potential
ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating diluted loss per share |
| | | | 25,129 | | | | | | 25,129 | | |
| | |
Year ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Trade receivables
|
| | | $ | 4 | | | | | $ | 4 | | |
Goods and Service Tax receivable
|
| | | | 204 | | | | | | 77 | | |
Other receivables
|
| | | | 106 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | $ | 314 | | | | | $ | 81 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Unearned revenue
|
| | | | 2 | | | | | | 104 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Trade payables
|
| | | | 1,264 | | | | | | 1,041 | | |
Accrued expenses
|
| | | | 4,280 | | | | | | 137 | | |
Advance received for procurement
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 366 | | |
Other payables
|
| | | | 78 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | 5,622 | | | | | | 1,544 | | |
| | |
June 30, 2023
|
| |
June 30, 2022
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Current
|
| |
Non-current
|
| |
Current
|
| |
Non-current
|
| ||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Loan – Convertible Note 3
|
| | | | 8,762 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,883 | | |
Loan – Convertible Note 4
|
| | | | 4,405 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 3,937 | | |
Loan – Convertible Note 5
|
| | | | 1,114 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,124 | | |
Loan – Senior Convertible Note
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 7,134 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Loan from shareholder
|
| | | | 5,531 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,688 | | |
| | | | | 19,812 | | | | | | 7,134 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 15,632 | | |
Note
|
| |
Face
Value per note (AUD) |
| |
Tranche
|
| |
Issuance Date
|
| |
No. of notes
issued |
| |
Total Face
value (In thousands of AU Dollars) |
| |
Total Face
value (In thousands of US Dollars) |
| ||||||||||||
Convertible Note 3
|
| | | | 349.34 | | | |
1
|
| | June 30, 2016 | | | | | 26,802 | | | | | | 9,363 | | | | | | 6,548 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
2
|
| |
September 15, 2016
|
| | | | 715 | | | | | | 250 | | | | | | 172 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
3
|
| |
November 23, 2016
|
| | | | 715 | | | | | | 250 | | | | | | 170 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9,863 | | | | | | 6,890 | | |
Convertible Note 4
|
| | | | 17.68 | | | |
1
|
| | January 18, 2018 | | | | | 62,216 | | | | | | 1,100 | | | | | | 876 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
2
|
| | January 31, 2018 | | | | | 5,656 | | | | | | 100 | | | | | | 81 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
3
|
| | February 7, 2018 | | | | | 11,312 | | | | | | 200 | | | | | | 158 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
4
|
| |
February 26, 2018
|
| | | | 8,484 | | | | | | 150 | | | | | | 118 | | |
Note
|
| |
Face
Value per note (AUD) |
| |
Tranche
|
| |
Issuance Date
|
| |
No. of notes
issued |
| |
Total Face
value (In thousands of AU Dollars) |
| |
Total Face
value (In thousands of US Dollars) |
| ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | |
5
|
| | March 23, 2018 | | | | | 25,452 | | | | | | 450 | | | | | | 347 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
6
|
| | May 23, 2018 | | | | | 11,313 | | | | | | 200 | | | | | | 151 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
7
|
| | May 28, 2018 | | | | | 11,313 | | | | | | 200 | | | | | | 152 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
8
|
| | June 12, 2018 | | | | | 47,511 | | | | | | 840 | | | | | | 640 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
9
|
| |
September 10, 2019
|
| | | | 105,602 | | | | | | 1,867 | | | | | | 1,280 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
10
|
| |
September 25, 2019
|
| | | | 70,701 | | | | | | 1,250 | | | | | | 848 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6,357 | | | | | | 4,651 | | |
Convertible Note 5
|
| | | | 0.01 | | | |
1
|
| | August 11, 2020 | | | | | 87,500,000 | | | | | | 875 | | | | | | 628 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
2
|
| | April 27, 2021 | | | | | 87,500,000 | | | | | | 875 | | | | | | 682 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,750 | | | | | | 1,310 | | |
Senior Convertible Note
|
| | | | USD1.00 | | | |
1
|
| |
February 15, 2023
|
| | | | 2,500,000 | | | | | | 3,604 | | | | | | 2,500 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
2
|
| | April 13, 2023 | | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | | | 3,731 | | | | | | 2,500 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
3
|
| | June 27, 2023 | | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | | | 3,725 | | | | | | 2,500 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11,060 | | | | | | 7,500 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 29,030 | | | | | | 20,351 | | |
|
| | | | | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
Component
|
| |
Particulars
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | | | | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Embedded derivative
|
| | Convertible Note 3 | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | | Convertible Note 4 | | | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | |
| | | Convertible Note 5 | | | | | 18 | | | | | | 31 | | |
| | |
Senior Convertible Note
|
| | | | 174 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | 192 | | | | | | 32 | | |
| | | | | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
Component
|
| |
Particulars
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | | | | |
(In thousands of US
Dollars) |
| |||||||||
Interest expense by applying respective effective interest rate applicable to the tranches
|
| | Convertible Note 3 | | | | | 950 | | | | | | 1,003 | | |
| | | Convertible Note 4 | | | | | 995 | | | | | | 953 | | |
| | | Convertible Note 5 | | | | | 127 | | | | | | 135 | | |
| | |
Senior Convertible Note
|
| | | | 94 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,166 | | | | | | 2,091 | | |
|
| | |
Type
|
| |
Place of incorporation
|
| |
Ownership interest
|
| |||||||||
Name
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||||||||
Neptune Merger Sub, Inc.
|
| | Subsidiary | | | United States | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 0% | | |
NWQHPP Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
Solar Methanol 1 Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 0% | | |
Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
Vast Solar Consulting Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
Particulars
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Total expense incurred by both participants
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 902 | | |
Company’s share (50%) (a)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 451 | | |
Total expense incurred by Vast (b)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 711 | | |
Net reimbursement to be received from joint operator (b-a)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 260 | | |
Reimbursement received during the year
|
| | | | 260 | | | | | | 330 | | |
|
Legal and consultancy
|
| | | | (4) | | |
|
Employee benefit costs
|
| | | | (3) | | |
|
Interest expense & other fees
|
| | | | (2) | | |
|
Amortisation & depreciation
|
| | | | (1) | | |
|
Net loss
|
| | | | (10) | | |
|
Carrying value of interest in joint venture at June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 1,597 | | |
|
Legal and consultancy
|
| | | | (178) | | |
|
Interest expense & other fees
|
| | | | (41) | | |
|
Amortisation & depreciation
|
| | | | (24) | | |
|
Other expenses
|
| | | | (12) | | |
|
Net loss
|
| | | | (255) | | |
|
Fair value adjustments on deferred consideration and loan advances to SiliconAurora Pty
Ltd |
| | | | 12 | | |
|
Foreign exchange differences
|
| | | | (54) | | |
|
Carrying value of interest in joint venture at June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 1,300 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Commitment to provide funding for joint venture’s commitments, if called
|
| | | | 278 | | | | | | 605 | | |
| | |
June 30, 2023
|
| |
June 30, 2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of
US Dollars) |
| |
(In thousands of
US Dollars) |
| ||||||
Trade and other receivables
|
| | | | 9 | | | | | | — | | |
Property, plant and equipment
|
| | | | 34 | | | | | | 40 | | |
Right-of-use assets
|
| | | | 1,360 | | | | | | 1,454 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | | 1,403 | | | | | | 1,494 | | |
Trade and other payables
|
| | | | 153 | | | | | | 93 | | |
Borrowings
|
| | | | 477 | | | | | | 87 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 1,398 | | | | | | 1,446 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | | 2,028 | | | | | | 1,626 | | |
Net assets
|
| | | | (625) | | | | | | (132) | | |
Reconciliation to carrying amounts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Opening net assets
|
| | | | (132) | | | | | | (1,021) | | |
Total comprehensive loss
|
| | | | (508) | | | | | | (751) | | |
Debt to equity swap
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 1,532 | | |
Foreign exchange differences
|
| | | | 15 | | | | | | 108 | | |
Closing net assets
|
| | | | (625) | | | | | | (132) | | |
Vast’s share in %
|
| | | | 50% | | | | | | 50% | | |
Vast’s share in $
|
| | | | (317) | | | | | | (66) | | |
Goodwill
|
| | | | 1,617 | | | | | | 1,663 | | |
Carrying amount
|
| | | | 1,300 | | | | | | 1,597 | | |
| | |
Year Ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Expenses incurred for the year categorised into administration, professional and employee benefit
|
| | | | (508) | | | | | | (751) | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year
|
| | | | (508) | | | | | | (751) | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Cost: Office equipment | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Opening Balance at July 1
|
| | | | 38 | | | | | | 24 | | |
Additions
|
| | | | 27 | | | | | | 17 | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (2) | | | | | | (3) | | |
Closing Balance at June 30
|
| | | | 63 | | | | | | 38 | | |
Accumulated depreciation: Office equipment | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Opening Balance at July 1
|
| | | | (19) | | | | | | (10) | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | (15) | | | | | | (10) | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US
Dollars) |
| |||||||||
Exchange differences
|
| | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | |
Closing Balance at June 30
|
| | | | (33) | | | | | | (19) | | |
Net book value as of June 30
|
| | | | 30 | | | | | | 19 | | |
|
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Net carrying amount: | | | | | | | | | |||||
Office Building
|
| | | | 45 | | | | | | 81 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Movements in carrying amounts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Opening balance at July 1
|
| | | | 152 | | | | | | 166 | | |
Additions during the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (6) | | | | | | (14) | | |
Closing Balance at June 30
|
| | | | 146 | | | | | | 152 | | |
Accumulated depreciation
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Opening Balance at July 1
|
| | | | (71) | | | | | | (39) | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | (34) | | | | | | (37) | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 5 | | |
Closing Balance at June 30
|
| | | | (101) | | | | | | (71) | | |
Net book value June 30
|
| | | | 45 | | | | | | 81 | | |
Amounts recognised in profit and loss: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation expense on right-of-use asset
|
| | | | (34) | | | | | | (37) | | |
Interest expense on lease liabilities
|
| | | | (6) | | | | | | (10) | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Current | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 26 | | | | | | 37 | | |
Non-current | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | 28 | | | | | | 56 | | |
| | | | | 54 | | | | | | 93 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Within one year
|
| | | | 43 | | | | | | 43 | | |
Later than one year but not later than 5 years
|
| | | | 14 | | | | | | 60 | | |
Total
|
| | | | 57 | | | | | | 103 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Current: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Employee benefits
|
| | | | 183 | | | | | | 148 | | |
Non-current: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Employee benefits
|
| | | | 117 | | | | | | 86 | | |
Total Provisions
|
| | | | 300 | | | | | | 234 | | |
Movements in provisions: | | | | ||||||||||
Employee benefits | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Opening Balance
|
| | | | 234 | | | | | | 217 | | |
Additions
|
| | | | 247 | | | | | | 197 | | |
Utilisations
|
| | | | (171) | | | | | | (160) | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (10) | | | | | | (20) | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 300 | | | | | | 234 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
25,129,140 fully paid ordinary shares
|
| | | | 2,354 | | | | | | 2,354 | | |
| | |
Number of shares
|
| |
Total
(In thousands of US Dollars) |
| ||||||
Opening balance as of July 1, 2021
|
| | | | 25,129,140 | | | | | | 2,354 | | |
Ordinary shares issued during the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Closing balance as of June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 25,129,140 | | | | | | 2,354 | | |
Ordinary shares issued during the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Closing balance as of June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 25,129,140 | | | | | | 2,354 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Capital contribution reserve
|
| | | | 4,591 | | | | | | 3,452 | | |
Foreign currency translation reserve
|
| | | | 3,285 | | | | | | 2,394 | | |
Share-based payment reserve
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 4 | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 7,880 | | | | | | 5,850 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
As of July 1
|
| | | | 3,452 | | | | | | 1,755 | | |
Interest forgiveness on convertible notes and shareholder loan
|
| | | | 1,517 | | | | | | 2,411 | | |
Call option issued to shareholder
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (96) | | |
Deferred tax impact
|
| | | | (378) | | | | | | (618) | | |
As of June 30
|
| | | | 4,591 | | | | | | 3,452 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
As of July 1
|
| | | | 2,394 | | | | | | 1,015 | | |
Movement during the year
|
| | | | 891 | | | | | | 1,379 | | |
As of June 30
|
| | | | 3,285 | | | | | | 2,394 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
As of July 1
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 4 | | |
Add: MEP shares granted during the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
As of June 30
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 4 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
As of July 1
|
| | | | (24,432) | | | | | | (18,239) | | |
Loss during the year
|
| | | | (15,217) | | | | | | (6,193) | | |
As of June 30
|
| | | | (39,649) | | | | | | (24,432) | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Derivative financial instrument designated at fair value – Level 3 hierarchy
|
| | | | 192 | | | | | | 32 | | |
Type
|
| |
Valuation technique
|
| |
Significant unobservable inputs
|
|
Derivative financial instrument designated at fair value – Level 3 hierarchy | | | Derivative valuations have been determined by a Black-Scholes formula adjusted for dilution | | |
Risk free rate: 4.57% (2022: 2.58%)
Volatility: 40% (2022: 40%) |
|
Movements in derivative financial instruments
|
| |
(In thousands of
US Dollars) |
| |||
Opening balance as of July 1, 2022
|
| | | | 32 | | |
Additions
|
| | | | 173 | | |
Fair value changes recognised in profit and loss
|
| | | | (9) | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (4) | | |
Closing balance as of June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 192 | | |
Opening balance as of July 1, 2021
|
| | | | 33 | | |
Fair value changes recognised in profit and loss
|
| | | | 2 | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (3) | | |
Closing balance as of June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 32 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands)
|
| |||||||||
Trade payables | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EURO
|
| | | | 17 | | | | | | 17 | | |
USD
|
| | | | 66 | | | | | | 10 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Amounts recognised in profit or loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealised Currency Gain/(Loss)
|
| | | | 1 | | | | | | (1) | | |
Realised Currency Gains
|
| | | | 14 | | | | | | 2 | | |
| | | | | 15 | | | | | | 1 | | |
| | |
As of June 30, 2023
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Carrying
amount |
| |
Total contractual
cash flows |
| |
2 months
or less |
| |
3 – 36 months
|
| |
Beyond
36 months |
| |||||||||||||||
Convertible notes
|
| | | | (21,415) | | | | | | 21,708 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (21,708) | | | | | | — | | |
Loan from shareholder
|
| | | | (5,531) | | | | | | 5,704 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (5,704) | | | | | | — | | |
Deferred consideration
|
| | | | (955) | | | | | | 995 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (995) | | | | | | — | | |
Trade Payables
|
| | | | (5,622) | | | | | | 5,622 | | | | | | (5,622) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | (54) | | | | | | 57 | | | | | | (7) | | | | | | (50) | | | | | | — | | |
Total non-derivatives
|
| | | | (33,577) | | | | | | 34,086 | | | | | | (5,629) | | | | | | (28,457) | | | | | | — | | |
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | (192) | | | | | | 192 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (192) | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
As of June 30, 2022
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Carrying
amount |
| |
Total contractual
cash flows |
| |
2 months
or less |
| |
3 – 36 months
|
| |
Beyond
36 months |
| |||||||||||||||
Convertible notes
|
| | | | (13,943) | | | | | | 12,851 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (12,851) | | | | | | — | | |
Loan from shareholder
|
| | | | (1,689) | | | | | | 1,838 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,838) | | | | | | — | | |
Deferred consideration
|
| | | | (1,578) | | | | | | 1,653 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,653) | | | | | | — | | |
Trade Payables
|
| | | | (1,543) | | | | | | 1,543 | | | | | | (1,543) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | (93) | | | | | | 103 | | | | | | (7) | | | | | | (96) | | | | | | — | | |
Total non-derivatives
|
| | | | (18,846) | | | | | | 17,988 | | | | | | (1,550) | | | | | | (16,438) | | | | | | — | | |
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | (32) | | | | | | 32 | | | | | | — | | | | | | (32) | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ownership interest
|
| |||||||||
Name
|
| |
Type
|
| |
Place of incorporation
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
AgCentral Pty Ltd
|
| |
Parent company
|
| | Australia | | | | | — | | | | | | 100% | | |
AgCentral Energy Pty Ltd
|
| |
Parent company
|
| | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ownership interest
|
| |||||||||
Name
|
| |
Type
|
| |
Place of incorporation
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
Neptune Merger Sub, Inc,
|
| | Subsidiary | | | United States | | | | | 100% | | | | | | — | | |
NWQHPP Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
Solar Methanol 1 Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | — | | |
Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
Vast Solar Consulting Pty Ltd
|
| | Subsidiary | | | Australia | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | |
| | |
For the year ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Lease rental payment to other related parties
|
| | | | 43 | | | | | | 44 | | |
Loan from parent entity
|
| | | | 4,015 | | | | | | 1,838 | | |
Loan from investors
|
| | | | 9,348 | | | | | | 2,091 | | |
Gain on modification of borrowings recognised in the Capital contribution reserve
|
| | | | 1,139 | | | | | | 1,697 | | |
Derivative financial instruments
|
| | | | (105) | | | | | | (3) | | |
Investment in joint venture
|
| | | | (242) | | | | | | 1,712 | | |
| | |
For the year ended June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Short-term employee benefits
|
| | | | 1,775 | | | | | | 1,130 | | |
Long-term benefits
|
| | | | 27 | | | | | | 10 | | |
| | | | | 1,802 | | | | | | 1,140 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Opening Balance
|
| | | | 8,883 | | | | | | 9,709 | | |
Capital contribution (excluding tax impact)
|
| | | | (732) | | | | | | (993) | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | 950 | | | | | | 1,003 | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (339) | | | | | | (836) | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 8,762 | | | | | | 8,883 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Opening Balance
|
| | | | 3,936 | | | | | | 4,496 | | |
Capital contribution (excluding tax impact)
|
| | | | (366) | | | | | | (1,118) | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | 995 | | | | | | 952 | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (160) | | | | | | (394) | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 4,405 | | | | | | 3,936 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Opening Balance
|
| | | | 1,124 | | | | | | 1,226 | | |
Capital contribution (excluding tax impact)
|
| | | | (94) | | | | | | (133) | | |
Additions during the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | 127 | | | | | | 135 | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (43) | | | | | | (104) | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 1,114 | | | | | | 1,124 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Opening Balance
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Additions during the year
|
| | | | 2,431 | | | | | | — | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | 33 | | | | | | — | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (26) | | | | | | — | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 2,438 | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |
June 30,
|
| ||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Initial recognition / face value
|
| | | | 1,688 | | | | | | 1,838 | | |
Additions during the year
|
| | | | 4,015 | | | | | | — | | |
Capital contribution (excluding tax impact)
|
| | | | (325) | | | | | | (168) | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | 295 | | | | | | 17 | | |
Exchange differences
|
| | | | (142) | | | | | | 1 | | |
Closing Balance
|
| | | | 5,531 | | | | | | 1,688 | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Lease liabilities for lease arrangement with related party
|
| | | | (54) | | | | | | (93) | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Loan to joint venture
|
| | | | 225 | | | | | | 43 | | |
Loan from shareholder
|
| | | | (5,531) | | | | | | (1,688) | | |
Loans from shareholder – Convertible Note 3
|
| | | | (8,762) | | | | | | (8,883) | | |
Loans from shareholder – Convertible Note 4
|
| | | | (4,405) | | | | | | (3,936) | | |
Loans from shareholder – Convertible Note 5
|
| | | | (1,114) | | | | | | (1,124) | | |
Loans from shareholder – Senior Convertible Note
|
| | | | (2,438) | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
June 30,
|
| |||||||||
Net debt
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
| | | | 2,060 | | | | | | 423 | | |
Borrowings
|
| | | | (26,946) | | | | | | (15,632) | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | (54) | | | | | | (93) | | |
Net debt
|
| | | | (24,940) | | | | | | (15,302) | | |
| | |
Liabilities from financing activities
|
| |||||||||
| | |
Borrowings
|
| |
Leases
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousands of US Dollars)
|
| |||||||||
Net debt as of July 1, 2022
|
| | | | (15,632) | | | | | | (93) | | |
Proceeds from loan
|
| | | | (11,138) | | | | | | — | | |
Capital contribution (excluding tax impact)
|
| | | | 1,517 | | | | | | — | | |
Fixed payments
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 43 | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | (2,461) | | | | | | (6) | | |
Foreign exchange differences
|
| | | | 767 | | | | | | 3 | | |
Net debt as of June 30, 2023
|
| | | | (26,946) | | | | | | (54) | | |
Net debt as of July 1, 2021
|
| | | | (15,431) | | | | | | (137) | | |
Proceeds from loan from related party
|
| | | | (1,838) | | | | | | — | | |
Capital contribution (excluding tax impact)
|
| | | | 2,315 | | | | | | — | | |
Fixed payments
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 46 | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | (2,109) | | | | | | (10) | | |
Foreign exchange differences
|
| | | | 1,431 | | | | | | 8 | | |
Net debt as of June 30, 2022
|
| | | | (15,632) | | | | | | (93) | | |
| | |
Note
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | | | | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Administrative and professional expenses
|
| | | | | | | (526,231) | | | | | | (606,303) | | |
Employee benefits expense
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | (244,892) | | |
Depreciation and amortisation expense
|
| | | | | | | (69,698) | | | | | | (48,635) | | |
Other expenses
|
| | | | | | | (34,776) | | | | | | (44,423) | | |
Finance costs
|
| | | | | | | (120,270) | | | | | | (90,723) | | |
Total expenses
|
| | | | | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Loss before income tax expense
|
| | | | | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Income tax expense
|
| |
4
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Loss after income tax expense for the year attributable to the owners of SiliconAurora Pty Ltd
|
| |
14
|
| | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the owners of SiliconAurora Pty Ltd
|
| | | | | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
| | |
Note
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | | | | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade and other receivables
|
| |
6
|
| | | | 10,879 | | | | | | — | | |
Other
|
| |
8
|
| | | | 3,450 | | | | | | — | | |
Total current assets
|
| | | | | | | 14,329 | | | | | | — | | |
Non-current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment
|
| |
9
|
| | | | 51,590 | | | | | | 58,551 | | |
Right-of-use assets
|
| |
7
|
| | | | 2,051,747 | | | | | | 2,110,390 | | |
Total non-current assets
|
| | | | | | | 2,103,337 | | | | | | 2,168,941 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | | | | | 2,117,666 | | | | | | 2,168,941 | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade and other payables
|
| |
10
|
| | | | 231,136 | | | | | | 134,472 | | |
Borrowings
|
| |
11
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 127,100 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| |
12
|
| | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | | | | 341,136 | | | | | | 371,572 | | |
Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings
|
| |
11
|
| | | | 719,864 | | | | | | — | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| |
12
|
| | | | 1,999,236 | | | | | | 1,988,964 | | |
Total non-current liabilities
|
| | | | | | | 2,719,100 | | | | | | 1,988,964 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | | | | | 3,060,236 | | | | | | 2,360,536 | | |
Net liabilities
|
| | | | | | | (942,570) | | | | | | (191,595) | | |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Issued capital
|
| |
13
|
| | | | 2,212,244 | | | | | | 2,212,244 | | |
Accumulated losses
|
| |
14
|
| | | | (3,154,814) | | | | | | (2,403,839) | | |
Total equity
|
| | | | | | | (942,570) | | | | | | (191,595) | | |
| | |
Issued
capital |
| |
Accumulated
losses |
| |
Total equity
|
| |||||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |||||||||
Balance at July 1, 2021
|
| | | | 1,000 | | | | | | (1,368,863) | | | | | | (1,367,863) | | |
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total comprehensive income for the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Debt to Equity Swap (note 13)
|
| | | | 2,211,244 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2,211,244 | | |
Balance at June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 2,212,244 | | | | | | (2,403,839) | | | | | | (191,595) | | |
| | |
Issued
capital |
| |
Accumulated
losses |
| |
Total equity
|
| |||||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |||||||||
Balance at July 1, 2022
|
| | | | 2,212,244 | | | | | | (2,403,839) | | | | | | (191,595) | | |
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (750,975) | | |
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total comprehensive income for the year
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (750,975) | | |
Balance at June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 2,212,244 | | | | | | (3,154,814) | | | | | | (942,570) | | |
| | |
Note
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | | | | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax expense for the year
|
| | | | | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Adjustments for: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortisation
|
| | | | | | | 69,698 | | | | | | 48,635 | | |
Finance costs
|
| | | | | | | 10,272 | | | | | | 90,723 | | |
Property, plant and equipment purchased
|
| | | | | | | (4,092) | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | (675,097) | | | | | | (895,618) | | |
Change in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Increase in trade and other receivables
|
| | | | | | | (10,879) | | | | | | — | | |
Increase in prepayments
|
| | | | | | | (3,450) | | | | | | — | | |
Increase in trade and other payables
|
| | | | | | | 96,664 | | | | | | 32,897 | | |
| | | | | | | | (592,762) | | | | | | (862,721) | | |
Transactions funded via shareholder loans
|
| |
11,19
|
| | | | 592,762 | | | | | | 861,721 | | |
Net cash used in operating activities
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,000) | | |
Net cash from investing activities
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Net cash from financing activities
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,000) | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year
|
| | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,000 | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year
|
| |
5
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Numerical reconciliation of income tax expense and tax at the statutory rate
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax expense
|
| | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Tax at the statutory tax rate of 25%
|
| | | | (187,744) | | | | | | (258,744) | | |
Current year tax losses not recognised
|
| | | | 180,306 | | | | | | 244,240 | | |
Current year temporary differences not recognised
|
| | | | 7,438 | | | | | | 14,504 | | |
Income tax expense
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Tax losses not recognised | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised
|
| | | | 3,286,163 | | | | | | 2,564,937 | | |
Potential tax benefit @ 25%
|
| | | | 821,541 | | | | | | 641,234 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Deferred tax assets/(liabilities) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Deferred tax comprises temporary differences attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Right of use assets
|
| | | | (512,937) | | | | | | (527,598) | | |
Lease liability
|
| | | | 527,309 | | | | | | 524,741 | | |
Accrued expenses
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 6,118 | | |
Legal expenses
|
| | | | 8,432 | | | | | | 11,243 | | |
Prepayments
|
| | | | (862) | | | | | | — | | |
Total deferred tax
|
| | | | 21,942 | | | | | | 14,504 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Goods and Services Tax receivable
|
| | | | 10,879 | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Non-current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tripartite agreement – pastoral lease
|
| | | | 2,252,815 | | | | | | 2,252,815 | | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
| | | | (201,068) | | | | | | (142,425) | | |
| | | | | 2,051,747 | | | | | | 2,110,390 | | |
| | |
Pastoral Lease
|
| |||
| | |
$
|
| |||
Balance at July 1, 2021
|
| | | | 1,091,111 | | |
Depreciation expense prior to lease modification
|
| | | | (22,420) | | |
Lease modification increment (March 18, 2022)
|
| | | | 1,071,737 | | |
Depreciation expense post lease modification
|
| | | | (30,038) | | |
Balance at June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 2,110,390 | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | (58,643) | | |
Balance at June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 2,051,747 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Prepayments – insurance
|
| | | | 3,450 | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Non-current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Computer equipment – at cost
|
| | | | 288 | | | | | | — | | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
| | | | (29) | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | 259 | | | | | | — | | |
Meteorological and environmental monitoring equipment – at cost
|
| | | | 112,180 | | | | | | 108,374 | | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
| | | | (60,849) | | | | | | (49,823) | | |
| | | | | 51,331 | | | | | | 58,551 | | |
| | | | | 51,590 | | | | | | 58,551 | | |
| | |
Meteorological
Equipment |
| |
Computer
equipment |
| |
Total
|
| |||||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |||||||||
Balance at July 1, 2021
|
| | | | 69,389 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 69,389 | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | (10,838) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (10,838) | | |
Balance at June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 58,551 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 58,551 | | |
Additions
|
| | | | 3,806 | | | | | | 288 | | | | | | 4,094 | | |
Depreciation expense
|
| | | | (11,026) | | | | | | (29) | | | | | | (11,055) | | |
Balance at June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 51,331 | | | | | | 259 | | | | | | 51,590 | | |
| Computer equipment | | | 5 years | |
|
Meteorological and environmental monitoring equipment
|
| | 10 years | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade payables
|
| | | | 121,136 | | | | | | — | | |
Expense accruals
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 24,472 | | |
Other payables
|
| | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
| | | | | 231,136 | | | | | | 134,472 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loan from 1414 Degrees Limited
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 64,075 | | |
Loan from Vast Solar Pty Ltd
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 63,025 | | |
| | | | | — | | | | | | 127,100 | | |
Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loan from 1414 Degrees Limited
|
| | | | 360,457 | | | | | | — | | |
Loan from Vast Solar Pty Ltd
|
| | | | 359,407 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | 719,864 | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | 719,864 | | | | | | 127,100 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Opening balance of loan
|
| | | | 64,075 | | | | | | 1,366,622 | | |
Expenses paid on behalf of the company by 1414 Degrees Limited as parent entity
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 734,622 | | |
Lease liability paid on behalf of the company by 1414 Degrees Limited as
parent entity |
| | | | — | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
Loan converted to share equity (note 13)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (2,211,244) | | |
Charge for joint venture expenditure incurred by venturers
|
| | | | 296,382 | | | | | | 64,075 | | |
Closing balance
|
| | | | 360,457 | | | | | | 64,075 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Opening balance
|
| | | | 63,025 | | | | | | — | | |
Charge for joint venture expenditure incurred by venturers
|
| | | | 296,382 | | | | | | 63,025 | | |
Closing balance
|
| | | | 359,407 | | | | | | 63,025 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lease liability – SiliconAurora Pastoral Lease
|
| | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lease liability-SiliconAurora Pastoral Lease
|
| | | | 1,999,236 | | | | | | 1,988,964 | | |
| | | | | 2,109,236 | | | | | | 2,098,964 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Maturity analysis of lease liabilities payable: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Within one year
|
| | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
One to five years
|
| | | | 552,750 | | | | | | 550,000 | | |
More than five years
|
| | | | 5,073,781 | | | | | | 5,183,781 | | |
| | | | | 5,736,531 | | | | | | 5,843,781 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||||||||
| | |
Shares
|
| |
Shares
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||||||||
Ordinary shares – fully paid
|
| | | | 2,211,344 | | | | | | 2,211,344 | | | | | | 2,212,244 | | | | | | 2,212,244 | | |
Details
|
| |
Date
|
| |
Shares
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Balance
|
| | July 1, 2021 | | | | | 100 | | | | | | 1,000 | | |
Debt to Equity Swap *
|
| |
June 28, 2022
|
| | | | 2,211,244 | | | | | | 2,211,244 | | |
Balance
|
| |
June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 2,211,344 | | | | | | 2,212,244 | | |
Balance
|
| |
June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 2,211,344 | | | | | | 2,212,244 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Accumulated losses at the beginning of the financial year
|
| | | | (2,403,839) | | | | | | (1,368,863) | | |
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
| | | | (750,975) | | | | | | (1,034,976) | | |
Accumulated losses at the end of the financial year
|
| | | | (3,154,814) | | | | | | (2,403,839) | | |
2023
|
| |
Weighted
average interest rate |
| |
1 year
or less |
| |
Between
1 and 2 years |
| |
Between
2 and 5 years |
| |
Over
5 years |
| |
Remaining
contractual maturities |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
%
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Non-derivatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-interest bearing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade payables
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 231,136 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 231,136 | | |
Loans from shareholders
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 719,864 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 719,864 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 442,750 | | | | | | 5,073,781 | | | | | | 5,736,531 | | |
Total non-derivatives
|
| | | | | | | | | | 341,136 | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 1,162,614 | | | | | | 5,073,781 | | | | | | 6,687,531 | | |
2022
|
| |
Weighted
average interest rate |
| |
1 year
or less |
| |
Between
1 and 2 years |
| |
Between
2 and 5 years |
| |
Over
5 years |
| |
Remaining
contractual maturities |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
%
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Non-derivatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-interest bearing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade payables
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 134,472 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 134,472 | | |
Loans from shareholders
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 127,100 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 127,100 | | |
Lease liabilities
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 440,000 | | | | | | 5,183,781 | | | | | | 5,843,781 | | |
Total non-derivatives
|
| | | | | | | | | | 244,472 | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 567,100 | | | | | | 5,183,781 | | | | | | 6,105,353 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Other transactions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses paid on behalf of the company by 1414 Degrees Limited as parent
entity |
| | | | — | | | | | | 624,621 | | |
Lease payments made on behalf of the company by 1414 Degrees Limited as
parent entity |
| | | | — | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
Expenses paid on behalf of the company by 1414 Degrees Limited as controlling entity
|
| | | | 296,382 | | | | | | 64,075 | | |
Expenses paid on behalf of the company by Vast Solar Pty Ltd as controlling entity
|
| | | | 296,382 | | | | | | 63,025 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Non-current borrowings: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loan from controlling entity – 1414 Degrees Limited
|
| | | | 360,457 | | | | | | 64,075 | | |
Loan from controlling entity – Vast Solar Pty Ltd
|
| | | | 359,407 | | | | | | 63,025 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
$
|
| ||||||
Lease payments, including interest made by related parties (note 12)
|
| | | | 110,000 | | | | | | 110,000 | | |
Shares issued on conversion of loan (note 13)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 2,211,344 | | |
Payments of operating expenses made by related parties (note 19)
|
| | | | 592,764 | | | | | | 751,722 | | |
Lease modification
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 1,071,737 | | |
| | |
December 31,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2022
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash
|
| | | $ | 468,461 | | | | | $ | 2,505,395 | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | 375,000 | | | | | | — | | |
Total current assets
|
| | | | 843,461 | | | | | | 2,505,395 | | |
Investments held in Trust
|
| | | | 284,840,707 | | | | | | 281,523,211 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | $ | 285,684,168 | | | | | $ | 284,028,606 | | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
| | | $ | 235,995 | | | | | $ | 232,555 | | |
Income taxes payable
|
| | | | 87,473 | | | | | | — | | |
Due to related party
|
| | | | 10,464 | | | | | | 597,500 | | |
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | 333,932 | | | | | | 830,055 | | |
Deferred legal fees
|
| | | | 1,469,726 | | | | | | 615,634 | | |
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
| | | | 9,660,000 | | | | | | 9,660,000 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | | 11,463,658 | | | | | | 11,105,689 | | |
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 27,600,000 shares subject to redemption at $10.31 and $10.20 per share, respectively
|
| | | | 284,477,945 | | | | | | 281,520,000 | | |
Stockholders’ Deficit: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding (excluding 27,600,000 shares subject to possible redemption)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
none issued and outstanding |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Class F common stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
6,900,000 shares issued and outstanding |
| | | | 690 | | | | | | 690 | | |
Accumulated deficit
|
| | | | (10,258,125) | | | | | | (8,597,773) | | |
Total stockholders’ deficit
|
| | | | (10,257,435) | | | | | | (8,597,083) | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
|
| | | $ | 285,684,168 | | | | | $ | 284,028,606 | | |
| | |
For the year
ended December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the
period from March 24, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||
General and administrative expenses
|
| | | $ | 1,963,012 | | | | | $ | 251,365 | | |
Loss from operations
|
| | | | (1,963,012) | | | | | | (251,365) | | |
Other income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income earned on investments held in trust
|
| | | | 4,073,078 | | | | | | 3,211 | | |
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
|
| | | | 2,110,066 | | | | | | (248,154) | | |
Provision for income taxes
|
| | | | (812,473) | | | | | | — | | |
Net income (loss)
|
| | | $ | 1,297,593 | | | | | $ | (248,154) | | |
Basic and diluted weighted average redeemable common shares
outstanding |
| | | | 27,600,000 | | | | | | 4,502,128 | | |
Basic and diluted net income per redeemable common share
|
| | | $ | 0.04 | | | | | $ | 2.95 | | |
Basic and diluted weighted average non-redeemable common shares outstanding
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per non-redeemable common share
|
| | | $ | 0.04 | | | | | $ | (1.96) | | |
| | |
Common Stock
|
| |
Additional
Paid-In Capital |
| |
Accumulated
Deficit |
| |
Total
Stockholder’s Equity (Deficit) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Class A
|
| |
Class F
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance – March 24, 2021 (Inception)
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
Issuance of Class F common stock to
Sponsor |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,625,000 | | | | | | 863 | | | | | | 24,137 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,000 | | |
Forfeited shares
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,900,000) | | | | | | (190) | | | | | | 190 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Issuance of shares to directors
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 175,000 | | | | | | 17 | | | | | | 683 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 700 | | |
Public offering of units
|
| | | | 27,600,000 | | | | | | 2,760 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 275,997,240 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 276,000,000 | | |
Sale of private placement warrants
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 13,730,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 13,730,000 | | |
Offering costs
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (16,584,629) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (16,584,629) | | |
Shares subject to possible redemption
|
| | | | (27,600,000) | | | | | | (2,760) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (273,167,621) | | | | | | (2,829,619) | | | | | | (276,000,000) | | |
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (5,520,000) | | | | | | (5,520,000) | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (248,154) | | | | | | (248,154) | | |
Balance – December 31, 2021
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | (8,597,773) | | | | | $ | (8,597,083) | | |
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (2,957,945) | | | | | | (2,957,945) | | |
Net income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,297,593 | | | | | | 1,297,593 | | |
Balance – December 31, 2022
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | (10,258,125) | | | | | $ | (10,257,435) | | |
| | |
For the
year ended December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the
period from March 24, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss)
|
| | | $ | 1,297,593 | | | | | $ | (248,154) | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used by) provided by
operating activities: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest from investments held in Trust Account
|
| | | | (4,073,078) | | | | | | — | | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
| | | | 3,440 | | | | | | 164,812 | | |
Income taxes payable
|
| | | | 87,473 | | | | | | — | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | (375,000) | | | | | | — | | |
Due to related party
|
| | | | (587,036) | | | | | | 22,500 | | |
Deferred legal fees
|
| | | | 854,092 | | | | | | 64,053 | | |
Net cash (used by) provided by operating activities
|
| | | | (2,792,516) | | | | | | 3,211 | | |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from Trust Account withdrawn to pay taxes
|
| | | | 755,582 | | | | | | — | | |
Investment of cash in Trust Account
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (281,523,211) | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
| | | | 755,582 | | | | | | (281,523,211) | | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from initial public offering of units
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 276,000,000 | | |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 25,700 | | |
Proceeds from sale of private placement warrants
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 13,730,000 | | |
Proceeds from related party loan
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 141,656 | | |
Repayment of related party loan
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (141,656) | | |
Offering costs paid
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (5,730,305) | | |
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 284,025,395 | | |
Net (decrease) increase in cash
|
| | | | (2,036,934) | | | | | | 2,505,395 | | |
Cash – beginning of the period
|
| | | | 2,505,395 | | | | | | — | | |
Cash – end of the period
|
| | | $ | 468,461 | | | | | $ | 2,505,395 | | |
Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Deferred legal expense
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 551,581 | | |
Due to related party
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 575,000 | | |
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 9,660,000 | | |
Offering costs included in accounts payable
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 67,743 | | |
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount
|
| | | $ | 2,957,945 | | | | | $ | 5,520,000 | | |
| | |
For the year ended
December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the Period
from March 24, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||
Net income (loss) subject to possible redemption
|
| | | $ | 1,297,593 | | | | | $ | (248,154) | | |
Accretion of temporary equity to redemption value
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (22,104,629) | | |
Net income (loss) including accretion of temporary equity to redemption value
|
| | | $ | 1,297,593 | | | | | $ | (22,352,783) | | |
| | |
For the year ended
December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the Period from March 24,
2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allocation of net loss including accretion of temporary equity
|
| | | $ | 1,038,074 | | | | | $ | 259,519 | | | | | $ | (8,825,992) | | | | | $ | (13,526,791) | | |
Accretion of temporary equity to redemption value
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 22,104,629 | | | | | | — | | |
Allocation of net income (loss)
|
| | | $ | 1,038,074 | | | | | $ | 259,519 | | | | | $ | 13,278,637 | | | | | $ | (13,526,791) | | |
| | |
For the year ended
December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the Period from March 24,
2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| ||||||||||||
Denominator: Weighted average non-redeemable common stock
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
| | | | 27,600,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 4,502,128 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
|
| | | $ | 0.04 | | | | | $ | 0.04 | | | | | $ | 2.95 | | | | | $ | (1.96) | | |
|
| | |
For the Year
ended December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the Period
from March 24, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||
Federal | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current
|
| | | $ | 812,473 | | | | | $ | — | | |
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
| | | $ | 812,473 | | | | | $ | — | | |
| | |
For the Year ended
December 31, 2022 |
| |
For the Period from March 24,
2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Amount
|
| |
Percent of
Pretax Income |
| |
Amount
|
| |
Percent of
Pretax Income |
| ||||||||||||
Income tax at U.S. statutory rate
|
| | | $ | 443,114 | | | | | | 21% | | | | | $ | (52,112) | | | | | | 21% | | |
Valuation allowance activity
|
| | | | 369,359 | | | | | | 18% | | | | | | 52,112 | | | | | | (21)% | | |
Total income tax provision/(benefit)
|
| | | $ | 812,473 | | | | | | 39% | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | —% | | |
| | |
December 31,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2022
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Net operating losses
|
| | | $ | 4,875 | | | | | $ | 5,748 | | |
Capitalized costs
|
| | | | 416,597 | | | | | | 46,364 | | |
Deferred taxes before valuation
|
| | | | 421,472 | | | | | | 52,112 | | |
Valuation allowance
|
| | | | (421,472) | | | | | | (52,112) | | |
Net deferred tax assets, net of allowance
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
| | |
September 30, 2023
|
| |
December 31, 2022
|
| ||||||
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash
|
| | | $ | 82,514 | | | | | $ | 468,461 | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | 106,117 | | | | | | 375,000 | | |
Total current assets
|
| | | | 188,631 | | | | | | 843,461 | | |
Investments held in Trust
|
| | | | 106,861,019 | | | | | | 284,840,707 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | $ | 107,049,650 | | | | | $ | 285,684,168 | | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
| | | $ | 615,207 | | | | | $ | 235,995 | | |
Income taxes payable
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 87,473 | | |
Convertible promissory note – related party
|
| | | | 4,237,596 | | | | | | — | | |
Due to related party
|
| | | | 267,098 | | | | | | 10,464 | | |
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | 5,119,901 | | | | | | 333,932 | | |
Deferred legal fees
|
| | | | 5,889,484 | | | | | | 1,469,726 | | |
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 9,660,000 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | | 11,009,385 | | | | | | 11,463,658 | | |
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 9,850,641 and 27,600,000 shares subject to redemption at $10.83 and $10.31 per share, respectively
|
| | | | 106,680,153 | | | | | | 284,477,945 | | |
Stockholders’ Deficit: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none
issued and outstanding |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares
authorized; none issued and outstanding (excluding 9,850,641 and 27,600,000 shares subject to possible redemption, respectively) |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Class F common stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 6,900,000 shares issued and outstanding
|
| | | | 690 | | | | | | 690 | | |
Accumulated deficit
|
| | | | (10,640,578) | | | | | | (10,258,125) | | |
Total stockholders’ deficit
|
| | | | (10,639,888) | | | | | | (10,257,435) | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
|
| | | $ | 107,049,650 | | | | | $ | 285,684,168 | | |
| | |
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
| |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses
|
| | | $ | 664,128 | | | | | $ | 214,423 | | | | | $ | 6,042,942 | | | | | $ | 842,467 | | |
Loss from operations
|
| | | | (664,128) | | | | | | (214,423) | | | | | | (6,042,942) | | | | | | (842,467) | | |
Other income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income earned on investments held in trust
|
| | | | 1,368,284 | | | | | | 1,229,047 | | | | | | 6,460,425 | | | | | | 1,644,333 | | |
Income before provision for income taxes
|
| | | | 704,156 | | | | | | 1,014,624 | | | | | | 417,483 | | | | | | 801,866 | | |
Provision for income taxes
|
| | | | (276,753) | | | | | | (224,021) | | | | | | (1,325,160) | | | | | | (224,021) | | |
Net income (loss)
|
| | | $ | 427,403 | | | | | $ | 790,603 | | | | | $ | (907,677) | | | | | $ | 577,845 | | |
Basic and diluted weighted average redeemable common shares outstanding
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 27,600,000 | | | | | | 18,237,701 | | | | | | 27,600,000 | | |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per redeemable common share
|
| | | $ | 0.03 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | | | | $ | (0.04) | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | |
Basic and diluted weighted average non-redeemable common shares outstanding
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per non-redeemable common share
|
| | | $ | 0.03 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | | | | $ | (0.04) | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | |
| | |
Class F
|
| |
Accumulated
Deficit |
| |
Total
Stockholder’s Deficit |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | (8,597,773) | | | | | $ | (8,597,083) | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (231,463) | | | | | | (231,463) | | |
Balance – March 31, 2022
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 690 | | | | | | (8,829,236) | | | | | | (8,828,546) | | |
Net income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 18,705 | | | | | | 18,705 | | |
Balance – June 30, 2022
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | (8,810,531) | | | | | $ | (8,809,841) | | |
Net income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 790,603 | | | | | | 790,603 | | |
Balance – September 30, 2022
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | (8,019,928) | | | | | $ | (8,019,238) | | |
| | |
Class F
|
| |
Accumulated
Deficit |
| |
Total
Stockholder’s Deficit |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2022
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | (10,258,125) | | | | | $ | (10,257,435) | | |
Offering costs adjustment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 9,660,000 | | | | | | 9,660,000 | | |
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (4,976,904) | | | | | | (4,976,904) | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,299,403) | | | | | | (1,299,403) | | |
Balance – March 31, 2023
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 690 | | | | | | (6,874,432) | | | | | | (6,873,742) | | |
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (2,499,854) | | | | | | (2,499,854) | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (35,677) | | | | | | (35,677) | | |
Balance – June 30, 2023
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | (9,409,963) | | | | | $ | (9,409,273) | | |
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (1,658,018) | | | | | | (1,658,018) | | |
Net income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 427,403 | | | | | | 427,403 | | |
Balance – September 30, 2023
|
| | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | $ | 690 | | | | | $ | (10,640,578) | | | | | $ | (10,639,888) | | |
| | |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
| |||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss
|
| | | $ | (907,677) | | | | | $ | 577,845 | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest from investments held in Trust Account
|
| | | | (6,460,425) | | | | | | (1,644,333) | | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
| | | | 379,212 | | | | | | (90,830) | | |
Income taxes payable
|
| | | | (87,473) | | | | | | 224,021 | | |
Prepaid expenses
|
| | | | 268,883 | | | | | | (468,750) | | |
Due to related party
|
| | | | 256,634 | | | | | | (507,287) | | |
Deferred legal fees
|
| | | | 4,419,758 | | | | | | — | | |
Net cash used in operating activities
|
| | | | (2,131,088) | | | | | | (1,909,334) | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trust Account withdrawal for Class A common stock redemptions
|
| | | | 186,932,568 | | | | | | — | | |
Principal deposited in Trust Account for extensions
|
| | | | (4,237,596) | | | | | | — | | |
Proceeds from Trust Account withdrawn to pay taxes
|
| | | | 1,745,141 | | | | | | 30,582 | | |
Net cash used by investing activities
|
| | | | 184,440,113 | | | | | | 30,582 | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Redemptions of Class A common stock
|
| | | | (186,932,568) | | | | | | — | | |
Proceeds from promissory note – related party
|
| | | | 4,237,596 | | | | | | — | | |
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
| | | | (182,694,972) | | | | | | — | | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash
|
| | | | (385,947) | | | | | | (1,878,752) | | |
Cash – beginning of the period
|
| | | | 468,461 | | | | | | 2,505,395 | | |
Cash – end of the period
|
| | | $ | 82,514 | | | | | $ | 626,643 | | |
Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Waived deferred underwriting commissions
|
| | | $ | 9,660,000 | | | | | $ | — | | |
| | |
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allocation of net income
|
| | | $ | 251,345 | | | | | $ | 176,058 | | | | | $ | 632,482 | | | | | $ | 158,121 | | |
Denominator: Weighted average non-redeemable
common stock |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
| | | | 9,850,641 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 27,600,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | |
Basic and diluted net income per share
|
| | | $ | 0.03 | | | | | $ | 0.03 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | |
| | |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Redeemable
Common Stock |
| |
Non-Redeemable
Common Stock |
| ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allocation of net income (loss)
|
| | | $ | (658,531) | | | | | $ | (249,147) | | | | | $ | 462,276 | | | | | $ | 115,569 | | |
Denominator: Weighted average non-redeemable
common stock |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
| | | | 18,237,701 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | | | | | 27,600,000 | | | | | | 6,900,000 | | |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
|
| | | $ | (0.04) | | | | | $ | (0.04) | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | | | | $ | 0.02 | | |
| | |
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| EXHIBIT A | | | Form of Shareholder and Registration Rights Agreement | |
| EXHIBIT B | | | Form of Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation | |
| EXHIBIT C | | | Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Surviving Corporation | |
|
EXHIBIT D
|
| | Form of Constitution of Company | |
Defined Term
|
| |
Location of Definition
|
|
2023 Equity Incentive Plan | | | Section 7.5(a) | |
Action | | | Section 4.10 | |
Affected Shareholder | | | Section 3.3(h) | |
AgCentral | | | Recitals | |
Agreement | | | Preamble | |
Antitrust Laws | | | Section 7.13(a) | |
Balance Sheet | | | Section 4.8(a) | |
Blue Sky Laws | | | Section 4.5(b) | |
Certificate of Merger | | | Section 2.2(a) | |
Change in Recommendation | | | Section 7.2 | |
Change in Recommendation Notice | | | Section 7.2 | |
Class A Common Stock | | | Recitals | |
Closing | | | Section 2.2(a) | |
Closing Date | | | Section 2.2(a) | |
Company | | | Preamble | |
Company Acquisition Proposal | | | Section 7.4(a) | |
Company Board | | | Recitals | |
Company Constitution | | | Section 2.4(c) | |
Company Disclosure Schedule | | | Article IV | |
Company Permits | | | Section 4.6 | |
Company Shareholders | | | Recitals | |
Company Split Adjustment | | | Recitals | |
Company Warrant | | | Section 3.1(c)(iv) | |
Confidentiality Agreement | | | Section 7.3(b) | |
Contracting Parties | | | Section 10.11 | |
Contribution | | | Section 4.14(e) | |
Contributor | | | Section 4.14(e) | |
Convertible Financing | | | Recitals | |
Development Agreement | | | Recitals | |
DGCL | | | Recitals | |
D&O Insurance | | | Section 7.6(c) | |
Earnout Shares | | | Section 3.3(a) | |
Effective Time | | | Section 2.2(a) | |
Environmental Permits | | | Section 4.16 | |
Defined Term
|
| |
Location of Definition
|
|
Equity Subscription Agreements | | | Recitals | |
ERISA | | | Section 4.11(a) | |
ERISA Affiliate | | | Section 4.11(d) | |
Exchange Act | | | Section 4.23 | |
Exchange Agent | | | Section 3.2(a) | |
Exchange Fund | | | Section 3.2(a) | |
Exchange Ratio | | | Section 3.1(b) | |
Existing Convertible Note Conversion | | | Recitals | |
Extension Proposal | | | Section 7.16 | |
Financial Statements | | | Section 4.8(a) | |
Financing Agreements | | | Section 7.8(d) | |
Foreign Plan | | | Section 4.11(k) | |
Fully Diluted Common Stock | | | Section 7.5(a) | |
Governmental Authority | | | Section 4.5(b) | |
IRS | | | Section 3.2(g) | |
Lease | | | Section 4.13(b) | |
Material Contracts | | | Section 4.17(a) | |
MEP Share Conversion | | | Section 3.1(a) | |
Merger | | | Recitals | |
Merger Sub | | | Preamble | |
Merger Sub Board | | | Recitals | |
Nabors | | | Recitals | |
Nabors Lux 2 | | | Recitals | |
Nonparty Affiliates | | | Section 10.11 | |
Noteholder Support and Loan Termination Agreement | | | Recitals | |
Notes Subscription Agreement | | | Recitals | |
Outside Date | | | Section 9.1(b) | |
Outstanding Company Transaction Expenses | | | Section 3.6(a) | |
Outstanding SPAC Transaction Expenses | | | Section 3.6(b) | |
PCAOB Audited Financial Statements | | | Section 7.14 | |
PCAOB Financial Statements | | | Section 7.14 | |
PCAOB Reviewed Financial Statements | | | Section 7.14 | |
Per Share Merger Consideration | | | Section 3.1(c)(ii) | |
PIPE Financing | | | Recitals | |
Plans | | | Section 4.11(a) | |
Pre-Closing Transactions | | | Section 3.1(a) | |
Proxy Statement | | | Section 7.1(a) | |
Redemption Shares | | | Section 3.1(b) | |
Registration Statement | | | Section 7.1(a) | |
Released Claims | | | Section 6.3 | |
Remedies Exceptions | | | Section 4.4 | |
Representatives | | | Section 7.3(a) | |
Retained Claims | | | Section 6.3 | |
Defined Term
|
| |
Location of Definition
|
|
SEC | | | Section 5.7(a) | |
Securities Act | | | Section 5.7(a) | |
Services Agreement | | | Recitals | |
SGA Act | | | Section 4.12(l) | |
Shareholder and Registration Rights Agreement | | | Recitals | |
SPAC | | | Preamble | |
SPAC Acquisition Proposal | | | Section 7.4(b) | |
SPAC Board | | | Recitals | |
SPAC Disclosure Schedule | | | Article V | |
SPAC Merger Proposal | | | Section 7.1 | |
SPAC Preferred Stock | | | Section 5.3(a) | |
SPAC Proposals | | | Section 7.1(a) | |
SPAC SEC Reports | | | Section 5.7(a) | |
SPAC Stockholder Approval | | | Section 5.10(b) | |
SPAC Stockholders’ Meeting | | | Section 7.1(a) | |
SPAC Tail Policy | | | Section 7.6(d) | |
Sponsor | | | Preamble | |
Stock Buyback Tax | | | Section 7.10(b) | |
Support Agreement | | | Recitals | |
Surviving Corporation | | | Section 2.1 | |
Tax Claim | | | Section 4.15(a) | |
Terminating Company Breach | | | Section 9.1(f) | |
Terminating SPAC Breach | | | Section 9.1(g) | |
Transfer Taxes | | | Section 7.10(b) | |
Trust Account | | | Section 5.13 | |
Trust Agreement | | | Section 5.13 | |
Trust Fund | | | Section 5.13 | |
Trustee | | | Section 5.13 | |
Unissued Earnout Shares | | | Section 3.3(h) | |
WARN Act | | | Section 4.12(j) | |
|
/s/ John Igino Kahlbetzer
Signature of director
|
| |
/s/ Colin Raymond Sussman
Signature of director/secretary
|
|
|
John Igino Kahlbetzer
Name of director
|
| |
Colin Raymond Sussman
Name of director/secretary
|
|
| “Backstop Agreement | | | Recitals” | |
| | |
Page
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| | | | B-4 | | | |
| | | | B-6 | | | |
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| | | | B-10 | | | |
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| | | | B-12 | | | |
| | | | B-13 | | | |
| | | | B-15 | | | |
| | | | B-20 | | | |
| | | | B-27 | | | |
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| | | | B-30 | | | |
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| | | | B-42 | | | |
| | | | B-42 | | |
|
/s/ John Igino Kahlbetzer
Signature of director
|
| |
/s/ Colin Raymond Sussman
Signature of director/secretary
|
|
|
John Igino Kahlbetzer
Name of director
|
| |
Colin Raymond Sussman
Name of director/secretary
|
|
| |
Holder
|
| | |
Number of Shares
|
| | |
Address
|
| |
| | Nabors Energy Transition Sponsor LLC | | | | 6,725,000 shares of Class F Common Stock | | | |
515 West Greens Road
Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 |
| |
| | Maria Jelescu Dreyfus | | | | 75,000 shares of Class F Common Stock | | | |
515 West Greens Road
Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 |
| |
| | Colleen Calhoun | | | | 50,000 shares of Class F Common Stock | | | |
515 West Greens Road
Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 |
| |
| | Jennifer Gill Roberts | | | | 50,000 shares of Class F Common Stock | | | |
515 West Greens Road
Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 |
| |
| |
Holder
|
| | |
Number of Warrants
|
| | |
Address
|
| |
| | Maria Jelescu Dreyfus | | | | 150,000 Private Placement Warrants | | | |
515 West Greens Road
Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 |
| |
| | Colleen Calhoun | | | | 50,000 Private Placement Warrants | | | |
515 West Greens Road
Suite 1200 Houston, Texas 77067 |
| |
Contents
|
| |
Page
|
| |||
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-4 | | | |
| | | | F-4 | | | |
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| | | | F-7 | | | |
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| | | | F-8 | | | |
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| | | | F-9 | | | |
| | | | F-9 | | | |
| | | | F-11 | | | |
| | | | F-12 | | |
| Signed, by Vast Solar Pty Ltd in accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and by: | | | | |
|
Signature of director
|
| |
Signature of director/secretary
|
|
|
Name of director (print)
|
| |
Name of director/secretary (print)
|
|
| Executed by | |
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| | | | | G-6 | | | |
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| | | | | G-35 | | | |
| | | | | G-35 | | | |
| | | | | G-36 | | | |
| | | | | G-36 | | | |
| | | | | G-36 | | | |
| | | | | I-1 | | | |
| | | | | II-1 | | | |
| | | | | III-1 | | | |
| | | | | IV-1 | | | |
| | | | | V-1 | | |
| |
(1)
Row |
| | |
(2)
Investor |
| | |
(3)
Notice details |
| | |
(4)
Number (and percentage) of Shares |
| | |
(5)
Number (and type) of other Securities |
| | |
(6)
Number (and percentage) of Shares (fully diluted) |
| |
| | 1. | | | | AgCentral Energy Pty Ltd | | | | 226-228 Liverpool Street Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Email: alec.waugh@vastsolar.com Attention: Alec Waugh | | | | 25,129,140 (100%) | | | | 179,085,306 (Convertible Notes) with an aggregate balance owing of AUD$23,418,794.27 | | | | 26,718,633 (99.09%) | | |
| | 2. | | | | Nabors Lux 2 S.a.r.l. | | | | 8-10 Avenue de la Gare, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, R.C.S. Luxembourg B 154.034 Email: general.counsel@nabors.com Attention: General Counsel | | | | 0 (0%) | | | | 2,500,000 (Convertible Notes) with an aggregate balance owing of US$2,500,000 | | | | 245,098 (0.91%) | | |
|
1
Relevant matter and clause
|
| | | |
|
2
Business – clause 1.1(6)
|
| |
The development, manufacturing and commercialisation of:
a.
concentrating solar thermal power generation technology;
b.
green fuel technology and projects;
c.
concentrated solar thermal power generation plants and projects and associated technology; and
d.
specialised components necessary for concentrated solar thermal power plants.
|
|
|
3
Restricted Area – clause 1.1(64)
|
| |
1.
Chile, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Mexico,Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Australia
2.
Australia
3.
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania
4.
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria
5.
New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia
|
|
|
4
Restricted Period – clause 1.1(65)
|
| | The date that is 24 months after the date the Investor ceases to hold any Securities | |
|
5
Governing law – clause 28.10( 1)
|
| | New South Wales, Australia | |
|
6
Courts – clause 28.10(2)
|
| | New South Wales, Australia | |
|
1
Relevant matter and clause
|
| | | |
|
2
Minimum number of Directors – clause 3.1
|
| | 5 (including any Management Directors) | |
|
3
Maximum number of Directors – clause 3.2
|
| | 7 (including any Management Directors) | |
|
4
Quorum – clause 4.2(1)
|
| | A simple majority of Directors, provided that at least one Director appointed by AgCentral is in attendance | |
|
5
Quorum on adjournment- clause 4.3(2)
|
| | Any two directors | |
|
6
Frequency – clause 4.7
|
| | Quarterly, or as otherwise agreed by unanimous resolution of the Board | |
|
7
Notice – clause 4.8(2)
|
| | 5 Business Days | |
|
1
Relevant matter and clause
|
| | | |
|
2
Quorum – clause 5.2
|
| | Two Investors present and entitled to vote, one being AgCentral and the other being Nabors | |
|
3
Quorum on adjournment- clause 5.3(2)
|
| | AgCentral and Nabors being present | |
|
4
Notice – clause 5.7
|
| | 10 Business Days (or 3 Business Days where the meeting is in connection with an Exit) | |
|
/s/ John Kahlbetzer
Signature of John Kahlbetzer (director)
|
| |
/s/ Colin Sussman
Signature of Colin Sussman (director)
|
|
|
Executed by AgCentral Energy Pty. Ltd
In accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth): |
| | | |
|
/s/ John Kahlbetzer
Signature of John Kahlbetzer (director)
|
| |
/s/ Colin Sussman
Signature of Colin Sussman (director)
|
|
|
Signed, sealed and delivered by Nabors
Lux 2 S.a.r.l. in the presence of: |
| | | |
|
/s/ Katalin Rozsyai
Signature of witness
|
| |
/s/ Henricus Reindert Petrus Pollman
Signature of authorised signatory
|
|
|
Katain Rozsayi
Name of witness
|
| |
Henricus Reindert Petrus Pollman
Name of authorised signatory
|
|
|
sign here
|
| |
▲
|
| |
Company Secretary/Director
|
| |
sign here
|
| |
▲
|
| |
Director
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
|
print name
|
| |
|
| |
print name
|
| |
|
|
| SUBSCRIBER: | | | | | | | | |||
| Signature of Subscriber | | | Signature of Joint Subscriber, if applicable: | | ||||||
| By: | | |
|
| | By: | | |
|
|
| Name: | | |
|
| | Name: | | |
|
|
| Title: | | |
|
| | Title: | | |
|
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| Date: [ ], 2023 | | |||||||||
| ☐ Subscriber consents to the disclosure of its name in accordance with Section 10(q) | | | ☐ Joint Subscriber consents to the disclosure of its name in accordance with Section 10(q) | | ||||||
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(Please print. Please indicate name and capacity of person signing above)
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Name in which securities are to be registered (if different):
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Email Address:
If there are joint investors, please check one:
☐ Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship ☐ Tenants-in-Common ☐ Community Property |
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(1)
Row |
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(2)
Investor |
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(3)
Notice details |
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(4)
Number (and percentage) of Shares |
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(5)
Number (and type) of other Securities |
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(6)
Number (and percentage) of Shares (fully diluted) |
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| | 1. | | | | AgCentral Energy Pty Ltd | | | |
[***]
Email: [***] Attention: Alec Waugh |
| | | 25,129,140 (100%) | | | | 179,085,306 (Convertible Notes) with an aggregate balance owing of AUD$ 23,418,794.27 | | | | 26,718,633 (99.09%) | | |
| | 2. | | | | Nabors Lux 2 S.a.r.l. | | | |
[***]
Email: [***] Attention: General Counsel |
| | | 0 (0%) | | | | 2,500,000 (Convertible Notes) with an aggregate balance owing of US$ 2,500,000 | | | | 245,098 (0.91%) | | |
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1
Relevant matter and clause
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2
Business – clause 1.1(6)
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The development, manufacturing and commercialisation of:
a.
concentrating solar thermal power generation technology;
b.
green fuel technology and projects;
c.
concentrated solar thermal power generation plants and projects and associated technology; and
d.
specialised components necessary for concentrated solar thermal power plants.
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3
Restricted Area – clause 1.1(64)
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1.
Chile, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Australia
2.
Australia
3.
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania
4.
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria
5.
New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia
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4
Restricted Period – clause 1.1(65)
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| | The date that is 24 months after the date the Investor ceases to hold any Securities | |
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5
Governing law – clause 28.10(1)
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| | New South Wales, Australia | |
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6
Courts – clause 28.10(2)
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| | New South Wales, Australia | |
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1
Relevant matter and clause
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2
Minimum number of Directors – clause 3.1
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| | 5 (including any Management Directors) | |
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3
Maximum number of Directors – clause 3.2
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| | 7 (including any Management Directors) | |
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4
Quorum – clause 4.2(1)
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| | A simple majority of Directors, provided that at least one Director appointed by AgCentral is in attendance | |
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5
Quorum on adjournment – clause 4.3(2)
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| | Any two directors | |
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6
Frequency – clause 4.7
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| | Quarterly, or as otherwise agreed by unanimous resolution of the Board | |
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7
Notice – clause 4.8(2)
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| | 5 Business Days | |
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1
Relevant matter and clause
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2
Quorum – clause 5.2
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| | Two Investors present and entitled to vote, one being AgCentral and the other being Nabors | |
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3
Quorum on adjournment – clause 5.3(2)
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| | AgCentral and Nabors being present | |
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4
Notice – clause 5.7
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| | 10 Business Days (or 3 Business Days where the meeting is in connection with an Exit) | |
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/s/ John Kahlbetzer
Signature of John Kahlbetzer (director)
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/s/ Colin Sussman
Signature of Colin Sussman (director)
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Executed by AgCentral Energy Pty. Ltd
in accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth): |
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/s/ John Kahlbetzer
Signature of John Kahlbetzer (director)
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/s/ Colin Sussman
Signature of Colin Sussman (director)
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Signed, sealed and delivered by Nabors
Lux 2 S.a.r.l. in the presence of: |
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/s/ Katalin Rozsnyai
Signature of witness
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/s/ Henricus Reindert Petrus Pollman
Signature of authorised signatory
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Katain Rozsnyai
Name of witness
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Henricus Reindert Petrus Pollman
Name of authorised signatory
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Holder Name
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Number of MEP Shares
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Craig Wood
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25 MEP Shares
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Kurt Drewes
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15 MEP Shares
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Bruce Leslie
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10 MEP Shares
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Lachlan Roberts
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10 MEP Shares
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Simon Woods
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5 MEP Shares
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Valentino Pagura
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5 MEP Shares
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Christina Hall
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5 MEP Shares
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Gilein Steensma
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5 MEP Shares
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Exhibit
Number |
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Description
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10.25***
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10.26***†
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10.27***
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10.28***
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10.29***
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10.30***
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10.31***
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10.32***
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10.33*#
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10.34***
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10.35***
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10.36***
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10.37***†
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10.38***
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10.39***
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10.40***
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10.41***
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10.42***†
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10.43***
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10.44***†
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10.45*#
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10.46***
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10.47*
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Exhibit
Number |
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Description
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10.48***†
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10.49
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| | Backstop Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2023, by and between Vast and Nabors Lux 2 S.a.r.l. (attached as Annex J to the proxy statement/ prospectus that forms a part of this registration statement). | |
|
10.50***
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10.51***
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10.52***†
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10.53***
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10.54***
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10.55
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| | Investor Deed, dated as of February 14, 2023, by and among Vast, AgCentral Energy Pty Ltd and Nabors Lux 2 S.a.r.l. (attached as Annex I to the proxy statement/prospectus that forms a part of this registration statement). | |
|
16.1***
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21.1*
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23.1*
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23.2*
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23.3*
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23.4***
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23.5***
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24.1***
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24.2***
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99.1
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99.2***
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99.3***
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99.4***
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99.5***
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107***
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Name
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Title
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Date
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By:
/s/ Craig Wood
Name: Craig Wood
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer) |
| |
November 13, 2023
|
|
|
By:
/s/ Marshall D. Smith
Name: Marshall D. Smith
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
| |
November 13, 2023
|
|
|
By:
/s/ Colin Sussman
Name: Colin Sussman
|
| | Non-Executive Director | | |
November 13, 2023
|
|
Exhibit 10.17
Certain information has been redacted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish an unredacted copy of the exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analyses to the Commission upon request.
VAST 2 Heliostat
Collaboration (CSP
Technology Collaboration Agreement)
VSQ-PM-SOW-VS-007
Version | Description | Date | Author | Reviewed | Approved |
A | Document created | B Leslie | K Drewes | C Wood |
VSQ-PM-SOW-VS-007 SBP Scope for Heliostat | Version A | Page 1 of 31 |
This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
Contents
1 | PARTIES | 3 |
2 | RECITALS AND BACKGROUND | 3 |
3 | AGREEMENT | 5 |
4 | INTERPRETATION | 7 |
5 | EXECUTION OF SERVICES | 8 |
6 | RESPONSIBILITIES | 12 |
7 | WARRANTIES, GUARANTEES, INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE | 13 |
8 | REMUNERATION AND PAYMENT | 14 |
9 | CONFIDENTIALITY | 15 |
10 | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROVISIONS | 17 |
11 | TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT | 17 |
12 | MISCELLANEOUS | 18 |
Appendix A (Scope of Services and Technical details) | 22 |
Appendix B (Project time schedule and budget) | 24 |
Appendix C (Remuneration) | 29 |
Appendix D (Non-Disclosure Agreement) | 31 |
VSQ-PM-SOW-VS-007 SBP Scope for Heliostat | Version A | Page 2 of 31 |
This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
1 | PARTIES |
This Agreement is entered into by and between:
1.1 | Vast Solar Pty Ltd ABN 37 136 258 574, of [***] (hereinafter as “VS”) |
and
1.2 | schlaich bergermann partner, sbp sonne gmbh, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of Germany, registration number HRB 731490 and, having its principal place of business at [***] (hereinafter as “sbps”). |
2 | RECITALS AND BACKGROUND |
A. | The following describes a collaboration between sbps and VS on the development of a new small facet heliostat of approximately 6.4 sqm (Vast 2) (hereinafter as ‘the Collaboration’). The new heliostat is to be based on the current 3.6 sqm VS heliostat (Vast 1), incorporating any Improvements. |
B. | The goal for the Collaboration is to develop a small heliostat solution to support VS and sbps collectively and separately in offering engineering and construction solutions for heliostat solar fields for electricity generation and process heat both inside Australia and in the broader global market. |
C. | VS will contribute Background Technology to the Collaboration from its development and operation of the Jemalong plant. |
D. | Sbps will contribute Background Technology, and bring ideas, engineering know-how, techno-economic design experience and market know-how from their past 30 years industry involvement. |
E. | The parties signed a Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet dated 21 December 2018 under which the parties agreed a process for the management of Intellectual Property Rights in relation to the Collaboration. |
F. | VS will contract sbps to develop and coordinate the technology development process of the Vast 2 heliostats. Sbps will provide engineering management of the heliostat design process and will be paid at an agreed hourly rate for all engineering work in accordance with this Agreement. |
G. | VS and sbps will jointly select manufacturing and materials suppliers but all contracts for supply will be placed directly by VS during the development of the technology. |
H. | The parties signed a Heliostat Manufacturing and Supply Agreement Binding Term Sheet dated 21 December 2018 under which the parties have agreed a process for the development and commercialization of the Vast 2 project. |
I. | From 2009-2014 VS developed the Vast 1 heliostat and constructed five solar arrays of 699 heliostats each, totaling nearly 3,500 units at Jemalong. While achieving a very low cost, the Vast 1 field displayed several critical technical problems. |
J. | VS is currently designing a 30MW plant with 10 hours storage, which it expects to install in Australia within 2-3 years. In selecting the heliostat for this plant, an upgraded version of the Vast 1 heliostat would be desirable for a range of stakeholder, political and commercial reasons, provided it is competitive in terms of cost and quality. |
VSQ-PM-SOW-VS-007 SBP Scope for Heliostat | Version A | Page 3 of 31 |
This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
K. | In 2017 VS engaged sbps to assess the adequacy of Vast 1 for VS future plans, and the concluding report identified that: |
1. | The foundation was inadequate, resulting in significant tracking errors under wind loads; |
2. | The rotary drive was acceptable in terms of tracking error (though only one drive was checked); and |
3. | The mirror facet was inadequate in most respects including slope error and reflectance |
L. | sbps concluded in its report that an upgraded version of the Vast 1 design applying state of the art design rules may achieve acceptable performance for VS. |
M. | The parties also recognize that moving from the rotary gear box of Vast 1 to a solution using linear drives may provide an advantage in performance and/or cost, and that this option should also be investigated as part of the Collaboration. |
N. | Consequently, it is proposed to proceed in parallel with a design incorporating an upgraded version of the Vast 1 rotary gearbox (Vast 2A), and a design using linear drives (Vast 2B). |
O. | Subject to the engineering assessments and manufacturing costs for these designs, VS will manufacture prototypes of at least one of and probably both designs for testing at the Jemalong facility. |
P. | Concurrently with the preliminary design of Vast 2, sbps has been contracted to complete a Technical Study of the modular VS field layouts, comparing Vast 2 and Stellio as alternative heliostat designs. The Technical Study is targeted at confirming the optimal field layouts, heliostat numbers and expected efficiency of the two heliostat options. |
Q. | After considering the results from field testing, the Technical Study, and all other information available, one of the two designs will be selected, and proceed to full commercial design (the Developed Technology). |
R. | It is noted that Stellio remains an option for the 30 MW plant, although VS and sbps believe the shorter towers and smaller receivers employed in VS arrays may favour a smaller facet. |
S. | VS has set the following criteria for the Vast 2 development. |
1. | Total plant size to be 30 MW, storage of 10 hours at full capacity; |
2. | Solar field will comprise multiple arrays with a tower for each array and a billboard receiver; |
3. | The 30 MW plant is currently planned to be built within 50 km of Charleville, Queensland, Australia; |
4. | Heat transfer fluid in the receivers will be molten sodium with a target receiver outlet temperature of 585°C; |
5. | The proposed facet size for Vast 2 will be 6.4sqm, expected to comprise 3.2m wide x 2.0m high; |
6. | The tower height will be 50m with expected receiver height at ~48m to the centre of the receiver; |
VSQ-PM-SOW-VS-007 SBP Scope for Heliostat | Version A | Page 4 of 31 |
This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
7. | The billboard receiver size will be 3.7m x 3.7m; (It is noted that the technical study by sbps may cause a revision of the receiver size) |
8. | Wind load and DNI data to be used for Charleville, Queensland, Australia and defined by statistical analysis (not relevant codes); |
9. | Basis Loading Code to be Australian (to be governed by statistical analysis), Design code EC; and |
10. | Necessary building authority approvals by VS (technical support by sbps). |
3 | AGREEMENT |
3.1 | The development will be defined into stages. Decision gates are to be set at the end of each stage, where VS and sbps would jointly evaluate periodical results. The final decision will be made based on mutual consent regarding whether to continue with the Project. If one party (the First Party) does not wish to continue the Collaboration and notifies the other party in writing, the other party (the Second Party) may complete the Project without the other, with the split of any License Fee adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet and any Long Form IP Agreement which replaces the terms of the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet. |
3.2 | Before commencing each stage, sbps and VS will agree on the scope for the stage in the form of an SOW. sbps will provide a Euro-denominated Stage Estimate of the total investment required for sbps’s Services for the stage and nominate a not-to-be-exceeded upper limit (Stage Limit) for the stage, sbps and VS will also estimate the other non-sbps manufacturing and service expenses for each stage before commencement of the stage. |
3.3 | The following words/expressions shall have the meaning(s) respectively set out opposite them, unless it appears otherwise from the context of the Agreement: |
1) | “Affiliate” means with respect to a Party, any corporate entity with legal personality that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Party. An entity shall be regarded as being in control of another entity if it owns, directly or indirectly, or is entitled to exercise, directly or indirectly, the votes attaching to at least 50 % (fifty percent) of the equity share capital of the other entity, or if it possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to determine the composition of the majority of the board of directors of the other entity; |
2) | “Heliostat Collaboration Agreement” means this agreement entered into by and between the Parties for the performance and completion of the joint developed Project, together with: |
- | Appendix A (Scope of Work and Technical Details); |
- | Appendix B (Project time schedule and budget); |
- | Appendix C (Remuneration); |
- | Appendix D (Non-Disclosure Agreement) |
3) | “Approve”, “Approved” or “Approval” means the prior written approval by corresponding party, such Approval being issued by each Project Coordinator; |
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4) | “Background Technology” means, with respect to a Party, all proprietary technology and Intellectual Property, including all associated Intellectual Property Rights, that vested in either Party before the Commencement Date of this contract. |
5) | “Background IP” has the same meaning as that term is defined in the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet dated 21 December 2018 or such Long Form IP Agreement which may replace the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet. |
6) | “Change Order” means any document issued by VS and signed by both Parties referencing the Agreement and specifying an addition, modification or variation to the scope of the Services, Contract Program and/or Remuneration, using any form VS may provide and, labelled as a change order; |
7) | “Collaboration Field” means the scope of services related to conceptual and design works for development, evaluation and advancing of heliostat designs and technology; |
8) | “Commencement Date” means 21 January 2019; |
9) | “Completion Date” means the date that sbps must complete the Services in terms of the Contract Program under the condition of satisfied interaction between sbps and VS and VS is sufficiently support and delivery all necessary info to sbps |
10) | “Confidential Information” means any information, in tangible or intangible form, embodied in data, technical knowledge, specifications, materials and/or other communications (a) disclosed or provided by the Disclosing Party to the Receiving Party; or, (b) that may be learned, acquired or derived by the Receiving Party during any examination of the said information or during any negotiation or discussions concerning the Project, which shall be treated as if it were information disclosed by the Disclosing Party; |
11) | “Contract Program” means an agreed contract program for the provision of the Services set out in an SOW; |
12) | “Coordinator” means the individual appointed by a Party (Coordinators); |
13) | “CSP” means concentrated solar power; |
14) | “Defective Service” means any part of the Services (including the Services) that does not comply with Good Industry Practice; |
15) | “Deliverables” means all the reports, analyses, documents, designs, drawings, solutions, specifications and data required by and produced during activities listed in Appendix A; |
16) | “Developed Product” means Vast 2 and any subsequent Improvements to Vast 2 technology which shares a similar nature of the built prototype and described in the Appendix I thereafter; |
17) | “Disclosing Party” means the Party disclosing Confidential Information in terms of clause 9.1 (Requirements for disclosure); |
18) | “Good Industry Practice” means the exercise of due care, skill and diligence in accordance with the standard of care normally exercised by professionals of international standing, providing similar services under similar circumstances; |
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19) | “Foreground Technology” means any Intellectual Property and Deliverables created or developed under this Agreement and falling within the Collaboration Field; |
20) | “Improvement” has the same meaning as that term is defined in the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet dated 31 January 2019 or such Long Form IP Agreement which may replace the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet; |
21) | “Intellectual Property” means trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, get-up, patents, inventions (including any Improvements and developments), utility models, registered and unregistered design rights, copyrights, know-how, business methods, policies, strategies, software, database rights as well as any trade secrets and Confidential Information relating to the Project; |
22) | “Intellectual Property Rights” has the same meaning as that term is defined in the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet dated 31 January 2019 or such Long Form IP Agreement which may replace the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet; |
23) | “Licence Fee” has the same meaning as that term is defined in the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet dated 31 January 2019 or such Long Form IP Agreement which may replace the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet; |
24) | “Project” means the undertaking by both parties under this Agreement; |
25) | “Project time schedule” means the schedule in terms whereof sbps will perform and complete the Services in accordance with the Project and specified in Appendix B; |
26) | “Receiving Party” means the Party receiving Confidential Information in terms of clause 9.3 (Obligations); |
27) | “Remuneration” means the money that VS shall pay sbps for performing and completing the Services in accordance with the terms of the Agreement as stipulated in clause 8.1 (Remuneration); |
28) | “Representative” means employees, officers and directors of either of the Parties; |
29) | “Services” means those consulting and associated services and / or work as stipulated in Appendix A and including the Deliverables, as required by VS and agreed to between the Parties, to be rendered and performed by sbps, in terms of the Agreement; |
30) | “SOW” means a statement of scope of work agreed under this Agreement; |
31) | “Technical documentations” shall mean all the necessary documents to design the Project and all the verification documents that both parties will use in designing the Project. |
32) | “Third Party” means any individual or legal entity which is neither a Party nor one of its Affiliates. |
4 | INTERPRETATION |
4.1 | The clause headings and captions are provided for convenience only and no regard shall be had thereto in the interpretation of the Agreement. |
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4.2 | Unless the context indicates otherwise, reference to one gender shall include the other gender, use of the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and reference to persons or third parties shall include natural as well as legal persons and associations, whether incorporated or otherwise. |
4.3 | If any provision in a definition clause is a substantive provision conferring any right or imposing any obligation on any Party, then, notwithstanding that it is only in the definition clause, effect shall be given to it as if it were a substantive provision in the Agreement. |
4.4 | When any number of days is prescribed, such number shall exclude the first and include the last day, unless the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday in Australia and/or Germany, in which case the last day shall be the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday in Australia and/or Germany. |
4.5 | The Project language shall be English. |
4.6 | Warranties and guarantees as stipulated in clauses 7.1 and 7.2 are given by sbps and are material and essential terms of and go to the root of the Agreement. |
4.7 | In the event that there is a discrepancy amongst the provisions of the Agreement and its Appendices, the order of precedence shall be as follows: |
4.7.1 | the terms of the Agreement (clauses 1-12); |
4.7.2 | Appendix A (Scope of Services and Technical details); |
4.7.3 | Appendix B (Project time schedule and budget); |
4.7.4 | Appendix C (Remuneration); |
4.7.5 | Appendix D (Non-Disclosure Agreement) |
5 | EXECUTION OF SERVICES |
5.1 | Agreement and Duration |
sbps shall perform the Services to VS in terms of the Agreement from the Commencement Date and shall complete the Services on the Completion Date, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the other provisions of the Agreement.
5.2 | Scope of Services |
5.2.1 | Both parties shall perform and complete the services and work in accordance with Appendix A (Scope of the Services). |
5.2.2 | The Services of this contract will include tasks I. to V: |
I. | Scoping-in progress |
II. | Stage 1-Preliminary Design of rotary (Vast 2A) and linear drive (Vast 2B) solutions to allow prototype manufacture and costing. Heliostat mirror support structures to be considered will include but not necessarily be limited to consideration of welded, clinched and deep drawn stamped parts. |
III. | Stage 2-Wind tunnel testing, prototype testing at Jemalong, site testing at Charleville |
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IV. | Stage 3-Detailed Design of preferred Vast 2 solution |
V. | Stage 4-Commercial Design for manufacture, including jigs for manufacture and manufacturing line and process specification |
In the following stage descriptions, review points are shown in bold. It is noted that the Technical Study being conducted by sbps and already commissioned is a separate stage but concurrent with Stage 1.
5.2.3 | The agreed objectives of the Project will be to carry out various conceptual designs and works for the development, evaluation and advancing of heliostat concepts, utilizing the local supply chain and resource in Australia while consistent with the development goals and directions of VS. |
5.2.4 | For the Project, the Parties shall perform the Services and be responsible for the different tasks of the Project as described more fully in Appendix A hereto. |
5.2.5 | Each Party shall assist the other Party wherever possible in the implementation of the tasks described in Appendix A. Many of the tasks can only be delivered successfully if both Parties fulfil the requirements and closely work together and both follow strictly the program provided in Appendix B. |
5.3 | Project time schedule |
5.3.1 | sbps shall prior to the Commencement Date submit a Project time schedule to VS for performing and completing the Services, indicating the milestones, individual activities, key activities, Deliverables and Completion Date necessary to complete the Services in accordance with Appendix A and other appendixes which will be offered in later stages, provided that VS must first Approve the Project time schedule. |
5.3.2 | sbps shall commence with and perform the Services within and in accordance with the Approved Project time schedule and Completion Date. Such Project time schedule shall reflect all details required by both Parties for the performance of the Services. |
5.3.3 | Acceptance of the Services by VS will occur in stages and inspection of the Services by VS within provided maximum time period of 2 weeks-provided all Defective Services have been rectified and corrected by sbps at its cost according to described quality criteria. |
5.3.4 | A preliminary time line will be developed based on the meeting held on 28-30 November 2018 with the relevant fixed date subject to change based on real Project progress. |
5.4 | Discrepancies |
5.4.1 | VS shall furnish sbps with information and documentation available to VS which relate to the Services to be performed by sbps in terms of the Agreement. Whenever necessary VS shall provide supplemental or additional data to sbps upon sbps’s request. |
5.4.2 | sbps shall, in the event of any ambiguity or discrepancy in the Agreement, Appendices and / or documents / drawings / data / specifications, contact VS immediately for clarification from VS before proceeding to execute the Services. |
5.4.3 | Discrepancies will affect the time schedule. |
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5.5 | SOW Changes |
Any addition, modification or change to a scope of the work requested by VS or sbps that is likely to have an impact on the number of hours to be worked by sbps and/or the Remuneration shall be processed as follows:
5.5.1 | In the case of a request by VS, VS shall submit a Change Order request to sbps. sbps shall evaluate each request and submit an appropriate written response within five (5) working days following sbps’s receipt of the request. |
5.5.2 | In the case of a request by sbps, it shall submit its Change Order request in writing to VS. VS shall notify sbps, in writing, within five (5) working days after receipt of the Change Order request, whether VS agrees for sbps to implement the changes at the cost stated in the Change Order request. |
5.5.3 | If approved, the Change Order request, whether submitted by VS or sbps, will be formalized in a Change Order signed by both Parties. Any effect on milestones, schedule, number of hours or implementation charges will be adjusted in accordance with Appendix C (Remuneration). The completed Change Order, when signed by both Parties, shall become part of this Agreement. If the change of scope goes beyond the main scope (development of a Vast 2 heliostat) sbps would request a separate contract which may or may not be discounted. |
5.5.4 | The initiation of Services by sbps on a change requested by VS, without execution of an accepted Change Order, shall not affect sbps’s right to claim additional costs and reasonable fees or its right to adjust milestones or Project schedules. The Parties agree that they shall work in good faith to adjust payments, milestones and Project schedules as reasonably necessary to account for the changes caused by the requested change. Sbps shall be entitled to refuse to make requested changes until a Change Order has been executed by both Parties,or suspend Services on a requested change until such a Change Order is executed by both Parties. |
5.5.5 | If one Party’s response is not satisfactory to the other Party, senior representatives of each Party’s management team will meet to resolve the unsatisfactory elements of the response or modify the requested change. If the Parties are unable to agree, the requested change will not become part of the Services. |
5.5.6 | The rectification of Defective Services (clause 5.6), the suspension of the Services (clause 5.7) and the scope changes due to vis maior / casus fortuitus / force majeure, will not be regarded as “Scope of Services Changes” by VS (clause 5.5). |
5.5.7 | Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in the Agreement, sbps shall not be entitled to additional Remuneration and / or additional time if the Change Order is the result of sbps’s (or its employees’, agents’, representatives’, suppliers’, sbps’ or sub-consultants’) default or of sbps’s breach of contract or of vis major / casus fortuitus / force majeure or if VS exercises its contractual / legal rights. |
5.6 | Inspection and Rejection |
5.6.1 | VS shall have the right to inspect the Services at any time and to reject Defective Services. |
5.6.2 | In the event that VS rejects the Defective Services sbps shall re-perform the Services at sbps’s own risk and expense as stipulated in clause 7.2; |
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5.6.3 | VS’s inspection of the Services, shall in no way release sbps from its obligations, indemnities and warranties given in terms of the Agreement. |
5.6.4 | In the event sbps disagrees on VS’s assessment in terms of clause 5.6.1 above, sbps may, appoint an independent third party at equally shared cost to provide the Parties with a finding on the Defective Services. Should the Parties fail to agree on the finding made by the independent third party, the matter will be referred to dispute resolution in terms of clause 12.2. |
5.7 | Suspension of Services by VS |
5.7.1 | VS shall be entitled to issue written instructions to sbps to suspend the Services for a period as specified by VS, provided that if compliance with any such instruction shall affect the Remuneration or the Completion Date, sbps shall give written notice to VS within twenty (20) days of the date of such instruction, stating the consequence or likely consequence thereof on the Remuneration and the Completion Date. If no such notice is received by VS from sbps, sbps shall thereafter not be entitled to claim any compensation for increased costs or otherwise that may subsequently be incurred by sbps due to such suspension. Should such notice be received by VS within the said period, the Parties shall either amend the Agreement in terms of clause 12.9 (Variations) if necessary, or VS shall within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice from sbps, withdraw the instruction to suspend the Services. |
5.7.2 | Upon receiving VS’s written notice of suspension, sbps shall promptly suspend (as the case may be) any further part of the Services to the extent specified by VS, and during the period of such suspension sbps shall properly maintain, care for and protect the Services and materials, supplies sbps has on hand to execute the Agreement, sbps shall use its best efforts in such a manner to mitigate costs associated with the suspension. |
5.7.3 | Notwithstanding clause 5.7.1, sbps shall not be entitled to any additional compensation for increased costs or extension of time due to the suspension of the Services by VS, if such suspension was caused directly or indirectly by Defective Services or by sbps being in default or in breach of contract-or if VS exercises its rights in terms of the Agreement. |
5.8 | Completion |
When sbps considers that the Services have been completed in terms of the Agreement and the Contract Program, it shall give a notice of completion to VS.
5.9 | Original Documents |
At the conclusion of the Services, or from time to time as may be determined both parties will share documentation freely.
5.10 | Coordinators |
5.10.1 | The Parties shall each appoint one or more Coordinators, in written notice to the other Party within two (2) weeks as of the Commencement Date, to facilitate communications and performance under the Agreement. Each Party may treat an act of the Coordinator of the other Party as being authorized by such other Party without inquiring behind such act or ascertaining whether such Coordinator/s, had authority to so act. |
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5.10.2 | Each Party shall have the right at any time and from time to time to replace its Coordinator by giving notice in writing to the other Party setting forth the name of (a) the Coordinator, to be replaced and (b) the replacement, and certifying that the replacement Coordinator is authorized to act for the Party giving notice in all matters relating to the Agreement. |
6 | RESPONSIBILITIES |
6.1 | Safety, Health and Environment |
Without derogating from other provisions of the Agreement, sbps shall at its cost:
6.1.1 | Comply/ensure strictest adherence to/act in accordance with and implement the provisions of any safety, health and environmental performance requirements and standards defined by VS prior to execution of the works; and |
6.1.2 | undertake prompt corrective actions to address and rectify any non-compliance with the predefined obligation or requirements under clause 6.1.1. |
6.2 | Liens |
sbps shall not have and waives all liens and rights of retention and possession to the Deliverables, the Services, materials and all documentation / drawings relating thereto, sbps shall also ensure that no Third Party has (and waives) any liens and rights of retention and possession of the Deliverables, the Services, materials and all documents/drawings relating thereto.
6.3 | Disputes with Third Parties |
6.3.1 | Should any Third Party or statutory authority lodge a claim against VS or sbps regarding the Services, sbps shall advise VS immediately thereof. |
6.3.2 | Without committing VS or accepting any liability on behalf of VS, sbps shall forthwith obtain full particulars of such claim and forward same to VS. |
6.3.3 | VS will advise sbps how to deal with such claim in accordance with VS’s mandate or that VS will deal with such claim itself. |
6.3.4 | In the event that VS decides to deal with the claim as contemplated in clause 6.3.3, sbps shall render to VS all the necessary assistance. |
6.4 | Independent Contractor |
6.4.1 | In complying with the Agreement, including performing and completing the Services, sbps shall be an independent contractor responsible for the Services, with the authority to control and direct its performance in terms of the Agreement without prejudice to VS’s right to give instructions and to monitor and inspect such compliance and performance. |
6.4.2 | The presence of and the monitoring, inspection and the giving of instructions by VS or the VS Coordinator shall not in any way relieve or excuse sbps from its obligations and responsibilities as an independent contractor in terms of the Agreement. |
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6.5 | Business Ethics |
Both Parties undertake to act only on the basis of utmost good faith and trust between them and with the highest regard to business ethics during the conclusion, in the execution and in the performance of any of their obligations in terms of the Agreement. Should any party, its officers, employees, contractors, agents, representatives or sub-contractors commit any act contrary to the aforegoing and such act compromise, purports to, or may compromise such relationship, or which is contrary to the other party commercial ethics with which both parties declares themselves to be fully familiar with, then VS shall be entitled, notwithstanding any other provision to the Agreement, to terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.
7 | WARRANTIES, GUARANTEES, INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE |
7.1 | Warranties |
7.1.1 | sbps warrants: |
7.1.1.1 | that it has and will acquire at its cost all the necessary equipment, tools, facilities, licenses, permits, infrastructure, means, services, resources and staff to perform the Services to the satisfaction of VS in general terms of the Agreement. Special tools and testing may require additional expenses that will be offered to VS. |
7.1.1.2 | that it has the experience, ability, expertise, competencies, skills and means to perform the Services in accordance with Good Industry Practice; and |
7.1.1.3 | that it shall perform the Services at all times in accordance with Good Industry Practice; |
7.1.1.4 | to immediately notify VS of any conflicts of interest which it may have between its obligations and duties in terms of the Agreement and its obligations and duties to any Third Parties and / or clients; and |
7.2 | Engineering Guarantee |
sbps guarantees that it will perform the Services in accordance with Good Industry Practice. In the event that sbps fails and / or neglects to perform the Services in accordance with this guarantee, sbps shall re-perform the Services within a period agreed between the Parties at sbps’s own cost and expense, any Services that fail to comply with the guarantee if VS gives notices of such failure within one (1) month of performance of such Services.
7.3 | Indemnities |
7.3.1 | In this clause 7.3: |
7.3.1.1 | reference to “VS” shall mean VS (including its directors, officers and employees) and the provisions of this clause 7.3 shall be for the benefit of VS and each such director, employee, and officer, and shall be enforceable by each such director, employee, and officer in addition to VS; |
7.3.1.2 | reference to “sbps” shall mean sbps including its employees, agents, sub-contractors and Representatives. |
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7.3.1.3 | sbps indemnifies VS and holds VS harmless against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, compensation and direct losses (excluding indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation and all interest, penalties and legal and attorneys’ fees as between attorney and client suffered or incurred by VS) as caused by sbps to VS; and/or arising out of or in connection with: |
7.3.1.3.1 | the performance of the Services by sbps; |
7.3.1.3.2 | the death, or personal injury of any person arising out of or in connection with the performance, the damage to or loss of or destruction of any property arising out of or in connection with the performance of the Services by sbps; |
7.3.1.3.3 | safety related claims that are confirmed by both parties and made against VS by a third party arising directly out of the Services by sbps and caused by sbps gross negligence; |
7.3.1.3.4 | performance related claims that are related to sbps conceptual design and made against VS by a third party or by VS itself are indemnified by VS. |
7.3.2 | This indemnity shall not cover VS to the extent that a claim results solely from VS’s works. |
7.3.3 | Nothing in this clause 7.3 (Indemnities) shall restrict or limit VS’s general obligation at law to mitigate a loss which it may incur as a result of a matter giving rise to a claim. |
7.4 | Insurance |
sbps shall procure and maintain (at its cost) for the duration of the Agreement, comprehensive insurance to cover such warranties, guarantees, liabilities and responsibilities.
8 | REMUNERATION AND PAYMENT |
8.1 | Remuneration |
On the conditions herein and for the remuneration set out herein, sbps offers a 30% discount on the remuneration for the services performed by sbps on the budgetary plan agreed by sbps and VS, for each stage as its financial contribution to the overall Project investment.
In consideration of the performance of Services by sbps on each stage, sbps will invoice VS based on the actual work and cost occurred on sbps side for the stage as follows:
· | 20% of the Stage Estimate upon VS placing an order for the Stage with sbps |
· | Monthly invoices for actual work and cost incurred by sbps at agreed discounted rates, accompanied by a monthly progress report detailing work completed, details of how work is progressing relative to the original schedule for the Stage and advanced warning of any cost, quality, timing or completion risks where relevant. Invoicing not to exceed Stage Estimate without explanation to VS of reasons for overrun and VS acknowledging acceptance of the overrun in writing |
· | Invoicing not to exceed the Stage Limit. |
Where progress is required on aspects of a later stage before completion of the previous stage, or where any other item not covered in the stage scope is required, estimation of the item costs by sbps and written approval by VS accepting the expenditure will be required in each case.
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It is noted here that all amounts are net and exclude any taxes outside of Germany, of which all taxes inside of Germany will be paid by sbps and all taxes outside of Germany will be paid by VS.
8.2 | Invoicing |
8.2.1 | sbps’s tax invoices shall reflect full details of the Services performed and shall include the information reasonably requested by VS from time to time. |
8.2.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, payment shall be made to sbps thirty (30) days after receipt of sbps’s original approved tax invoice pursuant to clauses 8.2.1 and 8.2.2. All substantiating documents must be attached to the tax invoices. |
8.2.3 | sbps shall ensure that VS has the correct banking information in order to make an electronic transfer, sbps assumes the entire risk of incorrect bank transfers arising from changes in sbps’s banking information. |
8.2.4 | Bank charges in respect of electronic transfers levied by sbps’s bank shall be for sbps’s account. Bank charges in respect of electronic transfers levied by VS’s bank shall be for VS’s account. |
8.2.5 | In the event of where goods or services are required for the Project by third parties, orders will be placed direct by VS. If it is agreed for sbps to place orders for goods or services required for this Project with third parties, sbps should pass these expenses on to VS with verifying paper work at cost. VS will pay any currency exchange charges at cost. |
9 | CONFIDENTIALITY |
9.1 | Requirements for Disclosure |
For the purpose of this Agreement it may be necessary for one or both Parties to disclose (“Disclosing Party”) to the other Party (“Receiving Party”), Confidential Information. The Disclosing Party will disclose such Confidential Information under the conditions stated in this clause 9 (Confidentiality), which are understood to be acceptable to the Receiving Party.
9.2 | Identification |
To the extent practical, Confidential Information shall be disclosed in documentary or tangible form marked “Confidential” or with some other similar legend signifying the confidential nature of the disclosure, but the failure to do so shall not nullify the proprietary or confidential nature of the disclosure. In the case of disclosures in non-documentary form made orally or by visual inspection, the Disclosing Party shall have the right, or if requested by the Receiving Party, the obligation, to confirm in writing the fact and general nature of each disclosure within a reasonable time after it is made.
9.3 | Obligations |
9.3.1 | The Confidential Information shall be received and held in confidence by the Receiving Party. |
9.3.2 | The Receiving Party shall use the Confidential Information solely for the purpose of the Project. |
9.3.3 | The Receiving Party shall take such steps as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the disclosure of the Confidential Information to others using at least as great a degree of care as used to maintain the confidentiality of its own most confidential information of like nature, but in no event less than a reasonable degree of care. |
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9.4 | Disclosure and Access |
9.4.1 | The Receiving Party shall limit access to the Confidential Information to a limited number of its Representatives: |
9.4.1.1.1 | who are directly concerned in the Receiving Party’s appraisal of the Confidential Information or in any associated discussions; |
9.4.1.1.2 | whose knowledge of the Confidential Information is essential for such appraisal or discussions; and |
9.4.1.1.3 | who are under written obligation of sufficient scope to obligate them to maintain the confidentiality of confidential information of third parties in the Receiving Party’s possession. |
9.4.2 | The Receiving Party shall be responsible for any non-compliance by any Representative with the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent the Receiving Party would have been responsible under applicable law for its own breach of the same obligations. For further definition refer to Appendix D. |
9.5 | Authorized Use |
The Receiving Party shall not disclose or use the Confidential Information for purposes other than stated in clause 9.3.2 without first obtaining the written consent of the Disclosing Party.
9.6 | Return |
9.6.1 | Subject to the Parties’ rights under clause 9 (Confidentiality), the ownership of the Confidential Information shall remain vested in the Disclosing Party, and the Disclosing Party may demand the return thereof at any time upon giving written notice to the Receiving Party. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice, the Receiving Party shall return all of the Disclosing Party’s original Confidential Information and shall destroy all copies and reproductions (including in electronic form) in the Receiving Party’s possession and in the possession of the Receiving Party’s Representatives to whom the same was disclosed. |
9.6.2 | Notwithstanding sub-clause 9.8.1 the Receiving Party may retain one (1) copy of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information in the Receiving Party’s confidential legal files for the sole purpose of identifying and maintaining its obligations under the Agreement. |
9.6.3 | To the extent that the Disclosing Party has licensed the Receiving Party to use the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information, clause 9.8.1 does not negate or supersede the Receiving Party’s rights under the license in question. |
9.7 | Duration |
The restriction on use and the obligation for the Receiving Party to keep Confidential Information confidential as set forth in this clause 9 (Confidentiality) will survive the completion or termination of the Agreement.
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9.8 | Foreground Technology, Background IP and Background Technology |
The Parties agree that the terms of the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet and any Long Form IP Agreement which replaces the terms of the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet will apply in respect of the Foreground Technology, Background IP and Background Technology created and used in relation to the Project.
10 | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROVISIONS |
10.1 | Ownership of Intellectual Property |
10.1.1 | The Parties agree that the terms of the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet and any Long Form IP Agreement which may replaces the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet will apply in respect of the ownership of Intellectual Property used and developed under this agreement. |
10.1.2 | Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the ownership of a parties Background Technology or Background IP therein. |
10.1.3 | Any technology development in the Collaboration Field which is developed by a Party independently of Services under this Agreement shall not be subject to this Agreement. |
10.2 | Intellectual Property Warranties |
The Parties have agreed that the IP Warranties and Undertakings in the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet and any Long Form IP Agreement apply to this agreement.
10.3 | User-rights and License Fee |
In recognition of the active involvement of both Parties in the creation of Intellectual Property the parties have agreed the terms of the Heliostat IP Agreement Binding Term Sheet and any Long Form IP Agreement which will apply in respect of user-rights and License Fees.
10.4 | Assignment |
The rights and obligations of each Party under this agreement cannot be assigned without the prior written consent of the other Party, not to be unreasonably withheld.
11 | TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT |
11.1 | Termination |
11.1.1 | If either Party: |
11.1.1.1 | commits a breach of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and fails to remedy such a breach within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written notice from the other calling upon it to remedy the breach complained of, or |
11.1.1.2 | becomes insolvent or bankrupt or enters into any agreements with its creditors; |
the other Party shall, without prejudice to any other rights it may have in law, be entitled to either cancel the Agreement or enforce its rights against the defaulting Party by way of specific performance and, may, in either case claim damages from the defaulting Party.
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11.2 | Consequences of Completion or Termination |
Upon completion or termination of this Agreement the Parties shall, immediately take all necessary steps to bring the Project to a close in a prompt and orderly manner and shall make every reasonable effort to keep expenditures for this purpose to a minimum.
11.3 | Surviving Rights |
The rights and obligations set forth in clauses 9 (Confidentiality); 10 (Intellectual Property Provisions); 8.1 (Remuneration); 10.2 (User-rights) and 12 (Law and Dispute Resolution) which have accrued prior to termination or completion, will remain in effect beyond the date of termination or completion of the Agreement for as long as such rights and obligations can be legally and/or contractually enforced.
11.3.1 | Compensation due to sbps for Services performed and costs incurred in accordance with the scope of Services and the provisions of the Agreement to the satisfaction of VS up to the date of termination in terms of clause 11.1.1, shall be in accordance with the Agreement, and sbps shall be entitled to any damages, whether arising out of loss of profit or any other cause whatsoever, due to the termination of the Agreement by VS in terms of clause 11.1.1. |
11.3.2 | Termination or expiry of the Agreement shall not release either of the Parties from an obligation, indemnity or warranty which arose prior to termination or expiry but which is still due and / or will (in terms of the Agreement) continue beyond the termination or expiry of the Agreement. Termination or expiry of the Agreement shall not extinguish or terminate the rights of either Party that arose prior to such termination or expiry, subject to the other provisions of the Agreement. |
12 | MISCELLANEOUS |
12.1 | Applicable Law |
The Agreement shall be governed, constituted and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom.
12.2 | Dispute Resolution |
12.2.1 | If any dispute or difference shall arise between the Parties out of or in relation to or in connection with this Agreement or the interpretation thereof, or any breach thereof, or its termination, both while in force and after its termination, the Party claiming such dispute or difference, shall forthwith advise the other in writing thereof. Within fourteen (14) days of receipt of this notice, each Party shall nominate a senior member of its management to meet at any mutually agreed location, in the event that no agreement could be reached between the Parties, and negotiate in good faith in order to resolve such dispute or difference. |
12.2.2 | Should the Parties fail to resolve such dispute or difference within fourteen (14) days of the first meeting of the senior members or such longer period as the Parties may agree, each Party shall nominate an executive representative of its management to meet at any mutually agreed location, in the event of no agreement could be reached between the Parties, and negotiate in good faith in order to resolve such dispute or difference. |
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12.2.3 | Should the Parties fail to resolve such dispute or difference within fourteen (14) days of the first meeting of the executive representatives or such longer period as Parties may agree, either Party may refer such dispute or difference to arbitration, subject to the following terms: |
12.2.3.1. | Any disputes, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this agreement, or any other non-contractual defined legal relationship without explicit express of arbitration terms, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, |
(a) The appointing authority shall be the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.
(b) The number of arbitrators shall be three.
(c) The place of arbitration shall be Singapore.
(d) The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English.
12.2.3.2 | The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties. Both Parties shall fulfil its terms accordingly. |
12.2.3.3 | In the course of arbitration, both Parties shall continue fulfilling their obligations in terms of the Agreement except the parts under arbitration. |
12.2.4 | These provisions shall not prevent either Party to approach any court or other judicial forum in any country having appropriate jurisdiction to obtain timely injunctive or other relief in cases of urgency. The conducted jurisdiction shall be in English language. |
12.3 | Notices |
12.3.1 | The Parties choose the following addresses for purposes of giving any legal notice and serving any legal process: |
Attention: Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary
sbps: schlaich bergermann partner, sbp sonne GmbH, Schwabstraße 43, 70197 Stuttgart, Germany
Attention: Managing Director
12.3.2 | Any notice given by a Party to the other Party which: |
12.3.2.1 | is transmitted by facsimile to the addressee at the addressee’s facsimile number shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved by the addressee, to have been received by the addressee one (1) business day after the date of transmission; or |
12.3.2.2 | is delivered by hand during the normal business hours of the addressee at the addressee’s domicilium for the time being shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved by the addressee, to have been received by the addressee at the time of delivery; or |
12.3.2.3 | is transmitted electronically shall be presumed, until the contrary is proven by the addressee, to have been received by the addressee on the first business day after the date of electronic transmission. |
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12.3.3 | Each Party shall be entitled from time to time by written notice to the other Party to vary its domicilium to any other physical address and/or vary its facsimile number, provided such notice shall only take effect thirty (30) days after receipt thereof by the other Party. |
12.4 | Assignment, Cession and Delegation |
Neither of the Parties shall cede or assign its rights or delegate its obligations in terms of the Agreement, in whole or in part, to any Third Party without first obtaining the written consent of the other Party which shall not be unreasonably withheld. In case of Merge and Acquisition, the first party who is being merged and/or acquired shall ensure all the conditions within this agreement is compatible and will be implemented and integrated into its future merged and/or acquired business entity.
12.5 | Severability |
The Agreement constitutes one indivisible agreement, save that if any particular provision of the Agreement is illegal, invalid or unenforceable or contrary to public policy, but does not go to the root of the Agreement, it shall be severed from the Agreement and the remainder of the Agreement shall remain of full force and effect and binding on the Parties.
12.6 | Binding Effect |
12.6.1 | The Agreement shall be binding and effective as from the Commencement Date, subject to the other provisions of the Agreement. |
12.6.2 | The Agreement does not bring about a partnership or any form of collective or separate incorporated / unincorporated entity between the Parties and is limited to its objectives. |
12.7 | Non-exclusivity |
12.7.1 | The Agreement does not create any exclusivity to any party. |
12.8 | Sole Agreement |
12.8.1 | The Agreement, read together with the Appendices hereto, constitutes the sole and entire record of the agreement between the Parties with regard to the subject matter thereof and supersedes and overrides and replaces all prior agreements and negotiations, terms, conditions, offers, promises, representations, quotations, agreements and understandings of the Parties with respect thereto, whether written or oral. Commencing with the Services will constitute unconditional acceptance by sbps of the provisions of the Agreement. |
12.8.2 | If any provision contained in the Agreement is rendered void, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. |
12.9 | Variations |
No variation of the Agreement or of this clause 12.9 (Variations) and no agreed cancellation of the Agreement shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by or on behalf of the authorized representatives of the Parties.
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
SIGNED at Sydney Australia on this 28 February 2019
For and on behalf of VS
Signature: /s/ Craig Wood____________________________________
Name: Craig Wood_________________________________________
Designation: CEO & Director_________________________________
SIGNED at Stuttgart, Germany on this 8 August 2019
For and on behalf of schlaich bergermann partner, sbp sonne GmbH
Signature: /s/ Markus Balz_____________________________________
Name: Markus Balz__________________________________________
Designation: Managing Director________________________________
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
Appendix A (Scope of Services and Technical details)
Stage 1
Agreement on Scope and Terms of Engagement
DCD document establishment by sbps, including tracking accuracy for drives
Preliminary drive specification at end of stage 1.
Load/Deflection Criteria, TMY, wind, go-to-stow definitions, etc.
Weather data from Charleville Airport (inc. 3 sec gusts at 10m, every minute) by VS
Preliminary design of foundation and Jemalong testing-VS
Collection of ideas for further investigation-sbps (VS support)
- | Manufacture processes |
- | Drive system (rotary VS and linear actuator) |
Establishment of costing model-sbps with input/review from VS
- | Costing of all Australian parts for manufacture–VS |
- | Costing of all other parts-sbps |
Overall design-sbps
Foundation
Design and Geomechanical Tests-VS (support sbps)
Foundations test specification-VS (support sbps)
Drive designs
2A drives-VS
2B drives-sbps
2C deep drawn concept for heliostat mirror frame
Basic investigations and test specs about glue characteristics, corrosion-VS (support sbps)
Controls
Controls hardware and control integration-VS (2B specification by sbps)
Aim Point strategy-VS
All others-sbps
Test plan for testing of heliostat in Stage 2-sbps
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Finalisation of scope and cost for Stage 2
Stage 2 Execution of test procedures-VS
Test evaluation-sbps
Manufacture of units-VS
Develop manufacturer relations and costing expertise-VS
QA and support-sbps
Wind speed and other data collection to sbps requirements for selected site-VS
Wind tunnel testing of prelim design-sbps
Operational testing of heliostats at Jemalong to test plan developed in Stage 1-VS
Analysis of operational testing results-both
Finalisation of scope and cost for Stage 3
Stage 3. Detailed and Commercial Design
Scope to be determined.
Finalisation of scope and cost for Stage 4
Stage 4. Preparation for Manufacture
Scope to be determined.
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Appendix B (Project time schedule and budget)
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
[***]
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
[***]
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
[***]
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
Appendix C (Remuneration)
1. | This Appendix specifies the remuneration and payment terms between VS and sbps pursuant to the terms agreed in Clause 8 (REMUNERATION AND PAYMENT) and specifies the rates for changes and payment terms between VS and sbps pursuant to the clause 5.5 SOW Changes. |
1.1 | Engineering Fees |
1.1.1 | Including the sbps offer of a 30% discount on its engineering fees, a limited budgetary plan is proposed at €680,880 in fees for all stages, including the relevant tasks listed in Schedule and Budget of Appendix B. A further budgetary allowance of €277,500 of costs external to sbp is also described in Appendix B. |
The amount for Stage 1 (including allowances for Stage 0 and the kick off meeting in Stuttgart in Dec 2018) has been agreed at €295,355, which includes an external contract for the Extreme Wind analysis of €7,500.
Following Stage 1, sbps will make a joint update with VS concerning scope and budget for each following stage by the end of former stage, as defined in Appendix B.
Meanwhile, VS will pay sbps for their engineering effort based on actual working hours documented with sbps project management system of wiko in accordance to the hourly fee rate as attached below.
Hourly Rate 2O19/2O18 | ||||||
Hourly rates | (€/h) | |||||
Al | Scholar/Administrative personnel | [***] | ||||
A2 | Junior Engineer | [***] | ||||
A3 | Senior Engineer/Specialist Engineer | [***] | ||||
A4 | Project Manager Senior Physicist | [***] | ||||
A5 | Senior Project Manager/Senior Specialist | [***] | ||||
A6 | Senior Manager | [***] |
Hourly rates | Hourly Rates 2019/2018 (€/h) | Hourly Rates 2019 with [***]% discount (€/h) | ||||||||
Al | Scholar/Administrative personnel | [***] | [***] | |||||||
A2 | Junior Engineer | [***] | [***] | |||||||
A3 | Senior Engineer/Specialist Engineer | [***] | [***] | |||||||
A4 | Project Manager/Senior Physicist | [***] | [***] | |||||||
A5 | Senior Project Manager/Senior Specialist | [***] | [***] | |||||||
A6 | Senior Manager | [***] | [***] |
1.1.2 | In case of exceeding limited budget, sbps would inform VS in written form, prior one month earlier before the engineering task needed, concerning the extra needed engineering task and relevant required budget. Sbps will proceed further with extra engineering task after full consent is received from VS in written format while the payment procedure shall follow terms defined in the clause 1.1.1. |
1.2 | Payment Schedule and Invoicing Procedure |
1.2.1 | sbps shall submit invoices in respect of every payment monthly installment once it becomes due. All invoices will be sent by email and copied by post. For reference dates the email dates will be used. |
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1.2.2 | Service Provider shall submit invoices to VS at the following address: |
Vast Solar Pty Ltd, [***]
Attention: Christina Hall, Head of Finance
Copy to: Craig Wood, CEO
1.2.3 | Invoices shall set forth (a) the title and number of the contract under which compensation is payable, and (b) the amount EURO. Each invoice shall be accompanied by a copy of details to support sbps’ charges, such as hours worked, expense accounts (including appropriate support vouchers), third party’s invoices and specific details on all other reimbursable costs incurred. |
1.3 | An amount shall be treated as being payable when it is either |
(i) | an undisputed amount under an invoice or |
(ii) | is disputed but without valid reason, or |
(iii) | is disputed by VS but settled in favour of sbps pursuant to the terms hereof. Such amounts shall be deemed payable within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the relevant invoice. |
1.4 | Within 15 business days of receipt of an invoice, VS shall notify sbps in the event any portion of an invoice requires clarification and whether/ or it disputes any portion of the invoice. In the event sbps receives no such notification, the invoices shall be deemed accepted by VS. |
1.5 | VS shall pay sbps each invoice within thirty (30) days of Company’s receipt of the invoice. However, VS may withhold any amount which it has reasonably disputed and notified to sbps within 15 business days after receipt of invoice. |
1.6 | All payments by VS under this Agreement shall be paid in EURO currency only by telegraphic transfer directly to the following bank account: |
Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg
Owner (Inhaber): sbp sonne gmbh
IBAN: [***]
BIC Code: [***]
1.7 | Late payments shall attract an interest of eight percent [8]% per annum from the due date until the date of payment. |
1.8 | It is noted here that all travel expenses are excluded and shall be invoiced later based on real cost occurred. |
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Appendix D (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
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This document is Confidential and shall not be distributed outside Vast Solar and sbps.
Exhibit 10.19
Certain information has been redacted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish an unredacted copy of the exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analyses to the Commission upon request.
VAST SOLAR
MASTER SERVICES AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENT
(Engineering Services)
VAST SOLAR | Vast Solar Pty Ltd ABN 37 136 258 574, [***] |
ADVISIAN | Advisian Pty Ltd ABN 50 098 008 818, [***] |
Recitals
A. | Vast Solar is developing concentrated solar thermal power (“CSP”) generation and storage technology and related capabilities using sodium as an element of the thermal energy transfer or storage system. |
B. | Advisian has process, integration, design and technical engineering, procurement, risk management and project management capabilities and expertise that it will supply. |
C. | The purpose of the parties’ collaboration under this Agreement is to develop world leading CSP technologies that will allow Vast Solar to establish a market leading position as the world’s most efficient and cost effective supplier of CSP technology, and in which Advisian becomes an integral and long-term partner to Vast Solar’s business. |
D. | This Agreement is comprised of the following documents: |
a. | Contract Information (Page 2) |
b. | Part One — Key Commercial Terms (Pages 3 to 5) |
c. | Part Two — Fee and Payment Terms (Page 6) |
d. | Part Three — Performance, Management and Review Terms (Pages 7 to 11) |
e. | Part Four — General Legal Terms and Definitions (Pages 12 to 25) |
f. | Part Five — Schedules (Pages 26 to 30) |
PARTIES | Vast Solar (as defined above) | Advisian (as defined above) |
SIGNATURE | /s/ Craig Wood
Director |
/s/ Tasman Graham
Director |
NAME | Craig Wood | Tasman Graham |
DATE SIGNED | 9 March 2020 | 9 March 2020 |
SIGNATURE | /s/ Christina Hall
Secretary |
/s/ Jane Harrington
Secretary |
NAME | Christina Hall | Jane Harrington |
DATE SIGNED | 9 March 2020 | 9 March 2020 |
CONTRACT INFORMATION
COMMENCEMENT DATE |
Thursday 5 March 2020 |
TERM | 5 years |
EXTENDED TERM (if applicable) |
Not applicable |
TASK BRIEF TERMINATION NOTICE PERIOD | 20 Business Days |
EXCLUSIVITY (Clauses 2.8 & 2.9) |
Mutual |
SERVICES | Process, integration, design and technical engineering, procurement, risk management, project management and project controls as required to support the purpose defined in Recital C |
NA CSP CATEGORY | That part of the CSP Industry in which sodium is used as an element of the thermal energy transfer or storage system including any person or business that is an owner, operator, supplier to, investor in or associated with the promotion, development and operation of such a business but excluding universities, industry development or research bodies that are conducting academic research into CSP which could include the development of a pilot plant with a generating capacity of up to 10 megawatts |
INSURANCE (Schedule Four) |
Public Liability Insurance of $10 million per occurrence Professional Liability Insurance of $5 million per occurrence and in the aggregate
Workers Compensation Insurance as required by law |
VAST SOLAR’S RELATIONSHIP MANAGER |
Kurt Drewes, Project Director
[***]
Mobile: [***] |
ADVISIAN’S RELATIONSHIP MANAGER |
[***]
[***]
Mobile: [***] |
JURSIDICTION | The State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia |
Page 2 of 39 |
PART ONE
KEY COMMERCIAL TERMS
1. | TERM |
1.1 | This Agreement commences on the Commencement Date and, unless terminated earlier in accordance with this Agreement, shall continue in full force and effect for the Term. |
2. | SUPPLY OF SERVICES |
2.1 | Advisian must provide the Services to Vast Solar on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
TASK BRIEFS AND PURCHASE ORDERS
2.2 | Vast Solar may order the Services or elements of the Services by presenting Advisian with a Task Brief. The form of the Task Brief will be determined by Vast Solar but will specify at least the matters set out in Schedule Five (as may be amended by Vast Solar). Each Task Brief will have a separate purchase order number and all correspondence from Advisian and Vast Solar relating to a Task Brief must refer to the relevant purchase order number. |
2.3 | Advisian will commence to supply the Services or elements of the Services from the start date specified in the Task Brief. If Advisian has not begun to supply the Services that are the subject of a Task Brief to Vast Solar by the start date specified in that Task Brief the Task Brief automatically lapses and Vast Solar is under no obligation to proceed with that Task Brief and will consult Advisian for rectification of performance. |
2.4 | The parties must notify each other promptly of any circumstances that they become aware of which may have an adverse effect on either parties’ ability to meet the requirements under a Task Brief or to otherwise supply the Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
2.5 | Vast Solar may terminate, for any reason, all or any part of any Task Brief on providing to Advisian prior written notification of the Task Brief Termination Notice Period. No fees or charges will be payable by Vast Solar in relation to the termination, except that if Services have already been performed in accordance with the Task Brief, Vast Solar will pay for the Services actually performed and associated reimbursable expenses validly invoiced in accordance with this Agreement and, if required by Vast Solar, on receipt of reasonably satisfactory documentation from Advisian showing that the Services have been performed. If termination of a Task Brief is partial, Advisian must continue to perform the remaining portion of the Task Brief. |
2.6 | Advisian will cease to supply the elements of the Services which are the subject of a Task Brief on the earlier of; |
(a) | the end date specified in the Task Brief; or |
(b) | the date of termination of a Task Brief in accordance with clause 2.5; or |
(c) | the date of termination of this Agreement. |
2.7 | Vast Solar will provide Advisian with at least four weeks written notice of the requirement to commence the first Task Brief under this Agreement. |
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EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT
2.8 | Vast Solar agrees that it will purchase all of its requirements for the Services from Advisian, subject to Advisian’s compliance with this Agreement. |
2.9 | In consideration for Vast Solar entering into this Agreement, Advisian and its Affiliates agree that they will only provide Services in the NA CSP Category to Vast Solar. |
AFFILIATES
2.10 | Advisian agrees that the benefit of this Agreement will extend to each Affiliate of Vast Solar and acknowledges that Vast Solar holds the benefit of this Agreement on trust for each Affiliate. The parties acknowledge and agree that: |
(a) | if the Services are supplied to an Affiliate of Vast Solar then Vast Solar shall procure its Affiliate to abide by this Agreement as if it were a party to this Agreement and that the provisions of this Agreement will also be for the benefit of, and are intended to be enforceable by such Affiliate; |
(b) | the performance of any of Vast Solar’s obligations under this Agreement by its Affiliates shall discharge the obligations of Vast Solar under this Agreement; |
(c) | any indemnity or release provided to (or by reference to) Vast Solar is deemed to extend to (and by reference to) all Affiliates to which clause 2.10 applies at the time the indemnity becomes operative (even if such later cease to be an Affiliate of Vast Solar); and |
(d) | Vast Solar must procure the due performance of its Affiliates under this Agreement to the extent that such Affiliates benefit under this Agreement and the performance directly relates to that benefit. |
2.11 | Vast Solar will promptly notify Advisian if: |
(a) | Vast Solar no longer wishes this Agreement to extend to some or all of its Affiliates; or |
(b) | an Affiliate to which the Services are supplied ceases to be an Affiliate of Vast Solar, |
in which case, Vast Solar and Advisian will take steps to withdraw the Services from the relevant Affiliate (and clause 2.10 will cease to apply in respect of that Affiliate except clause 2.10(c) which will continue to apply to the (former) Affiliate).
2.12 | Advisian: |
(a) | agrees that if the Services or any part of the Services are supplied by, an Affiliate of Advisian then it must procure its Affiliate to abide by this Agreement as if it were a party to this Agreement and that the provisions of this Agreement will also be for the benefit of, and are intended to be enforceable by such Affiliate; and |
(b) | unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to Vast Solar, without the need for demand, the due performance of its Affiliates under this Agreement. |
2.13 | Vast Solar acknowledges that the performance of any of Advisian’s obligations by one of Advisian’s Affiliates in providing the Services will discharge the obligations of Advisian under this Agreement provided that the provision of the Services by the Affiliate has been approved in writing by Vast Solar. |
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3. | VARIATION TO SERVICES |
3.1 | Vast Solar may request a variation of any or all of the Services it requires from Advisian (including supplying new or additional services) (Variation) from time to time by giving Advisian notice: |
(a) | setting out the details of that Variation; and |
(b) | the estimated date on which Vast Solar would require such a Variation to take effect. |
3.2 | Within 10 Business Days (or another period agreed by the parties) of receipt by Advisian of Vast Solar’s notice delivered under clause 3.1, Advisian agrees to respond in writing to Vast Solar specifying what impact (if any) the Variation will directly and reasonably have on: |
(a) | the Advisian’s ability to perform its obligations under this agreement (including its ability to meet timeframes and Task Briefs); and |
(b) | any other relevant matter in relation to a Task Brief or this Agreement. |
3.3 | Within 10 Business Days (or another period agreed by the parties) of receipt by Vast Solar of the Advisian’s response, Vast Solar and Advisian agree to meet and discuss the Variation and should Vast Solar accept the Variation and any related terms, the parties will use their reasonable endeavours to execute a variation to this Agreement. |
4. | SUSPENSION OF SERVICES BY VAST SOLAR |
4.1 | Vast Solar may, without cause and at any time during the Term, by giving notice to Advisian (Suspension Notice) direct Advisian to suspend the performance of all or any part of the Services. |
4.2 | The Suspension Notice must specify the period of the suspension. The period of time specified may be reduced or extended by a further notice or notices from Vast Solar. |
4.3 | If all or any part of the Services are suspended by Vast Solar for any reason other than a breach of this Agreement by Advisian, Vast Solar must pay Advisian such costs and expenses as are reasonably and necessarily incurred by Advisian as a direct consequence of suspension, which must be determined in accordance with clause 4, pro rata to the proportion of the Service then supplied. |
5. | SPECIFIED PERSONNEL |
5.1 | Advisian must ensure that the Specified Personnel are available to perform the Services and, if required, Advisian must also provide such other personnel from time to time as needed for the performance of the Services. Advisian warrants that it and any persons performing the Services from time to time (including the Specified Personnel) have the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to perform the Services. |
5.2 | Any proposed change to the Specified Personnel must be notified to and agreed with Vast Solar prior to that change occurring. |
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6. | CHARGES AND EXPENSES |
6.1 | The Services supplied by Advisian must be charged to Vast Solar at the rates determined in accordance with Schedule One. The methodology and amounts specified in Schedule One are fixed and cannot be varied except as contemplated in, and in accordance with, clause 6.2 or the operation of the ‘Charge Review’ procedures set out in Schedule One. |
6.2 | Where Advisian and Vast Solar agree that any new services will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the price or pricing methodology to apply for those services and any associated products will be agreed at that time between the parties on a case-by-case basis, provided that they will be the same as that set out in Schedule One (as amended from time to time) to the extent applicable, and any variation or addition to Schedule One must be recorded in writing. |
6.3 | Third party expenses or other costs, disbursements or outgoings incurred in supplying the Services may only be charged by Advisian when permitted in accordance with Schedule One, and only if Vast Solar has given prior written approval to the timing, amount and character of the expense, cost, disbursement or outgoing. |
6.4 | Unless otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, any charges to which Advisian is entitled under clause 6.1 or 6.2 and any amount to which Advisian is entitled under clause 6.3 will be Advisian’s sole remuneration, compensation, charging, recovery, entitlement or benefit for supplying the Services and for performing Advisian’s obligations under this Agreement. |
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PART TWO
FEES AND PAYMENTS
7. | INVOICES AND PAYMENT |
7.1 | Advisian must issue to Vast Solar a valid tax invoice in respect of the Services supplied to Vast Solar in accordance with this Agreement in compliance with the billing cycle set out in Schedule Two. Each invoice must: |
(a) | subject to clause 7.1 (b), relate to charges for the Services authorised by, ordered by and supplied by Advisian to Vast Solar in accordance with its obligations under this Agreement during the calendar month preceding the date of the tax invoice; |
(b) | contain all those matters specified in Schedule Two; and |
(c) | meet the requirements of the GST Act. |
7.2 | In the absence of a dispute in respect of a particular invoice, Vast Solar will pay the invoiced amount due to Advisian within 30 days from the date in which a valid tax invoice has been received from Advisian that meets the requirement in clause 7.1. Where there is a dispute, subject to clause 7.5 Vast Solar will pay the undisputed amount due. |
7.3 | Payment of an invoice must be taken only as payment on account and is not: |
(a) | evidence or an admission that the Services have been supplied in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise accepted by Vast Solar; or |
(b) | an admission of Liability or concession to any Claim in respect of the invoice, its subject matter or any aspect of this Agreement or the parties’ relationship under it. |
7.4 | If a day for payment under this Agreement falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment is due on the next Business Day. |
7.5 | If Vast Solar disputes any amount claimed in an invoice, then Vast Solar shall advise Advisian in writing of the nature of the dispute and pay any undisputed portion of the tax invoice by the due date. Advisian shall use all reasonable endeavours to provide Vast Solar with all information Vast Solar reasonably requires to verify the amount claimed in an invoice (whether or not it is disputed in whole or in part). Any disputes in relation to an invoice shall be resolved in accordance with clauses 21.1 to 21.4. Within ten Business Days of the date of resolution or determination of any disputed amount under an invoice; |
(a) | Vast Solar must pay to Advisian the balance (if any) found to be payable under that invoice; or |
(b) | Advisian must refund to Vast Solar any amount overpaid under that invoice, in each case without interest. |
7.6 | To the extent that Vast Solar requires any information or documents from Advisian to enable Vast Solar to assess whether or not it accepts a tax invoice, any period of delay in the provision of such information or documents will be added to the period for payment of that tax invoice. |
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PART THREE
PERFORMANCE, MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW
8. | ADVISIAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES |
PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
8.1 | Subject to Vast Solar meeting the obligations in clause 9, Advisian must supply the Services to a standard which satisfies or exceeds the requirement in the relevant Specification and otherwise on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Without limitation, Advisian must: |
(a) | supply all Services using professional standards of skill, diligence, prudence, foresight and care, in accordance with industry best practices and to a standard that would reasonably be expected from a prudent and experienced provider of services which are equivalent to the Services; |
(b) | comply with Vast Solar’s reasonable and lawful directions and instructions, including those given by its authorised personnel or representatives from time to time and those in a Task Brief; |
(c) | ensure that all materials used for the purposes of performing the Services, are complete, accurate, free from faults, of acceptable quality and fit for the purpose for which they are required by Vast Solar; |
(d) | supply all goods, associated products or materials comprising the Services free from any liens, charges, security interests, third party claims, rights or interests or any other encumbrances; |
(e) | ensure that all Services supplied pursuant to this Agreement comply with the relevant Specification then in force; |
(f) | make enquiries to ascertain Vast Solar’s reasonable requirements regarding the Services and supply the Services so as to comply with those requirements; |
(g) | supply the Services with the utmost efficiency and with minimum disruption to Vast Solar’s business and in compliance with all site or other rules applicable to Vast Solar’s Sites, including in a cost efficient manner and without delay, and in any event prior to any date that is set out in the Task Brief or that the parties otherwise agree the Services will be supplied by; |
(h) | provide at its own expense all equipment, materials and labour necessary or desirable to perform its obligations under this Agreement; |
(i) | meet, satisfy and comply with (and may exceed) the KPIs specified in each Task Brief; |
(j) | supply the Services in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and the Codes of Practice and in accordance with industry standards to which Advisian is legally required to comply or has stated that it will comply. Where two or more standards apply (including by reference to a relevant Code of Practice), Advisian and Vast Solar shall consult and determine the most appropriate standard and that determination shall be documented. |
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(k) | at its cost, hold and maintain in good standing all necessary licences, registrations, permits, authorisations, consents and approvals required by or from any governmental, provincial or local department or agency; |
(l) | notify Vast Solar immediately if Advisian receives a notice of regulatory non-compliance or is the object of any governmental or regulatory action which affects or may affect the supply of the Services; |
(m) | keep Vast Solar informed of all matters of which Vast Solar reasonably ought to be made aware or which may affect in any manner whatsoever the way in which Vast Solar manages its affairs in connection with the performance of this Agreement and its relationship with Vast Solar and provide such information in relation to the supply of the Services as may reasonably be required by Vast Solar; |
(n) | supply the Services to Vast Solar without breaching an obligation owed by Advisian to another person; and |
(o) | on written request from Vast Solar, provide Vast Solar with all financial, administrative or other information as may be reasonably required by Vast Solar to assess Advisian’s ability to supply the Services or for the purposes of this Agreement. |
8.2 | Without prejudice to any other remedies available to Vast Solar, Advisian shall immediately re-supply at its cost any Services that do not meet the relevant Specification or fail to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as appropriate. |
8.3 | Vast Solar may give notice (of its view that there has been non-compliance with this Agreement by Advisian) to Advisian, which may elect where applicable to inspect or review the items referred to in such notice of non-compliance. |
8.4 | If Advisian is aware that any Services (whether provided or not, in whole or in part) do not meet the relevant Specification or requirements of this Agreement, Advisian must notify Vast Solar immediately in writing in which case clause 8.2 applies). |
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
8.5 | Advisian must not release any statement or respond to any media inquiry concerning the supply of the Services to Vast Solar or the existence or subject matter of this Agreement without first obtaining written approval from Vast Solar. |
ACCESS
8.6 | Vast Solar will allow Advisian access (on reasonable notice) to Vast Solar’s Sites at which any or all of the Services are provided to Vast Solar where Advisian reasonably requires access in order to provide the Services. |
8.7 | Advisian must ensure that its employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control entering onto any of Vast Solar’s Sites pursuant to the rights under clause 8.6 or for other purposes connected with or contemplated by this Agreement shall at all times (without limiting the operation of clause 8.1(g)): |
(a) | not interfere with the day to day operation of Vast Solar’s business; |
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(b) | protect people and property and comply with all reasonable directions of Vast Solar and its staff in relation to all health and safety, environmental, security or other requirements of entry (whether arising under statute or otherwise) including, without limitation, complying with the Codes of Conduct and all of Vast Solar’s applicable safety standards and policies (as advised by Vast Solar to Advisian from time to time); |
(c) | comply with all site rules applicable to the relevant Vast Solar Site and as required by Vast Solar from time to time complete any site induction programme(s) in respect of each Vast Solar Site. Vast Solar will inform Advisian of any changes to the site rules from time to time; |
(d) | prevent nuisance and unnecessary noise and disturbance; and |
(e) | act in a safe and lawful manner. |
8.8 | Vast Solar and its employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control will not be responsible for any damage done to Advisian’s property or to that of any of Advisian’s employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control or for any personal injury sustained by Advisian (where Advisian is a natural person) or by any of Advisian’s employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control occurring on Vast Solar’s Sites as a result of a material breach of this Agreement or the gross negligence or wilful misconducts of Advisian or of such employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control or if Advisian or such employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control has failed to comply with Vast Solar’s occupational work, health and safety and security policies and, if applicable, site rules except to the extent caused or contributed to by the acts, omissions or negligence of Vast Solar. |
8.9 | Subject to clause 19.1, Advisian indemnifies in accordance with clause 18.1 Vast Solar and its employees, contractors, sub-contractors, officers, from any Liability and any Claims which Vast Solar and its employees, contractors, sub-contractors, officers, (each an “Indemnified Party”) may incur as a direct or indirect result of any third party bringing a Claim against an Indemnified Party in relation to: |
(a) | a third party claim for damage to Vast Solar’s property; or |
(b) | circumstance referred to in clause 8.8, |
except to the extent that such circumstances were caused directly as a result of the gross negligence or wilful breach of this Agreement by Vast Solar or its employees, contractors, sub-contractors, officers, advisers, representatives and agents.
9. | VAST SOLAR’S RESPONSIBILITIES |
9.1 | Vast Solar will: |
(a) | within a time which does not delay Advisian in providing any Services, provide Advisian with such assistance and information as Advisian reasonably requires to enable Advisian to supply the Services in accordance with this Agreement; and |
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(b) | make all reasonable efforts to ensure that all information it gives to Advisian in response to a request made in accordance with this Agreement is (so far as Vast Solar is aware) correct and complete. |
10. | RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT |
10.1 | Advisian and Vast Solar must each appoint and maintain during the Term a “Relationship Manager” to manage this Agreement and to be responsible for the performance of each party under this Agreement. The initial Relationship Managers are those persons set out in Contract Information. Each party must notify the other party promptly in writing of any change to its Relationship Manager. |
10.2 | The Relationship Managers shall communicate as a minimum on a Quarterly basis (or at such other frequency as may be agreed between them) to discuss matters such as performance of the parties under this Agreement and opportunities for improvement. All Confidential Information disclosed, intentionally or otherwise, during any review will be subject to clauses 15.1 to 15.8 (inclusive). |
11. | QUARTERLY REVIEW |
11.1 | Advisian and Vast Solar will review performance under this Agreement and the relevant Task Briefs on a Quarterly basis (or at such other frequency as may be agreed between them) and discuss any areas of improvement required. |
12. | DELAY |
12.1 | If a party encounters events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control which will result or might be expected to result in a delay to the supply of the Services, the party must: |
(a) | immediately give notice to the other party which states: |
(i) | all relevant details of the nature of the cause and extent of the delay; and |
(ii) | any steps which have been taken and further steps which are to be taken to mitigate or remedy the consequences of the delay; |
(b) | take those further steps; and |
(c) | otherwise comply with other party’s reasonable requests. |
12.2 | Where it appears that the supply of the Services will or may be delayed due to a failure of Advisian to perform its obligations under this Agreement: |
(a) | the parties shall agree a new timeframe for delivery of the Services and the Task Brief will be amended accordingly; and |
(b) | Advisian may be responsible for any additional costs and expenses which are reasonably incurred by, or any Claim or Liability suffered by, Vast Solar as a result of Advisian’s delay in providing or the material failure to provide the Services as and when required under the terms of this Agreement and for the avoidance of doubt, Advisian is not entitled to recover from Vast Solar or any of its Affiliates any additional costs it incurs (whether internally or externally) resulting from such delay. |
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12.3 | Where it appears that the supply of the Services may be delayed due to a failure of Vast Solar to perform its obligations under this Agreement: |
(a) | the parties shall agree a new timeframe for delivery of the Services and Task Brief will be amended accordingly; and |
(b) | Vast Solar will be responsible for any third party additional costs and expenses which are reasonably incurred by, or any Claim or Liability suffered by, Advisian in relation to any additional work performed or expenses incurred by Advisian caused by such failure to perform. |
12.4 | Nothing in clause 10 prevents either party from exercising all other rights it has against the other in relation to the failure of that other to perform its obligations under this Agreement. |
13. | TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT |
TERMINATION BY VAST SOLAR
13.1 | Vast Solar may terminate this Agreement on 60 Business Days notice where Vast Solar has terminated two or more Task Briefs as a result of Advisian having failed to meet the terms of those Task Briefs. |
13.2 | Except to the extent provided in clause 22, Vast Solar will not be liable to Advisian or to any other person in any manner whatsoever (including for any cancellation, termination or other penalty fees for early termination of an agreement) as a consequence of Vast Solar terminating this Agreement pursuant to its rights under this Agreement, prior to the expiry of the Term. |
TERMINATION BY ADVISIAN
13.3 | Vast Solar has agreed to provide notice to commence the first Task Brief referred to in clause 2.7 within 6 months of the Commencement Date. Should Vast Solar be unable to meet this obligation the parties may acting reasonably agree to extend the period for a further 6 months. If the parties are unable to agree to extend the 6 month period then Advisian may elect to terminate this Agreement on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date where it provides written notice of termination to Vast Solar no later than 3 months before the first anniversary date. |
13.4 | At any time after the first year of the Term, Advisian may terminate this Agreement by providing Vast Solar with 60 Business Days written notice if: |
(a) | during the first Year Charges applicable to any Task Briefs are less than $500,000; or |
(b) | during the second Year Charges applicable to any Task Briefs are less than $200,000; or |
(c) | during the third Year Charges applicable to any Task Briefs are less than $200,000; or |
(d) | during the fourth Year Charges applicable to any Task Briefs are less than $350,000; or |
(e) | during the fifth Year Charges applicable to any Task Briefs are less than $500,000; and
in respect of each Year referred to in (a) to (e) above where the Charges have not met or exceeded the required amount, the parties have reasonably agreed that there are no prospects of Charges applicable to current or future Task Briefs within the forthcoming Year making up the shortfall; or |
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(f) | a Suspension Notice issued in accordance with clause 3 has the effect of suspending the provision of the Services for a period of more than 3 months in for all Task Briefs which are current at the time the Suspension Notice was issued. |
TERMINATION BY EITHER PARTY
13.5 | A party (Terminating Party) may (in addition to any other provisions of this Agreement permitting termination) terminate this Agreement with immediate effect by giving written notice of termination to the other party (Other Party): |
(a) | if the Other Party breaches any provision of this Agreement and fails to remedy the breach within 20 Business Days after receiving written notice requiring it to do so; |
(b) | if the Other Party does not comply with a remedial action plan that was agreed in writing by the parties, within the timeframe set out in that remedial action plan; |
(c) | if the Other Party breaches a provision of this Agreement (other than a breach which is trivial or administrative in nature and that will only have a transitory impact on the Terminating Party) where that breach is not capable of remedy; |
(d) | in any case, does not provide the Terminating Party with appropriate monetary compensation for its failure to remedy or otherwise redress a breach of this Agreement (being payment of an amount that is reasonably satisfactory to the Terminating Party); |
(e) | on the occurrence of any of the following: |
(i) | the Other Party ceases to carry on business; |
(ii) | an Insolvency Event occurs in respect of the Other Party; |
(iii) | in the reasonable opinion of the Terminating Party, the Other Party, or any of its employees, agents, contractors, sub-contractors are involved in any fraudulent, dishonest or other serious misconduct (provided that such need not be proved in a court of law before this clause takes effect); or |
(iv) | where the Terminating Party is Vast Solar and the Other Party is not a natural person, without the prior written consent of the Terminating Party there is a change in the identity of the person who Controls the Other Party from that which was in effect on the date of this Agreement. |
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PART FOUR
GENERAL LEGAL TERMS
14. | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATERIAL AND MORAL RIGHTS |
14.1 | Each party hereby agrees that it has, and will have, no licence or other right to use the other party’s Intellectual Property, except as set out in this Agreement. |
14.2 | Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties and subject to clause 14.3, any improvements, developments or modifications to the: |
(a) | Vast Solar Intellectual Property created by, or on behalf of, either party during the Term (including future copyright), will vest absolutely and automatically on creation in Vast Solar and to the extent created by Advisian, Advisian hereby assigns all such Intellectual Property to Vast Solar on and from creation; and |
(b) | Advisian’s Background Intellectual Property created by, or on behalf of, either party during the Term (including future copyright), will vest absolutely and automatically on creation in Advisian and to the extent created by Vast Solar, Vast Solar hereby assigns all such Intellectual Property to Advisian on and from creation, |
and the parties agree to do all such things as are necessary, including the execution of documents, to give effect to this clause.
14.3 | Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, any Services IP (including future copyright) will vest in Vast Solar absolutely and automatically on creation and Advisian hereby assigns all such Intellectual Property to Vast Solar on and from creation. Advisian agrees to do all such things as are necessary, including the execution of documents, to effect the assignment of title in the Services IP to Vast Solar. |
14.4 | Advisian must, at any time on demand by Vast Solar, provide to Vast Solar all documents (including specifications), designs, plans, moulds, media, dies, tooling and other information, equipment and materials (including all copies) relating to Intellectual Property owned by or vested in Vast Solar under clause 14.2(a) or 14.3 (including any such information, equipment and/or materials held by third parties) or licensed to Vast Solar under clause 14.5. |
14.5 | Advisian will retain all rights, title and interest in any Advisian Background Intellectual Property provided that Advisian grants to Vast Solar a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, sub-licensable, and transferable (such transfer to be solely in connection with relevant Services IP) licence to use Advisian’s Background Intellectual Property to the extent Vast Solar needs to use the Services IP for the purpose defined in Recital C. Advisian agrees to provide Vast Solar with copies of any such information (including all specifications), equipment and materials relating to Advisian’s Background Intellectual Property as Vast Solar may reasonably require from time to time. |
14.6 | Neither party shall knowingly do anything which may prejudice or infringe (except as is expressly permitted by this Agreement) the other party’s Intellectual Property. |
14.7 | Advisian warrants to Vast Solar that the supply of the Services (including where applicable the use of any associated goods, materials and products) by Advisian in accordance with this Agreement (including the Services IP created by Advisian and owned by Vast Solar under clause 14.3, or Advisian’s Background Intellectual Property licensed to Vast Solar under clause 14.5) will not infringe the Intellectual Property of a third party. Advisian indemnifies Vast Solar for any claim, expense, direct loss, damage or cost (including legal costs incurred in defending any such claim on a party and party basis) arising from a breach of this warranty. |
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14.8 | Vast Solar warrants to Advisian that the use by Advisian in accordance with this Agreement of Vast Solar’s Intellectual Property (excluding any Intellectual Property created by Advisian) for the purposes of and to the extent strictly necessary for the supply of the Services in accordance with this Agreement will not infringe the Intellectual Property of a third party. Vast Solar indemnifies Advisian for any claim, expense, loss, damage or cost (including legal costs incurred in defending any such claim on a full indemnity basis) arising from a breach of this warranty. |
14.9 | Vast Solar grants Advisian a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use Vast Solar’s Intellectual Property and the Services IP until the End Date solely for the purpose of, and to the extent strictly necessary for, the supply of the Services in accordance with this Agreement. Advisian must ensure that each use of Vast Solar’s Intellectual Property is in a manner from time to time approved by Vast Solar (including any conditions attached to such consent). |
14.10 | The parties acknowledge and agree that all goodwill resulting from: |
(a) | Advisian’s use of Vast Solar Intellectual Property or the Services IP will accrue solely for the benefit of Vast Solar; and |
(b) | Vast Solar’s use of Advisian’s Background Intellectual Property will accrue solely for the benefit of Advisian. |
14.11 | For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement is to be interpreted as restricting the ability of the parties to from time to time enter into a separate agreement in relation to any Intellectual Property connected with the supply of the Services, which will prevail to the extent of any conflict with the terms of this Agreement when it is made clear that this is the parties’ intention. |
14.12 | Advisian warrants that all employees, agents, sub-contractors or any other person involved in the supply of the Services, have, and during the Term will, provide irrevocable consents and waivers in relation to their Moral Rights to the fullest extent possible under the law of any applicable jurisdiction, sufficient to ensure Vast Solar’s unimpeded use of the Services IP in a manner which may otherwise infringe the Moral Rights of each such employee, agent, sub-contractor or other person involved in the supply of Services. Advisian indemnifies Vast Solar for any claim, expense, direct loss, damage or cost (including legal costs incurred in defending any such claim on a party and party indemnity basis) arising from a breach of this warranty. |
15. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
15.1 | A party (“Receiving Party”) that holds Confidential Information of the other party (“Disclosing Party”) will hold and maintain all Confidential Information in strict confidence and as a trade secret of the other party. |
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15.2 | The Receiving Party may not, without the Disclosing Party’s prior written consent: |
(a) | use any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party except to the extent necessary to perform its obligations and exercise of its rights under this Agreement; |
(b) | disclose any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party (or the fact of the existence of such Confidential Information) to any third party other than to personnel who have a need to know the information in order to perform the obligations of the Receiving Party under this Agreement, and then only to the extent of that need to know; or |
(c) | reverse engineer or decompile (or in each case attempt to do so) any of the Confidential Information of the other Disclosing Party, |
provided that the Receiving Party may, without such consent, disclose Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party to the extent required by Law, any relevant regulatory body, or the rules of any recognised stock exchange, provided that the Receiving Party notifies the Disclosing Party first (with as much notice as is possible in the circumstances) of the proposed form of the disclosure and reasons therefore.
15.3 | The Receiving Party shall effect and maintain adequate security measures to safeguard the Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party from access or use by unauthorised persons and to keep the Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party under the Receiving Party’s control, such measures being at least to the same standard of care as used by the Receiving Party for its own Confidential Information. |
15.4 | The Receiving Party must ensure that any person to whom it is permitted to disclose, and does disclose any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party (including any and all of its permitted personnel and independent contractors to whom disclosure is made) observes the requirements of confidentiality set out in this Agreement (as if those requirements applied to them). If any person referred to in this clause 15.4 to whom Confidential Information is disclosed does any act or omission which act or omission would constitute a breach of this Agreement if such act had been done or omission had been made by the Receiving Party, then the doing of such act or making of such omission by that person constitutes a breach of clause 15.4 by the Receiving Party. |
15.5 | The Receiving Party acknowledges that any disclosure or use of any Confidential Information in breach of this Agreement may cause the Disclosing Party irreparable harm and that monetary damages alone may be an inadequate remedy. The Receiving Party agrees that the Disclosing Party is entitled to seek equitable relief including injunction and specific performance, in addition to all other remedies available to the Disclosing Party at Law or in equity or under this Agreement. |
15.6 | In the absence of any express written agreement to the contrary between the parties, the Receiving Party’s obligations under this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the Confidential Information enters the public domain other than directly or indirectly through the Receiving Party’s default or the default of any of its permitted disclosees under this Agreement. |
15.7 | If requested at any time by the Disclosing Party, the Receiving Party must: |
(a) | promptly return to the Disclosing Party all Confidential Information (including all copies thereof); and |
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(b) | destroy (and certify such destruction) all copies of and notes made in relation to such Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party |
provided that the Receiving Party is also thereby discharged from performing all of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that such depended on possession of that Confidential Information.
15.8 | Clause 15 survives termination or expiry of this Agreement for a period of five (5) years. |
16. | WORK, HEALTH AND SAFETY |
16.1 | Without limiting clauses 8.1 and 8.7, Advisian shall comply with all of Vast Solar’s current work, health and safety requirements relating to Vast Solar’s Sites notified in writing to Advisian from time to time. Vast Solar shall notify Advisian of risks to work, health and safety arising from Vast Solar’s Sites which are reasonably foreseeable to Vast Solar and which may affect Advisian or Vast Solar arising out of or in any way connected with the activities of Vast Solar in connection with this Agreement, and Advisian shall have due regard to such risks in performing its obligations under this Agreement. |
16.2 | Without prejudice to its obligations under clause 16.1, Advisian must and must procure that its employees, representatives, agents, contractors, sub-contractors or other parties under its control: |
(a) | on the request at any time of Vast Solar, submit to, and fully co-operate with, any safety vetting process required by Vast Solar and provide a written statement of Advisian’s own safety requirements; |
(b) | notify Vast Solar immediately in the event of any incident involving employees, agents and representatives of Advisian occurring in the performance of this Agreement on Vast Solar’s Site where that incident causes any personal injury or damage to property which could give rise to personal injury; |
(c) | assess all reasonably foreseeable risks to work, health and safety that may affect Vast Solar or any third party arising out of or in any way connected with the performance of this Agreement, and provide a copy of such assessment to Vast Solar on request, and promptly take all reasonable steps to eliminate or adequately control such risks and shall notify and co-operate with Vast Solar accordingly; |
(d) | fully co-operate with Vast Solar and any other parties as necessary to ensure that all reasonably foreseeable risks to health and safety (including fire) connected with Vast Solar’s Sites are eliminated or adequately controlled; |
(e) | take all practicable steps in a reasonable and timely fashion to ensure that no act or omission is a breach of any duty or obligation of Advisian under any applicable Work, Health & Safety Legislation or any safety requirements as may prudently be required by Vast Solar; |
(f) | ensure that all its officers, employees, agents, contractors, sub-contractors and representatives associated with supply of the Services are adequately trained and supervised in the safe use of all machinery, tools, processes, substances, protective clothing and other equipment, which are or may be required to be used in relation to supply of the Services; and |
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(g) | take out and maintain in place with a reputable insurer all relevant and required insurance cover (under Schedule Four) with respect to work, health and safety that extends to all its officers, employees, agents, contractors, sub-contractors and representatives in the supply of the Services, including at Vast Solar’s Sites. |
17. | WARRANTIES |
17.1 | Each party warrants to the other and, Vast Solar warrants to Advisian in respect of each Affiliate (whilst it is subject to clause 2.10) that: |
(a) | it is validly existing and in good standing; and |
(b) | it has full authority and all necessary consents to enter into and perform this Agreement (in the case of such Affiliates, whilst and to the extent bound by this Agreement). |
17.2 | Without limiting clause 8, Advisian warrants that it has (and will throughout the Term have) the necessary experience, skills, knowledge, competence and qualifications and has an appropriate level of staff, including Specified Personnel, with such experience, skills, knowledge, competence and qualifications to perform the Services |
18. | INDEMNITY |
18.1 | A Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to indemnify the other Party (the “Indemnified Party”) from and against all claims, demands, actions, costs, liabilities, expenses, damages and proceedings (including reasonable legal and other associated costs of defending or settling any of the above) in respect of: |
(a) | loss of or damage to property belonging to either the Indemnified Party and/or a third party; or |
(b) | personal injury (including death) to any third person, |
arising directly from any negligent act or omission, violation of law or breach of this Agreement by the Indemnifying Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the limit of liability in clause 19 does not apply to any cause of action arising under this clause.
18.2 | Subject to clause 19.1, without limiting any other indemnity under this Agreement, Advisian must indemnify Vast Solar, its employees, agents, officers, representatives, contractors and its Affiliates their employees, agents, officers, representatives, contractors and sub-contractors (each an “VS Indemnified Party”) against all Liabilities and Claims (including legal expense) which an Indemnified Party incurs directly as a result of or arising out of any of the following: |
(a) | any material breach of this Agreement by Advisian, including any intentional failure to supply the Services in accordance with this Agreement or a delay in the performance of the Services; |
(b) | any warranty given by Advisian under this Agreement being incorrect or misleading in any way; |
(c) | any breach of Law by Advisian or its officers, employees, contractors, sub-contractors directly associated with the supply of the Services; |
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(d) | any gross negligent or other wrongful act, error or omission of Advisian or any of its employees, contractors or sub-contractors, or a Advisian Affiliate or their employees, agents, officers, contractors or sub-contractors or of any other person for whose negligent actions or omissions Advisian is vicariously liable in the course of or related to the performance of, or material failure to perform, any obligations of Advisian under this Agreement; or |
(e) | any fraud, dishonesty, or wilful misconduct of Advisian or any of its employees, agents, contractors or of any other person for whose negligent actions or omissions Advisian is vicariously liable, |
and, for the avoidance of doubt, clause 18.1 shall apply, without limitation, to any claims against any VS Indemnified Party arising as a result of damage to a third party’s property or injury to or death of any third person as a result of Advisian’s negligence, or the negligence of an Affiliate in the course of or related to the performance of (including any failure to perform) any of its obligations under this Agreement.
18.3 | The liability of Advisian to indemnify an VS Indemnified Party under clause 18.1 will be reduced proportionately to the extent the Liability or Claim suffered or incurred by the VS Indemnified Party results directly from the negligence of that VS Indemnified Party. |
18.4 | If any indemnity payment is made or required to be made by Advisian under clause 17 or elsewhere under this Agreement, Advisian must also pay to Vast Solar an additional amount equal to: |
(a) | any costs or penalties imposed by any third party (including any governmental or regulatory authority) associated with event giving rise to the indemnity; and |
(b) | otherwise gross up the amount of the payment (including any amount referred to in clause 18.4(a) to take account of any tax which is or would be payable by the recipient in respect of that indemnity payment and any gross up such that the deduction of appropriate tax the recipient receives the amount of the indemnity plus any amount referred to in clause 18.4(a). |
18.5 | Vast Solar holds the benefit of clause 17 on trust for each VS Indemnified Party other than Vast Solar. |
18.6 | Each party shall take all reasonable steps to avoid or mitigate any loss or liability which might give rise to a claim under or in connection with this Agreement. |
19. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
19.1 | The maximum aggregated liability of Advisian to Vast Solar and each of its Affiliates in respect of any single Claim, or Liability arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise, whether arising in contract (including but not limited to the indemnities, warranties and implied warranties), in tort (including but not limited to negligence), in equity, by operation of statute or otherwise is limited to, and will be limited to five times the total amount invoiced under the relevant Task Briefs giving rise to the Claim or Liability but shall not exceed an amount of $5,000,000 for Services supplied under this Agreement.. |
19.2 | Despite any other provision of this Agreement and to the maximum extent permitted by law, neither party to this Agreement or any other person whilst bound by this Agreement including by way of indemnity will bear any Liability to the other party or to any person whilst entitled to benefit under this Agreement including by way of indemnity for any Consequential Loss howsoever arising (including in negligence, contract, statute, equity or for breach of any statutory duty). |
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20. | INSURANCE |
20.1 | Advisian must effect and maintain for the duration of this Agreement, at Advisian’s own cost and expense, the insurances specified in Schedule Four. |
20.2 | The insurance required to be obtained pursuant to clause 20.1 must: |
(a) | in the case of professional indemnity insurance, be maintained at all times until the expiry of seven years following the End Date; |
(b) | in the case of all other insurance, be maintained at all times during the Term; |
(c) | be taken out on terms and conditions which are satisfactory to Vast Solar (acting reasonably); and |
(d) | be taken out with one or more insurers that are satisfactory to Vast Solar but that must not be an unauthorised foreign insurer. |
20.3 | Advisian must provide Vast Solar with a certificate of currency in respect of each policy of insurance that Advisian has effected in order to comply with the requirements of clause 20.1, including at each of the following times: |
(a) | prior to the Commencement Date; |
(b) | on the renewal or alteration of any policy of insurance; and |
(c) | at such other times as reasonably requested by Vast Solar. |
20.4 | Where specified in Schedule Four, the insurance policies required to be obtained by Advisian pursuant to clause 20.1 must be effected in the joint names of Vast Solar and Advisian. In respect of all policies of insurance required to be effected in joint names, Advisian must ensure that the policy of insurance: |
(a) | provides that all insuring agreements and endorsements operate in the same manner as if there were a separate policy of insurance covering each party comprising the insured; |
(b) | provides that the insurer waives all rights, remedies or relief to which it might become entitled by subrogation against any of the parties comprising the insured; and |
(c) | contains a non-imputation clause providing that any non-disclosure or misrepresentation (whether fraudulent or otherwise), any breach of term or condition of the policy, or any fraud or other act, omission or default by one insured does not affect another insured provided that the said acts or omissions were not made with the connivance of that other insured. |
20.5 | Advisian must comply with all Laws concerning the statutory insurance cover for liabilities in relation to employees, contractors and suppliers. |
20.6 | Advisian acknowledges that the taking out of insurance by it shall not in any way limit or exclude its obligations to indemnify Vast Solar under this Agreement. |
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21. | DISPUTE RESOLUTION |
21.1 | A party must not start court proceedings unless it has complied with clause 21 except that nothing in this clause 21.1 will prejudice the right of a party to seek injunctive or urgent declaratory relief in respect of any matter arising in connection with this Agreement or its subject matter. |
21.2 | A party must, as soon as reasonably practicable, give the other party notice (Dispute Notice) of any dispute, difference or question and details of that dispute, difference of question arising in respect of, or in connection with, this Agreement (including the validity, breach or termination of it) or its subject matter (Dispute). |
21.3 | The Relationship Managers must meet to discuss and attempt to resolve the Dispute within ten Business Days of receipt of a Dispute Notice. If the Relationship Managers cannot resolve the Dispute within those ten Business Days, each party must refer the Dispute to its chief executive officer within the relevant country, or person of equivalent seniority, who must then attempt to resolve the dispute with a further period of ten Business Days. |
21.4 | If the parties cannot resolve the Dispute as contemplated by clause 21.3, either party may take legal action, including the commencement of court proceedings, as is deemed appropriate or necessary to resolve or determine the Dispute in accordance with this Agreement or at law. |
21.5 | If a party breaches the procedure in clauses 21.1 to 21.3 in relation to a Dispute, the other party need not comply with those clauses in relation to a Dispute. |
21.6 | The parties must continue to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, pending the resolution of a Dispute. |
21.7 | The dispute resolution procedure in this clause 21 does not affect a party’s right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with its terms. |
21.8 | Each party must bear its own costs of complying with clause 21. |
21.9 | All information exchanged whilst trying to resolve a Dispute is without prejudice to either party’s rights or position and remains subject to clause 15 as applicable. |
22. | AFTER TERMINATION |
22.1 | On permitted termination or expiration of this Agreement: |
(a) | Vast Solar is only liable to pay Advisian: |
(i) | any outstanding tax invoices delivered in accordance with this Agreement; |
(ii) | for its actual disbursements permitted under this Agreement where Vast Solar has received prior written notice of the amounts and has agreed in writing to accept responsibility for the payment of those disbursements; and |
(iii) | for all work in progress (being work completed in accordance with this Agreement but not billed) as at the date of termination or expiration of this Agreement, provided that such work has been performed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (if applicable) and on a pro rata basis to the proportion of the Service that has been supplied; |
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(b) | subject to clause 14.5, Vast Solar’s right to use each Service ceases; |
(c) | the licence granted under clause 14.9 immediately terminates; |
(d) | subject to clause 14.5, each party must cease using the Intellectual Property and Confidential Information of the other party; and |
(e) | each party will promptly deliver to the other party or, at the other party’s option, destroy and certify destruction of, all of the other party’s Intellectual Property or Confidential Information. |
22.2 | Following permitted termination or expiration of this Agreement, Advisian (at its cost) will provide Vast Solar all assistance reasonably requested by Vast Solar for a transitional period of three months after the End Date (or such other transitional period as the parties may agree) to enable the orderly transfer of the supply of all or any of the Services to any third party or parties selected by Vast Solar. |
22.3 | Permitted termination or expiration of this Agreement shall not affect any rights or remedies each party may have accrued before the date of termination or expiration, and for the purposes of this clause 22.3, "accrued" shall include matters arising prior to termination or expiration but not discovered until after termination or expiration. |
22.4 | The provisions of clauses 14, 15, 18.1, 20.1 and 22 survive termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason. |
23. | GST |
23.1 | Terms used in clause 23 have the meanings given to them in the A New Tax system (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (as amended from time to time) (GST Act). |
23.2 | Unless otherwise expressly stated, all prices or other sums payable or consideration to be provided under or in accordance with this Agreement are exclusive of GST. |
23.3 | If GST is imposed on any supply of Services made by Advisian to Vast Solar under or in accordance with this Agreement, unless the consideration for that supply is specifically described in this Agreement as ‘GST inclusive’, Vast Solar must pay to Advisian an additional amount equal to the GST payable on or for the taxable supply (GST Amount). Subject to Vast Solar receiving a tax invoice in respect of the supply before the time of payment and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, payment of the GST Amount will be made at the same time as payment for the taxable supply is required to be made in accordance with this Agreement. |
23.4 | If this Agreement requires a party to pay for, reimburse or contribute to any expense, loss or outgoing (reimbursable expense) suffered or incurred by another party, the amount required to be paid, reimbursed or contributed by the first party will be the amount of the reimbursable expense net of input tax credits (if any) to which the other party is entitled in respect of the reimbursable expense plus any GST payable by the other party. |
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24. | NOTICES |
24.1 | Every notice, demand, certification, process or other communication given under, or in connection with, this Agreement must be in writing in English and may be given by an agent of the sender. |
24.2 | In addition to any other lawful means, a communication may be given by being: |
(a) | left at the party’s current address for notices provided a written receipt acknowledging acceptance is received; |
(b) | e-mailed to the email address last notified by the addressee, provided the notice is not given under clauses 21 or 13; or |
(c) | personally delivered to a party’s then current Relationship Manager. |
24.3 | A communication is given: |
(a) | if posted within five Business Days after posting; |
(b) | if posted in any other case, fifteen Business Days after posting; or |
(c) | if sent by email or when the email provider produces a report that the email was sent in full to the addressee. That report is conclusive evidence that the addressee received the email in full at the time indicated on that report. |
24.4 | If a communication is given: |
(a) | after 5.00pm in the place or receipt; or |
(b) | on a day which is not a Business Day in the place of receipt, |
it is taken as having been given on the next Business Day.
25. | ASSIGNMENT |
25.1 | Advisian must not assign or novate or attempt to assign or novate or otherwise deal with any right or obligation arising out of this Agreement without obtaining the prior written consent of Vast Solar. Vast Solar may assign, attempt to assign or otherwise transfer or subcontract any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement by notice to Advisian, and Advisian agrees to do all things necessary including executing any documents to give effect to such assignment, transfer or subcontract. |
25.2 | Any of the following will be deemed to be an assignment requiring the consent of Vast Solar under clause 25.1: |
(a) | a change in Control of Advisian, where Advisian or its ultimate parent is not listed on a recognised stock exchange; |
(b) | where a Advisian or its ultimate parent is listed on a recognised stock exchange, any change in the direct or indirect beneficial ownership or control of any shares in Advisian or its ultimate parent that results in a person holding 10% or more of the issued share capital of Advisian or its ultimate parent (where less than 10% were held prior to the change) or increasing the percentage of shares it holds in Advisian or its ultimate parent (where it held 10% or more prior to the change); or |
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(c) | the disposal by Advisian of the whole or part of its assets, operations or business (where the disposed assets, operations or business are required to enable Advisian to perform its obligations under this Agreement). |
26. | SUB-CONTRACTING |
26.1 | Advisian must not sub-contract to any third person any or all of its obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Vast Solar which consent may be withheld by Vast Solar in its absolute discretion or given by Vast Solar subject to any conditions it determines in its sole and absolute discretion. |
26.2 | Advisian must ensure that any sub-contractor engaged by it complies with all obligations imposed on Advisian by this Agreement. Advisian will not, as a result of any sub-contracting arrangement, be relieved from the performance of any obligation under this Agreement and will be liable for all acts and omissions of any sub-contractor as though they were the actions or omissions of Advisian. |
27. | GENERAL |
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
27.1 | This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Jurisdiction. |
RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES
27.2 | Nothing in this Agreement shall create, constitute or evidence any partnership, joint venture, agency, trust, employer/employee relationship or agency, or fiduciary relationship between the parties and a party may not make, or allow to be made, any representation that any such relationship exists between the parties. A party shall not have the authority to act for, or to incur any obligation on behalf of, any other party, except as expressly provided for in this Agreement. |
WAIVER AND EXERCISE OF RIGHTS
27.3 | A party does not waive a right, power or remedy if it fails to exercise or enforce, grants any forbearance or indulgence, or delays in exercising or enforcing any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement. |
27.4 | A single or partial exercise or waiver by a party of a right, power or remedy relating to this Agreement does not prevent any other or further exercise of that right, power, remedy or privilege or any other right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement. |
27.5 | A waiver of a right, power, remedy or privilege must be in writing and signed by the party giving the waiver. |
27.6 | A party is not liable for any Liability of any other party caused or contributed to by the waiver, exercise, attempted exercise, failure to exercise or delay in the exercise of a right, power or remedy. |
SEVERABILITY
27.7 | Each clause of this Agreement and each part of each clause must be read as a separate and severable provision. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it must be read-down if possible, so as to be valid and enforceable, and if that is not possible, to the extent that it is capable, it must be severed to the extent of the invalidity or unenforceability and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and not be affected by such severance provided that the overall effect of all such severances does not affect the commercial efficacy of this Agreement. |
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VARIATIONS
27.8 | Any modification to or variation of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the parties. No terms and conditions contained on any tax invoice, delivery docket, service description or other document provided by Advisian to Vast Solar will have any effect except to the extent that Vast Solar expressly agrees in writing to amend this Agreement to incorporate those terms or conditions. |
COUNTERPARTS
27.9 | This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including facsimile copies) and provided that every party has executed a counterpart, the counterparts together shall constitute a binding and enforceable agreement between the parties. |
RIGHTS CUMULATIVE
27.10 | Except as expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, the rights and remedies of a party under this Agreement are cumulative and the pursuit or exercise of a particular right or remedy is in addition to any other rights and remedies of that party under this Agreement or otherwise. |
CONSENTS
27.11 | Except as expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, a party may conditionally or unconditionally give or withhold any consent to be given under this Agreement and such consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
LEGAL COSTS
27.12 | Except as expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, each party must pay its own legal and other costs and expenses of negotiating, preparing, executing and performing its obligations under this Agreement. Advisian agrees to pay all duties in respect of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. |
ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING
27.13 | This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter of this Agreement and all earlier negotiations, representations, warranties, understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement are merged in and superseded by this Agreement. |
28. | DEFINITIONS |
28.1 | In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: |
“Advisian” means the entity described on the front page of this Agreement and includes any of Advisian’s Affiliates and Related Body Corporate which entity may be identified on an individual Task Brief.
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“Advisian’s Background Intellectual Property” means the pre-existing Intellectual Property, (including know-how, methodologies and trade secrets) of Advisian (if any) that has not been created specifically for or as a result of the supply of the Services.
“Affiliate” means:
(a) | any person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control (having regard to another person). A person shall be deemed to control another person for the purposes of this definition if the first person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to appoint a majority of the directors of the second person, or to otherwise direct or cause the direction of the management, policies or powers of the second person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by appointment of directors, by contract or otherwise; and |
(b) | any entity in which Vast Solar or Advisian (as applicable) holds at least 50% of the security or equity interests of that entity. |
“Agreement” means this document and its Schedules.
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday or public holiday on which registered banks are open for business in the Capital City of the Jurisdiction.
“Claim” means any claim, notice, demand, action, proceeding, litigation, investigation or judgment whether based in contract, tort, statute or otherwise.
“Codes of Conduct” means Vast Solar’s codes of conduct which relate to the operation of Vast Solar’s business which have from time to time been provided to Advisian.
“Codes of Practice” means the codes of practice and/or standards of excellence (if any) specified in a Task Brief in accordance with clause 7.1 (j).
“Commencement Date” means the date set out in Contract Information.
“Confidential Information” means all technical, scientific, commercial, financial or other information which is disclosed, made available, communicated or delivered to, or acquired or received by, a Receiving Party from a Disclosing Party under or in connection with this Agreement except information which:
(a) | is or becomes general public knowledge other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement or any other obligation of confidentiality owed to the Disclosing Party; |
(b) | the Receiving Party is able to conclusively prove was known to it prior to the date of this Agreement (other than by reason of it having been acquired directly or indirectly from a third party under an obligation of confidence to the Disclosing Party in relation to that information); or |
(c) | was or is independently developed by the Receiving Party without reference to any information acquired or received by the Receiving Party from the Disclosing Party or directly or indirectly from any third party under an obligation of confidence to the Disclosing Party. |
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
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“Consequential Loss” means any indirect or consequential within the meaning of the common law or which results from a supervening event or which is by way of loss of goodwill or credit, loss of business reputation, loss of profit or anticipated profit, loss of revenue, loss of contracts, loss arising from business interruption or liability in connection with pollution or contamination, future reputation or publicity, damage to credit rating, loss or denial of opportunity or which is suffered by a party to this Agreement as a result of a Claim on it by a third party (including third party Claims for personal injury or damage to property).
“CSP” means concentrating solar thermal power.
“CSP Industry” means the CSP industry including all adjacent applications and industries in which CSP technology is readily applicable, for example activities in desalination and process heat.
“Disclosing Party” has the meaning given to it in clause 15.1.
“End Date” means the first to occur of the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or as otherwise permitted by Law and the last day of the Term.
“GST Act” means the legislation specified in clause 23.1.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning given to that term in clause 18.1.
“Insolvency Event” means with respect to any party that is not a natural person:
(a) | that party has an agent in possession, mortgagee in possession, administrator or receiver and/or manager or similar insolvency official appointed to the whole or any substantial part of its assets; |
(b) | any order is made or resolution is passed for the winding up or dissolution of that party; |
(c) | that party is unable to pay any debt as and when that debt falls due; |
(A) | that party makes and assignment or compromise for the benefit of any of its creditors; |
(B) | that party ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on business; or |
(C) | that party disposes of the whole or a substantial part of its assets or undertakings; and |
(ii) | with respect to a party that is a natural person, that person: |
(A) | becomes bankrupt; |
(B) | has been filed or served with a petition in bankruptcy or bankruptcy notice; |
(C) | makes any arrangement or composition with that person’s creditors; or |
(D) | is found guilty of a serious criminal offence including any offence involving fraud or dishonesty. |
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“Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property rights, including but not limited to, the following rights:
(a) | patents, copyright, rights in circuit layouts, designs, trade and service marks (including goodwill in those marks), domain names and trade names and know-how, trade secret or any right to have confidential information kept confidential; |
(b) | any application or right to apply for registration of any of the rights referred to in paragraph (a); and |
(c) | all rights of a similar nature to any of the rights in paragraphs (a) and (b) which may subsist anywhere in the world, |
whether or not such rights are registered or capable of being registered.
“Jurisdiction” means the applicable laws of the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia.
“KPI” means any key performance indicator that is specified in a Task Brief for the purpose of measuring the performance of Advisian.
“Laws” means the laws in force in the relevant state or territory within which the Services or any part of the Services is being carried out, including, common or customary law, equity, judgment, legislation, orders, regulations, statutes, by-law, ordinances or any other legislative or regulatory measure and includes any certificates, licences, consents, permits, approvals and requirements of organisations having jurisdiction in connection with the performance of the Services and any amendment, modification or re-enactment of any of them.
“Liabilities” includes liabilities (whether actual, contingent or prospective), direct losses, damages, actions, costs, reasonable expenses, charges, fees (including legal costs on a party and party basis).
“Moral Rights” means, in relation to a Work, the moral rights of an author as defined in the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
“Projects” means any project developed by Vast Solar and/or its Affiliates and/or a third-party licenced to develop Vast Solar projects that use Vast Solar’s CSP technology, systems, related technology or services in which sodium is used as an element of the thermal energy transfer or storage system.
“Quarter” means each period of three months ending 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December during the Term and includes:
(a) | the period from the Commencement Date until the next such occurring date; and |
(b) | the period from the day after the last such occurring date prior to the End Date to the End Date. |
“Receiving Party” has the meaning given to that term in clause 15.1.
“Related Body Corporate” has the meaning given in the Corporations Act.
“Relationship Manager” means a person whilst appointed under clause 10.
“Task Brief Termination Notice Period” means any period expressed as such in Contract Information.
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“Services” means:
(a) | the services set out in Contract Information; |
(b) | any new, additional or varied services agreed by the parties; and |
(c) | any related services, functions and responsibilities not specifically described in this Agreement required for the proper performance and supply of these services |
together with all related goods, materials or products required to provide such services and any reference to the “supply” of Services is deemed to include the provision or supply of such Services together with all related goods, materials or products required to provide such Services.
“Services IP” means any Intellectual Property that is created by or on behalf of Advisian specifically in relation to or for the purpose of the supply of the Services.
“Specified Personnel” means Advisian’s personnel engaged in providing the Services in connection with a Task Brief.
“Specification” means the specification for the Services set out in a Task Brief, as amended by agreement in writing between the parties from time to time.
“Task Brief” means an order placed by Vast Solar with Advisian for the supply of Services in accordance with clauses 2.2 to 2.6.
“Vast Solar Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property of Vast Solar including, but not limited to, the Specification, Vast Solar Material and Vast Solar Trade Marks (if any), and any Intellectual Property of Vast Solar whether created pursuant to or before the date of this Agreement.
“Vast Solar Material” means any materials, including all goods, printed material, electronic material, notices, artwork, drawings and graphics (in any form), trade dress, catch phrases, disclosure documents, advertising and promotional materials and documents supplied by Vast Solar to Advisian for use in relation to the Services (if any).
“Vast Solar Sites” means those sites set out in Schedule Three as amended by Vast Solar by notice to Advisian.
“Work, Health & Safety Legislation” includes the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 and/or such other legislation that applies in the Jurisdiction to regulate safety and health in a workplace.
“Work” means any material that is created by Advisian or by any employee, agent or sub-supplier that Advisian engages to perform the Services.
“Year” means a period of 12 consecutive months commencing on the Commencement Date.
28.2 | Defined terms used on the front page of this Agreement, in Contract Information and in all Parts of this Agreement including any Schedules have the same meaning. |
29. | INTERPRETATION |
29.1 | In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: |
(a) | the singular in all cases includes the plural and vice versa; |
(b) | any gender includes the other genders; |
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(c) | references to clauses or Schedules are references to clauses in, or Schedules to, this Agreement; |
(d) | the meaning of general words is not limited by specific examples introduced by including, for example or similar expressions; |
(e) | a reference to a person includes a partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association, company, other corporations and a government or statutory body or authority; |
(f) | a reference to time is to time; |
(g) | no rule of construction will apply to a clause to the disadvantage of a party merely because that party put forward the clause or would otherwise benefit from it; |
(h) | a reference to AUD, A$, $A, dollar or $ is to Australian currency; |
(i) | where words or expressions are defined, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or expression have corresponding meanings; |
(j) | the headings to the clauses of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement; |
(k) | a reference to a party is to a party to this Agreement and includes the party’s executor, administrator, permitted successor or permitted assign; and |
(l) | references to any statute or regulation are to statutes and regulations unless the context otherwise requires and shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to any amendment or re-enactment and subordinate legislation under it. |
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Schedule One
CHARGES
1. | Charges: Unless agreed otherwise, the charges payable for the Services shall comprise the hours worked multiplied by the Personnel Rates set out below which: |
(a) | are fixed for the Term, subject to the Annual Review Process detailed below; |
(b) | are exclusive of GST (unless otherwise expressly stated); |
(c) | include all charges and costs payable for the delivery of the Services under the terms of this Agreement; |
(d) | include all other costs (including the supply of materials used in or incidental to the supply of the Services), taxes, duties, or other imposts, whether retroactive or not, levied on the Services and arising in or elsewhere on the supply of the Services supplied to Vast Solar. |
2. | Personnel Rates: as per the following schedules |
3. | The following provisions apply to the Personnel Rates: |
1. | Personnel will be assigned to the portfolio of projects using the Worley Personnel Authorisation Approval Form (PAAF) and Process, as adapted for this MSCA. The PAAF shall define the Personnel Category and thus the Rate of payment and other details of the assignment. |
2. | Work shall be reimbursed on an hourly-rate basis. The hourly-rates in Schedule One Tables 1, 2 and 3 apply to nationals from Spain, Australia and United States of America respectively and Table 4 applies to the Board Strategic Advisory position: |
a. | The hourly-rates apply for those nationals working in their home country - that is country of employment - and for periods of time in other countries; except, |
b. | Where, or if, personnel relocate from their home office for an extended term or as otherwise that requires their employment to be altered. Specific rates will be agreed for these cases. |
3. | The Spanish hourly-rates apply to the expected high utilisation workload of a team engaged for Basic Engineering and subsequent FEED and Owner’s Engineering and Detail Design phases. |
4. | The Australian hourly-rates apply to each of part-time (standard) and full-time utilisation. |
a. | Australian standard-rates are for all hours; except, |
b. | Australian full-time hour-rates are for all hours by personnel assigned to the project full-time for a minimum tenure of three-months. Note for the purposes of internal administration - particularly revenue recognition - personnel should be assigned in advance to the Australian full-time rates. The PAAF process applies. Where personnel are assigned under full-time rates and subsequently do not meet the utilisation criteria their rate shall automatically and retrospectively revert to the Australian standard hourly-rate. |
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5. | The American hourly-rates are for all hours. |
6. | The Board Strategic Advisory hourly-rates are for all hours. |
7. | Personnel nominations for each rate Category are as of the date of execution of the MSCA. Both are subject to change as personnel develop and grow and as new personnel enter the business and portfolio of project. These changes shall be agreed in advance using the PAAF process. |
8. | The exchange rates below shall be used to set the exchange baseline for Spanish and American hourly-rates to Australian dollars. The exchange rate shall be adjusted half- yearly on the last day of each half for the succeeding half-yearly period. |
a. | Base Exchange rate baselines: |
i. | 1EUR= 1.68164AUD |
ii. | 1USD=1.50981AUD |
b. | Example exchange rate adjustment |
PERIOD | EXCHANGE RATE ADJUSTMENT DATES Clause 8 |
RATE INCREMENT ADJUSTMENT DATES Clause 9 |
Base date | 2020-02-20 | 20 February 2020 |
2020 H2 | 1 July 2020 | 1 July 2020 |
2021 H1 | 1 January 2021 | Not applicable |
2021 H2 | 1 July 2021 | 1 July 2021 |
2022 H1 | 1 January 2022 | Not applicable |
c. | Exchange rate source xe.com. |
d. | The rates and categories shall be controlled via a master MS Excel spreadsheet that shall be updated by Advisian and reside with Vast Solar. |
9. | The rates are subject to yearly increment with an anniversary on 1 July. The increment shall be the Australian Bureau of Statistics Table 24 Index 6923 Engineering design and engineering consultancy services. |
10. | The following mark-up will apply to expenses for all administrative cost and profit: |
a. | Travel expenses will be at cost-plus 5%; |
b. | Other expenses will be at cost-plus 8%; |
c. | Subcontractors will be at cost-plus 12%. |
11. | Travel will follow the Worley (Advisian) travel policy. International or travel over 5-hours duration shall be as a minimum in Premium Economy. |
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12. | Advisian standard practice is to charge a standard day of eight hours only, notwithstanding that an effort of greater than eight hours may be expended. |
a. | Where team members are required to expend effort more than a standard day over a continued period, and Advisian deem those team members shall be reasonably compensated, the actual time shall be billable and payable to the team member. |
b. | Whilst this practice is at the sole discretion of Advisian, Vast Solar shall be consulted and consent to overtime hours being worked as billable hours. |
4. | Charge Review Procedures: Vast Solar will have the right to conduct enquiries of the market to ensure the Personnel Rates remain competitive. |
Page 33 of 39 |
Schedule One
Table 1: Spanish hourly-rates | ||||||
CATEGORY | YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (nominal) |
SPANNISH HOURLY RATE [AUD] |
NOT USED | PERSONNEL | ||
Principal Consultant | AUD [***] | GILEIN | ||||
Project Director | AUD [***] | RUBEN ROMAN/JAVIER GARCIA/DIEGO | ||||
Senior Project Manager | AUD [***] | JESUS/ESTER | ||||
Technical Specialist | AUD [***] | BERNARDO/JOSE MARIA (CHEMA) | ||||
Project Manager | AUD [***] | MARCO ANTONIO/CLARA GONZALO/ANTONIOCEREZO/IGNACIO MATIAS/ANTONIO VALENTIN/MARTIN MOLONEY | ||||
Senior Engineer 2 | AUD [***] | GIUSEPPE/GIOVANNY/MANUEL GONZALEZ/CRISTINA/BLANCA/ANGELES/PATRICIA/RAUL/JAVIER DONADIOS/ROSARIO/AURORA RODRIGUEZ | ||||
Senior Consultant | AUD [***] | JONAY/GONZALO | ||||
Project Lead | AUD [***] | JONATHAN/PABLO MAS/NICOLAS/HECTOR/JUAN MARTIN | ||||
Senior Engineer 1 | AUD [***] | JUAN SEBASTIAN/ANTONIO CASTILLO/RANSES GONZALEZ/JUAN MANUEL VAZQUEZ/ALVARO RIVERO/RODRIGO/ESMERALDA/MARCOS PORRAS/FRIKKIE/MANUEL RODRIGUEZ/MARIA TERESA/DANIEL GONZALEZ/RAUL LANTI/JAVIER IGLESIAS | ||||
Quality Specialist | AUD [***] | EIRK STOEN | ||||
Engineer 2 | AUD [***] | CALUM/SAHOO | ||||
Engineer | AUD [***] | PABLO OCAMPO/RUBEN FERNANDEZ/DANIEL PLAZA/MARINA RUBIO/DANIEL SEGURA | ||||
Consultant | AUD [***] | RAZEEN | ||||
Junior Engineer | AUD [***] | CARLOS PAYER/RODRIGO DE BLAS/SAM GORDON/SARA VENTAS/ANDREA LAMEIRO | ||||
Graduate Engineer | AUD [***] | |||||
Construction Manager | AUD [***] | |||||
Senior Project Controller | AUD [***] | ANA TEJEDA | ||||
Document Controller | AUD [***] | zuriÑe/maria/estela | ||||
Designer | AUD [***] | DAVID INDIANO | ||||
Page 34 of 39 |
Page 35 of 39 |
Schedule Two
BILLING AND INVOICING
1. | Content of invoices (clause 7.1) |
Each invoice must:
(a) | clearly show: |
i. | the amount which is due to Advisian for the Services provided; and |
ii. | that the total amount is correctly calculated in accordance with Schedule One; |
(b) | the purchase order number(s) and project code; |
(c) | the date or dates of performance of the Services to which the invoice relates; |
(d) | a sufficiently detailed and accurate description of the Services performed including time sheets for Advisian’s personnel, receipts for expenses for travel and other costs of providing the services; |
(e) | any GST payable in respect of the supply of the Services; and |
(f) | Advisian’s address and other details for payment. |
2. | Billing cycle (clause 7.1) |
Invoices must be provided monthly.
3. | Delivery of invoices |
Invoices must be addressed and delivered via email to the Vast Solar employee with oversight of the relevant Task Brief and copied to [***].
Page 36 of 39 |
Schedule Three
VAST SOLAR SITES
Corporate Head Office: | [***]
[***]
[***] | |
Pilot Plant | [***]
[***]
[***] |
Page 37 of 39 |
Schedule Four
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance with a limit of liability of $5,000,000 for any single event and in the aggregate that covers Advisian against any claims made arising out of any negligent act, error or omission on the part of Advisian or its employees, agents or contractors in connection with the supply of the Services under this Agreement and in respect of which the policy must not contain a deductible greater than $50,000.
Public and products liability insurance
Public liability insurance (for an amount of $10,000,000 in respect of a single event) in respect of which the policy must not contain a deductible greater than $50,000.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance (including coverage for common law liability) as required under applicable law.
Page 38 of 39 |
Schedule Five
TASK BRIEF
Advisian will supply the Services set out in this Task Brief in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Master Services and Collaboration Agreement.
The Task Brief template is included below for reference.
Page 39 of 39 |
Exhibit 10.24
Certain information has been redacted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish an unredacted copy of the exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analyses to the Commission upon request.
Joint Development Agreement
North West Queensland Hybrid Power Project Feasibility Study
—
Stanwell
Corporation Limited (Stanwell)
Vast Solar Pty Ltd (Vast)
—
[***] |
MinterEllison |
Joint Development Agreement
North West Queensland Hybrid Power Project Feasibility Study
Details | 3 |
Agreed terms | 4 |
1. | Defined terms and interpretation | 4 |
2. | Term and exclusivity | 15 |
3. | Feasibility Study and relationship between the Participants | 18 |
4. | Additional investors in the Hybrid Power Project | 20 |
5. | Steering Committee | 21 |
6. | Appointment of Project Manager | 25 |
7. | Project administration | 27 |
8. | Project Budget and Schedule and Funding Milestones | 29 |
9. | Decision to Proceed | 32 |
10. | Default and termination | 33 |
11. | Dispute Resolution | 36 |
12. | Transfers and Change of Control | 37 |
13. | Intellectual property | 38 |
14. | Insurance | 42 |
15. | Confidentiality | 43 |
16. | Notices and other communications | 45 |
17. | GST | 46 |
18. | General provisions | 47 |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 2 |
Details
Date: Friday 12 February 2021
Participants
Name ABN Short form name Notice details |
Stanwell
Corporation Limited 32 078 848 674 Stanwell [***] Email: [***] Attention: Associate General Counsel |
Name ABN Short form name Notice details |
Vast
Solar Pty Ltd 37 136 258 574 Vast [***] Email: [***] Attention: Craig Wood |
Background
A | Stanwell is a generator of electricity and is the owner and operator of the Mica Creek Power Station. |
B | Vast is the owner of the CSP Technology. |
C | The Participants have each undertaken an independent pre-feasibility analysis to evaluate the potential for the development of the Hybrid Power Project. |
D | The Participants have now agreed to carry out a joint Feasibility Study to further assess the development of the Hybrid Power Project, on the terms and conditions of this agreement. |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 3 |
Agreed terms
1. | Defined terms and interpretation |
1.1 | Defined terms |
In this document:
AEMO means the Australian Energy Market Operator (or any successor operator of the National Electricity Market).
Amendment Request has the meaning given in clause 7.8(a). Approved Payroll Costs has the meaning given in clause 8.5(c). Associate has the meaning given to that term in the Corporations Act.
Authorisations means all authorisations, leases, licences, permits, approvals, registrations and consents required by any Governmental Authority for the conduct of the Feasibility Study or the development and operation of the Hybrid Power Project.
Background IP means, in respect of a Participant, the Intellectual Property Rights which:
(a) | were owned by, or licensed to, that Participant before the Commencement Date which includes, in respect of Vast, the CSP Technology; |
(b) | are developed by that Participant independently of this agreement; |
(c) | are developed independently of, and otherwise without connection with, any part of the Study IP or the Developed IP; or |
(d) | are derived, directly or indirectly, from the Intellectual Property Rights described in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this definition, |
in each case:
(e) | as proven by tangible evidence; and |
(f) | excluding Developed IP and the Study IP. |
Business Day means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or bank holiday in Queensland.
Chairperson means the chairperson at meetings of the Steering Committee. Change in Control means, in relation to any entity (the first mentioned entity):
(a) | a change in the entity that Controls the first mentioned entity (other than if the Ultimate Holding Company of the first mentioned entity remains the same following the change); |
(b) | an entity that Controls the first mentioned entity ceases to Control that entity (other than if the Ultimate Holding Company of the first mentioned entity remains the same following the change); or |
(c) | if the first mentioned entity is not Controlled, another entity acquires Control of the first mentioned entity, |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 4 |
but does not include:
(d) | a Participant (or any Related Body Corporate of a Participant) becoming a listed entity on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX); |
(e) | any change in Control of a listed entity on the ASX; or |
(f) | in the case of Vast, a change in Control caused solely by Vast (or AGCentral Pty Ltd ACN 053 901 518 (being the Ultimate Holding Company of Vast)) being Controlled by a Kahlbetzer Family Member (or by two or more Kahlbetzer Family Members acting in concert) or a Kahlbetzer Entity. |
Claim means any allegation, debt, cause of action, liability, claim, proceeding, suit or demand of any nature howsoever arising and whether present or future, fixed or unascertained, actual or contingent whether at law, in equity, under statute or otherwise.
Commencement Date means the date of this agreement.
Communications Plan means the communications plan for the Hybrid Power Project, as amended from time to time by the Steering Committee.
Confidential Information of a Participant (Disclosing Party) means:
(a) | the nature and existence of the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project, including the discussions that have occurred prior to the date of this agreement; |
(b) | the nature and existence of this agreement and the terms of this agreement (and any other Project Agreements); |
(c) | all information that is developed by or for a Participant pursuant to the Feasibility Study; and |
(d) | all information treated by the Disclosing Party as confidential and disclosed by the Disclosing Party to another party or of which another party becomes aware, whether before or after the Commencement Date, except information: |
(i) | another Participant creates (whether alone or jointly with any third person) independently of the Disclosing Party; |
(ii) | which was lawfully obtained by a Participant before the Disclosing Party disclosed it to the Information Recipient; |
(iii) | which is received in good faith by a Participant from a third party entitled to disclose it; or |
(iv) | is public knowledge (otherwise than as a result of a breach of confidentiality by another party or any of its permitted disclosees). |
Consequential Loss means loss of revenue, loss of production, loss of product, loss of contract or loss of profit, and any indirect, special or consequential loss or damage, howsoever arising and whether in an action in contract, tort (including negligence), in equity, product liability, under statute or any other basis.
Control has the meaning given to that term in section 50AA of the Corporations Act and Controlled has a corresponding meaning.
Joint Development Agreement | Page 5 |
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Cost of Equipment Sales means all reasonable, verifiable and properly incurred Equipment Sales related costs including:
(a) | direct: |
(i) | materials costs; |
(ii) | breakage costs; |
(iii) | manufacturing labour costs; |
(iv) | manufacturing costs; |
(v) | installation and installation labour costs; |
(vi) | manufacturing and installation supervisory labour costs; |
(vii) | Intellectual Property Rights costs excluding Margin Fee costs; |
(viii) | exchange rate gains and losses costs; |
(b) | the difference (if positive) between: |
(i) | the proportion of depreciation costs for manufacturing and installation equipment used in (and attributable to) the manufacturing, production and installation of elements of the CSP Technology as against the total applicable manufacturing and installation equipment’s life consumed; and |
(ii) | any depreciation or amortisation tax benefit that accrues to Vast; and |
(c) | any other costs directly attributable to the generation of Equipment Sales to the relevant Vast Project, |
provided that:
(d) | such costs are actual costs incurred by the Vast Group (or one of its members), and do not include any mark-up or margin; and |
(e) | the costs do not include indirect costs including overheads, research and development costs, sales and marketing costs. |
Costs Recovery Claim has the meaning given in clause 8.3(a).
CSP Licence has the meaning given in clause 13.5(a).
CSP Technology means the concentrated solar thermal power generation and storage technology developed by Vast.
Decision to Proceed has the meaning given in clause 9.1(b).
Defaulting Participant has the meaning given in 10.1.
Delegated Authorities means the delegated authorities set out in Schedule 4.
Developed IP has the meaning given in clause 13.3 and excludes the Background IP and the Study IP.
Joint Development Agreement | Page 6 |
Development Fee means a development fee of AU$16.5 million (or such other amount agreed by the Participants in writing) to reimburse or otherwise compensate Vast and Stanwell for:
(a) | undertaking pre-feasibility studies in relation to the Hybrid Power Project; |
(b) | undertaking the Feasibility Study; and |
(c) | achieving Financial Close in relation to the Hybrid Power Project. |
Direction has the meaning given in clause 15.2(a).
Dispute has the meaning given in clause 11.1.
Dispute Notice has the meaning given in clause 11.2.
Environmental Compliance Policy means the environmental compliance policy for the Hybrid Power Project initially provided by Stanwell and as amended from time to time by the Steering Committee.
Equipment Sales means any revenue earned by Vast or a member of the Vast Group on the:
(a) | sale of equipment which uses the CSP Technology, Developed IP or Study IP; |
(b) | sale or licencing of the CSP Technology, Developed IP or Study IP; or |
(c) | any royalties (or income of a similar nature) earned from the CSP Technology, Developed IP or Study IP, |
in each case, determined in accordance with accounting standards adopted or approved by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB).
Equity Investor has the meaning given in clause 4(a).
Event of Default has the meaning given in 10.1.
Exclusivity Period means the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the date that is six years from the Commencement Date.
Expiry Date means 30 April 2022 (or such later date as the parties agree in writing).
Exiting Party has the meaning given in clause 9.5(a).
Feasibility Study means a detailed study conducted to assess and determine the commercial, technical and strategic feasibility and viability of developing the Hybrid Power Project, including the following work:
(a) | an assessment of the optimum capacity, design, and technical specification for the Hybrid Power Project; |
(b) | development of cost estimates, market projections and contracting strategies necessary to assess the commercial viability of the Hybrid Power Project; |
(c) | an assessment of the optimal site for the Hybrid Power Project having regard to existing and proposed transmission capacity; |
(d) | development of an engineering and procurement strategy for the Hybrid Power Project; |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 7 |
(e) | preparation of technical and economic models for the Hybrid Power Project; |
(f) | preparation of specifications and designs for the Hybrid Power Project; |
(g) | preparation of a project risk report and mitigation plan for the Hybrid Power Project; |
(h) | identification of the required environmental and other Authorisations required for the development and operation of the Hybrid Power Project; |
(i) | conduct of environmental investigations or studies required for the Hybrid Power Project; |
(j) | securing applicable Authorisations for the Feasibility Study; |
(k) | securing reliable water and other requisite services for the Hybrid Power Project including any necessary statutory approvals and contracts with third parties (including regarding water, waste disposal, telecommunications and any other relevant agreements); |
(l) | preparing an operation and maintenance report for the Hybrid Power Project; |
(m) | negotiation and, if appropriate, execution of: |
(i) | an acceptable connection and access agreement (or obtaining an appropriate connection offer); |
(ii) | acceptable gas connection and supply agreements (or obtaining appropriate offers for gas connection and supply); |
(iii) | an acceptable engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement(s) (or obtain an appropriate EPC offer(s) for the construction of the Hybrid Power Station); and |
(iv) | any other Project Agreements identified in the Project Workstreams; |
(n) | negotiation and, if appropriate, execution of an acceptable offtake agreement(s) (or obtain an appropriate offtake offer(s) for the sale of electricity from the Hybrid Power Station); |
(o) | negotiation and, if appropriate, execution of acceptable funding agreements (or obtaining appropriate funding offers for the financing of the Hybrid Power Station); |
(p) | carry out financial analysis to assess the commercial viability of the Hybrid Power Project; |
(q) | preparation of any legal, technical, tax or accounting due diligence reports, or other any other reports, required by any financiers or government funding bodies (including, if applicable, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation or the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility); and |
(r) | undertaking or procuring other reports, assessments or investigations as deemed necessary by the Steering Committee, |
of a standard customarily required by reputable and credible financial institutions (acceptable to the Steering Committee) to support financing of a development of a similar scale, remote location and technological maturity of the Hybrid Power Project.
Joint Development Agreement | Page 8 |
Financial Close means, in relation to the Hybrid Power Project or any replacement project (as applicable):
(a) | if project finance is being used to develop the project: |
(i) | finance documents to fund the project have been entered into; and |
(ii) | all conditions to the initial draw down of that financing have been satisfied or waived; or |
(b) | if project finance is not being used to develop the project: |
(i) | internal corporate approval, including a final investment decision, to fund the development of the project has been received; and |
(ii) | a formal notice to proceed has been issued to the building contractor(s) to commence construction of the project. |
Financial Year means the twelve (12) month period ending on 30 June each year.
First Participant has the meaning given in clause 8.5(a).
Funding Milestones means the funding milestones set out in Schedule 3.
Good Electricity Industry Practice means the exercise of that degree of skill, diligence, prudence and foresight that reasonably would be expected from a significant proportion of operators of facilities in Australia for the generation, transmission or supply of electricity under conditions comparable to those applicable to the Hybrid Power Project consistent with applicable Authorisations, reliability, safety and environmental protection. The determination of comparable conditions is to take into account factors such as the relative size, duty, age and technological status of the Hybrid Power Project and the applicable Authorisations.
Governmental Authority includes any governmental, semi-governmental, municipal or statutory authority, instrumentality, organisation, body or delegate (including any town planning or development authority, public utility, environmental, building, health, safety or other body or authority).
Gross Margin Statement has the meaning given in clause 13.6(f).
Gross Negligence means such reckless conduct in breach of a duty of care as demonstrates a conscious or reckless disregard for the harmful, foreseeable, proximate and avoidable consequences which result or may result from that conduct.
Hybrid Power Project means a proposed 50MW hybrid solar power station to be located near Mount Isa notionally comprising of Solar PV, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), CSP Technology and gas engines, as may be further defined or expanded during the course of the Feasibility Study or as otherwise agreed by the Participants.
Information Recipient has the meaning given in clause 15.1.
Information Request Response has the meaning given in clause 2.3(d).
Insolvency Event means:
(a) | an administrator is appointed to a Participant or action is taken to make that appointment; |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 9 |
(b) | a Participant commences to be wound up or ceases to carry on business; |
(c) | the appointment of a receiver, receiver and manager or other Controller (as defined in the Corporations Act) to the Participant or any of its assets; |
(d) | a Participant enters into a compromise or arrangement with its credits or a class of them; |
(e) | a Participant is insolvent or is presumed to be insolvent under the Corporations Act; |
(f) | the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise other than a solvent reorganisation); or |
(g) | anything having a substantially similar effect to any of the above events occurs under the law of an applicable jurisdiction. |
Intellectual Property Rights means all industrial and intellectual property rights recognised in any jurisdiction worldwide, whether protectable by statute, at common law or in equity, including:
(a) | patents and patent applications, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof, utility models and utility model applications, and industrial designs; |
(b) | trade marks, service marks, trade names, logos, actions in passing off, internet domain names, social media names, together with the goodwill connected with the use thereof and symbolised thereby; |
(c) | copyrights, including copyrights in computer software; |
(d) | registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing under paragraphs (a)-(c) of this definition; |
(e) | trade secrets, know-how, methods, techniques, processes (including manufacturing processes), formulae, design or technical specifications, test results, testing methods, procedures, data, metadata, inventions, customer and business lists and other confidential and proprietary information; |
(f) | the right to sue at law or in equity for all Claims or causes of action arising out of or related to any past, present or future infringement, misappropriation or violation of any of the foregoing, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom; and |
(g) | the right to keep Confidential Information confidential. |
Interest means, in relation to a Participant, that Participant’s undivided right, title and interest to the Study IP and may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate of all the Participants’ Interests at that time.
Interest Rate means a rate of interest per annum that is 2 percentage points higher than the corporate overdraft reference rate published for that day by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 123 123 124 or if that rate ceases to exist, another rate determined by the Steering Committee.
Ipso Facto Stay means any limitation on enforcement of rights or self-executing provisions in a contract, agreement or arrangement pursuant to sections 415D, 415F, 415FA, 434J, 434J, 434L, 434LA, 451E, 451G or 451GA of the Corporations Act.
Joint Development Agreement | Page 10 |
Irremediable Default means a default in the observance or performance of a material obligation under this agreement that cannot be remedied (including a breach of confidentiality) but does not include a default in the observance or performance of a material obligation within a time specified in this agreement unless the obligation is incapable of being observed or performed after the end of the time specified.
Joint Venture Agreement means a joint venture agreement between the Participants for the ownership and operation of the Hybrid Power Project.
Kahlbetzer Entity means an entity wholly owned by any one or more of the Kahlbetzer Family Members.
Kahlbetzer Family Member means each of the following individuals, who are extended family members of John Igino Kahlbetzer of 42 The Crescent, Vaucluse, NSW, 2030:
(a) | Donna-Lee Ann Kahlbetzer (wife); |
(b) | Colt Kahlbetzer (son); |
(c) | Cruz Kahlbetzer (son); |
(d) | Markus Nicholson Kahlbetzer (brother); |
(e) | Olivia Kahlbetzer (niece); |
(f) | Xavier Kahlbetzer (nephew); and |
(g) | Felix Kahlbetzer (nephew). |
LOI means the “Letter of Intent: Mica Creek CSP Hybrid Power Station” dated 2 March 2020 between Vast and Stanwell.
Loss means any Claim, cost, damages, debt, expense, liability or loss and includes Taxes.
Margin Fee means, for a Vast Project, 8.5% of each and any Vast Equipment Supply Margin.
Margin Fee Cap means:
(a) | until the date the Steering Committee agrees that the Funding Milestone described in item 3 of Schedule 3 has been satisfied in accordance with clause 8.2(b) - the then current aggregate amount (in AU$) of Stanwell’s monetary contribution under this agreement; or |
(b) | on and from the date the Steering Committee agrees the Funding Milestone described in item 3 of Schedule 3 is satisfied in accordance with clause 8.2(b) — the amount equal to: |
where:
A = the then current aggregate amount (in AU$) of Stanwell’s monetary contribution under this agreement,
subject always to the Margin Fee Cap never exceeding an amount equal to AU$15,000,000 (15 million dollars).
Joint Development Agreement | Page 11 |
Mica Creek Power Station means the power station known as the Mica Creek Power Station located near Mount Isa, Queensland.
National Electricity Law or NEL means the National Electricity Law as defined in the Electricity - National Scheme (Queensland) Act 1997.
National Electricity Rules or NER means the National Electricity Rules made under the National Electricity Law (as it applies in Queensland).
New Project has the meaning given in clause 2.3(c).
New Project Notice has the meaning given in clause 2.3(c).
Non-Proposing Participant has the meaning given in clause 2.3(c).
Notice has the meaning given in clause 16.1.
Participant means a party to this agreement.
Payroll Costs Notice has the meaning given in clause 8.5(a).
Personnel means in relation to a Participant, that Participant’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, contractors and subcontractors.
Plant and Equipment means all tools, plant, equipment and other items supplied by a Participant to carry out the Feasibility Study.
Procurement Policy means each procurement policy set out in Schedule 6 (as may be amended from time to time).
Project Agreements means this agreement, and all other agreements or instruments entered into by or on behalf of the Participants in connection with the Hybrid Power Project.
Project Budget and Schedule means the initial budget and schedule for the conduct of the Feasibility Study set out in Schedule 2 as amended from time to time by the Steering Committee.
Project Manager means the person appointed under 6.1, or any replacement appointed under clause 6.3.
Project Policies means the policies for the conduct of the Feasibility Study, including the
Delegated Authorities, WHS Plan, Procurement Policy, Environmental Compliance Policy, Quality Plan, Reporting Policy, Communications Plan and Resourcing Plan.
Project Risk Register means a risk register for the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project initially provided by Stanwell and as amended from time to time by the Steering Committee.
Project Sites means:
(a) | in the case of Stanwell: |
(i) | the Mica Creek Power Station; and |
(ii) | Stanwell’s Head Office located at [***]; and |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 12 |
(b) | in the case of Vast: |
(i) | Vast’s Head Office located at [***]; |
(ii) | Vast’s Brisbane Office located at [***]; |
(iii) | the ‘Site’ (as that term is defined in the Option and Licence Deed between Vast, James Lyne Lord and Marjorie Annette Lord dated on or about the date of this agreement), which is located on Lot 24 on Survey Plan 265794 (Title Reference 1766601); and |
(iv) | any future Vast office located in or around the town of Mount Isa, Queensland. |
Project Team has the meaning given in clause 7.2(a).
Project Workstreams means the work program for the conduct of the Feasibility Study, as set out in Schedule 1.
Proposing Participant has the meaning given in clause 2.3(c).
Quality Plan means the quality plan provided by Stanwell (as may be amended from time to time).
Related Body Corporate has the meaning given in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Remaining Participant has the meaning given in clause 9.5(b).
Representative means a person for the time being appointed by a Participant as its representative on the Steering Committee and includes any alternate of that person appointed under the Steering Committee Charter.
Resourcing Plan means the resourcing plan set out in Schedule 5.
Second Participant has the meaning given in clause 8.5(a).
Shareholding Ministers means those Queensland Government Ministers appointed as shareholders under the Government Owned Corporations Act 1993 (QId) in relation to Stanwell.
Stanwell Board means Stanwell’s board of directors.
Stanwell Costs Payable has the meaning given in clause 8.3(c).
Stanwell Payment has the meaning given in clause 8.3(d)(iii)(B).
Steering Committee means the committee established under clause 5 to represent the Participants in relation to the Feasibility Study and this agreement.
Steering Committee Charter means a charter for the Steering Committee which sets out the principles for the conduct of the Steering Committee.
Study Expenses means all capital and operating costs, charges, expenses, fees, Taxes (other than income or capital gains taxes) and other payments and expenditures of and incidental to the conduct of the Feasibility Study set out in the Project Budget and Schedule, up to a maximum of AU$10,000,000 (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Participants).
Study IP means all Intellectual Property Rights in the Feasibility Study together with all workings, supporting documents, reports and deliverables in respect of the Feasibility Study, or otherwise relating to this agreement, but excluding the Background IP and the Developed IP.
Joint Development Agreement | Page 13 |
Taxes means taxes, levies, deductions and duties, including fines, penalties and interest on any of them.
Term has the meaning given in clause 2.1(a).
Transfer, of a proprietary or non-proprietary matter, interest or thing means to sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of the proprietary or non-proprietary matter, interest or thing.
Ultimate Holding Company has the meaning given to that term in section 9 of the Corporations Act.
Vast Costs Payable has the meaning given in clause 8.3(c).
Vast Equipment Supply Margin means, for each Vast Project, Equipment Sales less Cost of Equipment Sales calculated in accordance with this agreement (as applicable) and Vast’s annual audited accounts prepared in accordance with accounting standards adopted or approved by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB).
Vast Group means the corporate group comprising Vast and each Associate of Vast.
Vast Payment has the meaning given in clause 8.3(d)(ii)(B).
Vast Project means:
(a) | any project (including the Hybrid Power Project) in which the Vast Group has an interest; |
(b) | any project that uses or incorporates the CSP Technology; or |
(c) | any project that a member of the Vast Group supplies any equipment, services, goods, Intellectual Property Rights or technology (including the CSP Technology, Study IP or Developed IP) to. |
WHS Plan means the work health and safety plan provided by Stanwell (as may be amended from time to time).
Withdrawing Participant has the meaning given in clause 9.2.
1.2 | Interpretation |
In this document unless the contrary intention appears:
(a) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa, and a gender includes other genders; |
(b) | another grammatical form of a defined word or expression has a corresponding meaning; |
(c) | a reference to a clause, paragraph, schedule or annexure is to a clause or paragraph of, or schedule or annexure to, this agreement, and a reference to this agreement includes any schedule or annexure; |
(d) | a reference to a document or instrument includes the document or instrument as novated, altered, supplemented or replaced from time to time; |
(e) | a reference to A$, $A, dollar or $ is to Australian currency; |
(f) | a reference to time is to Brisbane, Australia time; |
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(g) | a reference to a party is to a party to this agreement, and a reference to a party to a document includes the party’s executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns and substitutes; |
(h) | a reference to a person includes a natural person, partnership, body corporate, association, governmental or local authority or agency or other entity; |
(i) | a reference to a statute, ordinance, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of them; |
(j) | a word or expression defined in the Corporations Act has the meaning given to it in the Corporations Act; |
(k) | the meaning of general words is not limited by specific examples introduced by including, for example or similar expressions; |
(l) | any agreement, representation, warranty or indemnity in favour of two or more Participants (including where two or more persons are included in the same defined term) is for the benefit of them jointly and severally; |
(m) | a rule of construction does not apply to the disadvantage of a party because the party was responsible for the preparation of this agreement or any part of it; and |
(n) | if a day on or by which an obligation must be performed or an event must occur is not a Business Day, the obligation must be performed or the event must occur on or by the next Business Day. |
1.3 | Headings |
Headings are for ease of reference only and do not affect interpretation.
2. | Term and exclusivity |
2.1 | Term |
(a) | This agreement commences on the Commencement Date and terminates on the earlier of: |
(i) | subject to clause 2.1(b), the Expiry Date; |
(ii) | the agreement is terminated in accordance with clauses 9.2, 10.4, 10.7 or 11.4; |
(iii) | the date a Joint Venture Agreement is entered into by the Participants; |
(iv) | the date the Participants agree in writing to terminate this agreement, |
(Term).
(b) | The Participants agree that if, prior to the Expiry Date, a Decision to Proceed is approved by the Steering Committee, but at the Expiry Date Stanwell has not obtained either Stanwell Board or Shareholding Ministerial approval to proceed to or participate in Financial Close, this agreement will be automatically extended until the later of: |
(i) | the date first nominated by notice in writing by one Participant to the other Participant, provided that date is not less than 30 days, and not more than 42 days, after the date the notice is received by the recipient; and |
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(ii) | 31 July 2022. |
2.2 | Termination of the LOI |
The Participants agree that:
(a) | this agreement replaces and supersedes the LOI; and |
(b) | on and form the date of this agreement the LOI is terminated and is of no further force or effect. |
2.3 | Exclusivity regarding CSP Technology |
(a) | The Participants acknowledge and agree that for the duration of the Term of this agreement, they will work actively together in good faith to consider locations and commercial structures for potential use of CSP Technology in Queensland. |
(b) | Each Participant agrees that, during the Exclusivity Period, it will not actively solicit any proposals from third parties regarding any projects which involve the development, operation or supply of concentrated solar thermal power generation and storage in Queensland provided that a Participant is not prohibited or restricted from engaging in any discussions with third parties (and pursuing any resulting projects) where: |
(i) | such discussions are initiated by the third party; |
(ii) | the Participant obtains the consent of the other Participant (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); or |
(iii) | in the case of Stanwell, it is requested or directed to do so by its Shareholding Ministers. |
(c) | Each Participant agrees that, during the Exclusivity Period, if a Participant (Proposing Participant) is considering entering into any agreements (other than Project Agreements) with any third parties, regarding any projects which involve the development, operation or supply of CSP Technology in Queensland (New Project), the Proposing Participant must provide written notice to the other Participant (Non-Proposing Participant) offering the Non-Proposing Participant the right to participate in the New Project (New Project Notice). The New Project Notice must include all information necessary or desirable to enable the Non-Proposing Participant to inform its decision whether or not to participate in the New Project (including financial modelling information and any other material information which a prospective purchaser or financier would require to invest in the New Project). |
(d) | The Non-Proposing Participant may, within 20 Business Days following receipt of the New Project Notice, request such information from the Proposing Participant which the Non-Proposing Participant reasonably requires to inform its decision as to whether to participate in the New Project and the Proposing Participant must promptly provide such information (Information Request Response). |
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(e) | Within 30 Business Days of receipt of the later of: |
(i) | the New Project Notice; or |
(ii) | if the Non-Proposing Participant makes a request for information in accordance with clause 2.3(d), the Information Request Response, |
the Non-Proposing Participant must notify the Proposing Participant in writing advising whether or not it wishes to participate in the New Project.
(f) | If the Non-Proposing Participant notifies the Proposing Participant that it does not wish to participate in the New Project or fails to provide notice to the Proposing Participant within the required time period, the Proposing Participant will be free to undertake the New Project either itself or with any third party and the Non-Proposing Participant will have no right to participate. |
(g) | If the Non-Proposing Participant notifies the Proposing Participant that it wishes to participate in the New Project, the Participants must meet to negotiate in good faith and acting reasonably the key commercial terms that should apply between the Participants in respect of the New Project. If the Participants cannot agree the key commercial terms to apply to the New Project within 60 Business Days of the New Project Notice, the Proposing Participant will be free to undertake the New Project either itself or with any third party and the Non-Proposing Participant will have no right to participate provided that if the Proposing Participant commences a commercial process of any nature (whether formal, informal or otherwise) regarding the development of, or acquisition of an interest in, the New Project (including an auction process or other sales or partnership process), the Proposing Participant must offer the Non-Proposing Participant the opportunity to participate in that process on the same terms as those offered or agreed with any third party. |
(h) | The Participants agree that clause 2.3 will no longer apply to Vast and Vast will have an unrestricted right to proceed with the Feasibility Study, the Hybrid Power Project or any other project (including any New Project where Vast is the Proposing Participant) by itself or with any other third party without Stanwell where: |
(i) | this agreement is terminated for an Event of Default under clause 10.1 where Stanwell is the Defaulting Participant; |
(ii) | this agreement is terminated pursuant to clause 10.7; or |
(iii) | where Stanwell is a Withdrawing Participant. |
(i) | The Participants agree that clause 2.3 will no longer apply to Stanwell and Stanwell will have an unrestricted right to proceed with the Feasibility Study, the Hybrid Power Project or any other project (including any New Project where Stanwell is the Proposing Participant) by itself or with any other third party without Vast where: |
(i) | this agreement is terminated for an Event of Default under clause 10.1 where Vast is the Defaulting Participant; |
(ii) | this agreement is terminated pursuant to clause 10.7; or |
(iii) | where Vast is a Withdrawing Participant. |
(j) | For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this clause 2.3 limits or restricts the application of clause 13.6 or Vast’s obligation to pay the Margin Fee. |
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3. | Feasibility Study and relationship between the Participants |
3.1 | Purpose |
(a) | The Participants agree to undertake the Feasibility Study for their joint benefit in accordance with this agreement (including the Project Workstreams), for the purpose of assessing the development of the Hybrid Power Project. |
(b) | The Participants agree that: |
(i) | they aim to complete the Feasibility Study on or before 31 December 2021 and with the aim of achieving Financial Close on or before the Expiry Date; and |
(ii) | the Feasibility Study will be completed in sufficient detail to allow each Participant to decide if it wishes to proceed to Financial Close. |
3.2 | Feasibility Study Interests |
(a) | The respective Interests of the Participants as at the date of this agreement are: |
(i) | Stanwell - 50%; and |
(ii) | Vast - 50%. |
(b) | The Participants may agree, in writing, to amend their respective Interests at any time. |
3.3 | Relationship |
The Participants agree that:
(a) | the relationship between the parties is limited to carrying out the Feasibility Study in accordance with this agreement; |
(b) | the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Participants in every case (including in respect of carrying out the Feasibility Study) are several in proportion to each Participant’s Interest and not joint nor joint and several; |
(c) | except where this agreement expressly states otherwise: |
(i) | nothing in this agreement creates an association, joint venture, relationship of employment, trust, agency or partnership between the Participants; and |
(ii) | a Participant does not have any authority to act for, or to create or assume any responsibility or obligation on behalf of, any other Participant; and |
(d) | without limiting clause 3.5, no Participant shall be under any fiduciary or other duty to the other Participant, including any duty which would prevent it from engaging in or enjoying the benefits of any competing endeavours, subject to the express provisions of this agreement (including clause 2.3). |
3.4 | Indemnity |
Each Participant (indemnitor) irrevocably and unconditionally indemnifies each other Participant and their respective Personnel (indemnitee) from and against any liability, loss, harm, damage, cost or expense (including legal fees) that the indemnitee may suffer or incur as a result of any act or omission of, or any purported assumption of any obligation or responsibility by, the indemnitor or any of its Personnel, done or omitted to be done, or undertaken, or apparently done or omitted to be done or undertaken, on behalf of the indemnitee in connection with the Feasibility Study and not authorised under this agreement.
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3.5 | Activities outside Feasibility Study and Hybrid Power Project |
Subject to clause 2.3, each Participant has an unrestricted right to engage in and receive the full benefit of any activity outside the Feasibility Study or the Hybrid Power Project (whether or not in competition with the Feasibility Study or the Hybrid Power Project or the other Participant) without consulting the other Participant or permitting the other Participant to participate.
3.6 | Participant’s covenants |
Each Participant covenants and agrees with each other Participant:
(a) | to diligently observe and perform its obligations and commitments in respect of the Feasibility Study and under this agreement; |
(b) | not to engage (whether alone or in association with others) in any activity in respect of the Feasibility Study or the Hybrid Power Project except as provided or authorised by this agreement; |
(c) | not to do or permit to be done anything by which any of the Authorisations might be rendered liable to be cancelled, forfeited, revised, not issued, not renewed or not extended; |
(d) | to make available its Interest for the purposes of the Feasibility Study; and |
(e) | to act in good faith towards each other in carrying out the Feasibility Study. |
3.7 | Participant’s warranties |
Each Participant warrants, at the date of this agreement, that:
(a) | it has obtained all necessary approvals or consents for its participation in the Feasibility Study from all relevant government or statutory authorities whether located in Australia or elsewhere; and |
(b) | by executing this agreement it will not breach the terms of any approval, licence, its constituent documents or other agreement to which it is a party. |
3.8 | Limitation of liability |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, except in the case of fraud, wilful default or Gross Negligence:
(a) | a Participant will not be liable for any Consequential Loss suffered by the other Participant as a result of the first Participant’s breach; and |
(b) | except in relation to Vast’s obligation to pay the Margin Fee, a Participant’s liability under this agreement is capped at the higher of: |
(i) | 50% of the Study Expenses; and |
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(ii) | the amount actually recovered by the Participant under insurance policies maintained by the Participant in accordance with the agreement up to the limit of indemnity under such policies, or the amount that would have been recoverable under any insurance policies required to be maintained by the Participant under this agreement but for: |
(A) | a failure of the Participant to effect and maintain insurance or submit a claim and take reasonable steps to pursue such claim once it had been submitted; |
(B) | a breach by the Participant of the terms of the relevant insurance policy; or |
(C) | an insurer relying on clause 3.8(b)(i) to avoid or reduce its liability under such policies. |
4. | Additional investors in the Hybrid Power Project |
(a) | During the Term, the Participants may agree to seek further equity funding for the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project from one or more third parties (Equity Investor). |
(b) | If the Steering Committee agrees upon one or more candidates to be considered as a preferred Equity Investor, the Participants must: |
(i) | approach such preferred Equity Investor(s) to ascertain if they wish to participate in the Feasibility Study and invest equity in the Hybrid Power Project; |
(ii) | make information about the Hybrid Power Project (as approved by the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, acting reasonably) available for review by such preferred Equity Investor(s); and |
(iii) | negotiate with the preferred Equity Investor(s) regarding the terms for their participation in the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project. |
(c) | If an Equity Investor agrees to participate in the Feasibility Study, the Participants agree to negotiate in good faith to: |
(i) | amend this agreement; |
(ii) | grant an Interest, or assign an interest in this agreement, to the Equity Investor; |
(iii) | require the Equity Investor enter into a deed of accession in respect of this agreement; or |
(iv) | terminate this agreement and enter into a new agreement with the Equity Investor on substantially the same terms as this agreement. |
(d) | Any costs incurred in attracting an Equity Investor will be shared equally between the Participants (and, to the extent possible, the Equity Investor), and such costs are in addition to, and are not included in, the Project Budget and Schedule. |
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5. | Steering Committee |
5.1 | Establishment of Steering Committee |
The Participants agree to establish a Steering Committee to oversee and govern the Feasibility Study, which will be formed and conducted in accordance with this clause 5.
(a) | The Steering Committee is responsible for the oversight and governance of the Feasibility Study. |
(b) | The Steering Committee is empowered to make all decisions in relation to matters within the scope of the Feasibility Study, other than: |
(i) | matters expressly reserved by this agreement for the Participants’ determination, decision, approval or consent; |
(ii) | matters which have been expressly delegated in accordance with this agreement (including the Delegated Authorities) to a Participant, the Chairperson, the Representatives of each Participant or the Project Manager. |
(c) | The Steering Committee must determine and maintain the Steering Committee Charter, provided that, to the extent of any inconsistency between the Steering Committee Charter and this agreement, this agreement prevails. |
5.2 | Composition of Steering Committee |
(a) | Each Participant will be entitled to appoint three Representatives on the Steering Committee. |
(b) | Each Participant may also appoint an alternate for each of its Representatives who will be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of the Steering Committee in which the relevant Representative does not participate. |
(c) | Each Participant will appoint its Representatives and alternates (if any) by notice in writing to the other Participant. |
(d) | A Participant may replace any of its Representatives or alternates, or revoke any such appointment, at any time by giving not less than five Business Days’ notice in writing to the other Participant. |
(e) | The Project Manager will attend all meetings of the Steering Committee but is not, unless a Representative, entitled to vote. |
5.3 | Chairperson |
(a) | The Chairperson will be appointed by Stanwell. |
(b) | The Chairperson will be responsible for: |
(i) | scheduling and preparing the agenda for Steering Committee meetings; and |
(ii) | the management of the Steering Committee, in accordance with this agreement. |
(c) | The Chairperson will not have a casting vote. |
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(d) | If at any meeting of the Steering Committee the Chairperson is not present at the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Representatives present may choose one of those Representatives to preside at that meeting. |
5.4 | Secretary |
(a) | The Representatives will appoint a person, who may, but need not be, a Representative, to act as secretary of the Steering Committee. |
(b) | The secretary will attend all meetings of the Steering Committee but is not, unless a Representative, entitled to vote. |
(c) | The Representatives may remove the secretary from office and appoint a replacement. |
5.5 | Meetings |
(a) | Meetings of the Steering Committee will (unless otherwise agreed by the Steering Committee): |
(i) | be held virtually or at such other place as the Steering Committee may from time to time determine; and |
(ii) | be held at least once per month or at such other intervals as required by this agreement or as the Steering Committee may determine. |
(b) | In addition, the Project Manager may at any time, and must within five (5) Business Days of being requested to do so by a Participant, convene a meeting of the Steering Committee. Any request by a Participant for a meeting to be convened must set out the matters to be considered at the meeting. |
(c) | Meetings of the Steering Committee may be held in person or by telephone, video conference or other means of instantaneous communication. |
(d) | Each Participant will ensure its Representatives convene and attend meetings expeditiously to ensure the continuity of Feasibility Study. |
5.6 | Notice of meetings |
(a) | Except as otherwise expressly stated otherwise in this agreement, the Project Manager will give to each Participant at least ten (10) Business Days’ notice of each meeting of the Steering Committee (or at least two (2) Business Days’ notice for a reconvened meeting), which notice must outline the business to be conducted at the meeting. Such notice will not be required where the Representatives of each Participant agree to waive notice of the meeting. |
(b) | Each Participant may give a notice to the Project Manager and each other Participant at least five (5) Business Days prior to the meeting to include any additional items of business to be conducted at the meeting. |
(c) | Business not mentioned in a notice of meeting will not be dealt with at the meeting unless all Representatives (not just those present at the meeting) unanimously agree. |
5.7 | Quorum |
(a) | The quorum for a meeting of the Steering Committee will be at least one Representative of each Participant entitled to vote. |
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(b) | If a quorum is not present within one hour after the time appointed for the meeting: |
(i) | the meeting will stand adjourned to the same hour on the next Business Day at the same venue; and |
(ii) | the Project Manager will endeavour to contact the Representatives who were not present at the first meeting to advise them of the adjourned meeting. |
(c) | The quorum at an adjourned meeting will be those Representatives present at the adjourned meeting. |
5.8 | Voting rights |
(a) | The Representatives of a Participant present and entitled to vote at any meeting of the Steering Committee will have between them that number of votes which is equal to the Interest of the Participant who appointed those Representatives. By way of example, the Representatives of a Participant whose Interest is 50% will have between them 50 votes. |
(b) | Any one Representative appointed by a Participant shall be entitled to cast all votes of the Representatives appointed by such Participant. |
(c) | A Representative may attend and vote on a matter at a meeting of the Steering Committee notwithstanding there is a conflict of interest in respect of that matter with the Participant appointing that Representative. However at the start of the relevant meeting before the vote is taken, the existence of this conflict of interest must be declared if not already known by the other Participant. |
(d) | A Representative who decides (at his or her election) to withdraw from a meeting of the Steering Committee due to a conflict of interest will be treated as not being entitled to vote at that meeting and such withdrawal will not result in the meeting lacking quorum. |
5.9 | Decisions |
(a) | Subject to clauses 5.9(c) and 7.8, all decisions of the Steering Committee must be made by a simple majority vote. |
(b) | If, in relation to any decision regarding: |
(i) | the appointment of the Project Manager; |
(ii) | the satisfaction of a Funding Milestone in accordance with clause 8.2(b); or |
(iii) | any Amendment Request to the Project Workstreams, the Project Budget and Schedule or the Project Policies (other than any matter which, under clause 5.9(c), is expressly reserved for determination or approval by the Participants), |
the Steering Committee fails, at two consecutive Steering Committee meetings, to pass any proposed resolution, either Participant may refer the matter to dispute resolution in accordance with clause 11.
(c) | The following matters are expressly reserved for determination or approval by the Participants, and the Steering Committee is not empowered to make any decisions regarding: |
(i) | any amendment to, or replacement, enforcement or termination of, this agreement or a Project Agreement; |
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(ii) | any increase to the total amount of the Project Budget and Schedule; |
(iii) | the items set out in paragraphs (n) to (o) of the definition of Feasibility Study; |
(iv) | any change to the amount of, or criteria for, the Funding Milestones; or |
(v) | a change to, or the whole or partial disposal of, the Interests of the Participants. |
5.10 | Advisers and Observers |
A Participant may arrange (at its own expense) for consultants or other technical personnel (Advisers) and up to two other persons (Observers) to be present at meetings of the Steering Committee to assist its Representatives, or in the case of the Observers to observe but not participate in the meeting, provided that:
(a) | the Participant must ensure that each Adviser and Observer is under a duty of confidentiality in relation to all information and materials to which the Adviser or Observer gains access as a consequence of the Adviser or Observer being present at a meeting of the Steering Committee; and |
(b) | a Participant must inform the other Participant of its intention to have an Adviser or Observer attend a meeting of the Steering Committee on behalf of the Participant at least two (2) Business Days before the meeting (and such notice must include the name and origin of each Adviser and Observer). |
5.11 | Authority of Representatives |
Each Representative will have full power and authority to represent the Participant who appointed the Representative in all matters within the powers of the Steering Committee and all acts done by the Representative under this authority will be deemed to be the act of the Participant who appointed the Representative.
5.12 | Resolution without meeting |
(a) | A resolution of the Steering Committee which is signed by a Representative of each Participant who is entitled to vote (Circular Resolution) will be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Steering Committee properly convened and held. |
(b) | A Circular Resolution may consist of one or more documents in identical terms, signed by a Representative of each Participant. |
5.13 | Minutes |
(a) | The secretary of the Steering Committee must arrange for minutes of each Steering Committee meeting and each sub-committee meeting to be taken. |
(b) | A copy of the minutes of each Steering Committee meeting and each sub-committee meeting must be given by the Project Manager to each Participant as soon as practicable, but no later than 5 Business Days after each meeting. |
(c) | If a Participant wishes to make any comments in respect of the minutes, it must do so within 10 Business Days after receiving the minutes by providing a notice to the Project Manager. |
(d) | The minutes of a Steering Committee meeting or subcommittee meeting, respectively, will be considered and approved (with or without amendments) at the next meeting of the Steering Committee or relevant sub-committee (as applicable), and are to be signed by the Chairperson of the relevant Steering Committee meeting or the chairperson of the relevant sub-committee meeting, and are then conclusive evidence of the proceedings and decisions of the meeting to which they relate. |
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5.14 | Sub-committees |
(a) | The Steering Committee may establish one or more sub-committees to consider and make recommendations (or, if the Steering Committee unanimously and expressly confers such a power, decisions) on such matters as the Steering Committee may from time to time refer to any such subcommittee. |
(b) | Each Participant will be entitled, but will not be obliged, to be represented on each subcommittee. |
(c) | The Participant who has nominated the Chairperson of the Steering Committee will appoint the chairperson of any sub-committee. |
(d) | Recommendations and (where applicable) decisions of any sub-committee of the Steering Committee must be by unanimous vote. If unanimity cannot be achieved on any matter, such inability and the reasons for that will be reported to the Steering Committee. |
5.15 | Costs and expenses |
Costs and expenses incurred by the Participants relating to the attendance of their respective Representatives at Steering Committee meetings may (unless otherwise agreed), be recovered in accordance with clause 8.3. Any remuneration paid by a Participant to its Representatives cannot be recovered.
6. | Appointment of Project Manager |
6.1 | Appointment |
The Steering Committee will appoint the first Project Manager.
6.2 | Powers |
(a) | Subject to clause 6.2(b), the Project Manager will be responsible for the management and conduct of the Feasibility Study, and carrying out the Project Workstreams, in accordance with this agreement, including: |
(i) | managing the Project Team; |
(ii) | incurring expenditure in accordance with the Project Budget and Schedule; |
(iii) | establishing comprehensive project management processes to ensure the Funding Milestones are achieved; and |
(iv) | preparing the monthly reports in accordance with clause 7.6. |
(b) | The Participants acknowledge and agree that the items set out in paragraphs (n) to (o) of the definition of Feasibility Study will be the responsibility of the Participants and not the Project Manager and are matters that fall within the scope of clause 5.1(b)(i). |
(c) | All decisions made by the Project Manager must be made in accordance with the Delegated Authorities. |
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(d) | The Project Manager will report to, is subject to the supervision of the Steering Committee, and must follow any instructions the Project Manager receives from the Steering Committee. |
6.3 | Removal and replacement |
(a) | The Project Manager may be removed: |
(i) | in accordance with a decision of the Steering Committee; |
(ii) | by the Chairperson, acting reasonably: |
(A) | if the Chairperson suspects that the Project Manager has committed fraud or corruption, unconscionable conduct, frivolous or vexatious behaviour or inappropriate conduct (including sexism, racism or other discriminatory behaviour); |
(B) | if the Project Manager: |
(I) | fails to follow the directions of the Steering Committee; |
(II) | breaches the undertaking described at clause 6.4(c) or his or her obligations under this agreement; |
(III) | acts in any manner which causes (or may reasonably be anticipated to cause) either or both Participants to breach this agreement, any Project Agreement or any Authorisation; |
(IV) | acts in any manner which would frustrate the Feasibility Study or prejudice a Participant’s interests in the Hybrid Power Project; or |
(V) | fails to comply with Good Electricity Industry Practice in progressing the Hybrid Power Project or any other applicable Australian standards; or |
(C) | on the suspension of termination of this agreement; |
(iii) | if the Project Manager was an employee of a Participant, the Project Manager ceases to be an employee of that Participant; or |
(iv) | if agreed between the Participants. |
(b) | If the Project Manager is removed the Steering Committee will appoint a replacement Project Manager (except in the circumstances described in clause 6.3(a)(ii)(C)). |
6.4 | Conflict |
(a) | The Participants acknowledge that a Project Manager may hold equity in Vast, and may be an employee of Vast. |
(b) | Vast agrees that, for the duration of the Term: |
(i) | any Project Manager employed by Vast must perform (and Vast must procure that any Project Manager employed by Vast performs) their obligations in accordance with this agreement including as instructed by the Steering Committee and the Chairperson; and |
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(ii) | Vast must not give any Project Manager employed by Vast any direction which would contradict, or derogate from, such instructions, or which would otherwise frustrate the Feasibility Study or prejudice Stanwell; and |
(c) | Vast must procure that any Project Manager employed by Vast executes an undertaking (substantially in the form attached in Schedule 7 or such other form required by Stanwell, acting reasonably) to comply with the obligations imposed on the Project Manager under this agreement and to not act in any manner which would prejudice Stanwell’s interest. |
7. | Project administration |
7.1 | Conduct of Feasibility Study |
The Participants will undertake the Feasibility Study:
(a) | acting through the Steering Committee, the Project Manager, the Project Team, and the Participants’ respective Personnel; and |
(b) | in accordance with: |
(i) | this agreement; |
(ii) | Good Electricity Industry Practice; |
(iii) | the Project Workstreams and the Project Budget and Schedule; |
(iv) | the Funding Milestones; |
(v) | the Project Policies; and |
(vi) | all applicable Authorisations, laws, regulations, orders and rules. |
7.2 | Project Team |
(a) | The Participants will establish a team comprised of their respective Personnel (Project Team) to work on the Feasibility Study, which will initially be comprised of those persons identified in the Resourcing Plan (or such replacement persons appointed by the relevant Participant). |
(b) | The Project Manager may appoint or remove members from the Project Team, provided the Project Manager has the prior approval of the Steering Committee. |
7.3 | Authorities |
(a) | The Participants have agreed to the Delegated Authorities and agree to comply with (and must procure their respective Personnel comply with) the Delegated Authorities in relation to all aspects of the Feasibility Study. |
(b) | The Delegated Authorities may only be amended in writing, signed by both Participants. |
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7.4 | Access to site |
The Project Team (and any properly authorised Personnel of a Participant) will be entitled at all reasonable times (provided such access is reasonably required for the purposes of the Feasibility Study), and at the risk and expense of the Participant appointing the relevant Project Team member or Personnel, to have access to the other Participant’s Project Site(s), provided that:
(a) | access will be provided promptly on request, provided that it does not unreasonably disrupt the conduct of the other Participant’s operations; and |
(b) | the Project Team members or Personnel of a Participant must, when accessing the relevant site, comply with: |
(i) | the directions of the other Participant when doing so; |
(ii) | the WHS Plan; and |
(iii) | the work, health and safety policies or other relevant plans or policies applicable to the relevant Project Site (as provided by the owner of that Project Site). |
7.5 | Accounting |
The Project Manager must:
(a) | ensure that proper accounts and records are maintained in accordance with Australian accounting standards; and |
(b) | if requested by a Participant, provide that Participant access to the accounts and records. |
7.6 | Reports |
The Project Manager must deliver to the Steering Committee monthly progress reports as required in the Project Workstreams and in accordance with Good Electricity Industry Practice which reports must include, at a minimum:
(a) | compliance with work health and safety matters; |
(b) | progress against the Project Budget and Schedule; |
(c) | a reconciliation of the monies received and disbursed during the preceding calendar month and a cash forecast; |
(d) | progress against the Project Workstreams and the Funding Milestones; and |
(e) | such other reports as may be requested by the Steering Committee from time to time. |
7.7 | Project Policies |
The Participants agree that the Project Policies will apply to the Feasibility Study, and the Participants must comply with (and must procure their Personnel comply with) the Project Policies.
7.8 | Amendment process |
(a) | Subject to clause 5.9(c), either Participant may request an amendment to any or all of the Project Workstreams, the Project Budget and Schedule (excluding increases to the Project Budget and Schedule but including any changes to the allocation of funds within the Project Budget and Schedule) and/or Project Policies by submitting a request for an amendment to the Steering Committee (Amendment Request) which: |
(i) | must be in writing; and |
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(ii) | contain sufficient information to allow the Steering Committee to consider the proposed amendment. |
(b) | If the Steering Committee receives an Amendment Request they must meet within 10 Business Days of receipt of the request to consider the Amendment Request. |
(c) | A decision to accept an Amendment Request requires the unanimous approval of the Steering Committee, and such approval may be conditional on the approval of a party’s management, board or shareholders. |
(d) | If an Amendment Request is not approved by the Steering Committee, the requesting party may refer the matter to dispute resolution in accordance with clause 11. |
8. | Project Budget and Schedule and Funding Milestones |
8.1 | Project Budget and Schedule |
The Participants agree that the Feasibility Study will be conducted in accordance with the Project Budget and Schedule.
8.2 | Funding Milestones |
(a) | The Project Manager must promptly, and in any case within 5 Business Days, after the Project Manager considers a Funding Milestone has been satisfied, give notice to the Steering Committee with sufficient details for the Steering Committee to consider and determine whether the Funding Milestone has been satisfied. |
(b) | The Steering Committee must, within 5 Business Days of a notice given under clause 8.2(a), convene and consider whether the Funding Milestone has been satisfied, and provide notice to the Project Manager of its decision. |
(c) | If the Steering Committee notifies the Project Manager that the Funding Milestone has been satisfied: |
(i) | the Project Manager must, no later than 5 Business Days after such notice, notify the Participants; and |
(ii) | the Participants agree to commit, and make available to the Feasibility Study, the funds applicable to that Funding Milestone, for the purposes of Costs Recovery Claims in accordance with clause 8.3. |
8.3 | Recovery of costs |
(a) | A Participant must, by no later than 10 Business Days after the end of a month, submit to the other Participant (copying the Project Manager) a statement setting out the other Participant’s share (being equal to its Interest) of any Study Expenses incurred by the first Participant, provided that such expenses must be: |
(i) | the Participant’s actual costs, and not include any mark-up or margin; |
(ii) | to the extent they include any payroll costs, only include Approved Payroll Costs which are attributable to the Feasibility Study; |
(iii) | reasonably and properly incurred by the Participant in relation to the Feasibility Study; |
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(iv) | incurred in accordance with the Project Workstreams and the Project Budget and Schedule; |
(v) | incurred in relation to the work in satisfying the next applicable Funding Milestone; and |
(vi) | without limiting clause 8.3(g), not exceed the aggregate funds payable by the other Participant in respect of the applicable Funding Milestone, |
(Costs Recovery Claim).
By way of example, following the satisfaction of the first Funding Milestone, the Participants will make available the funds applicable to that Funding Milestone for the purposes of Costs Recovery Claims, and a Participant may submit a Costs Recovery Claim for Study Expenses incurred in achieving the second Funding Milestone.
(b) | Any Costs Recovery Claim submitted by a Participant must set out in reasonable detail the tasks undertaken by or on behalf of the Participant applicable to the Costs Recovery Claim (including, where appropriate, referencing the Project Workstreams and Project Budget and Schedule), be accompanied by a statement setting out in reasonable detail the calculation of the amounts shown in the invoice and, where applicable, be accompanied by copies of any relevant third party invoices. |
(c) | By no later than 15 Business Days after the end of a month, Stanwell will calculate the costs that must be paid by each of Stanwell (Stanwell Costs Payable) and Vast (Vast Costs Payable) under any Costs Recovery Claims submitted in accordance with clause 8.3(a). |
(d) | If, for any month: |
(i) | the Stanwell Costs Payable are equal to the Vast Costs Payable then the costs will be set off and no amount will be payable by either Participant in respect of any Costs Recovery Claims for the relevant month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stanwell will prepare and issue to Vast, a tax invoice and a recipient-created tax invoice in relation to the equal and offsetting supplies made by each Participant to the other Participant (as applicable); |
(ii) | the Stanwell Costs Payable are less than the Vast Costs Payable then Stanwell will: |
(A) | set off the Stanwell Costs Payable against the Vast Costs Payable; and |
(B) | prepare, and issue to Vast, an invoice and a recipient created tax invoice for the total supplies made by each Participant to the other Participant (as applicable), whereby Vast will make a payment of the difference between the Stanwell Costs Payable and the Vast Costs Payable (Vast Payment); or |
(iii) | the Stanwell Costs Payable are greater than the Vast Costs Payable then Stanwell will: |
(A) | set off the Vast Costs Payable against the Stanwell Costs Payable; and |
(B) | prepare, and issue to Vast, an invoice and a recipient-created invoice for the total supplies made by each Participant to the other Participant (as applicable), whereby Stanwell will make a payment of the difference between the Stanwell Costs Payable and the Vast Costs Payable (Stanwell Payment). |
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(e) | Subject to clause 8.3(g), Stanwell and Vast must make a Vast Payment or Stanwell Payment (as applicable) within 15 Business Days of receipt of the invoice or recipient-created tax invoice (as applicable). By way of example: |
(i) | if Vast incurs $100 in a month and Stanwell incurs $60 then: |
(A) | Vast’s Costs Recovery Claim would be for $50 (being Stanwell’s 50% share of the costs incurred by Vast); and |
(B) | Stanwell’s Costs Recovery Claim would be for $30 (being Vast’s 50% share of the costs incurred by Stanwell); |
(ii) | accordingly: |
(A) | the Stanwell Costs Payable would be $50 (being, the amount payable by Stanwell to Vast); and |
(B) | the Vast Costs Payable would be $30 (being, the amount payable by Vast to Stanwell); |
(iii) | therefore, as the Stanwell Costs payable are greater than the Vast Costs Payable: |
(A) | the Vast Costs Payable ($30) would be set off against the Stanwell Costs Payable ($50); and |
(B) | Stanwell would make payment of the difference, being $20, to Vast (being a Stanwell Payment). |
(f) | A Participant may include in any Costs Recovery Claim the amount of any shared costs it is entitled to recover in accordance with any shared costs arrangement agreed between the Participants prior to the date of this agreement. |
(g) | A Participant is not liable to pay any part of a Costs Recovery Claim to the extent the amount of the Costs Recovery Claim exceeds the aggregate funds payable by that Participant in respect of the applicable Funding Milestone. |
8.4 | Audit |
(a) | Each Participant must maintain, and keep for a period of seven years from the date of creation, proper accounts and records which: |
(i) | record and give a true and fair view of all actions taken by the Participant under or in relation to this agreement, including any Study Expenses incurred by the Participant; and |
(ii) | are maintained in accordance with Australian accounting standards. |
(b) | A Participant may, but not more than once per calendar quarter, upon reasonable prior notice to the other Participant, procure an appropriately qualified independent third party to audit the records of the other Participant. |
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8.5 | Approval of payroll costs |
(a) | A Participant (First Participant) must, before including any payroll costs in a Costs Recovery Claim, provide notice to the other Participant (Second Participant) of: |
(i) | the relevant Personnel working on the Feasibility Study in the period relating to the Costs Recovery Claim who’s payroll costs the First Participant wishes to include in the Costs Recovery Claim; and |
(ii) | the following payroll costs details of such Personnel: |
(A) | base salary; |
(B) | bonuses (if applicable); |
(C) | superannuation; |
(D) | workers’ compensation costs; and |
(E) | payroll tax, |
(Payroll Costs Notice).
(b) | The Second Participant must, within 20 Business Days of receipt of a Payroll Costs Notice, notify the First Participant whether the Second Participant approves (or not) the relevant Personnel and the applicable payroll costs outlined in the Payroll Costs Notice, and the Second Participant may approve all or only part of a Payroll Costs Notice. |
(c) | Any payroll costs the Second Participant approves in accordance with clause 8.5(b) will be Approved Payroll Costs. |
9. | Decision to Proceed |
9.1 | Vote on Decision to Proceed |
(a) | The Project Manager must send copies of the Feasibility Study to the Steering Committee at the earliest opportunity following its completion. The Participants’ representatives on the Steering Committee can provide the Feasibility Study to the Participants. |
(b) | The Steering Committee must, within 60 Business Days of the completion of the Feasibility Study, convene a meeting to consider the Feasibility Study and vote on whether to proceed to Financial Close (Decision to Proceed). |
9.2 | Withdrawal from the Hybrid Power Project |
If a Participant (Withdrawing Participant) votes against making a Decision to Proceed at a meeting convened under clause 9.1, this agreement is (and any other Project Agreements are, except where the Participants agree otherwise in writing) automatically terminated (subject to clause 18.5).
9.3 | Financial Close for the Hybrid Power Project |
If a Decision to Proceed is approved by the Steering Committee, the Participants must promptly (and in any case within 60 Business Days) following the Decision to Proceed, seek to:
(a) | negotiate and execute a Joint Venture Agreement and applicable Project Agreements; |
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(b) | negotiate and finalise debt or equity financing for all or part of the expected development costs for the Hybrid Power Project which, at a minimum, must provide for 50% of the Development Fee to be paid to Vast and 50% of the Development Fee to be paid to Stanwell at Financial Close; and |
(c) | subject to clause 9.4, achieve Financial Close. |
9.4 | Stanwell Board and Shareholding Minister approval |
Vast acknowledges that if a Decision to Proceed is approved by the Steering Committee, Stanwell:
(a) | will need to obtain the approval of the Stanwell Board and Stanwell’s Shareholding Ministers in order to participate in the development of, and to achieve Financial Close for, the Hybrid Power Project; |
(b) | is not in a position to dictate terms or conditions, or timing requirements, to the Stanwell Board or Shareholding Ministers in relation to their consideration of Stanwell’s request for approval; and |
(c) | cannot, and does not, guarantee or warrant that approval will be granted by the Stanwell Board or Shareholding Ministers. |
9.5 | Return of contribution |
If:
(a) | a Participant does not vote in favour of a Decision to Proceed (Exiting Party); |
(b) | the other Participant votes in favour of a Decision to Proceed (Remaining Participant); and |
(c) | Financial Close of the Hybrid Power Project or a replacement project utilising the CSP Technology is undertaken by the Remaining Participant (whether or not with the participation or funding of third parties) occurs within 3 years of the date of this agreement, |
the Remaining Participant must pay to the Exiting Party, an amount equal to the Exiting Party’s monetary contribution under this agreement within 15 Business Days of Financial Close of the Hybrid Power Project or replacement project.
10. | Default and termination |
10.1 | Event of Default |
Any one or more of the following events with respect to a Participant (Defaulting Participant) is an Event of Default:
(a) | any failure by the Participant to pay: |
(i) | an invoice in accordance with clause 8.3(e); or |
(ii) | any other amount due under this agreement by the due date for payment, |
within 10 Business Days after notice has been given by a Non-Defaulting Participant under clause 10.2;
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(b) | any default by the Participant in the observance or performance of a material obligation under this agreement (or any Project Agreement) which is capable of remedy and which continues for a period of 10 Business Days after a Non-Defaulting Participant has given written notice of the default to the defaulting Participant under clause 10.2; |
(c) | subject to clause 18.14, an Insolvency Event occurs in relation to the Participant; |
(d) | any Irremediable Default is committed by the Participant; or |
(e) | except in relation to a privatisation of Stanwell, any Change in Control occurs in relation to the Participant, except where the Participant has obtained the prior written consent of the other Participant (which in the case of a Change in Control of Vast may be withheld by Stanwell in accordance with clause 12.3). |
10.2 | Notices of default |
(a) | If a Participant: |
(i) | fails to pay: |
(A) | an invoice in accordance with clause 8.3(e); or |
(B) | any other amount due under this agreement by the due date for payment; or |
(ii) | defaults in the observance or performance of a material obligation under this agreement (or any Project Agreement), |
another Participant (Non-Defaulting Participant) may, after it becomes aware of that default, notify the defaulting Participant of that default.
(b) | Failure by the Non-Defaulting Participant to give a notice under clause 10.2(a) will not release the defaulting Participant from any of its obligations under this agreement or any Project Agreement. |
10.3 | Suspensions of rights following an Event of Default |
If an Event of Default occurs then until such Event of Default has been rectified:
(a) | the Defaulting Participant’s rights to participate in decisions in relation to the Feasibility Study will be suspended; |
(b) | the members and alternate members of the Steering Committee appointed by the Defaulting Participant will not be entitled to be present or to vote at any meeting of the Steering Committee on all matters; and |
(c) | a quorum at each meeting of the Steering Committee will be the members of the Steering Committee appointed by the Participants that are not in default. |
10.4 | Termination following an Event of Default Without limiting clause 10.3: |
(a) | if any Event of Default described in clauses 10.1(c), 10.1(d) or 10.1(e) occurs, a Non-Defaulting Participant may elect, by notice in writing to the Defaulting Participant, to terminate this agreement; and |
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(b) | if any Event of Default described in clauses 10.1(a) or 10.1(b) occurs then: |
(i) | a Dispute will be deemed to have arisen and either Participant may issue a Dispute Notice to the other Participant in accordance with clause 11.2 and the Participants must follow the procedure set out in clause 11.3 in an attempt to resolve the Dispute; and |
(ii) | if: |
(A) | the steps under clause 11.3 has been taken and the Dispute is not resolved within 40 Business Days from the date of the Dispute Notice; or |
(B) | a Non-Defaulting Participant has attempted to follow the steps in clause 11.3 and the Defaulting Participant has not complied with its obligations under that clause, |
then the Non-Defaulting Participant may elect, by notice in writing to the Defaulting Participant, to terminate this agreement.
10.5 | Termination fee payable by Vast on termination by Stanwell |
Where Stanwell terminates this agreement under clause 10.4, Vast must pay to Stanwell, an amount equal to the sum of:
(a) | A$1,250,000, being the amount of Stanwell’s monetary contribution to the pre-feasibility study which was undertaken prior to Stanwell’s entry into this agreement; |
(b) | the aggregate amount of Stanwell’s monetary contribution under this agreement at the date of termination; and |
(c) | A$2,000,000, being the amount (in AU$) equal to 12.12% of the Development Fee, |
within 15 Business Days of the date of termination of this agreement.
10.6 | Defaulting Participant continues to be liable |
(a) | During any period of default by a Defaulting Participant, the Feasibility Study will continue and the Defaulting Participant will continue to be responsible for the payment of all moneys that it is obliged to pay under this agreement. |
(b) | If a Participant defaults in paying the whole or part of any amount to the other Participant in accordance with this agreement, the defaulting Participant must pay to the other Participant interest on such unpaid amount at the Interest Rate calculated on daily balances, and capitalised monthly, from the due date for payment to the date of actual payment. |
10.7 | Termination for convenience |
(a) | Stanwell may, in its absolute discretion and for no reason, withdraw from this agreement at any time by giving Vast 30 days’ prior written notice and: |
(i) | Stanwell will not be liable for any Loss suffered by Vast (or any of its Related Bodies Corporate) arising from or in connection with the termination of this agreement (or a Project Agreement); and |
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(ii) | Vast must not (and must procure any of its Related Bodies Corporate must not) make any Claim in relation to the termination of this agreement (or a Project Agreement). |
(b) | If Stanwell gives a notice under clause 10.7(a), Stanwell will be deemed to be an Exiting Party under clause 9.5. |
10.8 | Effect of termination |
(a) | Termination of this agreement does not affect any accrued rights or remedies of either Participant. |
(b) | If this agreement is terminated, the Participants will procure the termination of the other Project Agreements to the extent they are not automatically terminated except to the extent the Participants agree otherwise. |
11. | Dispute Resolution |
11.1 | Procedure |
If a Participant considers that there is a dispute or difference arising out of or relating to this agreement (Dispute) the Participants must follow the procedures in this clause 11 to resolve the Dispute.
11.2 | Notice |
If a Participant considers that a Dispute has arisen, the Participant may send the other Participant a notice which sets out a full description of the matters in dispute or in respect of which there is a difference (Dispute Notice).
11.3 | Meeting of Chief Executive Officers |
Within 20 Business Days of the date the Dispute Notice has been given, the chief executive officers of the Participants must meet and use all reasonable endeavours acting in good faith to resolve the Dispute.
11.4 | Termination trigger |
If the Dispute is not resolved under clause 11.3 within 40 days of the Dispute Notice, either Participant may give notice to the other Participant terminating this agreement.
11.5 | Urgent interlocutory relief |
This clause 11 does not prevent a Participant from seeking urgent interlocutory relief from a court of competent jurisdiction where, in that reasonable opinion, that action is necessary to protect that Participant’s rights.
11.6 | Costs |
Each Participant must pay its own costs in complying with this clause 11.
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12. | Transfers and Change of Control |
12.1 | Restriction on Transfers |
(a) | A Participant must not Transfer its Interest or any of its rights and obligations under this agreement, except: |
(i) | in the case of Stanwell, in accordance with clause 12.2; or |
(ii) | with the express written consent of the other Participant, which must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed if: |
(A) | the transferee continues to have the technical and financial capability to perform the Participant’s obligations under this agreement; and |
(B) | where Vast is the transferor, it transfers a corresponding interest in the CSP Technology and the Background IP to the transferee. |
(b) | Without limiting clause 12.1(a), if a Participant Transfers either or both of its Interest and any of the rights and obligations under this agreement, it must also transfer a corresponding interest in any Project Agreements and any Authorisations to the same transferee. |
12.2 | Transfer by Stanwell |
(a) | Stanwell may at any time Transfer the whole or any part of its Interest and any of its rights and obligations under this agreement to a Related Body Corporate provided that: |
(i) | the Related Body Corporate covenants with the other Participant to be bound by the terms of this agreement, and to assume, observe, perform and satisfy all or the relevant proportion of the liabilities and obligations of Stanwell arising under or by virtue of this agreement and any other Project Agreements; |
(ii) | if the assignee ceases at any time to be a Related Body Corporate of Stanwell it must immediately re-assign the interest or part interest to Stanwell; and |
(iii) | the transferee must pay, or make adequate and acceptable provision for payment of, any money owing by Stanwell under this agreement. |
(b) | For so long as Stanwell is controlled by the State of Queensland, Stanwell may transfer the whole or any part of its Interest or any of its rights and obligations under this agreement (or any Project Agreement): |
(i) | where required by the operation of law or otherwise as part of a privatisation of Stanwell by the State of Queensland; or |
(ii) | to a Government Owned Corporation. |
12.3 | Change of Control |
A direct or indirect Change in Control of Vast will be deemed to be a Transfer of this agreement requiring the prior written consent of Stanwell, which must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed if Vast:
(a) | continues to own 100% of the CSP Technology and the Background IP; and |
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(b) | continues to have the technical and financial capability to perform its obligations under this agreement. |
13. | Intellectual property |
13.1 | Background IP |
(a) | Each Participant, or its third party licensors, retains all rights, title and interest (including all Intellectual Property Rights) in and to its Background IP. |
(b) | Nothing in this clause 13 prevents or limits in any way a Participant’s rights to use, reproduce, modify, develop and otherwise exploit its own Background IP. |
(c) | Stanwell grants to Vast a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, adapt, maintain and further develop Stanwell’s Background IP and the Study IP during the Exclusivity Period and solely for the purpose of the Feasibility Study, and any other projects jointly undertaken by the Participants during the Exclusivity Period, subject at all times to the terms of this agreement. |
13.2 | Study IP |
The Participants will own any and all Study IP as tenants in common in their respective Interests.
13.3 | Developed IP |
Vast will own any and all:
(a) | new, modified or improved Intellectual Property Rights (including the right to keep information confidential); |
(b) | modifications and improvements to the CSP Technology, |
developed and/or derived (whether directly or indirectly) by any Participant in connection with:
(c) | any use, adaptation, maintenance or further development of the CSP Technology as part of the Feasibility Study or the Hybrid Power Project; or |
(d) | the construction, operation, maintenance, design or engineering of the Hybrid Power Project, |
(collectively, the Developed IP).
13.4 | Development and creation of Developed IP must be notified |
Each Participant must keep the other Participant, and the Steering Committee must keep both Participants, fully informed and promptly notified of the development and creation of any Developed IP.
13.5 | Licensing of CSP Technology |
(a) | Vast grants to Stanwell a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, adapt, maintain and further develop: |
(i) | the CSP Technology; |
(ii) | Vast’s Background IP; |
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(iii) | the Developed IP; and |
(iv) | the Study IP, |
during the Exclusivity Period and solely for the purpose of the Feasibility Study, the Hybrid Power Project and any other projects jointly undertaken by the Participants during the Exclusivity Period (CSP Licence), subject at all times to the terms of this agreement.
(b) | Stanwell must not assign the CSP Licence except with the prior written consent of Vast, or in accordance with clause 12.2. |
13.6 | Margin Fee |
(a) | In consideration of Stanwell’s contribution to the development of the Developed IP and the Study IP, Vast agrees to pay (or procure a member of the Vast Group to pay) Stanwell the Margin Fee in accordance with this clause 13.6. |
(b) | Subject to clause 13.6(d), in relation to each Vast Project, the Margin Fee for that Vast Project: |
(i) | will be payable by Vast to Stanwell within 20 Business Days after the end of the Financial Year in which all or any part of the Vast Equipment Supply Margin relating to that Vast Project is earned and paid to a member of the Vast Group during the Financial Year; and |
(ii) | must be paid by Vast into the bank account nominated by Stanwell. |
(c) | Subject to clause 13.6(d), the Margin Fee is payable (and will accrue) on any and all worldwide Vast Projects. |
(d) | Vast’s obligation to pay (or procure members of the Vast Group to pay) the Margin Fee in respect of all Vast Projects is capped at the then current Margin Fee Cap in aggregate across all Vast Projects and, subject to clause 13.6(e), Vast will have no liability whatsoever to pay the Margin Fee in respect of all Vast Projects once Vast has paid an amount equal to the total Margin Fee Cap in aggregate across all Vast Projects. |
(e) | For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time the Margin Fee Cap is met but is then subsequently increased as a result of monetary contributions by Stanwell under this agreement, Vast remains obliged to pay the Margin Fee to Stanwell (up to the then current Margin Fee Cap). |
(f) | As soon as practicable (and in any case within 20 Business Days) after the end of each Financial Year, Vast must provide Stanwell with a statement setting out the Vast Equipment Supply Margin(s) (including the Equipment Sales and Cost of Equipment Sales) and the Margin Fee(s) for the Vast Project(s) (Gross Margin Statement) and adequate supporting information in respect of the calculation of the Vast Equipment Supply Margin and the Margin Fee. Stanwell may request from Vast (and Vast must promptly provide) such information as Stanwell reasonably requires in order to verify the calculation of the Vast Equipment Supply Margin and the Margin Fee. |
(g) | Stanwell has the right, at its own cost and expense (except where the independent auditor identifies an error in the Margin Fee payable to Stanwell of more than 2%, in which case Vast must bear the auditor’s costs), to appoint an independent auditor to review the accuracy of the Gross Margin Statement and the Participants must provide the auditor with all relevant information requested by the independent auditor to carry out such audit. |
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(h) | If: |
(i) | following review by Stanwell of the Gross Margin Statement, the parties agree; |
(ii) | following review by the independent auditor in accordance with clause 13.6(g), the independent auditor determines; |
(iii) | the parties otherwise agree; or |
(iv) | following a dispute regarding the Margin Fee, it is determined in accordance with clause 10, |
that Vast owes Stanwell further amounts in respect of the Margin Fee, such amounts must be paid by Vast to Stanwell within 10 Business Days after the parties agree or the matter is determined (as applicable).
13.7 | Security |
(a) | Within 20 days after the earlier of: |
(i) | Financial Close; or |
(ii) | the end of the Term, |
Vast must either:
(iii) | execute and deliver an ‘All Present and After-acquired Property’ general security agreement to Stanwell; or |
(iv) | subject to obtaining Stanwell’s consent, provide such other security or credit support to Stanwell, |
(Security) on terms approved by Stanwell (acting reasonably), to secure payment of Margin Fees to Stanwell in accordance with this agreement.
(b) | Vast may, from time to time, subject to Stanwell’s consent, replace or substitute any Security provided in accordance with clause 13.7(a) with another form of security on terms approved by Stanwell (acting reasonably). |
(c) | Vast must: |
(i) | obtain all necessary consents and approvals in relation to any Security provided by it; and |
(ii) | if applicable, register the Security as required by relevant legislation and file or record all of the notices or documents relating to the Security in the jurisdictions required by law in order to make the Security and all security under the Security valid and enforceable against a liquidator and any subsequent security holder. |
(d) | Vast may, by notice to Stanwell, request that the Security provided in accordance with this clause 13.7 will be subordinated to and/or rank in priority after any security interest provided (or to be provided) under any bona fide third-party financing Vast puts in place from time to time. |
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(e) | Stanwell must not unreasonably withhold its consent to Vast’s request under clauses 13.7(a)(iv), 13.7(b) or 13.7(d) provided that: |
(i) | in respect of clauses 13.7(a)(iv) and 13.7(b), it will be reasonable for Stanwell to withhold its consent if: |
(A) | it considers (acting reasonably) that its right to receive the Margin Fee would be prejudiced by the form of alternate or replacement security (as applicable); and |
(B) | the creditworthiness of the provider of the alternate or replacement security is below the requirements in Stanwell’s credit policies; and |
(ii) | in respect of clause 13.7(d): |
(A) | it will be reasonable for Stanwell withhold its consent if it considers (acting reasonably) that it’s right to receive the Margin Fee would be prejudiced by the subordination of its security (and may take account of the identity and creditworthiness of the financier and the terms of the third-party financing in making such determination); and |
(B) | Stanwell may condition its consent on the financier (and, if applicable, Vast) entering into a priority deed in respect of the security held by Stanwell and the financier. |
13.8 | Warranty |
(a) | Stanwell warrants to Vast that: |
(i) | it has all necessary rights to grant the licence of Stanwell’s Background IP in clause 13.1(c); |
(ii) | the grant of the license in clause 13.1(c) does not breach any other license granted by Stanwell to any person in respect of its Background IP; and |
(iii) | it is not aware of any Claim that its Background IP infringes the rights (including Intellectual Property Rights) of any person. |
(b) | Vast warrants to Stanwell that: |
(i) | it has all necessary rights to grant the CSP Licence to Stanwell; |
(ii) | the grant of the CSP Licence does not breach any other license granted by Vast to any person in respect of the CSP Technology or Vast’s Background IP; and |
(iii) | it is not aware of any Claim that the CSP Technology and Vast’s Background IP infringes the rights (including Intellectual Property Rights) of any person. |
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14. | Insurance |
14.1 | General obligation |
Each Participant must, at its own expense, in respect of the Feasibility Study take out and keep in full force and effect, any insurance:
(a) | required by the laws in force in Queensland or by virtue of any contractual obligations entered into for the purposes of the Feasibility Study; or |
(b) | determined by the Steering Committee from time to time. |
14.2 | Public liability insurance |
Each Participant must, at its own expense, procure and maintain broad-form public liability insurance which covers the liability of the Participant and any of its Personnel in respect of:
(a) | loss of, damage to, or loss of use of, any real or personal property; and |
(b) | the bodily injury of, disease or illness (including mental illness) to, or death of, any person, arising out of the performance of this agreement by the Participant or its Personnel. This insurance must provide cover to a limit not less than $10,000,000 in respect of any one claim and unlimited as to the number of claims. |
14.3 | Workers’ compensation and Employers’ liability insurance |
Each Participant must, at its own expense, procure and maintain workers’ compensation (including industrial diseases at common law) and employer’s indemnity insurance covering all claims and liabilities under any statute and where common law claims are allowed outside of the statutory scheme, for employer’s liability at common law, for not less than $50,000,000 in relation to any one occurrence and unlimited as to the number of occurrences, for the death or injury to:
(a) | any person employed by the Participant in connection with the performance of this agreement; and |
(b) | any person who is a worker of the Participant or any of its subcontractors in connection with this agreement. |
14.4 | Insurance for equipment |
Each Participant must insure its own Plant and Equipment for an amount of not less than their market value (unless otherwise insured) to the satisfaction of the other Participant.
14.5 | Insurance expenses |
Each Participant is responsible for all excesses in each policy of insurance to be effected by that Participant in accordance with this clause 14.
14.6 | Notification |
If an event occurs that may give rise to a claim involving the other Participant under any policy of insurance held by a Participant in accordance with this clause 14, that Participant must notify the other Participant and must ensure the other Participant is kept fully informed in relation to the claim.
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14.7 | Subcontractors |
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Participants (acting reasonably) each Participant must ensure that its subcontractors effect similar insurances to that which that Participant is required to arrange under this agreement and the subcontractor’s insurances extend to protect the other Participant in the same manner as provided in this agreement with respect to the Participant’s insurances.
14.8 | Period of insurance |
Insurance required by this agreement must be effected before the Feasibility Study is commenced and must be maintained at all times with insurers and on terms approved by the other Participant which approval may not be unreasonably withheld in the case of a responsible and financially capable insurer or insurers.
14.9 | Insurance certificates |
Each Participant must provide to the Participant upon request evidence of currency of any insurance required to be effected under this agreement.
15. | Confidentiality |
15.1 | Confidentiality obligation |
Each party (Information Recipient):
(a) | may use Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party only for the purposes of the Feasibility Study, this agreement and the transactions contemplated by this agreement; and |
(b) | must keep confidential all Confidential Information of each Disclosing Party except for disclosures permitted under clause 15.2. |
15.2 | Exceptions |
(a) | Clause 15.1 does not apply to an Information Recipient to the extent that the relevant disclosure or use: |
(i) | has the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party; |
(ii) | is a media announcement in the form agreed between the Participants in accordance with clause 15.4; |
(iii) | is to its Personnel, professional advisers, auditors, consultants, financiers, prospective financiers and Related Bodies Corporate to whom (and to the extent to which) it is necessary to disclose the information in order to properly perform its obligations under this agreement; |
(iv) | is necessary to enforce its rights or to defend any Claim under this agreement or for use in legal proceedings regarding this agreement or the transaction contemplated by this agreement; |
(v) | is necessary to obtain any consent or approval contemplated by this agreement; or |
(vi) | is necessary to comply with any applicable law, legal process, any request, order or rule of any Government agency, the rules of a recognised stock exchange or in a prospectus or other document with statutory content requirements prepared for a transaction involving a party, after first consulting with the other party to the extent practicable having regard to those obligations about the form and content of the disclosure, |
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and provided that, before disclosure:
(vii) | in the case of the Information Recipient’s (and their Related Body Corporate’s) Personnel, those persons have been directed by the Information Recipient to keep confidential all Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party and use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of the Feasibility Study, this agreement and the transactions contemplated by this agreement; and |
(viii) | in the case of other persons (except those disclosures under clauses 15.2(a)(ii), 15.2(a)(iv), 15.2(a)(v) and 15.2(a)(vi)), those persons have agreed in writing with the Information Recipient to comply with substantially the same obligations in respect of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party as those imposed on the Information Recipient under this agreement, |
(each a Direction).
(b) | Stanwell may disclose the Confidential Information of Vast to the relevant Shareholding Ministers, or their personal or departmental staff only to the extent that those persons have a reasonable need to know and are aware that the Confidential Information of Vast must be kept confidential. |
15.3 | Information Recipient’s obligations |
An Information Recipient must:
(a) | ensure that each person to whom it discloses Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party under clause 15.2 complies with its Direction; and |
(b) | notify the Disclosing Party of, and take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop, any suspected or actual breach of a Direction. |
15.4 | Media or public announcement |
(a) | A Participant must not (and the Project Manager and the Steering Committee must not), before or after the date of this agreement, make or send a public announcement including issuing any public offer document (Prospectus), communication or circular concerning: |
(i) | this agreement or the transactions referred to in this agreement; or |
(ii) | in the case of any Prospectus relating to the listing of securities in Vast on a stock exchange, information about Stanwell or its participation in the Feasibility Study, |
unless:
(iii) | it has first obtained the written consent of the other Participant, which consent is not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or |
(iv) | in the case of any Prospectus relating to Vast, Vast has sought and obtained the approval of Stanwell’s Representatives on the Steering Committee to any statements regarding this agreement (or the transactions referred to in this agreement) or information about Stanwell or its participation in the Feasibility Study provided that Stanwell must provide its approval to, or any comments on, the Prospectus within 30 Business Days of receipt (and, if Stanwell does not respond within this timeframe, Stanwell will be deemed to have provided its approval). |
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(b) | Clause 15.4(a) does not apply to a public announcement, communication or circular required by law or the requirements of a regulatory body (including the ASX and any other relevant stock exchange), if the Participant required to make or send it has, if practicable, first consulted and taken into account the reasonable requirements of the other Participant, provided that the Participant must only disclose such information necessary to comply with the requirements of law or the applicable regulatory body. |
16. | Notices and other communications |
16.1 | Service of notices |
A notice, demand, consent, approval or communication under this agreement (Notice) must be:
(a) | in writing, in English and signed by a person duly authorised by the sender; and |
(b) | hand delivered or sent by prepaid post or email to the recipient’s address for Notices specified in the Details, as varied by any Notice given by the recipient to the sender. |
16.2 | Effective on receipt |
A Notice given in accordance with clause 16.1 takes effect when taken to be received (or at a later time specified in it), and is taken to be received:
(a) | if hand delivered, on delivery; |
(b) | if sent by prepaid post, on the second Business Day after the date of posting (or on the seventh Business Day after the date of posting if posted to or from a place outside Australia); |
(c) | if sent by email, on the earlier of: |
(i) | the time the sender receives an automated message from the intended recipient’s information system confirming delivery of the email; |
(ii) | the time that the email is first opened or read by the intended recipient, or an employee or officer of the intended recipient; and |
(iii) | four (4) hours after the time the email is sent (as recorded on the device from which the sender sent the email) unless the sender receives, within that four (4) hour period, an automated message that the email has not been delivered, |
but if the delivery, receipt or transmission is not on a Business Day or is after 5.00pm on a Business Day, the Notice is taken to be received at 9.00am on the next Business Day.
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17. | GST |
17.1 | Interpretation |
In this clause 17, a word or expression defined in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth) has the meaning given to it in that Act.
17.2 | GST gross up |
If a Participant makes a supply under or in connection with this agreement in respect of which GST is payable, the consideration for the supply but for the application of this clause 17.2 (GST exclusive consideration) is increased by an amount equal to the GST exclusive consideration multiplied by the rate of GST prevailing at the time the supply is made.
17.3 | Reimbursements |
If a Participant must reimburse or indemnify another Participant for a loss, cost or expense, the amount to be reimbursed or indemnified is first reduced by any input tax credit the other Participant or its representative member is entitled to for the loss, cost or expense, and then increased in accordance with clause 17.2 if the amount is consideration for a taxable supply.
17.4 | Tax invoice |
A Participant need not make a payment for a taxable supply made under or in connection with this agreement until it receives a tax invoice for the supply to which the payment relates.
17.5 | Adjustment Events |
If an adjustment of GST is required as a result of an adjustment event in respect of a supply made pursuant to this agreement then:
(a) | a corresponding adjustment of GST must be made between the Participants within twenty-one (21) days after the end of the tax period in which the adjustment is attributable; and |
(b) | the supplier, if obligated to do so under the GST law, must issue an adjustment note within twenty-one (21) days after the end of the tax period in which the adjustment is attributable. |
17.6 | Non-monetary consideration |
To the extent that consideration for any supply by, under or in connection with this agreement includes non-monetary consideration:
(a) | the Participants agree to act in good faith in determining the GST-exclusive market value of the non-monetary consideration provided for the supply; |
(b) | if the Participants do not agree the GST-exclusive market value of the non-monetary consideration provided for the supply the dispute shall be determined in accordance with clause 11 no later than 10 Business Days prior to the earlier of the first payment date or any other payments made under or in connection with this agreement; |
(c) | the tax invoice for the supply must state the GST-inclusive market value of the non-monetary consideration provided for the supply; |
(d) | subject to the Participants exchanging tax invoices, the Participants will allow for their respective payments of GST under clause 17.2 to be offset; and |
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(e) | to the extent that the respective payments of GST under clause 17.6(d) are not equal, the difference must be paid as a monetary payment, in addition to and at the same time that the GST-exclusive consideration for the supply is payable or to be provided under this agreement. |
17.7 | Agreement to issue Recipient Created Tax Invoices (RCTIs) |
(a) | The Participants acknowledge that an RCTI is a tax invoice belonging to the class of invoices that the Commissioner has determined in writing may be issued by the recipient of a taxable supply. |
(b) | Stanwell can issue tax invoices in respect of taxable supplies under this agreement. |
(c) | Stanwell shall issue a copy (or original) of the RCTI to Vast and retain the original (or copy). |
(d) | Stanwell shall issue the original or a copy of a recipient created adjustment note to Vast in relation to adjustment events that occur in respect of supplies for which an RCTI was issued and retain the original (or copy). |
(e) | Stanwell shall use all reasonable endeavours to comply with its obligations under Australian taxation laws. |
(f) | Vast shall not issue tax invoices in respect of the supplies specified under this agreement. |
(g) | Vast acknowledges that it is registered for GST when it enters this agreement and that it shall notify Stanwell if it ceases to be registered. |
(h) | Stanwell acknowledges that it is registered for GST when it enters this agreement and that it will notify Vast if it ceases to be registered or if it ceases to satisfy any of the requirements of Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2000/10. |
(i) | The Participants both acknowledge that this agreement is based on the requirements set out in paragraph 13 of Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2000/10 and agree that if GSTR 2000/10 is amended in any material form by the Australian Taxation Office, then the parties agree to renegotiate and execute, insofar as is reasonably practicable, a revised agreement incorporating those amendments. |
(j) | Stanwell must not issue a document that would otherwise be an RCTI, on or after the date when Stanwell or Vast has failed to comply with any requirement of Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2000/10. |
18. | General provisions |
18.1 | Alterations |
This agreement may be altered only in writing signed by each Participant.
18.2 | Approvals and consents |
Except where this agreement expressly states otherwise, a Participant may, in its discretion, give conditionally or unconditionally or withhold any approval or consent under this agreement.
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18.3 | Costs |
(a) | Subject to clause 18.3(b), each Participant must pay its own costs of negotiating, preparing and executing this agreement. |
(b) | Stanwell may recover 50% of MinterEllison’s, and Vast may recover 50% of Gilbert +Tobin’s, costs of preparing this agreement in accordance with clause 8.3(f). |
18.4 | Stamp duty |
Any stamp duty, duties or other taxes of a similar nature (including fines, penalties and interest) in connection with this agreement or any transaction contemplated by this agreement, must be paid by the Participants in equal shares.
18.5 | Survival |
(a) | Any: |
(i) | indemnity; |
(ii) | obligation of confidence; |
(iii) | obligation to pay the Development Fee or to return a monetary amount under this agreement; |
(iv) | obligation to pay the Margin Fee, |
is independent and survives termination of this agreement.
(b) | Any other term by its nature intended to survive termination of this agreement survives termination of this agreement. |
18.6 | Counterparts |
This agreement may be executed in counterparts. All executed counterparts constitute one document.
18.7 | No merger |
The rights and obligations of the Participants under this agreement do not merge on completion of any transaction contemplated by this agreement.
18.8 | Entire agreement |
This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Participants in connection with its subject matter and supersedes all previous agreement or understandings between the Participants in connection with its subject matter.
18.9 | Further action |
Each Participant must do, at its own expense, everything reasonably necessary (including executing documents) to give full effect to this agreement and any transactions contemplated by it.
18.10 | Severability |
A term or part of a term of this agreement that is illegal or unenforceable may be severed from this agreement and the remaining terms or parts of the term of this agreement continue in force.
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18.11 | Waiver |
A Participant does not waive a right, power or remedy if it fails to exercise or delays in exercising the right, power or remedy. A single or partial exercise of a right, power or remedy does not prevent another or further exercise of that or another right, power or remedy. A waiver of a right, power or remedy must be in writing and signed by the Participant giving the waiver.
18.12 | Payments |
A Participant liable to make a payment under this document is to make the payment without set off, counterclaim or deduction. The Participant to whom a payment is to be made need not make a demand for payment unless a demand is expressly required.
18.13 | Governing law and jurisdiction |
This agreement is governed by the law of Queensland and each Participant irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland.
18.14 | Ipso Facto Stay |
The provisions of this agreement are subject to any Ipso Facto Stay which may operate to prevent the enforcement of rights under this agreement. To the extent that there is any conflict between the provisions of this agreement and the Ipso Facto Stay, this agreement is to be interpreted subject to the Ipso Facto Stay.
18.15 | Remote conferencing |
Where this agreement calls for or requires a meeting between the Participants, their Personnel, or the Steering Committee, such meetings may be attended by telephone, video conferencing or any other means of electronic conferencing.
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Schedule 1 – Project Workstreams
1. | Offtake and gas supply agreements (Task ID 3 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
1.1 | Workstream |
Securing a long-term offtake from credit-worthy counterparty(s) is a pre-requisite to the project achieving Financial Close. Gas Supply, Transport and Storage (GSTS) is intrinsically bound to the terms of the offtake agreement. To manage investment risk as the Feasibility Study is progressed, the parties will seek to secure progressively stronger commitments from potential offtake partners and GSTS suppliers, such as:
1.2 | Negotiation of non-binding offtake and GSTS letter of intent with a suitable counterparty(ies) |
(a) | Indicative deliverables: |
(i) | Executed non-binding offtake letter of intent. |
(ii) | Executed non-binding GSTS letter of intent. |
(b) | Related documents: |
(i) | Offtake indicative offer terms and conditions. |
(ii) | Production model gas supply and storage profile. |
1.3 | Negotiation of binding offtake term sheet |
(a) | Indicative deliverables: |
(i) | Executed binding offtake term sheet. |
(ii) | Executed non-binding GSTS term sheets. |
(b) | Related documents: Offtake offer terms and conditions |
2. | Electrical connection (Task ID 4 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
2.1 | Workstream |
Given this is a critical path activity, the parties have already commenced the electrical connection process with Ergon. Preliminary investigations have generated a preferred route but a full connection application including detailed load flow studies will be required to confirm all connection details (route, costs, capacity, power quality). The connection application process will generally follow the process set out in the NEM rules (i.e. Connection Enquiry, Connection Application, Offer to Connect) but will require some bespoke elements due to the North West Power System (NWPS) not being connected to the NEM.
2.2 | Indicative deliverables |
(a) | Connection Enquiry and Response. |
(b) | Connection Application and Offer to Connect (including load flow modelling, any operating conditions and standards that the Hybrid Power Project must meet). |
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(c) | Formal confirmation that the Hybrid Power Project can connect and operate in the NWPS including any amendments to the dispatch / operating protocols. |
2.3 | Related documents |
(a) | Hybrid Power Project plant technical and performance details (e.g. data, models, performance guarantees, etc.). |
(b) | NWPS dispatch / operating protocol. |
(c) | NEM Rules, relevant electrical standards or regulatory / statutory instruments. |
3. | Project site (Task ID 5 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
3.1 | Workstream |
(a) | Vast had signed an “Option to Lease Land for Hybrid Power Project” and entered into negotiations with the pastoralist to put in place an Option Deed and Lease Agreement. |
(b) | Stanwell owns the Mica Creek Power Station which may be used to site some of the project plant and equipment. |
(c) | This workstream will arrange for suitable land tenure agreements to be agreed with the relevant parties that provide for the Hybrid Power Project to be constructed and operated throughout its life at each location. |
3.2 | Indicative deliverables |
(a) | Executed option deeds and or suitable lease agreements or any other agreements required to allow unfettered access to the relevant site throughout the life of the Hybrid Power Project. |
(b) | Evidence of payments of option fees to the landholder. |
4. | Planning approvals and licences (Task ID 6 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
4.1 | Workstream |
Obtain all necessary regulatory approvals (local, State and Federal) to allow the Hybrid Power Project to be constructed and operated throughout its life and will involve:
(a) | consider Local, State and Federal requirements and recommend a pathway to obtain all necessary approvals; |
(b) | conduct all necessary studies required to support development applications; |
(c) | submit a development application in accordance with the desired approval pathways; |
(d) | manage the application / referral / public notification / decision phases of the approval pathway; |
(e) | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) approval, if required; |
(f) | Cultural Heritage Management Plan or other native title and aboriginal cultural heritage compliance requirements; |
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(g) | generation and any connection or operating authorities necessary for the construction and operation of the project; and |
(h) | HAZOP compliance / approvals. |
4.2 | Indicative deliverables |
(a) | All required licences, permits or other authorities necessary for the Hybrid Power Project to be constructed and operated throughout its life. |
(b) | Completed specialist study reports. |
(c) | Development application. |
4.3 | Related documents |
(a) | Regulatory and statutory planning instruments. |
(b) | Hybrid Power Project designs, characteristics and performance parameters. |
5. | Engineering procurement construction (EPC) partner selection (Task ID 7 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
5.1 | Workstream |
(a) | The parties are yet to agree the contractual structure under which the Hybrid Power Project and/or its constituent parts will be engineered, procured and constructed. |
(b) | This workstream will involve the following: |
(i) | define the parties’ requirements under any equipment supply and construction agreement; |
(ii) | detail the process that will lead to the selection of one or more EPC partners; |
(iii) | prepare the information necessary to take the Hybrid Power Project to market to identify potential EPC partners; |
(iv) | compare proposals received between themselves and against the self-build counterfactual, assuming risks are appropriately managed through partner selection, performance guarantees and/or insurance; and |
(v) | negotiate EPC contract(s). |
5.2 | Indicative deliverables |
EPC wrap / partnership contract(s) capable of acceptance for all elements of the Hybrid Power Project.
5.3 | Related documents |
(a) | Tender information packs. |
(b) | Proposals received from potential partners. |
(c) | Quantitative and qualitative analysis / information supporting the selection of the preferred partner(s). |
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6. | Engineering (Task IDs 8 and 9 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
6.1 | Workstream |
Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) will be conducted to determine the technical requirements and performance, plant specifications, costs and other characteristics necessary to support the other workstreams identified in this Project Plan. FEED will establish the minimum specifications, price, performance and guarantee elements for the execution phase of the Hybrid Power Project and evaluate potential risks and will include:
(a) | defined civil, mechanical and chemical engineering; |
(b) | HAZOP, safety and ergonomic studies; |
(c) | 2D & 3D preliminary models; |
(d) | equipment layout and installation plan; |
(e) | engineering design package development; |
(f) | major equipment list; |
(g) | dispatch control (including any automation); |
(h) | PFD - Process Flow Diagrams and P&ID - Piping and Instrumentation Diagram; SLD; and |
(i) | EPC tender documentation preparation and evaluation. |
6.2 | EPC partner selection Indicative deliverables: |
(a) | Technical elements of bidder information packs. |
(b) | Quantitative and qualitative bid technical evaluation. |
(c) | EPC / ECI contracts minimum technical and performance requirements. |
6.3 | Technical Validation |
Indicative deliverables:
(a) | Vast technology validation. |
(b) | Control system validation program. |
(c) | Hybrid Power Project performance guarantee requirements. |
(d) | Quantification of underperformance risk. |
(e) | Production model and resource assessment validation / certification. |
(f) | MHF licence. |
6.4 | Engineering Design |
(a) | Indicative deliverables: |
(i) | Early engineering design. |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 53 |
(ii) | Engineering design (full documentation). |
(iii) | Connection application technical elements. |
(iv) | Development application(s) technical elements. |
(v) | Land tenure and services agreements technical elements. |
(vi) | Offtake technical elements. |
(b) | Related documents: |
(i) | Development application and approval conditions. |
(ii) | Connection application / Offer to connect. |
(iii) | Site tenure and services agreements. |
(iv) | Offtake agreements. |
7. | Finance, tax and commercial (Task IDs 10 and 11 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
7.1 | Workstream |
The commercial workstream will assess the commerciality and competitiveness of the Hybrid Power Project in the context of the achieving Financial Close including: evaluate and manage potential commercial structures, negotiate agreements (including the Project Agreements), negotiate funding structures (including, ARENA, the CEFC, the NAIF and potentially commercial lenders), prepare financial models, manage legal, compliance and accounting matters, manage the Project Risk Register.
7.2 | Indicative deliverables |
(a) | Validated assumptions catalogue including plant performance characteristics, capex and opex cost estimates for financial model. |
(b) | Audited financial model. |
(c) | Validated tax strategy. |
(d) | Validated procurement strategy. |
(e) | Risk assessment. |
(f) | Contract and structuring advice. |
(g) | Financial agreements. |
(h) | Insurance strategy. |
(i) | Competitor / swot analysis. |
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8. | Stakeholder management and communications (Task ID 12 in Project Budget and Schedule) |
8.1 | Workstream |
The stakeholder management and communications workstream is responsible for proactively building strong relationships with community leaders / representatives, neighbours, employees / contractors, boards, shareholders, customers, business partners and suppliers, regulators, other energy industry participants, and interest groups to understand their priorities, create relationships of trust and respect as well as sharing necessary project information.
8.2 | Indicative deliverables |
(a) | Stakeholder engagement and communications plan (SECP). |
(b) | Periodic reporting against the SECP. |
(c) | Participating in events that are important to the community / project. |
9. | Project management and reporting |
9.1 | Workstream |
In accordance with the requirements of this agreement, the project management and reporting workstream will coordinate and manage the delivery of the Feasibility Study including oversight of the various workstreams and Personnel, Project Budget and Schedule, QA/QC, safety and reporting.
9.2 | Indicative deliverables |
(a) | Steering Committee meeting minutes, reports and authorisations. |
(b) | Site agreements. |
(c) | EPC wrap / partner / agreements. |
(d) | Electrical connection agreements. |
(e) | Engineering designs. |
(f) | Regulatory approvals, licences, permits and statutory compliance confirmation. |
(g) | Commercial evaluation verification (e.g., financial, legal, risk, finance). |
(h) | All necessary legal agreements required to achieve financial close (i.e. the Project Agreements). |
(i) | Feasibility Study report. |
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Schedule 4 - Delegated Authorities
1. | Objectives |
The Delegated Authorities contained in this Schedule 4 has two main objectives:
(a) | it serves as the mechanism to sub-delegate the power and authority, vested by the Participants to manage and supervise the management of the day-to-day operations and activities of the Feasibility Study; and |
(b) | it ensures that the financial transactions incurred in connection with the Feasibility Study are executed within the scope of delegated authorities creating a framework of financial control over commitments and expenditures. |
2. | Scope |
(a) | The Delegated Authorities apply to all of the Participant’s Personnel including the Representatives and the Project Manager (Delegates). |
(b) | For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Schedule 4 permits the Project Manager, a Participant or any Delegate to incur expenditure otherwise than in accordance with this agreement, including the Project Workstreams, the Project Budget and Schedule and the Funding Milestones. |
3. | Content |
3.1 | Background |
(a) | Without limiting anything in this agreement, the general approach adopted by the Participants, in the delegation of its power and authority, is that: |
(i) | decisions related to specific matters are reserved for the Participants; and |
(ii) | certain powers and limits of authority are delegated to specified positions. |
(b) | In recognition that the Participants cannot perform or closely supervise all the activities and functions involved in the conduct of the Feasibility Study, a Participant may sub-delegate its power and authority as documented in these Delegated Authorities. |
(c) | The Delegated Authorities detail the framework by which the Feasibility Study achieves authority delegation and financial control over commitments and expenditure. |
3.2 | Principles of Participants’ delegation |
The following principles apply to the exercise of the delegated authority:
(a) | Any action undertaken as a result of, or under, a delegated authority must be undertaken within the limits of the delegation. |
(b) | Unless a specific delegation exists, no person has any individual authority to commit the Participants to obligations including making representations or entering into agreements with suppliers, customers, employees or other parties or organisations. Any ambiguity should be treated conservatively. |
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(c) | In exercising a delegated authority, a Delegate: |
(i) | is only authorised to commit and spend in areas for which they have day-to-day responsibility (that is, within the Delegate’s specific accountabilities as required in his or her position description); |
(ii) | has authority only for those commitments that are in accordance with the Project Workstreams, within the Project Budget and Schedule and within approved Funding Milestones; and |
(iii) | must ensure that the expenditure is for a proper purpose. |
(d) | Subject to clause 3.2(c) of this Schedule 4, a Delegate may commit the Participants up to their financial threshold limit of authority by executing or amending an agreement or contract, undertaking action necessary to effect a transaction or expenditure, or entering into a commitment, liability or financial exposure - providing that commercial due diligence has been undertaken in accordance with an approved Participant framework/protocol. |
(e) | In exercising a delegated authority to execute a contract, agreement or otherwise commit the Participants to legal obligations (Legal Document), Delegates are to ensure that commercial due diligence has been undertaken in accordance with an approved Participant framework/protocol and the Legal Document has been: |
(i) | reviewed and approved by each Participant’s General Counsel; or |
(ii) | consists of an unamended precedent which has been pre-approved by each Participant’s General Counsel as suitable in standard applicable contexts which is: |
(A) | used for its intended purpose; and |
(B) | unamended, other than where amendments are: |
(I) | from an alternative clause, pre-approved by the Participant General Counsel for use in its intended context; or |
(II) | drafted or advised on by the Participant General Counsel. |
A member of each Participant’s legal team should always be consulted in relation to matters involving novel subject matter and/or that may have legal, reputational or compliance risk connotations.
(f) | The authority to approve a transaction is taken to include the authority to terminate or cancel a transaction. |
(g) | Unless otherwise specified, powers and authorities: |
(i) | are delegated to a position and not a person; and |
(ii) | extend to any person acting in that position. |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 63 |
3.3 | Authority categories and commitment thresholds |
(a) | Delegation of financial authority categories and commitment thresholds are detailed in the table below. These delegations: |
(i) | are based on the level assigned to a position description (or are based on a position title); |
(ii) | provide authority to commit a Participant to obligations up to a specified financial limit (or commitment threshold), provided such commitment is in accordance with the Project Workstreams, the Project Budget and Schedule and the Funding Milestones. |
(b) | The dollar value amounts (commitment thresholds) shown in the table below: |
(i) | are GST-exclusive; |
(ii) | refer to related expenditures, transactions or commitments, whether these occur in one or a related series of transactions or payments; and |
(iii) | refer to the likely maximum expenditure, commitment or potential risk of liability or financial exposure of the Hybrid Power Project over the life of a contract (gross value). |
[***]
Joint Development Agreement | Page 64 |
[***]
Joint Development Agreement | Page 65 |
3.4 | Guidelines for the application of Delegated Authority |
(a) | The following investments are not to be entered into on behalf of the Participants under these Delegation of Authorities: |
(i) | asset divestment or purchase; |
(ii) | leases — operating or finance, land or premises; |
(iii) | capital projects; or |
(iv) | contracts — revenue. |
(b) | Where an investment is required in relation to testing equipment as part of the Feasibility Study, this expenditure may be approved by the Participants. |
3.5 | Delegation of ad-hoc power and authority |
(a) | In addition to the delegations of the Participants’ power and financial authority commitment thresholds as detailed in these Delegated Authorities, the Participants may together delegate the exercise of their power and authority on an individual basis for a particular purpose. |
(b) | The limits and or restrictions of the delegations in these Delegated Authorities may be superseded by more specific and/or individual delegations. These delegations must be formally documented and approved by the Participants. |
3.6 | Emergency decision making |
(a) | If an ‘emergency situation’ results in the breakdown of normal communication channels and therefore impacts the ability to receive approvals for decision making above a Delegate’s commitment threshold, a Delegate is authorised to take action necessary to mitigate the ‘emergency situation’. |
(b) | A Delegate must inform the Steering Committee and the Participants of the actions taken as soon as practicable. |
3.7 | Framework of internal control |
In exercising a delegated authority a Delegate must observe the following:
(a) | A Delegate must exercise their authority subject to and in accordance with the law, the Stanwell ‘Code of Conduct’ (as provided by Stanwell to Vast) and otherwise in accordance with this agreement (including the Project Workstreams, Project Budget and Schedule and Funding Milestones). |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 66 |
(b) | A Delegate must not exercise their delegated power and authority if in doing so they would create an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest and/or bestow a personal benefit. |
(c) | A Delegate must not exercise their authority to approve their own personal expenses. |
(d) | The same Delegate may not place the order, receive the goods or services, and/or approve the invoice (segregation of duties). |
(e) | In the event that there is ambiguity as to what delegated limit of authority is applicable, a Delegate must adopt a conservative approach by exercising the lowest level of delegated authority that may apply. |
(f) | Authority limits apply to the complete transaction and are exclusive of GST. The splitting of transactions to allow a lower financial limit to be used is prohibited. Approval must always be sought for the final value of the total expenditure. If final expenditure exceeds or may exceed a Delegate’s authority limits; approval at a higher authority level must be obtained. |
4. | Breaches |
A Participant is responsible for any of its Delegates’ breaches of, or failures to comply with, these Delegated Authorities.
5. | Responsibilities |
(a) | The Participants have ultimate accountability for these Delegated Authorities and for granting ad-hoc delegations and financial limits of authority to a specified position. |
(b) | The Participants must ensure that: |
(i) | the financial transactions in connection with the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project are executed within the scope of delegated authorities; and |
(ii) | the delegations of authority achieve the objectives of authority delegation and proper financial control. |
(c) | The Project Manager must: |
(i) | review these Delegated Authorities regularly and stay abreast of legal developments and make recommendations regarding any necessary changes and implications; |
(ii) | give advice, guidance and assistance about the application of these Delegated Authorities; and |
(iii) | provide the register of ad-hoc or standing delegations granted to a specified position monthly to the Steering Committee and the Participants for review. |
(d) | Delegates must comply with the requirements detailed in these Delegated Authorities when exercising a delegated authority. |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 67 |
Schedule 5 - Resourcing Plan
1. | Project structure until completion of procurement process |
2. | Project structure following signing of EPC contract |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 68 |
Schedule 6 - Procurement Policy
1. | Policy statement |
The Participants will seek to ensure the approach to procurement is consistent, comprehensive and defendable and that in meeting this approach, procurement effort is commensurate with appropriate levels of risk and/or criticality.
This Procurement Policy is designed to support the execution of the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project vision, values and strategy through the following principles:
1.1 | Achieve value for money |
The Participants will deliver value for money from their procurement activities through, to the extent applicable:
(a) | contract consolidation, to optimise value through commercial tension where there are sufficient suppliers in the market; |
(b) | long term contracts with ‘best fit’ suppliers to improve commercial outcomes for all parties; |
(c) | non cost factors such as design, quality, service, support and fitness of purpose; |
(d) | sustainability principles such as safety, environmental, statutory, legal and social, and |
(e) | all cost factors including whole of life costs and transaction costs associated with acquisition, use, holding, maintenance and disposal. |
1.2 | Ensure probity and accountability outcomes |
The Project Manager will, and Participants will (and will procure their Personnel will), conduct procurement activities in a transparent manner to achieve probity and accountability. This will mean:
(a) | procurement activities are to be conducted ethically, honestly and with fairness to all parties and are to be based upon standards that meet the expectations of a Government Owned Corporation (for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding that Vast is not a Government Owned Corporation); |
(b) | accountability for the way procurement activities are performed including development and application of appropriate procedures and instructions and the keeping of proper records; |
(c) | that contracts are managed in a manner that realises all potential benefits while acting in the balanced interest of all parties, |
(d) | compliance with the Stanwell ‘Code of Conduct’ (as provided by Stanwell to Vast) which outlines appropriate probity requirements such as integrity in our behaviour, managing conflicts of interest and being responsible for our social, legal, commercial and environmental obligations (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will apply to the Project Manager, Vast, and Vast Personnel); and |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 69 |
(e) | procurement activities are conducted in accordance with all applicable legislative requirements, including the following (to the extent applicable): |
(i) | Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth); |
(ii) | Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld); |
(iii) | Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 (QId); |
(iv) | Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); |
(v) | Government Owned Corporations Act 1993 (Qld); and |
(vi) | Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 (Qld). |
1.3 | Align to the Queensland Procurement Policy Principles |
(a) | The Project Manager and the Participants will align procurement activities to the principles contained within the Queensland Procurement Policy (for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding that Vast is not a Government Owned Corporation). The Queensland Procurement Policy is the state government’s overarching policy for the procurement of goods and services and establishes a framework that can be delivered through procurement. The Queensland Procurement Policy aims to: |
(i) | provide economic benefits to Queensland; |
(ii) | maximise Queensland suppliers’ opportunity to participate; |
(iii) | support regional and remote economies; |
(iv) | support disadvantaged Queenslanders; and |
(v) | stimulate the ICT sector and drive innovation. |
(b) | The Queensland Procurement Policy principles center upon: |
(i) | putting Queenslanders first when securing value for money; |
(ii) | working together to achieve outcomes; |
(iii) | governance and planning; |
(iv) | being a leader in procurement practice; |
(v) | integrity, probity and accountability; and |
(vi) | advancement of government objectives. |
2. | Scope |
This Procurement Policy applies to all procurement activities undertaken by or on behalf of the Participants in connection with the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project, except that the Procurement Policy does not extend to (to the extent applicable to this agreement, the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project):
(a) | investment in shares; |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 70 |
(b) | statutory payments such as taxes or royalties; and |
(c) | community related expenditure such as donations or grants. |
3. | Purpose |
The purpose of this Procurement Policy is to provide a governance framework for all procurement activities carried out by the Participants, their Personnel and the Project Manager.
4. | Responsibilities and Authorities |
(a) | Each Participant’s Personnel and the Project Manager who commit (or may commit) the Participants to expenditure and procure goods and/or services in connection with the Hybrid Power Project must be made aware of and comply with this policy. |
(b) | The Steering Committee are responsible for ensuring that this policy and all processes and procedures are appropriate for the Feasibility Study and the Hybrid Power Project and for monitoring compliance with this policy. |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 71 |
Schedule 7 – Project Manager Undertaking
Deed poll in favour of Stanwell Corporation Limited ABN 32 078 848 674 and Vast Solar Pty Ltd ABN 37 136 258 574 (the Participants)
1. | Definitions |
Capitalised terms used in this undertaking have the meanings given in the Joint Development Agreement and Joint Development Agreement means the ‘Joint Development Agreement North West Queensland Hybrid Power Project Feasibility Study’ dated [insert date the Joint Development Agreement is executed] between Stanwell and Vast.
2. | Acknowledgement |
I acknowledge and agree that:
(a) | I have been appointed by the Participants as the Project Manager under the Joint Development Agreement, and I am responsible for the management and conduct of the Feasibility Study, and carrying out the Project Workstreams, in accordance with the Joint Development Agreement; |
(b) | I hold equity in Vast and am an employee of Vast; |
(c) | the Participants are reliant on me performing my obligations under the Joint Development Agreement in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and may suffer loss if I fail to do so; |
(d) | a conflict may exist, or may be perceived to exist, by virtue of my holding equity in, and being an employee of, Vast; and |
(e) | this undertaking does not restrict the application of the Joint Development Agreement. |
3. | Undertaking |
I undertake that, without limiting the obligations under the Joint Development Agreement, I will:
(a) | duly perform and observe the obligations of the Project Manager under the Joint Development Agreement; |
(b) | perform the obligations of the Project Manager under the Joint Development Agreement: |
(i) | in accordance with Good Electricity Industry Practice (and any other applicable Australian standards) and otherwise in a good, safe, workmanlike and commercially reasonable manner; |
(ii) | with all practical expedition and in accordance with any timetable, critical path or quality assurance program directed by the Steering Committee or the Participants (including the Project Workstreams); and |
(iii) | otherwise to a standard reasonably expected of a project manager for a feasibility study for a project similar to the Feasibility Study; |
(c) | perform my obligations as the Project Manager without regard to my interest as an equity holder in, or an employee of, Vast; |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 72 |
(d) | not do any act, engage in any practice, or omit to do any act or engage in any practice that would: |
(i) | constitute fraud or corruption, unconscionable conduct, frivolous or vexatious behaviour or inappropriate conduct (including sexism, racism or other discriminatory behaviour); |
(ii) | cause Stanwell to breach the Joint Development Agreement, any Project Agreement or any Authorisation; |
(iii) | frustrate the Feasibility Study or prejudice Stanwell’s interests; or |
(iv) | contradict, or derogate from, instructions from the Steering Committee or the Chairperson; |
(e) | in respect of any Confidential Information I obtain: |
(i) | use such Confidential Information only for the purposes of the Feasibility Study, the Joint Development Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Joint Development Agreement; |
(ii) | keep confidential all such Confidential Information; and |
(iii) | if the Joint Development Agreement is terminated, or I am removed as Project Manager, cease all use of such Confidential Information and return or destroy the Confidential Information. |
EXECUTED as a deed poll.
Signed, sealed and delivered as a deed poll by [insert name of Project Manager] in the presence of | ||
Signature of witness | Signature of [insert name of Project Manager] | |
Name of witness (print) |
Joint Development Agreement | Page 73 |
Signing page
EXECUTED as an agreement.
Joint Development Agreement | Page 74 |
Exhibit 10.33
Certain information has been redacted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish an unredacted copy of the exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analyses to the Commission upon request.
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement
ARENA agrees to provide the ARENA Funding, and the Recipient agrees to complete the Project and use reasonable endeavours to achieve the Outcomes, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
PROJECT DETAILS
PART 1 – PROJECT OVERVIEW
1. | Project Title | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project |
2. | Contract Number | 2022/ARP026 |
3. | Recipient | Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd (ABN 99 660 142 030) |
4. | Guidelines and policies | Advancing
Renewables Program – Program Guidelines, 2020
ARENA Variation Policy
ARENA Report Writing Guidelines |
PART 2 - KEY PROJECT DETAILS
5. | Purpose, Outcomes and Project | See items 1.1, 1.7 and 1.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project) |
6. | Location | Allotment 101 in Deposited Plan 117832 in the Hundred of Castine, Port |
7. | Budget | Up to $220,000,000 (excl. GST) |
8. | ARENA Funding | Cash: $45,000,000 (excl. GST) representing 20% of Budget |
9. | Recipient Contributions | Cash: $45,000,000 (excl. GST) representing 20% of Budget |
10. | Other Contributions | Cash: $110,000,000 (excl. GST) representing 50% of Budget |
11. | CP Submission Date and CP Satisfaction Date (Clause 4) | CP Submission Date: 29 February 2024
CP Satisfaction Date: 29 March 2024
|
12. | Final Milestone Date | 31 May 2028 |
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PART 3 - OTHER CONTRACT INFORMATION
16. | Insurance requirements (Clause 22.1(i)) | 1. Workers’ compensation in accordance with relevant State or Territory legislation;
2. Public liability insurance for a minimum amount as recommended in the insurance due diligence report to be delivered to ARENA under CP (b) of Schedule 1;
3. Professional indemnity insurance for a minimum amount as recommended in the insurance due diligence report to be delivered to ARENA under CP (b) of Schedule 1; and
4. Any other insurance policy relevant to cover the risks of the Project recommended in the insurance due diligence report to be delivered to ARENA under CP (b) of Schedule 1. |
17 | Acknowledgement of support (Clause 8.1) | Acknowledgement
The Recipient must acknowledge the support received from ARENA by including the following statement:
This Project received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program.
|
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Signage
The Recipient must also acknowledge the support received from ARENA by placing signage outside the site or facility where the Project is undertaken which includes the following statement:
Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd has received support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for the Vast Solar Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project as part of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program.
The Recipient is requested to consider including an indigenous place acknowledgement if the signage clause applies to the Project. | ||
18. | Disclaimer (Clause 8.4) | The Recipient must include the following statement on any published material in relation to the Project:
The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government, and the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein
|
19. | Recipient Confidential Information (Clause 27) | As per Knowledge Sharing Plan |
20. | Address for Notices and other communications (including, in the case of ARENA, invoices) (Clause 39) | ARENA:
Director, Contract Management Services
The Recipient:
Christina Hall, Head of Finance, Vast Solar
1 Pty Ltd
|
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Standard Projects Funding Agreement General Conditions
1 | Duration of Agreement |
This Agreement begins on the Commencement Date and continues until the End Date, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms (Term).
2 | Recipient to undertake the Project |
2.1 | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Recipient must: |
(a) | undertake the Project in accordance with this Agreement; |
(b) | use reasonable endeavours to achieve the Outcomes; |
(c) | satisfy the requirements of the Milestones Deliverables, including meeting the completion dates for the Milestones, as specified in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project) and in accordance with clause 16; and |
(d) | complete the Project by the Final Milestone Date. |
3 | Project Finance |
3.1 | The parties acknowledge that the Recipient will seek to arrange: |
(a) | concessional debt financing and related working capital and hedging facilities; and |
(b) | an equity raising, |
in addition to the ARENA Funding in relation to the funding of the Project.
3.2 | In the event that the finance described in clause 3.1 is arranged, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith any amendments to this Agreement reasonably required as a result of such finance being obtained, including (if required) entering into a longform funding agreement. |
4 | Conditions Precedent |
4.1 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Recipient acknowledges and agrees that it must not submit a request for payment of ARENA Funding, and ARENA is not obliged to pay to the Recipient any amount of ARENA Funding, until the Recipient satisfies the Conditions Precedent. |
4.2 | The Conditions Precedent: |
(a) | must be satisfied in a form and substance satisfactory to ARENA; and |
(b) | are for the benefit of ARENA and may only be waived in writing by ARENA. |
4.3 | The Recipient must: |
(a) | use all reasonable endeavours to: |
(i) | submit the Conditions Precedent promptly and in any event, on or before the CP Submission Date specified for each Condition Precedent in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(ii) | satisfy the Conditions Precedent on or before the CP Satisfaction Date specified for each Condition Precedent in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project); and |
(b) | notify ARENA in writing upon submitting the Conditions Precedent due for a particular CP Submission Date in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project). |
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4.4 | Within 20 Business Days of receipt of a notice under clause 4.3(b) (or such other period as may be agreed between the parties), ARENA must provide written notice to the Recipient confirming that the Conditions Precedent due for the relevant CP Submission Date have been: |
(a) | satisfied by the Recipient in accordance with this Agreement; |
(b) | waived by ARENA; or |
(c) | rejected by ARENA, if it considers, acting reasonably, that the Conditions Precedent do not satisfy all the requirements set out under item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project), in which case: |
(i) | ARENA must provide written reasons for the rejection; |
(ii) | the Recipient must, within 5 Business Days, reissue the Conditions Precedent in a form that addresses the reasons for the earlier rejection; and |
(iii) | ARENA may accept or reject the Conditions Precedent within 5 Business Days of receiving the reissued Conditions Precedent. |
4.5 | (ARENA Funding Assumptions): The Recipient acknowledges and agrees that: |
(a) | the ARENA Funding payable by ARENA to the Recipient under this Agreement has been sized on the basis of the Draft Financial Model; and |
(b) | if the Financial Model delivered by the Recipient to ARENA as a Condition Precedent contains changes from the Draft Financial Model which, in ARENA’s sole opinion, are inconsistent with ARENA’s Board Approval, ARENA may reject the Condition Precedent relating to the Financial Model in accordance with clause 4.4. |
For the avoidance of doubt, ARENA is not precluded from rejecting the Financial Model for any other reason in accordance with clause 4.4.
4.6 | Subject to clauses 4.4(b) and 20.5, if the Recipient fails to satisfy the relevant Conditions Precedent by the CP Satisfaction Date specified in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project), then: |
(a) | ARENA may immediately terminate this Agreement by notice to the Recipient; and |
(b) | neither party will have any liability to the other party arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the termination of it. |
5 | Stages |
Not used.
6 | Governance Body |
6.1 | Where a steering committee, group or body has been or will be established to oversee or coordinate the Project (Governance Body), the parties acknowledge and agree that, except as otherwise specified in item 1.2 of Schedule 1: |
(a) | the Recipient must notify ARENA, as soon as is reasonably practicable, of the establishment of the Governance Body; |
(b) | ARENA may, in its discretion, participate in the Governance Body as an observer; |
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(c) | all decisions or recommendations made, and actions taken, by the Governance Body are based on the Steering Committee’s own information, enquiries, independent advice, and/or considerations; |
(d) | any contribution made to the Governance Body by ARENA as an observer will not bind the Governance Body; and |
(e) | the Governance Body’s decisions, recommendations and actions will not bind ARENA. |
7 | Knowledge sharing |
7.1 | The Recipient must: |
(a) | in consultation with ARENA, implement and comply with the Knowledge Sharing Plan; and |
(b) | ensure the delivery of the Knowledge Sharing Deliverables, |
as set out at item 4 of Schedule 1 (The Project).
7.2 | It is the Recipient’s responsibility to ensure that any Project documentation or information (including any Knowledge Sharing Deliverables) prepared for public release do not contain any Recipient Confidential Information. |
7.3 | The Recipient must categorise the documentation and information it provides to ARENA pursuant to the Knowledge Sharing Plan as follows: |
(a) | public: information that may be shared freely within ARENA, with industry participants, and with the public in general; and |
(b) | Recipient Confidential Information: information that may only be shared in accordance with clause 27. |
8 | Acknowledgement, disclaimer and publicity |
8.1 | The Recipient must, and must ensure that any Project Participants, acknowledge the financial and other support received from ARENA: |
(a) | in all publications, promotional and advertising materials, public announcements, events and activities in connection with the Project; |
(b) | in any products, processes or inventions developed as a result of the Project; and |
(c) | if required by ARENA, at the place where the Project is undertaken, |
ensuring the form of acknowledgement is as specified in item 17 of the Project Details or as otherwise approved by ARENA prior to its use.
8.2 | Where the Recipient acknowledges, or is likely to acknowledge, the financial and other support received from ARENA in any materials in connection with fundraising for, or investment in, the Project (Fundraising Materials), the Recipient must: |
(a) | provide a copy of the Fundraising Materials to ARENA before publication or circulation with reasonably sufficient time to enable it to review the Fundraising Materials; and |
(b) | make any amendments or deletions requested by ARENA to the Fundraising Materials where the request is made within five Business Days of ARENA’s receipt of the Fundraising Materials. |
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For the avoidance of doubt, if ARENA does not communicate any amendments or deletions to the Recipient within five Business Days of ARENA’s receipt of the Fundraising Materials then the Fundraising Materials are taken to be agreed by ARENA.
8.3 | ARENA reserves the right to publicise and report on the awarding of the ARENA Funding, and may include: |
(a) | the name of the Recipient, Recipient’s shareholders and Project Participants; |
(b) | the amount of the ARENA Funding; and |
(c) | a brief description of the Project. |
8.4 | The Recipient must, and must ensure that any Project Participants: |
(a) | include a disclaimer as specified in item 18 of the Project Details, or otherwise approved by ARENA, in all published material relating to the Project; and |
(b) | before making a public announcement in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by it, obtain ARENA’s written consent to the announcement, except if required by Law or a regulatory body, including a relevant stock exchange, in which case ARENA should be notified of any such requirement as soon as practicable. |
9 | Communication Materials |
9.1 | The Recipient acknowledges that ARENA may request the Recipient procure and provide to ARENA, artists’ impressions, renders or professional imagery, including photography and/or video and audio, which demonstrates the appearance of any works constructed or goods developed in connection with the Project (Communication Materials). |
9.2 | Where ARENA makes a request for Communication Materials in accordance with clause 9.1: |
(a) | the parties will meet within 20 Business Days to discuss the request, unless otherwise agreed by the parties; |
(b) | ARENA will document its request, including any requirements of the Communication Materials, in Appendix B (Communication Materials); and |
(c) | ARENA will ensure that Appendix B (Communications Material) includes: |
(i) | any appropriate guidance materials; |
(ii) | any necessary technical specifications; and |
(iii) | the required timing for the provision of the Communication Materials. |
9.3 | Notwithstanding clauses 20.2 and 39, Appendix B (Communication Materials) may be varied by written agreement of the parties and, where varied, ARENA will provide the varied Appendix B (Communication Materials) to the Recipient. |
10 | Reporting |
10.1 | The Recipient must: |
(a) | comply with the reporting requirements set out in item 3 of Schedule 1 (The Project) and keep ARENA regularly and fully informed regarding the progress of the Project; |
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(b) | during the Term of this Agreement, and for a period of 5 years following the Final Milestone Date, where requested by ARENA, provide: |
(i) | data with respect to carbon abatement resulting from the Project; and |
(ii) | provide a report on the number of direct jobs (including any permanent roles, contractors, subcontractors and consultants) created during any construction and operation phases of the Project; and |
(iii) | provide such further information as reasonably requested by ARENA with respect to the Project throughout the Term. |
10.2 | In the event this Agreement is terminated before the End Date, within 20 Business Days after the date of termination or such longer period as notified by ARENA, the Recipient must provide a report for public release explaining: |
(a) | the reasons for such termination; and |
(b) | the information, knowledge and lessons learnt (both positive and negative) by the Recipient from the Project. |
11 | Plans and studies |
11.1 | The Recipient must provide the plans in accordance with the requirements set out in items 3.1 and 3.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project) and in a form and substance satisfactory to ARENA. |
11.2 | Where the Recipient is required to provide a plan under item 3.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project), the Recipient must: |
(a) | ensure that the plan is developed by an appropriately qualified person with an understanding of the Project and detailed knowledge of the risks; and |
(b) | as specified in item 3.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project): |
(i) | (external certification): provide certification, for the benefit of ARENA, that the plan is appropriate and consistent with best practice for this type of Project and its risks, and is being appropriately implemented, from an independent and qualified person, who is not an employee, shareholder, director, other officeholder or related entity of the Recipient, a Project Participant, or any other person having, or having had, significant involvement in the Project or the Application; or |
(ii) | (internal certification): provide certification, for the benefit of ARENA, that the plan is appropriate and consistent with best practice for this type of Project and its risks, and is being appropriately implemented, from an independent and qualified person, who does not have, or has not had, significant involvement in the Project or the Application. |
11.3 | If a study to be provided under this Agreement, ARENA may require the Recipient to use the template provided at Schedule 2 (Study Template). |
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12 | Privacy |
The Recipient must:
(a) | comply with applicable privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act); |
(b) | promptly notify ARENA in writing if it (or its subcontractors) commits an eligible data breach within the meaning of the Privacy Act relating to any data or personal information held in connection with the Project; and |
(c) | ensure that Personal Information collected or received in connection with the Project is used solely for the purposes of performing its obligations under this Agreement and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act. |
13 | Data security |
13.1 | The Recipient must, in connection with the Project, have in place adequate security measures to protect any Data acquired by the Recipient in connection with the Project from Data Security Breaches. |
13.2 | If the Recipient becomes aware of a Data Security Breach, it must: |
(a) | notify ARENA immediately upon becoming aware of the Data Security Breach and specify all known details of the breach or circumvention; |
(b) | immediately take all reasonable steps to remedy such breach or circumvention and to prevent the Data Security Breach from recurring; and |
(c) | as soon as reasonably practicable, provide to ARENA full details of the Data Security Breach and the remedial steps undertaken. |
14 | Intellectual Property Rights |
14.1 | The parties acknowledge and agree that: |
(a) | this Agreement does not affect ownership of the Intellectual Property Rights in any Pre-existing Material or Third Party Material; and |
(b) | all Intellectual Property Rights in Agreement Material vest in the Recipient upon creation. |
14.2 | The Recipient grants to, or obtains for, ARENA a perpetual, irrevocable, world-wide, royalty-free, fee-free, non-exclusive licence to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, communicate, broadcast, distribute, publish, disseminate and sublicense the Licensed Materials solely for: |
(a) | the purpose of giving effect to the Knowledge Sharing Plan; or |
(b) | to carry out its objectives under the ARENA Act, |
but not including the right to exploit the Licensed Materials for commercial purposes.
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14.3 | If someone claims, or ARENA reasonably believes that someone is likely to claim, that all or part of the Licensed Materials or their use in accordance with this Agreement infringe their Intellectual Property Rights or Moral Rights, in addition to the indemnity under clause 37 and to any other rights that ARENA may have, promptly, at the Recipient’s expense: |
(a) | use its best efforts to secure the rights for ARENA to continue to use the affected Licensed Materials free of any claim or liability for infringement; or |
(b) | replace or modify the affected Licensed Materials so that the Licensed Materials or the use of them does not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights or Moral Rights of any other person without any degradation of the performance or quality of the affected Licensed Materials. |
14.4 | Where required for the Project as determined by ARENA, and as agreed between the parties, the Recipient must comply with an Intellectual Property Management Plan as set out in item 3.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project) when undertaking the Project. |
14.5 | The Recipient must obtain all consents (including any Moral Rights consents or waivers) necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement. |
15 | ARENA Funding |
15.1 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, ARENA’s total liability under or in connection with this Agreement, including all ARENA Funding paid or payable, will not exceed an amount equal to the ARENA Funding. |
15.2 | ARENA may set-off any money due for payment by ARENA to the Recipient under this Agreement against any money owed by the Recipient to ARENA under this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties under which ARENA provides funding to the Recipient. |
16 | Claims for payment |
16.1 | Subject to this Agreement, ARENA will pay ARENA Funding to the Recipient in accordance with this clause 16. |
16.2 | Before the Recipient can make a claim for payment of ARENA Funding, the Recipient must submit to ARENA by the GMS (unless otherwise advised by ARENA), all Milestone Deliverables due for the relevant Milestone by the completion date specified in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project). |
16.3 | Upon receipt of a Milestone Deliverable in accordance with clause 16.2, ARENA will: |
(a) | within 5 Business Days (or such other period notified by ARENA), provide the Recipient with notification that the Milestone Deliverable has been received; and |
(b) | within 20 Business Days, notify the Recipient, with respect to each Milestone Deliverable, whether it is: |
(i) | accepted; or |
(ii) | not accepted. |
16.4 | When one or more Milestone Deliverables are not accepted: |
(a) | ARENA will provide the Recipient with reasons why the Milestone Deliverable was not accepted; and |
(b) | the Recipient must re-submit the Milestone Deliverable within 10 Business Days (or such other period notified by ARENA) of notification of the reasons for non-acceptance, and ARENA will, within 5 Business Days notify the Recipient whether the Milestone Deliverable has been: |
(i) | accepted; or |
(ii) | not accepted, in which case ARENA may exercise any of its rights under this Agreement. |
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16.5 | When all Milestone Deliverables due for the relevant Milestone are accepted by ARENA: |
(a) | ARENA will notify the Recipient that the Milestone is achieved; and |
(b) | the Recipient will make a claim for payment with respect to payment of the relevant Milestone in accordance with the requirements of clause 16.6. |
16.6 | The Recipient may submit a claim for payment of ARENA Funding by providing a correctly rendered invoice which: |
(a) | is emailed to the address listed in item 20 of the Project Details or submitted by the GMS; |
(b) | meets the requirements of a tax invoice as set out in the GST Law; |
(c) | sets out: |
(i) | the agreement number and Project title; and |
(ii) | the amount of ARENA Funding to be paid together with the supporting documentation and other evidence specified in item 2 of Schedule 1 (The Project); and |
(d) | is accompanied by a certificate signed and dated by a duly authorised representative of the Recipient stating that: |
(i) | the representations set out in clause 21 of this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as at the date the invoice is submitted; |
(ii) | no Material Breach is continuing or would result from the payment of funding by ARENA; and |
(iii) | the Recipient is able, and has sufficient funds, to complete the Project by the Final Milestone Date in accordance with this Agreement. |
16.7 | Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this clause 16, ARENA must make payment within 30 days after receiving a valid invoice into the account nominated by the Recipient. |
17 | Bank account |
17.1 | The Recipient must: |
(a) | ensure that the ARENA Funding is held in an account in the Recipient’s name, and which the Recipient solely controls, with an authorised deposit-taking institution as defined by the Banking Act 1959 (Cth); |
(b) | ensure that the account is: |
(i) | established solely for the purposes of accounting for, and administering, any funds paid to the Recipient; |
(ii) | an account that bears a rate of interest reasonably required by ARENA; and |
(iii) | separate from the Recipient’s other operational accounts; |
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(c) | notify ARENA, prior to the receipt of any ARENA Funding, of details sufficient to identify the account; |
(d) | notify ARENA of any changes to the account within 14 days of the change occurring; and |
(e) | identify the receipt and expenditure of the ARENA Funding separately within the Recipient’s accounting records to ensure that, at all times, the ARENA Funding is identifiable and ascertainable. |
17.2 | On request, the Recipient must provide ARENA and the authorised deposit-taking institution with an authority for ARENA to obtain details relating to the use of the account referred to in this clause 17. |
18 | Use of ARENA Funding |
18.1 | The Recipient must use the ARENA Funding only: |
(a) | for the Project; |
(b) | for Eligible Expenditure, which must be in accordance with the requirements of the Applicable Guidelines; |
(c) | as provided in the Budget; and |
(d) | in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
18.2 | In accordance with the Applicable Guidelines, the Recipient must not spend more than 10% of the ARENA Funding on Overseas Expenditure, other than for equipment or materials. |
19 | Contributions |
19.1 | With the exception of the ARENA Funding, the Recipient is responsible for providing or securing all Contributions, funds and resources, and bearing all costs necessary, to complete the Project, including on account of cost overruns. |
19.2 | Unless otherwise agreed in writing: |
(a) | the Recipient Contributions must be provided and used for the Project in accordance with the timeframe in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project); and |
(b) | the Recipient must ensure that any Other Contributions are provided and used for the Project in accordance with item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project). |
19.3 | The Recipient must provide written notice to ARENA as soon as practicable if: |
(a) | the Recipient Contributions and/or Other Contributions provided and used for the Project are increased; or |
(b) | it has received, or requested to receive, other funds from the Commonwealth or State or Territory or local government for the Project. |
20 | Variations, Delays and Extensions of Time |
20.1 | Without limiting anything else in this Agreement, any variations (including any requests for Extensions of Time) to this Agreement will be considered by ARENA in accordance with the ARENA Variation Policy. |
20.2 | Subject to clause 20.3, no agreement or understanding varying the terms of this Agreement is legally binding upon either party unless the agreement or understanding is in writing and signed by both parties. |
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20.3 | Where a party requires a Minor Variation: |
(a) | the party must provide notice to the other party, including details of the proposed variation; and |
(b) | where agreed by the parties (acting reasonably), ARENA will effect the Minor Variation in accordance with Appendix A. |
20.4 | Upon becoming aware that there is, or is likely to be, a delay with respect to: |
(a) | satisfying the Conditions Precedent by the CP Satisfaction Date; |
(b) | meeting the completion dates for one or more Milestones specified in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project); or |
(c) | completing the Project by the Final Milestone Date, |
the Recipient must promptly notify ARENA of such delay or likely delay.
20.5 | Where the Recipient is requesting an extension of time to the CP Satisfaction Date, the completion date of one or more Milestones, the Final Milestone Date or Knowledge Sharing Deliverables and / or the Final Milestone Date (Extension of Time), ARENA must, within a reasonable time of such request, assess the request in accordance with clause 20.1 and acting reasonably: |
(a) | agree to the Extension of Time, in which case the parties will effect a variation to this Agreement; or |
(b) | not accept the Extension of Time, providing written reasons for such non-acceptance, in which case ARENA is entitled to exercise its rights under this Agreement. |
21 | Representations and warranties |
21.1 | The Recipient represents and warrants that: |
(a) | (transaction permitted): it will not be breaching any Law, Authorisation, or agreement by signing or performing this Agreement; |
(b) | (sanctions) the Recipients, its Related Bodies Corporate and their Personnel, has not contravened any Australian Sanctions Laws; |
(c) | (no misleading information): all information provided to ARENA (including in the Application) is true, correct, and complete in all material respects and is not misleading (as at the time it was provided, except where information is provided to the Recipient by a third party in which case the Recipient represents and warrants that, after making diligent enquiries, it has made reasonable endeavours to verify the accuracy of the information); |
(d) | (conflicts of interest): except as otherwise disclosed in writing to ARENA, to the best of its knowledge after making diligent enquiry, no conflict of interest exists or is likely to arise in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; |
(e) | (employee entitlements): it is not subject to any judicial decision against it, relating to employee entitlements (not including decisions under appeal) where it has not paid the claim; |
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(f) | Intellectual Property): |
(i) | the use or development of the Licensed Materials by the Recipient to undertake the Project; and |
(ii) | ARENA’s use of the Licensed Materials as contemplated in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, |
will not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights or Moral Rights of any person;
(g) | (legal capacity): it has full legal capacity to own its own property, undertake the Project and enter into this Agreement, and to carry out the transactions that each of these contemplate; |
(h) | (financial capacity): it has, or will have, sufficient funds to complete the Project; |
(i) | (insolvency): no Insolvency Event has occurred, and there are no reasonable grounds to suspect that an Insolvency Event will occur, in respect of the Recipient; |
(j) | (Applicable Guidelines): it has complied with the Applicable Guidelines in connection with the Project; |
(k) | (qualifications): the Recipient, its Personnel and subcontractors have the necessary experience, skill, knowledge, expertise and competence to undertake the Project and will hold (where appropriate) such licences, permits or registrations as are required under any State, Territory or Commonwealth legislation to undertake the Project and are fit and proper people; and |
(l) | (trustee): if the Recipient is a trustee, it enters into this Agreement personally, in its capacity as trustee and without any limitation of its liability as a trustee and has the power to perform its obligations under this Agreement. |
21.2 | The representations and warranties in clause 21.1 will, unless otherwise specified, be made on the signing of this Agreement by the Recipient, and be repeated on each date the Recipient: |
(a) | submits an invoice to ARENA in accordance with clause 16; and |
(b) | receives payment of ARENA Funding. |
21.3 | The Recipient acknowledges and agrees that ARENA has entered into this Agreement and performs this Agreement in reliance on the representations and warranties in clause 21.1. |
22 | Undertakings and Acknowledgements |
22.1 | The Recipient must: |
(a) | (Laws): comply with all applicable Laws; |
(b) | (sanctions): in connection with the Project, comply, and ensure that any Related Bodies Corporate comply, with Australian Sanctions Laws and use reasonable endeavours to ensure compliance by any of its subcontractors; |
(c) | (fraud): immediately notify ARENA in writing of any fraud or suspected fraud in connection with the Project and take such action as ARENA reasonably requires to manage the fraud; |
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(d) | (Change in Control): promptly notify ARENA of any Change in Control or likely Change in Control of the Recipient; |
(e) | (WHS Law): |
(i) | comply with applicable WHS Law, and not do or allow to be done, or omit or allow to be omitted, anything which may result in ARENA being in breach of WHS Law; |
(ii) | promptly notify ARENA of any notifiable incidents under WHS Law, accidents, injuries, or damage to property of a serious nature that occurs in connection with the Project (WHS Notifiable Incident); |
(iii) | in relation to any WHS Notifiable Incident, if requested, provide to ARENA an investigation report on the causes and effects of, and corrective and preventative actions arising from, the incident and, provide updates on the status of any such actions as reasonably required by ARENA; |
(iv) | cooperate with ARENA as required in relation to any WHS Notifiable Incident; and |
(v) | ensure that its contracts with any subcontractors, Project Participants, consultants or other persons participating in the Project contain those provisions necessary to enable the Recipient to comply with its obligations under this clause 22.1(d); and |
(f) | (WHS Accreditation Scheme): where the Recipient or its subcontractor undertakes Building Work in carrying out the Project, to the extent required by the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 (Cth), the Recipient must, in accordance with applicable requirements of the Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme: |
(i) | procure and maintain any required accreditation (including as required with respect to its subcontractors); and |
(ii) | ensure ARENA is kept updated as to the status of any such accreditation, including with respect to its subcontractors for this Project; |
(g) | (FOI): assist ARENA to comply with any request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) that relates to the performance of this Agreement; |
(h) | (subcontractors and Project Participants) in connection with the Project: |
(i) | not enter into a contract with a subcontractor or Project Participant named as an organisation that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth); |
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(ii) | not enter into a contract if at any time the Recipient becomes aware of Modern Slavery practices in the operations and supply chains used by a subcontractor or Project Participant unless the Recipient takes reasonable action to address or remove these practices; |
(iii) | and in relation to Major Subcontract Work, only engage those subcontractors specified in item 14 of the Project Details or otherwise approved by ARENA in writing; and |
(iv) | ensure that its contracts with any subcontractors, Project Participants, consultants or other persons participating in the Project contain those provisions necessary to enable the Recipient to comply with its obligations under this Agreement; |
(i) | (insurance): in connection with the Project: |
(i) | have and maintain the insurances that would be maintained by a prudent business undertaking the Project, including but not limited to those insurances specified in item 16 of the Project Details; |
(ii) | with respect to such insurances: |
A | where the Recipient takes out a ‘claims-made’ policy, which requires all claims and any fact, situation or circumstance that might result in a claim to be notified within the period of insurance, maintain the policy during the Term of this Agreement, and a policy in like terms for 7 years after the Term; and |
B | where the Recipient takes out an ‘occurrence’ policy, which requires the circumstances to which a claim relates to occur during the period of insurance whilst the notification of an event can occur at any time subsequently, maintain the policy during the Term of this Agreement; and |
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(iii) | ensure that its subcontractors have and maintain appropriate insurance to cover the risk of the subcontractors’ works, |
and, if requested by ARENA, provide certificates or other sufficient evidence to satisfy ARENA that such insurances have been procured and maintained;
(j) | (books and records): at its own cost, during the Term of this Agreement and for a period of 7 years after the Term, keep, and require its subcontractors to keep, adequate books and records in sufficient detail to enable: |
(i) | all receipts and payments related to the Project to be identified and reported to ARENA; and |
(ii) | the amounts payable by ARENA under this Agreement to be determined or verified; |
(k) | (conflicts): if, during the Project, a conflict of interest arises, or appears likely to arise, notify ARENA as soon as practicable in writing, make full disclosure of all relevant information relating to the conflict and take such steps as ARENA requires to manage the conflict; |
(l) | (visitations): during the Term of this Agreement and for two years after the Term, subject to safety and operational requirements and, if required, appropriate confidentiality agreements being entered into: |
(i) | allow and provide ARENA escorted visits by interested persons approved by ARENA or the Recipient (Visitors) to sites under the Recipient’s control where the Project is conducted; |
(ii) | use best endeavours to obtain |
(iii) | permission for escorted visits by Visitors to sites not under the Recipient’s control where the Project is conducted; |
(iv) | demonstrate the Project to Visitors and relevant technology and provide detailed explanations where requested; and |
(v) | allow ARENA representatives to be present at visits; |
(m) | (bank account): comply with the bank account requirements specified in clause 17; |
(n) | (Personnel): |
(i) | undertake the Project, with the active involvement of, and using the expertise of, the Specified Personnel, or as otherwise agreed between the parties in writing; |
(ii) | ensure that each of the Specified Personnel is aware of and complies with the Recipient’s obligations in undertaking the Project; |
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(iii) | where one or more of the Specified Personnel is, or will become, unable or unwilling to be involved in the Project: |
A | notify ARENA as soon as practicable; |
B | if requested by ARENA, provide a replacement person of suitable ability and qualifications at the earliest opportunity; and |
C | obtain ARENA’s written consent, which must not be unreasonably withheld, prior to appointing any such replacement person; and |
(iv) | if reasonably requested by ARENA, promptly remove any of the Recipient’s or its subcontractors’ Personnel from carrying out work on the Project, and arrange for their replacement in accordance with clause 22.1(n)(iii); |
(o) | (other transactions or contracts): with respect to any other transaction or contract connected with the Project to be entered into with a third party (including a subcontractor), comply with all contractual obligations, including with respect to prompt payment of subcontractors and other contracted parties; |
(p) | (cooperate): cooperate with ARENA and other parties, including by attending any meetings on ARENA’s reasonable request to discuss any issues related to the delivery of the Project or the performance of obligations under this Agreement; |
(q) | (standards): undertake the Project diligently, efficiently, safely and to a high professional standard, in accordance with this Agreement and all relevant Australian industry standards, codes, best practice and guidelines (including those specified in item 4 of the Project Details) or, where none apply, relevant international industry standards, best practice and guidelines; |
(r) | (notification): notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, notify ARENA: |
(i) | promptly in writing of any delay or anticipated delay to the progress of the Project or achievement of a Milestone; providing: |
A | the reason for the delay; |
B | the anticipated impact on the Project; and |
C | the steps the Recipient is taking or will take to overcome the delay, |
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(ii) | keep ARENA updated as to the status of any such notified delay; and |
(iii) | as soon as practicable, of any significant concerns of local community groups of which the Recipient becomes aware; |
(iv) | immediately, if it becomes aware: |
A | of any significant matter that may impact on the delivery of the project, including its Outputs or Outcomes; |
B | it has not undertaken the Project as required under this Agreement or has not spent the ARENA Funding in accordance with this Agreement; |
C | it has, or may have, committed a Material Breach; or |
D | an Insolvency Event has occurred or is likely to occur with respect to the Recipient; |
(s) | (Modern Slavery Act): |
(i) | comply with any applicable requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth); |
(ii) | take reasonable steps to identify, assess and address risks of Modern Slavery practices in the operations and supply chains used in the provision of the Project; |
(iii) | if at any time the Recipient becomes aware of Modern Slavery practices in the operations and supply chains used in the provision of the Project, promptly notify ARENA and take all reasonable action to address or remove these practices, including, where relevant, by addressing any practices of other entities in its supply chains and, if requested by ARENA, provide a remediation plan, in a form and substance reasonably required by ARENA, to ARENA that describes how this will be achieved; and |
(iv) | provide information to ARENA as reasonably requested to enable ARENA to comply with its reporting obligations under that Act; and |
(t) | (Major Projects): to the extent required by the Jobs Act 2013 (Cth) or otherwise as required by ARENA, comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 3 (Major Projects). |
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23 | Assets |
23.1 | (Ownership): Subject to the terms of any lease, the Recipient owns any items of tangible property which are purchased, leased, created or otherwise brought into existence by, for or on behalf of the Recipient either wholly or in part with use of the ARENA Funding, not including Agreement Material (Assets). |
23.2 | (Use and dealings): During the Term of this Agreement, the Recipient must: |
(a) | use any Asset only for the purposes of the Project, or other purposes consistent with the Outcomes; |
(b) | obtain and maintain good title to all Assets (other than Assets which the Recipient leases); |
(c) | subject to clause 23.3, not encumber or dispose of any Asset without ARENA’s prior approval; |
(d) | hold all Assets securely and safeguard them against theft, loss, damage, or unauthorised use; |
(e) | use all reasonable endeavours to maintain all Assets in good working order; |
(f) | maintain all appropriate insurances in respect of any Assets; |
(g) | if required by Law, maintain registration and licensing of all Assets; |
(h) | be fully responsible for, and bear all risks relating to, the use or disposal of all Assets; and |
(i) | if requested by ARENA, maintain an Assets register as specified by ARENA, and provide a copy of the register to ARENA on request. |
23.3 | (Sale or disposal): |
(a) | The Recipient must obtain ARENA’s written consent prior to disposing of an Asset during the Term of this Agreement. |
(b) | Notwithstanding clause 23.3(a). the Recipient may, at any time: |
(i) | dispose of any Asset without ARENA’s prior approval where it relates to the disposal of obsolete or redundant vehicles, plant and equipment, a disposal of an Asset for the purposes of replacing that Asset, or where that disposal is necessary for the maintenance of other Assets; or |
(ii) | following provision of written notification to ARENA, grant a security interest, mortgage or otherwise encumber the Assets for the purpose of arranging financing for the Project as described in clause 3.1. |
23.4 | (Lost or damaged Assets): If any Asset is lost, damaged or destroyed, the Recipient must reinstate or replace the Asset, including by using the proceeds of insurance, without using any ARENA Funding and this clause 23 continues to apply to the reinstated or replaced Asset. |
24 | Independent Certifier |
24.1 | Subject to clause 24.3, if the Independent Certifier Deed is terminated, ARENA and the Recipient must promptly enter into a replacement independent certifier deed on substantially the same terms as the Independent Certifier Deed (or such other terms as agreed between the parties acting reasonably). |
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24.2 | Where clause 24.1 applies, the Recipient must nominate the replacement independent certifier in writing to ARENA, and the replacement independent certifier must: |
(a) | be experienced in the provision of the Services (as defined in the Independent Certifier Deed); and |
(b) | satisfy ARENA’s probity requirements (which include, without limitation, confirmation that the nominated replacement independent certifier is sufficiently independent from and does not have any actual or perceived conflict of interest with the Recipient). |
24.3 | ARENA may only reject a replacement independent certifier nominated by the Recipient under clause 24.2 if the nominee does not meet the requirements in clause 24.2 and ARENA gives notice to the Recipient together with the reasons for its rejection within 5 Business Days of the Recipient’s nomination. |
24.4 | If ARENA rejects a replacement independent certifier nominated by the Recipient in accordance with clause 24.3, the Recipient must promptly nominate an alternative replacement independent certifier which meets the requirements under clause 24.2. |
25 | Evaluation |
25.1 | ARENA may, at any time until the End Date, undertake an evaluation of the Project, either directly or through a third-party adviser, and the Recipient must: |
(a) | at its own cost, provide all reasonable assistance to ARENA, and any adviser, for such review or evaluation; and |
(b) | subject to clause 27, provide any information reasonably required by ARENA on the implementation and progress of the Project in the format requested by ARENA. |
25.2 | The Recipient acknowledges that ARENA may undertake an evaluation of the Project after the End Date at ARENA’s own cost. The Recipient agrees to cooperate with ARENA with respect to any such evaluation. |
26 | Audit and access |
26.1 | During the Term of this Agreement, and for 5 years after the Term, ARENA or its nominee may: |
(a) | conduct audits relevant to the performance of the Recipient’s obligations under this Agreement and in respect of the Project; and |
(b) | upon giving the Recipient reasonable notice, access the Recipient’s premises, require the provision of records and information, and inspect and copy any documentation or records reasonably necessary for that purpose. |
26.2 | In addition to the obligation of the Recipient to provide Audited Financial Statements with the Final Report as specified in Schedule 1 (The Project), at any time until the End Date, if requested by ARENA, the Recipient must promptly provide, at its own cost, Audited Financial Statements for the Project. |
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26.3 | The Recipient must provide all reasonable assistance to ARENA and its nominee (if any) for any audit or access under this clause 26. |
26.4 | ARENA will, and will require that any nominee, use reasonable endeavours to minimise any disruption to the Activities caused by any audit or access and will comply with the Recipient’s reasonable workplace policies. |
26.5 | The rights of ARENA under this clause 26: |
(a) | apply equally to the Auditor-General or an Information Officer (or any nominee) for the purpose of performing the Auditor-General’s or Information Officer’s statutory functions or powers; and |
(b) | are in addition to, and do not limit, any other function, power, right or entitlement of the Auditor-General or an Information Officer. |
26.6 | Where an audit under this clause 26 identifies, in ARENA’s reasonable opinion, that the Recipient is in Material Breach of this Agreement, then ARENA may recover from the Recipient the costs incurred in conducting that audit. The Recipient acknowledges and accepts that it is not permitted to use funds included in the Budget to meet any such costs. |
27 | Confidentiality |
27.1 | Without limiting clause 7 and subject to clause 27.2, ARENA must not, without the prior written consent of the Recipient, disclose any Recipient Confidential Information to another person. |
27.2 | Despite anything else in this Agreement, ARENA may disclose Recipient Confidential Information: |
(a) | as specified or as contemplated in the Knowledge Sharing Plan; |
(b) | to ARENA’s Personnel or advisers, including its Knowledge Sharing Agent; |
(c) | where applicable, to other lenders or financial institutions involved in the Project; |
(d) | to a Commonwealth agency, where this serves ARENA’s or the Commonwealth’s legitimate interests; |
(e) | to a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Auditor-General, the Information Officer or any of the Commonwealth or State or Territory Ombudsmen; |
(f) | to ARENA’s responsible Minister or Portfolio Department; |
(g) | to AEMO, AER and AEMC; or |
(h) | where required by Law, including under a Senate Order. |
27.3 | The Recipient must not, without the prior written consent of ARENA, disclose any ARENA Confidential Information to another person, except: |
(a) | where required by Law, in which case ARENA must be notified as soon as practicable before the ARENA Confidential Information is disclosed; and |
(b) | to its Related Bodies Corporate, Personnel, professional advisers, subcontractors or Project Participants solely for the purposes of carrying out its obligations under this Agreement or meeting its legal obligations under Law, including with respect to taxation. |
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27.4 | Without limiting any other provision of this Agreement, where the Recipient discloses ARENA Confidential Information to a third party pursuant to clause 27.3, the Recipient must: |
(a) | give notice to the receiving party in writing that the information is Confidential Information; and |
(b) | subject to its obligations under Law, only provide the Confidential Information if the receiving party agrees to keep the information confidential as if it were bound by the obligations of confidentiality imposed under this Agreement. |
27.5 | The Recipient acknowledges that Recipient Confidential Information provided to ARENA may be provided to a contractor for data handling and analysis services, or incorporated into databases or other IT systems, and aggregated into documents or other media for public release, provided that arrangements are in place to maintain confidentiality of Recipient Confidential Information and meet any conditions in the Knowledge Sharing Plan. |
28 | Force Majeure |
28.1 | A party (Affected Party) is excused from performing its obligations under this Agreement to the extent it is prevented by circumstances which: |
(a) | are beyond its reasonable control including natural disasters, acts of war, riots and strikes outside the Affected Party’s organisation (other than, in respect of the Recipient only, lack of funds or any internal strike, lockout or labour dispute); and |
(b) | could not reasonably have been prevented or overcome by the Affected Party (or, where the Affected Party is the Recipient, the Recipient and its subcontractors) exercising a standard of care and diligence consistent with that of a prudent and competent person operating within the relevant industry. |
28.2 | When the circumstances described in clause 28.1 arise, the Affected Party must give notice of those circumstances to the other party as soon as possible, identifying the effect they will have on its performance and must make all reasonable efforts to minimise the effects of such circumstances on the performance of this Agreement. |
28.3 | ARENA is not obliged to pay to the Recipient any funding for so long as circumstances described in clause 28.1 prevent the Recipient from performing its obligations under this Agreement. For clarity, this does not affect the Recipient’s entitlement to payment due to be paid under this Agreement prior to a notice being issued under clause 28.2. |
28.4 | If non-performance or diminished performance by the Recipient due to the circumstances under clause 28.1 continues for a period of more than 120 consecutive days, ARENA may terminate this Agreement by giving the Recipient written notice. |
28.5 | If this Agreement is terminated by ARENA under clause 28.4: |
(a) | ARENA is liable only for: |
(i) | payments due in accordance with this Agreement before the effective date of termination, but only to the extent that those monies have been spent or Legally Committed by the Recipient in accordance with this Agreement at the time the Recipient receives the notice of termination (written evidence of which must be provided by the Recipient to ARENA); and |
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(ii) | where the Recipient has undertaken work on the Project at the time the Recipient receives the notice of termination, payment of ARENA Funding in accordance with this Agreement to the extent that those monies have been spent or Legally Committed by the Recipient in accordance with this Agreement on the Project at the time the Recipient receives the notice of termination (written evidence of which must be provided by the Recipient to ARENA); and |
(b) | each party will otherwise bear its own costs and neither party will incur further liability to the other. |
29 | Suspension of Funding |
29.1 | Without limiting its other rights, ARENA may at its discretion, suspend payment of the ARENA Funding in whole or in part if: |
(a) | there is a Material Breach that has continued for a period of 10 Business Days, and is continuing; or |
(b) | the Recipient has received, or requested to receive, grant funding from the Commonwealth or a State, Territory or local government other than the ARENA Funding or Contributions specified in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project). |
29.2 | Where ARENA suspends payment in accordance with clause 29.1, ARENA must notify the Recipient as soon as reasonably practicable. |
29.3 | The Recipient must not spend any ARENA Funding after it receives notice from ARENA under clause 29.2 unless and until ARENA notifies the Recipient otherwise. |
29.4 | ARENA’s right to suspend payment under clause 29.1 will cease upon ARENA determining, acting reasonably, that the cause of the suspension has been remedied. |
29.5 | Regardless of whether ARENA exercises its right to suspend payment under this clause 29, the Recipient will not be entitled to payment of ARENA Funding unless the conditions to payment in clause 16 have been satisfied. |
29.6 | Despite any suspension to payment in accordance with clause 29.1, the Recipient must: |
(a) | continue to comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and |
(b) | continue carrying out the Project, unless otherwise agreed by ARENA acting reasonably. |
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30 | Reduction |
30.1 | Without limiting its other rights, ARENA may, at its discretion, reduce the amount of any Milestone payment or the overall ARENA Funding payable under this Agreement, on the date for payment of a Milestone: |
(a) | by the amount that has not been used, spent or Legally Committed if the Recipient has not spent or Legally Committed the ARENA Funding which has been paid to the Recipient in accordance with the Agreement; or |
(b) | by an amount that represents the same proportion of the ARENA Funding as the Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions which have not been used are of the total Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions due to be used or spent if the Recipient Contributions or Other Contributions due to be used or spent by the Recipient in accordance with this Agreement have not been used, spent or Legally Committed. |
30.2 | If the Recipient receives any additional contribution to the Project in the form of grant funding from the Commonwealth (including any type of Commonwealth Entity) or a State, Territory or local government other than the ARENA Funding or Contributions specified in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project), ARENA may, at its discretion, reduce the amount of ARENA Funding payable under this Agreement by an amount equal to the additional grant funding received by the Recipient. |
30.3 | Without limiting clause 4.5, if the Financial Model delivered to ARENA as a Condition Precedent contains increased commercial projections for the Project compared with the Draft Financial Model, ARENA may, at its discretion, reduce the amount of ARENA Funding payable under this Agreement by an amount equal to the increase in commercial projections provided by the Recipient in the Financial Model. |
31 | Change in Commonwealth government policy |
31.1 | Without limiting any other rights or remedies ARENA may have arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, if there has been a change in Commonwealth government policy with respect to ARENA that affects ARENA’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement, ARENA may provide the Recipient with not less than 30 days’ notice of its intention to: |
(a) | reduce the scope of the Project; or |
(b) | terminate this Agreement (Notice of Intended Termination). |
31.2 | Upon receipt of a Notice of Intended Termination: |
(a) | the Recipient must take steps to minimise loss resulting from that termination and to protect the ARENA Material; and |
(b) | if the total amount of payments made by ARENA under clause 16 to the Recipient is less than the ARENA Funding: |
(i) | the Recipient will open a locked-box bank account (Bank Account); |
(ii) | ARENA and the Recipient will nominate and enter into an engagement agreement (terms of which are to be agreed at the relevant time) with an independent third party (Independent Third Party) to administer the Bank Account; and |
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(iii) | ARENA will deposit the undrawn balance of the ARENA Funding into the Bank Account, |
within 60 days after receipt of the Notice of Intended Termination.
31.3 | Upon the Independent Third Party being engaged on the terms set out in clause 31.2(b), ARENA may terminate this Agreement by giving a Notice of Termination to the Recipient specifying the date for termination and, subject to clause 40.1, this Agreement will terminate with effect from that date. If the scope of the Project is reduced under clause 31.1: |
(a) | ARENA’s liability to pay the Funding under this Agreement abates in accordance with the reduction in the Project; and |
(b) | the Recipient must continue to undertake any part of the Project not affected by the notice (unless the Recipient, acting reasonably, notifies ARENA that it is not commercially viable to do so). |
31.4 | Termination of this Agreement under this clause 31 does not affect any accrued rights or remedies of a party. |
32 | Termination or reduction in scope with cause |
32.1 | Without limiting any other rights or remedies ARENA may have arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, ARENA may, by notice, immediately terminate this Agreement or reduce the scope of the Project if: |
(a) | the Recipient commits a Material Breach (other than an Insolvency Event) and the Material Breach has not been remedied within 20 Business Days (or such other time as agreed by ARENA) of the earlier of: |
(i) | the date on which the Recipient receives notice of the Material Breach from ARENA; and |
(ii) | the date on which the Recipient becomes aware of the Material Breach; |
(b) | if applicable, the Recipient fails to satisfy the Conditions Precedent by the CP Satisfaction Date; |
(c) | the Recipient fails to achieve one or more of the Milestones by the time required in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project) (subject to the Recipient’s right to request an extension under clause 20); |
(d) | there is a Change in Control of the Recipient without ARENA’s prior written consent (such consent not to be withheld unreasonably) and ARENA considers that: |
(i) | the identity of the person who directly or indirectly controls the Recipient could bring ARENA’s or the Commonwealth’s reputation into disrepute; or |
(ii) | if the person who has or will acquire Control: |
A | does not have either sufficient financial capability or infrastructure or energy asset ownership experience; |
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B | does not meet any binding legal compliance requirements of ARENA, including requirements of the Applicable Guidelines and/or all necessary checks to comply with applicable AML/CTF Laws; |
C | would be prohibited by ARENA’s internal policies; or |
D | would be unable to perform the obligations set out in clause 2.1. |
(e) | the Recipient fails to take all reasonable action to address or remove Modern Slavery practices notified to ARENA in accordance with clause 22.1(s)(iii) and no further action has been taken within 20 Business Days (or such other time as agreed by ARENA) of the date on which the Recipient receives notice from ARENA requesting such further action be taken. |
32.2 | Without limiting any of ARENA’s other rights or remedies, on termination of this Agreement under this clause 32: |
(a) | ARENA is not obliged to pay to the Recipient any outstanding amount of funding under this Agreement; and |
(b) | ARENA is entitled to exercise any right to recover from the Recipient, including repayment rights under clause 35. |
32.3 | If the scope of the Project is reduced under clause 32.1: |
(a) | ARENA’s liability to pay the funding under this Agreement abates in accordance with the reduction in the Project; and |
(b) | the Recipient must continue to undertake any part of the Project not affected by the notice (unless the Recipient, acting reasonably, notifies ARENA that it is not commercially viable to do so). |
33 | Termination for an Insolvency Event |
33.1 | Subject to clause 33.2, and without limiting any other rights or remedies ARENA may have arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, ARENA may, to the extent permitted by Law, terminate this Agreement by notice if an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Recipient. |
33.2 | Where an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Recipient, ARENA may, at its discretion, request the Recipient to nominate in writing to ARENA (within 10 Business Days of ARENA’s request) a suitably qualified and experienced party to perform the remaining obligations of the Recipient under this Agreement. |
33.3 | Where the Recipient provides a nomination in accordance with clause 33.2, ARENA must, within 10 Business Days, approve or reject the party nominated by the Recipient under clause 33.2. |
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33.4 | Where ARENA approves the party nominated by the Recipient under clause 33.3, the parties will work cooperatively to facilitate the transfer of this Agreement and the Project to the nominated party. |
33.5 | Where the Recipient does not provide a nomination to ARENA, or ARENA rejects the party nominated by the Recipient, ARENA may, to the extent permitted by Law, terminate this Agreement by notice. |
34 | Recoupment |
34.1 | Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, where the Recipient: |
(a) | (sale or disposal of the Project): sells, or otherwise disposes a majority of, its legal interests in the Project; or |
(b) | (refinancing of the Project): refinances any or all of the financial indebtedness incurred with respect to the Project, |
34.2 | without ARENA’s prior written consent, ARENA may, upon giving written notice to the Recipient, recoup from the Recipient an amount up to all ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient as a debt due and payable on demand. The Recipient must notify ARENA as soon as practicable when it becomes aware that an event described in clause 34.1 will occur or is likely to occur. |
34.3 | 34.3 Where ARENA gives the Recipient a recoupment notice under clause 34.1, the Recipient must, within 20 Business Days of the date of the such notice, pay the amount specified in the recoupment notice. |
34.4 | ARENA can elect to require recoupment of a lesser amount of ARENA Funding than otherwise required under clause 34.1. ARENA is not required to exercise this discretion for the Recipient’s benefit. |
34.5 | ARENA and the Recipient agree that the amount payable to ARENA by the Recipient under this clause 34, together with any amounts repaid to ARENA under clause 35, will not exceed the amount of ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient. |
34.6 | This clause 34 does not limit any other right or remedy of ARENA under this Agreement. |
34.7 | The parties acknowledge and agree that this clause may be amended in the event that the Recipient arranges financing described in clause 3.1. |
35 | Repayment of ARENA Funding |
35.1 | Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, ARENA may recover some or all of the ARENA Funding from the Recipient (as a debt due and payable on demand in accordance with clause 35.3) in the circumstances and to the extent specified below: |
(a) | (misspent funds): the amount of any ARENA Funding which, in ARENA’s opinion, acting reasonably, and at any time, has been spent or used other than in accordance with this Agreement; |
(b) | (unspent funds): |
(i) | at the Final Milestone Date, the full amount of any ARENA Funding which has not been spent or Legally Committed by the Recipient; or |
(ii) | any amount of ARENA Funding which has been paid to the Recipient and not been spent or Legally Committed by the Recipient as at a due date for payment of further ARENA Funding in accordance with this Agreement; |
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(c) | (Abandoned Project): an amount equal to all ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient if the Recipient has Abandoned the Project (whether or not ARENA has terminated this Agreement in accordance with clause 32.1(a)) and does not resume performance within 10 Business Days after receiving notice requiring it to do so or, otherwise within that timeframe, demonstrate to ARENA’s satisfaction (acting reasonably) that there are reasonable technical grounds for having Abandoned the Project; |
(d) | (Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions not used): if, as at the Final Milestone Date, Recipient Contributions or Other Contributions have not been used for the Project, an amount that represents the same proportion of the ARENA Funding as the Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions which have not been used are of the total Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions; |
(e) | (Material Breach): subject to clause 35.2, an amount equal to all ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient if the Recipient commits a Material Breach (other than an Insolvency Event) and ARENA terminates this Agreement under clause 32; |
(f) | (Change in Control): an amount equal to all ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient if there is a Change in Control of the Recipient without ARENA’s prior written consent (such consent to be provided acting reasonably) and ARENA terminates under clause 32.1(d); or |
(g) | (Insolvency Event): an amount equal to all ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient if an Insolvency Event occurs in respect of the Recipient and ARENA has terminated this Agreement in accordance with clause 33. |
35.2 | ARENA may only exercise its rights under clause 35.1(e) where the Recipient: |
(a) | commits any breach of clauses 21.1(a) (transaction permitted), 21.1(c) (no misleading information), 21.1(e) (employee entitlements), 21.1(g) (legal capacity), 21.1(h) (financial capacity), 21.1(i) (insolvency) or 21.1(k) (qualifications); |
(b) | commits a breach of a material nature of clause 18 (Use of ARENA Funding), clause 22.1(c) (Modern Slavery) clause 19 (Contributions), clauses 21.1(f) (Intellectual Property), 21.1(j) (Applicable Guidelines) or 21.1(l) (trustee), clauses 22.1(a) (Laws), 22.1(d) (WHS Law), 22.1(f) (Privacy), 22.1(g) (FOI), 14 (Intellectual Property) or 14.5 (Moral Rights), clause 23.3(a) (Disposal of Assets) or clause 27 (Confidentiality); or |
(c) | commits a breach of a material nature of clause 2 (Undertaking the Project), clause 7.1 (Knowledge Sharing), clause 11 (Reports and Plans), clauses 21.1(d) (conflicts of interest), clause 22.1(k) (Conflicts), or clause 10.1 (Reporting), and ARENA determines, acting reasonably, that such breach materially impacts the ability of the Recipient to achieve the Outcomes. |
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35.3 | Where ARENA gives the Recipient a repayment notice requiring the Recipient to repay to ARENA an amount which ARENA is entitled to recover under clause 35.1, the Recipient must, within 20 Business Days of the date of the repayment notice, repay the amount (including interest calculated as set out in clause 35.5, if applicable) specified in the repayment notice. |
35.4 | ARENA can elect to require repayment of a lesser amount of ARENA Funding than otherwise required under clause 35.1. ARENA is not required to exercise this discretion for the Recipient’s benefit. |
35.5 | With the exception of clause 35.1(f), the Recipient must pay interest to ARENA in connection with any amount notified as owing to ARENA under clause 35.1, with the rate of interest to be calculated: |
(a) | on the amount to be repaid to ARENA as set out in ARENA’s repayment notice; |
(b) | at the Interest Rate; |
(c) | on a semi-annually compounding basis upon the principal amount specified in the notice as repayable to ARENA; and |
(d) | from and including the date the amount is payable under clause 35.3 up to but excluding the day on which the Recipient repays the total amount specified in the notice as owing to ARENA, without any set off, counter-claim, condition, abatement, deduction or withholding. |
35.6 | The Recipient acknowledges that the amounts to be paid to ARENA under this clause 35 are a genuine pre-estimate of the losses incurred by ARENA for the defaults described in this clause 35. |
35.7 | ARENA and the Recipient agree that the amount of any repayments payable to ARENA by the Recipient under this clause 35, together with any amounts recouped by ARENA under clause 34, will not exceed the amount of ARENA Funding paid to the Recipient. |
35.8 | This clause 35 does not limit any other right or remedy of ARENA. |
36 | Dispute resolution |
36.1 | A party must comply with this clause 36 in relation to any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination (Dispute), before starting court proceedings, except proceedings for urgent interlocutory relief. After a party has sought or obtained any urgent interlocutory relief, that party must follow this clause 36. |
36.2 | Any party claiming a Dispute has arisen must give the other parties to the Dispute a notice setting out details of the Dispute (Notice of Dispute). |
36.3 | Within 10 Business Days after a Notice of Dispute is received (or longer period if the parties to the Dispute agree in writing), each party to the Dispute must use all reasonable endeavours through a meeting of Senior Management (or their nominees) to resolve the Dispute. |
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36.4 | If the Dispute is not resolved within 10 Business Days under clause 36.3, the Dispute will be referred to a mediator upon either party’s request. If the parties cannot agree on a mediator within 7 days after the request, the chair of Resolution Institute or the chair’s nominee will appoint a mediator. |
36.5 | Unless agreed by the mediator and parties, the mediation must be held within 21 days after the request for mediation in clause 36.4. The parties must attend the mediation and act in good faith to genuinely attempt to resolve the Dispute. |
36.6 | Any information or documents disclosed by a party under this clause 36 must be kept confidential and may only be used to attempt to resolve the Dispute. |
36.7 | Each party must pay its own costs of complying with this clause 36. The parties must equally pay the costs of any mediator. |
36.8 | A party may terminate the dispute resolution process by giving notice to the other party after it has complied with clauses 36.1 through 36.5. Clauses 36.6 and 36.7 survive termination of the dispute resolution process. |
36.9 | If a party breaches any clauses from clause 36.1 through 36.8, the other party does not have to comply with those clauses in relation to the Dispute. |
37 | Liability and Indemnity |
37.1 | The Recipient will at all times indemnify ARENA and its Personnel (referred to in this clause 37 as those indemnified) from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense or liability (including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis) arising out of or as a consequence of: |
(a) | the carrying out of works or services by the Recipient (including its subcontractors), or the supply of goods, in connection with the Project; |
(b) | the Licensed Materials (including the use of the Licensed Materials by ARENA or its Personnel) infringing or allegedly infringing the Intellectual Property Rights or Moral Rights of any person; |
(c) | any breach of this Agreement by the Recipient; or |
(d) | any negligent or wrongful or unlawful act or omission on the part of the Recipient, its Personnel or subcontractors. |
37.2 | The Recipient’s liability to indemnify those indemnified will be reduced proportionally to the extent that any breach of this Agreement by those indemnified, or any negligent act or omission of those indemnified, contributed to the loss. |
37.3 | Neither party will be liable to the other party for Consequential Loss arising under or in connection with this Agreement. |
38 | GST |
38.1 | In this clause 38: |
(a) | unless otherwise stated, words and expressions which are not defined in this Agreement, but which have a defined meaning in the GST Law have the same meaning as in the GST Law; and |
(b) | a reference to a party or an entity includes the representative member of any GST group of which the relevant party or entity is a member. |
38.2 | Unless otherwise expressly stated, all prices or other sums payable, or consideration to be provided to a party under this Agreement, are exclusive of GST. |
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38.3 | Subject to this clause 38, if a party (Supplier) makes a taxable supply to another party (GST Recipient) under or in connection with this Agreement in respect of which GST is payable, the GST Recipient must pay the Supplier an additional amount equal to the GST payable on the supply (unless the consideration for the taxable supply was specified to include GST). The additional amount is payable at the same time that any part of the consideration for the supply is first paid or provided. The Supplier must provide a tax invoice to the GST Recipient in accordance with the GST Law. |
38.4 | If an adjustment event arises in respect of a taxable supply made by a Supplier under this Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 Agreement, the amount payable by the GST Recipient will be recalculated to reflect the adjustment event and a payment will be made by the GST Recipient to the Supplier or by the Supplier to the GST Recipient as the case requires. The Supplier must provide an adjustment note to the GST Recipient in accordance with the GST Law. |
38.5 | If the GST payable in relation to a supply is less than the amount the GST Recipient has paid the Supplier under clause 38.3, the Supplier is only obligated to pay a refund of GST to the GST Recipient to the extent the Supplier receives a refund of that GST from the Commissioner. |
38.6 | If a payment to a party under this Agreement is a reimbursement or indemnification, calculated by reference to a loss, cost or expense incurred by that party, then the payment will be reduced by the amount of any input tax credit to which that party is entitled on the acquisition of the supply to which that loss, cost or expense relates. |
38.7 | This clause 38 will survive the termination of this Agreement by any party. |
39 | Notices and other communications |
39.1 | Any notice, approval, consent or other communication must be: |
(a) | in writing, in English and signed by a person duly authorised by the sender; and |
(b) | hand delivered or sent by email to the recipient’s address specified in item 20 of the Project Details (or as updated by written notice from time to time), or in the case of notices or other communications to ARENA, by the GMS. |
39.2 | Any notice, approval, consent or other communication takes effect when it is taken to be received and is taken to be received: |
(a) | if hand delivered, on delivery; |
(b) | if sent by email, on the day and at the time it is sent (as recorded on the sender’s equipment), unless the sender receives an automated message that the email has not been delivered; or |
(c) | if sent by the GMS, on the day and at the time it is recorded on the GMS as being received, |
but, if the delivery or transmission is not on a Business Day or is after 5:00pm on a Business Day, the notice is taken to be received at 9:00am on the next Business Day.
39.3 | Any notice, approval, consent or other communication sent by email is taken to be signed by the named sender unless the context otherwise requires. |
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40 | Miscellaneous |
40.1 | Clauses 7 (Knowledge Sharing); 8 |
(Acknowledgement, Disclaimer and Publicity); 14 (Intellectual Property); 15.1 and 15.2 (ARENA Funding); 22.1(d) (WHS Law); 22.1(g) (FOI); 22.1(i) (Insurance); 22.1(j) (Books and Records); 22.1(l) (Visitations); 25.2 (Evaluation); 26 (Audits and Access); 27 (Confidentiality); 32.3(b) (Termination); 34 (Recoupment); 35 (Repayment of ARENA Funding); 36 (Dispute Resolution); 37 (Liability and Indemnity); 38 (GST); 40.16 (Governing Law); and 42 (Interpretation) survive the expiry or termination of this Agreement, together with any provision of this Agreement which expressly or by implication from its nature is intended to survive the expiry or termination of this Agreement.
40.2 | The Recipient must not, without the prior written consent of ARENA, use the ARENA Funding, this Agreement or any assets created or acquired in the course of the Project as any form of security for the purpose of obtaining or complying with any form of loan, credit, payment or other interest, or for the preparation of, or in the course of any litigation. |
40.3 | Except where this Agreement expressly states otherwise, a party may in its absolute discretion, give conditionally or unconditionally, or withhold, any acceptance, agreement, approval or consent under this Agreement. |
40.4 | The Recipient may only assign its rights or novate its rights and obligations under this Agreement with the prior written consent of ARENA. |
40.5 | ARENA may assign its rights or novate any or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement if it is to an Authority or an entity where the ultimate legal or beneficial interest is held by an Authority. |
40.6 | Where the Recipient subcontracts any aspect of the Project, it is fully responsible for: |
(a) | undertaking the Project and for the performance of all of its obligations under this Agreement; and |
(b) | its subcontractors” acts and omissions. |
40.7 | Each party must pay its own costs of negotiating, preparing, executing and varying this Agreement. |
40.8 | The Recipient must pay any taxes and duties payable in respect of this Agreement and the Project. |
40.9 | This Agreement may be executed in counterparts. All executed counterparts constitute one document. |
40.10 | This Agreement may be executed by electronic signature, which will be considered as an original signature for all purposes and will have the same force and effect as an original signature. |
40.11 | This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties in connection with its subject matter and supersedes all previous agreements or understandings between the parties in connection with its subject matter. |
40.12 | Each party must do, at its own cost, everything reasonably necessary (including executing documents) to give full effect to this Agreement and any transaction contemplated by it. |
40.13 | A term, or part of a term, of this Agreement that is illegal or unenforceable may be severed from this Agreement and the remaining terms, or parts of the terms, of this Agreement continue in force. |
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40.14 | Waiver of any provision of or right under this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the party entitled to the benefit of that provision or right and is effective only to the extent set out in any written waiver. |
40.15 | This Agreement does not create a relationship of employment, agency or partnership between the parties. The parties must not represent themselves, and must ensure that their officers, employees, agents and subcontractors do not represent themselves, as being an officer, employee, partner or agent of the other party, or as otherwise able to bind or represent the other party. |
40.16 | This Agreement is governed by the law of the Australian Capital Territory and each party irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Australian Capital Territory. |
41 | Definitions |
41.1 | Except where the contrary intention is expressed, capitalised: |
(a) | Abandoned means no substantive work or activities have been carried out on the Project for 60 consecutive days, except where the Recipient has been relieved of the obligation to do so under this Agreement; |
(b) | Accounting Standards means the standards of that name maintained by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (referred to in section 227 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth)) or other accounting standards which are generally accepted and consistently applied in Australia; |
(c) | AEMC means the Australian Energy Market Commission (ABN 49 236 270 144); |
(d) | AEMO means the Australian Energy Market Operator Limited (ABN 94 072 010 327); |
(e) | AER means the Australian Energy Regulator; |
(f) | Agreement means this agreement between ARENA and the Recipient (including the Schedules and any attachments), as varied from time to time in accordance with its terms; |
(g) | Agreement Material means any Material created by, for, or on behalf of the Recipient on or following the date of this Agreement, that is provided, or is required to be provided, by the Recipient to ARENA for the purpose of performing its obligations under this Agreement, including modifications required under clause 22.1. |
(h) | Applicable Guidelines means the Guidelines listed at item 4 of the Project Details issued by ARENA pursuant to section 24 of the ARENA Act; |
(i) | Application means the expression of interest and application submitted by, for, or on behalf of the Recipient for funding under the Advancing Renewables Program in relation to the Project; |
(j) | Approved Auditor means a person who is: |
(i) | registered as a company auditor under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or an appropriately qualified member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, CPA Australia or the Institute of Public Accountants; |
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(ii) | not a principal, member, shareholder, officer, agent, subcontractor or employee of the Recipient, a Project Participant or a Related Body Corporate of the Recipient or a Project Participant; and |
(iii) | not the Recipient’s accountant; |
(k) | ARENA means the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ABN 35 931 927 899) of 2 Phillip Law St, Canberra ACT 2601; |
(l) | ARENA Act means the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011 (Cth); |
(m) | ARENA Confidential Information means Confidential Information of ARENA, which includes this Agreement and the letter of offer from ARENA to the Recipient dated 14 December 2022; |
(n) | ARENA Funding means the amount specified in item 2.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project) and any interest earned by the Recipient on that amount as reduced in accordance with this Agreement; |
(o) | Audited Financial Statements means financial statements in respect of the ARENA Funding prepared by an Approved Auditor in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(p) | Australian Sanctions Laws means the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (Cth) and the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 (Cth) including the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (Cth) (as amended from time to time); |
(q) | Authorisation means any authorisation, approval, licence, permit, consent, determination, certificate, notice, requirement or permission from any Authority which must be obtained or satisfied (as the case may be) to undertake the Project; |
(r) | Authority means any Commonwealth, State, Territory, local or foreign government or semi-governmental authority, court, administrative or other judicial body or tribunal, department, commission, public authority, agency, minister, statutory corporation or instrumentality or any other person having jurisdiction in connection with work required for the Project; |
(s) | Board Approval means the ARENA Board Approval in connection with the Project dated 1 December 2022; |
(t) | Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Projects means the voluntary set of commitments for Clean Energy Council members designed to clearly communicate the standards that the signatories will uphold in the development of current and new clean energy projects, a copy of which is available at https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/adv ocacy-initiatives/community-engagement/best-practice-charter; |
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(u) | Budget means the total budget (if any) for the Project set out in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project), including as varied under the terms of this Agreement or updated in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(v) | Building Work has the meaning given to it in section 6 of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 (Cth); |
(w) | Business Day means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the place: |
(i) | for the purposes of giving or receiving notices, where a party receiving the notice is located; or |
(ii) | for any other purpose under this Agreement, where the party required to perform an obligation is located; |
(x) | Change in Control means, in relation to an entity, a change in the direct or indirect power or capacity of a person to: |
(i) | determine the outcome of decisions about the financial and operating policies of the entity; or |
(ii) | control the membership of the board of directors of the entity, |
whether or not the power has statutory, legal or equitable force or is based on statutory, legal or equitable rights and whether or not it arises by means of trusts, agreements, arrangements, understandings, practices, the ownership of any interest in shares or stock of the entity or otherwise, but not including a change in control resulting from ordinary course trading on a stock exchange in the shares of the entity;
(y) | Claim means a distress, attachment or other execution levied or enforced upon or against the assets of a person, and in the case of legal proceedings or other order or process requiring payment (other than a statutory demand or a bankruptcy notice) which is not withdrawn or dismissed within 10 Business Days; |
(z) | Commencement Date means the date on which this Agreement is signed by ARENA; |
(aa) | Commercial Operations Date means the date ARENA notifies the Recipient that it has completed Milestone 4 in accordance with item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(bb) | Commonwealth means the Commonwealth of Australia; |
(cc) | Community Consultation Plan, where required, means the plan to be provided by the Recipient in accordance with item 3.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(dd) | Commonwealth Entity has the meaning given to it in section 10 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth); |
(ee) | Conditions Precedent means the conditions outlined at item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(ff) | Confidential Information means information that is by its nature confidential and which a party knows or ought to know is confidential, but not including information that is or becomes public knowledge otherwise than by breach of this Agreement or any other confidentiality obligation; |
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(gg) | Consequential Loss means loss of profits, anticipated loss of profit or revenue, loss of production, loss of business opportunity, loss of or damage to goodwill or reputation, loss of use or any other similar loss, but excludes: |
(i) | loss recoverable under a policy of insurance to the extent of the amount recovered or that should have been recovered but for a breach of the policy or failure to insure in accordance with this Agreement; |
(ii) | loss arising from death or personal injury; |
(iii) | loss arising from criminal acts, fraudulent conduct or wilful misconduct committed by the Recipient or its Personnel; |
(iv) | loss arising from an infringement of any Intellectual Property Right or Moral Rights by the Recipient or its Personnel; |
(v) | loss arising from breach of clauses 22.1(d) or 27 by the Recipient or its Personnel; |
(vi) | loss arising from liability which by Law the parties cannot contract out of; and |
(vii) | any amounts expressly payable by the Recipient to ARENA under this Agreement; |
(hh) | Contributions means both the Recipient Contributions and the Other Contributions; |
(ii) | Controller has the meaning given to it in section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); |
(jj) | Corresponding WHS Law has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth); |
(kk) | Cost to Complete means, on any day, the total of Project costs and other amounts payable from that day to the Commercial Operations Date, including amounts payable by the Recipient to the EPC Contractor under the EPC Contract, as certified in accordance with the Independent Certifier Deed; |
(ll) | Cost to Complete Test on any date will be satisfied where the aggregate of undrawn commitments under this Agreement, and all other committed sources of funding available to the Recipient (including any Contributions) exceeds the Cost to Complete; |
(mm) | CP Satisfaction Date means the date by which the Conditions Precedent must be satisfied by the Recipient, as specified in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project) for that Conditions Precedent; |
(nn) | CP Submission Date means the date by which the Conditions Precedent must be submitted by the Recipient, as specified in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project) for that Conditions Precedent; |
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(oo) | Data means all material acquired by the Recipient in connection with the Project, including ARENA Confidential Information; |
(pp) | Data Security Breach means any unauthorised access, modification, use, disclosure, destruction or loss of data related to the Project, and includes an actual or attempted circumvention of any of its security measures; |
(qq) | Dispute has the meaning given in clause 36.1; |
(rr) | Draft Financial Model means the financial model provided by the Recipient by email to ARENA on or about 20 December 2022 titled “2022 - 12 - 20 ARENA Post FA Merged FM.xlsx”; |
(ss) | Eligible Expenditure has the meaning set out in the Applicable Guidelines and means expenditure (inclusive of GST but less related input tax credits the Recipient is entitled to claim) incurred by the Recipient on the Project: |
(i) | after the date of this Agreement that qualifies as eligible expenditure under the Applicable Guidelines; and/or |
(ii) | that ARENA otherwise approves as eligible expenditure for the purposes of this Agreement; |
(tt) | End Date means: |
(i) | 12 months following the Final Milestone Date; or |
(ii) | the date on which ARENA accepts the final Knowledge Sharing Deliverable submitted by the Recipient, |
whichever is later;
(uu) | EPC Contract means the contract with the EPC Contractor to undertake the necessary works in connection with the Project; |
(vv) | EPC Contractor means the ‘Contractor’ or as otherwise defined in the EPC Contract delivered to ARENA in accordance with CP1 (d) of Schedule 1. |
(ww) | External Controller means an administrator, Controller, trustee, provisional liquidator, liquidator or any other person holding or appointed to an analogous office or acting or purporting to act in an analogous capacity; |
(xx) | Final Milestone Date means the date by which the final Milestone is to be completed, as set out in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(yy) | Financial Model means the financial model provided as a Condition Precedent described in item 1.8 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(zz) | Final Report has the meaning given in item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
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(aaa) | General Conditions means clauses 1 to 42 of this Agreement; |
(bbb) | GMS means ARENA’s grant management system; |
(ccc) | GST Law has the same meaning as in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth); |
(ddd) | Independent Certifier means the independent certifier appointed under the Independent Certifier Deed; |
(eee) | Independent Certifier Deed means the deed to be entered into between ARENA, the Recipient and the independent certifier and, where applicable, in accordance with the requirements of clause 24; |
(fff) | Information Officer means the Information Commissioner, the Freedom of Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner appointed in accordance with section 14 of the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 (Cth), or a delegate of that person; |
(ggg) | Insolvency Event means the occurrence of any of the following events: |
(i) | in relation to a corporation, its Liquidation, the appointment of an External Controller to the corporation or any of its property, it ceasing or threatening to cease carrying on its business; it being deemed to be, or stating that it is, unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due; or it entering into a Scheme; |
(ii) | in relation to an individual, that person becoming an insolvent under administration as defined in section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); or |
(iii) | in relation to any person, the person is served with a Claim or anything analogous to or having a similar effect to anything described above in this definition under the law of the relevant jurisdiction; |
(hhh) | Intellectual Property Rights means all intellectual property rights, including: |
(i) | copyright, patents, trademarks (including goodwill in those marks), designs, trade secrets, know how, rights in circuit layouts, domain names and any right to have confidential information kept confidential; |
(ii) | any application or right to apply for registration of any of the rights referred to in paragraph 41.1(hhh)(i); and |
(iii) | all rights of a similar nature to any of the rights in paragraphs 41.1(hhh)(i) and 41.1(hhh)(ii) which may subsist in Australia or elsewhere, |
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whether or not such rights are registered or capable of being registered;
(iii) | Interest Rate means the ten-year Treasury Bond Rate as published in the Australian Financial Review on the date of this Agreement; |
(jjj) | Knowledge Sharing Agent means the third party engaged by ARENA to perform knowledge sharing activities including (but not limited to): |
(i) | collecting, storing, analysing, presenting and reporting on the data generated from the Project; |
(ii) | providing detailed disaggregated information to ARENA; and |
(iii) | providing identified aggregated analysis suitable for public release. |
(kkk) | Knowledge Sharing Deliverables means the activities and deliverables to be provided by the Recipient in accordance with item 4 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(lll) | Knowledge Sharing Plan means the knowledge sharing plan in item 4 of Schedule 1 (The Project) (including the Knowledge Sharing Deliverables), as varied by agreement in writing between the parties from time to time; |
(mmm) | Law means any applicable statute, regulation, by-law, ordinance, subordinate legislation or rule in force from time to time in Australia, whether made by a State, Territory, the Commonwealth, regulatory body, recognised stock exchange, or a local government, and includes the common law and rules of equity as applicable from time to time; |
(nnn) | Legally Committed means, at any time, a present or accrued obligation on the Recipient under contract or at Law to pay money to a third party. It does not include any future obligation to make payment to a third party which is subject to any outstanding condition to payment or other contingency that has not been satisfied at that time or which the Recipient has a right to cancel, suspend or terminate under the contract or under Law; |
(ooo) | Licensed Materials means: |
(i) | Agreement Material; |
(ii) | Pre-existing Material of the Recipient included, embodied in or attached to the Agreement Material; and |
(iii) | Third Party Material included, embodied in or attached to the Agreement Material; |
(ppp) | Liquidation means a winding up or liquidation (whether voluntary or involuntary), provisional liquidation, dissolution, deregistration, or steps are taken (including the calling of meetings or the filing of applications), orders are made or resolutions are passed to give effect to any of the above; |
(qqq) | Low Emissions Technology Statement or LETS means the document titled ‘Technology Investment Roadmap: First Low Emissions Technology Statement’ published in September 2020 by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources; |
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(rrr) | Major Subcontract Work means any work undertaken for the purpose of the Project and performed by a subcontractor: |
(i) | which has a total contract sum in excess of 20% of the Budget; or |
(ii) | which has, or may potentially have, a material impact on the progress or performance of work on the Project or achievement of Outcomes; |
(sss) | Material includes property, information, software, firmware, documented methodology or process, documentation or other material in whatever form, including any reports, plans specifications, business rules or requirements, user manuals, user guides, operations manuals, training materials and instructions, and the subject matter of any category of Intellectual Property Rights; |
(ttt) | Material Breach means any breach of the following clauses of this Agreement: |
(i) | clause 2 (Undertaking the Project); |
(ii) | clause 14 (Intellectual Property); |
(iii) | clause 14.5 (Moral Rights); |
(iv) | clause 18 (Use of ARENA Funding); |
(v) | clause 21 (Representations and Warranties); |
(vi) | clause 27 (Confidentiality), or a breach of a material nature of any of the following clauses: |
(vii) | clause 7.1 (Knowledge Sharing); |
(viii) | clause 10.1 (Reporting); |
(ix) | clause 11 (Reports and Plans); |
(x) | clause 19 (Contributions); |
(xi) | clause 22.1(a) (Laws); |
(xii) | clause 22.1(d) (WHS Law); |
(xiii) | clause 22.1(f) (Privacy); |
(xiv) | clause 22.1(g) (FOI); |
(xv) | clause 22.1(k) (Conflicts); or |
(xvi) | clause 23.3(a) (Disposal of Assets); |
(uuu) | Milestone Report has the meaning given in item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(vvv) | Milestone Deliverables means those deliverables specified in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(www) | Milestones means the milestones set out in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
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(xxx) | Minor Variation means a variation: |
(i) | by way of extension to the dates specified in the Project Details or Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(ii) | to the approved subcontractors for Major Subcontract Work in item 14 of the Project Details; |
(iii) | to the list of Project Participants in item 15 of the Project Details; |
(iv) | to the Address for Notices specified in item 20 of the Project Details; |
(v) | to the Specified Personnel or the Project Participants specified in the Project Details; |
(vi) | to elements of the Project as described in item 1.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(vii) | to the Budget, provided the variation does not amend the Contributions, increase ARENA Funding or would not result in the total Overseas Expenditure exceeding 10% of the ARENA Funding, other than for equipment or materials; |
(viii) | to the Knowledge Sharing Plan, |
that does not or is not likely to materially affect the Project or Outcomes (including the Budget, Milestones and reports) or the extent of the Recipient’s obligations or costs in undertaking the Project;
(yyy) | Modern Slavery has the same meaning as in the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth); |
(zzz) | Moral Rights has the meaning given to that term in the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) and includes a right of a similar nature that is conferrable by statute and that exists or comes to exist anywhere in the world; |
(aaaa) | Other Contributions means the financial and in-kind contributions specified in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(bbbb) | Outcomes means the outcomes for the Project, as set out in item 1.7 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(cccc) | Overseas Expenditure means the incurred or paid expenditure of cash (or equivalent) on goods and services procured from a non-Australian entity and overseas travel; |
(dddd) | Personal Information has the meaning given to it under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth); |
(eeee) | Personnel means, in relation to a party, any employee, officer, agent or professional adviser of that party and: |
(i) | in the case of the Recipient, also of any subcontractor; and |
(ii) | in the case of ARENA, including staff made available under section 62 of the ARENA Act; |
(ffff) | Portfolio Department means the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water or such other Department as determined by an Administrative Arrangements Order; |
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(gggg) | Pre-existing Material means Material owned by a party before execution of this Agreement; |
(hhhh) | Project means the Project described in item 1.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(iiii) | Project Details means the Project Details at the beginning of this Agreement; |
(jjjj) | Project Participants means the entities specified in item 15 of the Project Details; |
(kkkk) | Recipient means the party specified in item 3 of the Project Details; |
(llll) | Recipient Confidential Information means Confidential Information of the Recipient which is identified in item 19 of the Project Details for the period of time specified in item 19 of the Project Details, or such other information as identified by the Recipient in writing to ARENA; |
(mmmm) | Recipient Contributions means the financial and in-kind contributions specified in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(nnnn) | Related Body Corporate has the meaning given to that term in section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); |
(oooo) | Resolution Institute means the dispute resolution association with that name and ABN 69 008 651 232 (or any dispute resolution association which replaces it or which substantially succeeds to its powers or functions) and the following contact details: |
[***]
[***];
Email: [***]
Phone: +[***];
(pppp) | Risk Management Plan means the plan to be provided by the Recipient in accordance with item 3.2 of Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(qqqq) | Schedules means the schedules to this Agreement; |
(rrrr) | Scheme means an arrangement, assignment, composition or moratorium with or for the benefit of creditors or any class or group of creditors (including an administration or arrangement under part 5.3A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)), other than for the purposes of a solvent reconstruction or amalgamation as approved by ARENA; |
(ssss) | Senior Management means the Chief Executive Officer in the case of the Recipient and the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer (as nominated by ARENA) in the case of ARENA; |
(tttt) | Specified Personnel means the nominated Personnel of the Recipient, a Project Participant or subcontractor who will be carrying out the Project and involved in knowledge sharing, as identified at item 13 of the Project Details; |
(uuuu) | Term has the meaning given to it in clause 1; |
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(vvvv) | Third Party Material means Material owned by another person that is: |
(i) | included, embodied in or attached to the Agreement Material; or |
(ii) | used in undertaking the Project; |
(wwww) | Visitors has the meaning given in clause 22.1(l)(i); |
(xxxx) | WHS Law means all applicable Laws relating to work health and safety, including the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth), the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and any applicable Corresponding WHS Law; |
(yyyy) | WHS Notifiable Incident means any notifiable incidents under WHS Law, accidents, injuries, or damage to property of a serious nature that occurs in connection with the Project; and |
(zzzz) | Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme means the Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme referred to in section 43 of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 (Cth). |
42 | Interpretation |
42.1 | In this Agreement, except where the contrary intention is expressed: |
(a) | a reference to a document or instrument includes the document or instrument as novated, altered, supplemented or replaced from time to time; |
(b) | a reference to a party is to a party to this Agreement, and a reference to a party to a document includes the party’s executors, administrators, successors and permitted assignees and substitutes; |
(c) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa, and a gender includes other genders; |
(d) | another grammatical form of a defined word or expression has a corresponding meaning; |
(e) | a reference to A$, $A, dollar or $ is to Australian currency; |
(f) | a reference to a person includes a natural person, partnership, body corporate, association, governmental or local authority or agency or other entity; |
(g) | a reference to a statute, ordinance, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of them; |
(h) | any agreement, representation, warranty or indemnity by two or more parties (including where two or more persons are included in the same defined term) binds them jointly and severally; |
(i) | any agreement, representation, warranty or indemnity in favour of two or more parties (including where two or more persons are included in the same defined term) is for the benefit of them jointly and severally; |
(j) | a rule of construction does not apply to the disadvantage of a party because the party was responsible for the preparation of this Agreement or any part of it; |
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(k) | a reference to an obligation includes a warranty or representation and a reference to a failure to comply with, or breach of, an obligation includes a breach of warranty or representation; |
(l) | the meaning of general words is not limited by specific examples introduced by ‘including’, ‘for example’ or similar expressions; and |
(m) | headings are for ease of reference only and do not affect interpretation. |
42.2 | If there is any inconsistency between any of the documents forming part of this Agreement, those documents will be interpreted in the following order of priority to the extent of the inconsistency: |
(a) | General Conditions; |
(b) | Project Details; |
(c) | Schedule 1 (The Project); |
(d) | other Schedules; |
(e) | Appendix A; |
(f) | any attachments to the Schedules; and |
(g) | documents incorporated by reference in this Agreement. |
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Schedule 1 – The Project
1. | Project |
1.1 | Summary of the Project |
The Recipient will develop, construct and operate a 30 MW / 288 MWh Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project at Port Augusta in South Australia (the Project). The Project will deploy Vast Solar’s proprietary modular tower CSP technology, and if successful, will demonstrate how the technology can provide a reliable and scalable dispatchable renewable energy solution in the Australian market.
1.2 | Project (clause 2.1) |
Background
Technology development: Vast Solar has developed its proprietary CSP technology since 2009. ARENA has supported the development of the Vast Solar technology from early trials through to the current stage of Project development.
· | (2012-2014) $0.4 million for 1.2 MWth R&D project that validated the durability of the heliostat design and performance of the receiver, as well as refine the management of thermal energy storage. Contract reference 2012/ASI046. |
· | (2013-2019) $9.9 million for 1.1 MWe pilot plant at Jemalong, NSW that demonstrated a fully integrated, operational, and grid-connected 6MWth CSP system, further developed Vast Solar’s heliostats, and demonstrated the benefits of utilising sodium as the HTF medium. Contract reference 2013/ERP070. |
· | (2014-2021) $13.7 million for development funding towards a 30 MW Australian utility-scale plant (originally contemplated at Jemalong and then Mt Isa), with key outputs including the performance modelling and cost estimation used to prepare the Project to current level of maturity). Contract reference 2014/ASC004. |
The current Project represents the next stage in commercialising its technology.
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Technology: A diagram of the Vast Solar technology underpinning the Project is shown below:
Plant operations are described below:
· | Heat from the sun is captured by heliostats (modular configuration) and concentrated into several receiver towers of 50 m height; |
· | Heat is transferred from receivers by using sodium via a patented control system; |
· | The heated sodium is then flowed through a sodium/salt heat exchanger to transfer the heat into a molten salt storage tank (FlexiTankTM); |
· | The stored heat can then be used to generate electricity by producing steam in the Steam generation system and a Rankine cycle steam turbine; and |
· | The cooled molten salt is transferred back to another FlexiTankTM (cold tank) for reuse, closing the molten salt loop. |
Description
Scope: The Project involves the design, construction and operation of a 30 MW / 288 MWh CSP plant. Construction of the Project will involve:
· | Site preparation |
· | Procurement, manufacture and installation of equipment including: |
o | ~120,000m2 of heliostats |
o | Eight 10.5MW serpentine receivers |
o | Distributed sodium piping network |
o | Sodium-to-salt heat exchanger |
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o | Sodium expansion vessel |
o | Molten salt storage tanks |
o | Steam generation system |
o | Steam turbine generator |
o | Distributed control system |
Location: The Project will be located on a 1,580ha lot 20km north of Port Augusta, South Australia with site access via the Stuart Highway. This site is owned by SiliconAurora Pty Ltd (jointly owned by Vast Solar and 1414 Degrees Limited) and is intended to host other projects alongside VS1, including a 140 MW / 140 MWh battery energy storage system (currently in development and outside the scope of the Project).
Grid Connection: The plant will be connected to the grid via the proposed Carriewerloo substation (to be constructed on the site) which connects into the existing 275kV Davenport to Mt Gunson South transmission line (H2H) owned and operated by ElectraNet as a dedicated connection asset to supply Oz Minerals mining facilities.
Capital: The Project will be owned and operated through a special purpose vehicle (i.e. the Recipient). In addition to the ARENA grant of $65 million, the Recipient is also seeking up to $110 million in concessional finance from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on behalf of the Australian Government.
Revenue strategy: The Project is intended to be operated on a merchant basis, predominantly generating revenue from supply of electricity to the grid, market services as well as the sale of large-scale green certificates.
Timeframe: The Project is targeting financial close in September 2023, noting there are several key workstreams on the critical path that determine this timeframe. The construction period is expected to take two years, with the Project designed to operate for 30 years following commissioning. Key workstreams underpinning the Project timeframe are depicted below:
1.3 | Stages (clause 5) |
Not used.
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1.4 | Project partners |
The Project involves several Project partners, including:
Organisation | Role | Description of role in the Project |
Advisian Pty Ltd (Worley) |
Principal FEED Engineer (Approved subcontractor for Major Subcontract Work) |
Worley is engaged as the Principal FEED Engineer for the Project. |
Fichtner Australia Pty Ltd (Fichtner) |
Owner’s Engineer | Fichtner is engaged as the Owner’s Engineer for the Project. |
ElectraNet
Pty Limited (ElectraNet) |
Transmission network service provider | ElectraNet is engaged as the transmission network service provider for the Project. |
SiliconAurora Pty Ltd (Silicon Aurora) |
Site Access (Project Participant) |
Silicon Aurora will provide site access and support (including the right to use assets) for the Project. |
Vast Solar Pty Ltd (Vast Solar) |
Project Sponsor (Project Participant) |
Vast Solar will provide equity funding to the Recipient for the Project. |
TBC | EPC Contractor (Approved subcontractor for Major Subcontract Work) |
Post an approach to market and finalisation of the EPC strategy, Vast Solar will engage the EPC Contractor/s ed to undertake construction of the proposed plant. |
1.5 | Governance (clause 6) |
The Recipient agrees to finalise and enact an appropriate governance structure prior to Financial Close.
To the extent that a Project Steering Committee with respect to the Project is established, the parties agree that ARENA may, at its discretion, participate in the Project Steering Committee as an observer provided that all matters and issues discussed at any Project Steering Committee meeting are subject to clause 27 (Confidentiality).
1.6 | Outputs |
Through the Project, the Recipient will deliver the following outputs:
(a) | Development, construction, and operation of a CSP plant with a size of at least 30 MW / 288 MWh. The CSP plant will provide: |
(i) | a connection to the National Energy Market (NEM); and |
(ii) | market services (energy arbitrage and Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS)). |
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(b) | Knowledge Sharing Deliverables as outlined in the Knowledge Sharing Plan, item 4.5 of Schedule 1, including: |
(i) | Lessons Learnt Reports - to share key lessons from the Project and implications for industry. |
(ii) | The Development and Financial Close Report - an overview of the development phase of the Project. |
(iii) | The Construction and Commissioning Report - an overview of the construction and commissioning phases of the Project. |
(iv) | Two Operational Reports – describing the ongoing performance of the Project over two years of operation. |
(v) | Operations Data – provision of operational data as outlined in item 4.6(g) of Schedule 1. |
(vi) | The Final Project Knowledge Sharing Report - to document and disseminate the Project outcomes. |
1.7 | Outcomes (clause 2.1) |
The objectives for the Project will be achieved through the following Outcomes:
(a) | Improved technology readiness and commercial readiness of CSP technology. |
(b) | Increased value delivered by renewable energy through demonstration of CSP technology for medium duration bulk energy storage. |
(c) | Removal of barriers to renewable energy uptake through demonstration of CSP technology as an alternative medium duration bulk energy storage provider. |
(d) | Increased knowledge relevant to the cost and technical performance of CSP technology to inform subsequent medium duration bulk energy storage projects. |
1.8 | Conditions Precedent (clause 4) |
Provision of the following by the Recipient, in a form and substance satisfactory to ARENA:
(a) | Evidence that the nature of the Project has not materially changed relative to the details considered by the ARENA Board at its meeting of 1 December 2022; |
(b) | Finalisation of technical and commercial due diligence; |
(c) | Evidence that the Recipient has obtained all authorisations required to construct the Project; |
(d) | Final execution versions of all key project documents including but not limited to all supply agreements, EPC Contracts, Operational & Maintenance agreement, funding agreements with all debt and equity providers, and land access agreements; |
(e) | An updated Financial Model, reflecting all final contractual arrangements (as executed or otherwise ready to execute); |
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(f) | A Risk Management Plan, a Community Consultation Plan, an Intellectual Property Management Plan and a Work Health and Safety Plan as set out in item 3.2 of Schedule 1 including certification of each plan; |
(g) | An Approved Industry Participation Plan as set out in Schedule 3. |
(h) | Final Front End Engineering Design (FEED) report completed by the preferred sub-contractor, outlining the substantial completion of the traditional activities required to support financing activities and project approval for the project sponsors and financers, accompanied by discussion by the Recipient on how the outcomes might impact the Project; |
(i) | All grid connection approvals including executed grid Connection Agreement with ElectraNet; |
(j) | Evidence demonstrating (to the extent required by ARENA) that debt and equity financing is committed to meet the anticipated construction and commissioning costs of the Project (including sufficient contingencies), including: |
(i) | the minimum $45 million equity investment from Vast Solar, and |
(ii) | concessional financing from DCCEEW, on behalf of the Australian Government, for up to $110 million; |
(k) | Any share purchase agreements in connection with the Recipient, including any executed agreements evidencing or otherwise related to a Change in Control of the Recipient as well as any agreements to be triggered by delivery of the Project; |
(l) | Evidence of any development fees received (or to be received) by the Recipient in connection with the Project; and |
(m) | Provision of the finalised governance structure for the Project, including the involvement of Project Participants, where relevant. |
(n) | Mutual termination of the Recipient’s existing contract with ARENA for project 2014/ASC004. |
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1.9 | Milestones (clause 2.1) |
The Recipient must achieve the following Milestones, and provide the Milestone Deliverables and Milestone Report, in a form and substance satisfactory to ARENA, by the date for completion of the relevant Milestone.
No. | Description of Milestone and Milestone Deliverables | Completion date | Amount
of Milestone payment (GST excl.) |
|||||
1. | Notice to Proceed
D1.1 Provision of a Milestone Report in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project).
D1.2 Completion of Knowledge Sharing Deliverables due in the reporting period in accordance with item 4 of Schedule 1 (Knowledge Sharing Plan).
D1.3 Provision of executed versions of all key Project documents previously provided as a Condition Precedent, including but not limited to supply agreements, EPC Contracts, Operational & Maintenance agreement, funding agreements with all debt and equity providers, and land access agreements.
D1.4 Provision of evidence, such as a letter of notice to proceed from the Recipient to the EPC Contractor(s), to demonstrate that the Recipient has issued an unconditional and irrevocable notice to the EPC Contractor(s) under the EPC Contract(s) to proceed with all works required to construct and commission the Project.
D1.5 Provision of an updated Financial Model reflecting final contractual arrangements as executed.
D1.6 Evidence of the procurement of insurances for increased amounts than previously procured at execution of the Funding Agreement to ensure that amounts are commensurate to the value and risks of the Project. |
29 March 2024 | $ | [***] | ||||
2. | Ordering of major equipment to site
D2.1 Provision of a Milestone Report in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project).
D2.2 Completion of Knowledge Sharing Deliverables due in the reporting period in accordance with item 4 of Schedule 1 (Knowledge Sharing Plan).
D2.3 Provision of evidence confirming that the power block, steam generator, molten salt tank and sodium conditioning system have been ordered and deposits provided.
D2.4 Confirmation from the Independent Certifier that the Cost to Complete Test is satisfied.
D2.5 An Implementation Report that meets the Implementation Report Requirements of an Approved Australian Industry Participation Plan as set out in Schedule 3. |
29 November 2024 | $ | [***] |
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No. | Description of Milestone and Milestone Deliverables | Completion date | Amount
of Milestone payment (GST excl.) |
|||||
6. | 24 months operation
D6.1 Provision of a Final Report in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project).
D6.2 Completion of Knowledge Sharing Deliverables due in the reporting period in accordance with item 4 of Schedule 1 (Knowledge Sharing Plan). |
28 February 2028 | $ | [***] | ||||
7. | Financial Reporting
D7.1 Provision of an Audited Financial Statement covering all financial years of the Project up to that date, in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project).
D7.2 Provision of a final Acquittals Statement in accordance with item 3.1 of Schedule 1 (The Project). |
31 May 2028 | $ | [***] |
2. | Funding and Payment |
2.1 | ARENA Funding |
The total amount of funding provided by ARENA under this Agreement will not exceed $65,000,000 (excluding GST).
2.2 | Payment of ARENA Funding |
The ARENA Funding will be provided as Milestone payments as specified in item 1.9 of Schedule 1 (The Project), in accordance with clause 16.7.
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2.3 | Budget |
All amounts in the table below are in AUD and GST exclusive.
It is acknowledged that the table below is indicative only and may be revised at the CP Satisfaction Date.
Budget | M1 | M2 | M3 | M4 | M5 | M6 | M7 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ARENA | 4,576,486 | 17,383,448 | 25,840,391 | 10,949,675 | 4,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 250,000 | 65,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recipient (cash) | 3,168,337 | 12,034,696 | 17,889,502 | 11,907,465 | - | - | - | 45,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Federal Government (cash) | 7,744,822 | 29,418,143 | 43,729,893 | 29,107,142 | - | - | - | 110,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total income Expenditure | 15,489,645 | 58,836,287 | 87,459,786 | 51,964,282 | 4,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 250,000 | 220,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Solar Field | 4,793,707 | 18,208,547 | 27,066,896 | 5,092,864 | - | - | - | 55,162,014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thermal Energy Storage | 1,966,014 | 7,467,761 | 11,100,782 | 2,088,707 | - | - | - | 22,623,264 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Block | 4,182,614 | 15,887,356 | 23,616,460 | 4,443,636 | - | - | - | 48,130,066 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personnel | 1,492,847 | 5,670,472 | 8,429,123 | 1,586,011 | - | - | - | 17,178,453 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common to Plant | 1,228,907 | 4,667,912 | 6,938,823 | 1,305,598 | - | - | - | 14,141,240 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owner’s Cost | 733,414 | 2,785,819 | 4,141,103 | 779,184 | - | - | - | 8,439,520 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contingency | 1,092,142 | 4,148,420 | 6,166,599 | 1,160,295 | - | - | - | 12,567,456 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plant Performance Reserve Account | - | - | - | 35,507,987 | 4,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 250,000 | 41,757,987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 15,489,645 | 58,836,287 | 87,459,786 | 51,964,282 | 4,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 250,000 | 220,000,000 |
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3. | Reports and Plans |
3.1 | Reports |
The Recipient must, in addition to the requirements set out in the table below, include within each report:
(i) | the name of the Recipient and all subcontractors; |
(ii) | a contact name, telephone number and email address; |
(iii) | the Project title and number; |
(iv) | a statement of the ARENA Funding, Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions provided and spent certified by an authorised officer of the Recipient; |
(v) | the amount remaining in the account referred to in clause 22.1(m); and |
(vi) | details of any published reports, promotional material, media publicity, pamphlets or other documentation relevant to the Project. |
Report Type | Requirements |
Milestone Report | Each Milestone Report must include:
(a) the Milestone and period to which the report relates;
(b) a Budget update (including cost to completion) (in a format similar to that set out in item 2.3 of Schedule 1 (The Project)); and
(c) an update on:
(i) the progress of the Project relevant to the Outcomes;
(ii) the Knowledge Sharing Deliverables completed during the period to which the report relates, including a list of any public reports or knowledge sharing reports, data or documentation;
(iii) the outcomes of those Knowledge Sharing Deliverables; and
(iv) the number of direct jobs (including any permanent roles, contractors, subcontractors and consultants) created during any construction and operation phases of the Project. |
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Report Type | Requirements |
Final Report | The Final Report must include:
(a) a description and analysis of the progress of the Project, including:
(i) evidence that the Project has been completed, and the Milestones have been achieved;
(ii) details of the extent to which the Project achieved the Outcomes;
(iii) any highlights, breakthroughs or difficulties encountered; and
(iv) conclusions or recommendations (if any) arising from the Project;
(b) a description of the Knowledge Sharing Deliverables in accordance with item 4 of Schedule 1 (The Project), along with all of the Knowledge Sharing Deliverables completed as at the date of the Final Report;
(c) statistics for the number of direct jobs (including any permanent roles, contractors, subcontractors and consultants) created during any construction and operation phases of the Project;
(d) analysis of the effectiveness of each of the Knowledge Sharing Deliverables completed;
(e) for any on-going Knowledge Sharing Deliverables, an update of progress in undertaking each Knowledge Sharing Deliverable; and
(f) if bound by the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth), a copy of the most recent Modern Slavery Statement that has been prepared. If not bound by the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth), a statement setting out what checks and actions have been undertaken by the recipient to address risks of modern slavery with respect to the Recipient’s suppliers. |
Acquittals Statement To be certified by the Recipient’s Chief Financial Officer (or such other person approved by ARENA) |
The acquittals statement must certify:
(a) that all ARENA Funding, Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions were spent for the purpose of the Project in accordance with this Agreement and that the Recipient has complied with this Agreement; and
(b) that salaries and allowances paid to persons involved in the Project are in accordance with any applicable award or agreement in force under any relevant law on industrial or workplace relations. |
Audited Financial Statements To be prepared by an Approved Auditor in accordance with Accounting Standards in respect of the ARENA Funding, Recipient Contributions and Other Contributions |
The Audited Financial Statements must include:
(a) a definitive statement as to whether the financial information for the Project represents the financial transactions fairly and is based on proper accounts and records;
(b) if the Recipient is a company, a separate declaration from the Recipient’s directors that the Recipient is solvent, a going concern and able to pay its debts as and when they fall due; and
(c) detail of any ARENA Funding returned to ARENA by the Recipient and the reasons for such refund. |
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3.2 | Plans |
Plan | Certification requirement (clause 11.2) | Requirements |
Risk Management Plan | External certification | For the Term of this Agreement, the Recipient must develop, implement and update a Risk Management Plan for the Project which includes the following features:
(a) clear identification and documentation of all key Project risks (including, but not limited to, financial, operational, Schedule, technical, WHS and external risks) and categorisation of those risks covering both likelihood of occurrence and potential consequence;
(b) the proposed mitigation strategies and associated action plans that the Recipient determines necessary to eliminate the risks or, if this is not possible, minimise the likelihood and consequences of those risks occurring; and
(c) a process for regularly monitoring and updating the Risk Management Plan and reporting to the Recipient’s internal management, board, Project Participants and joint venture partners (if applicable),
and is consistent with relevant industry standards and best practice for this type of Project and the types of risks it has. |
Community Consultation Plan | External certification | (a) For the duration of the Agreement, the Recipient must develop, implement and update a Community Consultation Plan for the Project which includes the following features:
(i) identification of all key stakeholder groups, including local communities that are potentially affected by the Project;
(ii) evidence that the Recipient has engaged a suitably qualified and experienced cultural heritage advisor and archaeologist with knowledge of the local area and well-established relationships with the local traditional owner group to assist with necessary Project site approvals
(iii) an outline of the proposed community consultation processes and an outline for stakeholders on how to access the latest information in respect of community consultation matters;
(iv) how they propose to comply with the general principles set out in the Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Projects or such other guidance as agreed by the Parties;
(v) process for maintaining an up-to-date record of complaints arising from community consultations and the responses provided to these complaints; and
(vi) a process for regularly monitoring and updating the Community Consultation Plan and the community consultations undertaken and reporting to the Recipient’s internal management, board, Project Participants, and other key groups (whether government or non-government) as required by ARENA to ensure the on-going improvement of community engagement,
and is consistent with relevant industry standards and best practice for this type of Project and the types of community consultation to be undertaken.
(b) The Recipient may make the Community Consultation Plan available by publishing it on the Project Webpage.
(c) The Recipient must provide to ARENA notification of responses by the Recipient to adverse community reaction to the Project. |
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Plan | Certification requirement (clause 11.2) | Requirements |
Intellectual Property Management Plan | Internal certification | For the Term of this Agreement, the Recipient must implement an Intellectual Property Management Plan for the Project which includes the following features:
(a) detailed descriptions of relevant Intellectual Property;
(b) detailed descriptions of relevant licences, property technology or potential licences necessary for achieving the outcomes as described in item 1.7 of this Schedule 1 (The Project); and
(c) clear identification of mitigation strategies the Recipient determines necessary to appropriately manage the identified Intellectual Property. |
Work Health and Safety Plan | External Certification | For the Term of this Agreement, the Recipient must develop, implement and update a Work Health and Safety Plan for the Project which includes the following features:
(a) clear identification and documentation of all WHS risks and categorisation of those risks covering both likelihood of occurrence and potential consequence;
(b) the proposed mitigation strategies and associated action plans that the Recipient determines necessary to eliminate the risks or, if this is not possible, minimise the likelihood and consequences of those risks occurring; and
(c) a process for regularly monitoring and updating the Work Health Safety Plan and reporting to the Recipient’s internal management, board, Project Participants and joint venture partners (if applicable),
and is consistent with relevant industry standards and best practice for this type of Project and the types of WHS risks it has. |
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4. | Knowledge Sharing Plan |
4.1 | Knowledge sharing context |
Under the ARENA Act, ARENA’s mandate is to promote the sharing of information and knowledge about renewable energy technologies, with the objective of accelerating the development and growth of Australia’s renewable energy sector.
4.2 | Knowledge sharing objectives |
This Project will provide insights to stakeholders that enable a better understanding of the benefits and challenges of CSP and longer duration storage projects more generally. The Project will develop knowledge in a number of key areas, including:
(a) | The development and construction of CSP technology in the Australian setting. |
(b) | The economic and technical performance of a demonstration CSP plant. |
4.3 | Knowledge sharing stakeholders/target audiences |
This Project will be most relevant to stakeholders considering application of CSP and longer duration storage technologies in Australia, including project developers, gentailers, investors and policy makers and regulators.
4.4 | Knowledge Sharing Agent |
ARENA reserves the right to engage a Knowledge Sharing Agent at any time.
4.5 | Knowledge Sharing Deliverables |
ARENA may make requests from Projects (and portfolios of Projects) for particular topics to be covered either through lessons learnt reports (where applicable) or ad hoc reports, as required. Where ARENA has not made a specific request, topics are to be relevant and/or topical and have an appreciation for the key audiences. For the avoidance of doubt, business development and marketing material is not considered to be Knowledge Sharing Deliverables.
All deliverables are to be:
(a) | prepared to a standard acceptable to ARENA; |
(b) | readily accessible and searchable; and |
(c) | submitted in final form for revision. |
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Public reports must reflect ARENA’s Report Writing Tips & Guidelines which will be provided by ARENA to the Recipient or can be found on ARENA’s website. Public deliverables may be published on a public platform determined by ARENA. Any sensitive information (information not for public release) is to be provided as a confidential addendum for ARENA (as Recipient Confidential Information) or as agreed with ARENA. Public deliverables must be approved by ARENA prior to publishing.
No. | Deliverable title | Purpose | Frequency | When? | Accessibility
(Public or Recipient Confidential Information (clause 26)) |
Content and delivery |
KS1 | ARENA 15- minute Project survey | Efficient qualitative and quantitative data gathering. ARENA may use this information in anonymised portfolio analysis and reporting. | Quarterly | From Commencement Date to the Final Milestone Date | Recipient Confidential Information. ARENA and the Knowledge Sharing Agent (if applicable) only. | ARENA to provide a link to the survey each quarter. |
KS2 | Lessons Learnt Report | To share key lessons from the Project and implications for industry. | Every 6 months | From Milestone 1 to Milestone 4 | Public | Public reports to be published on ARENA’s Knowledge Bank, and/or on a public platform as agreed by the parties.
Any sensitive information (information not for public release) to be included as a confidential addendum for ARENA only (rather than separate report).
The scope of the Reports is described in item 4.6 of Schedule 1. |
KS3 | Development and Financial Close Report | To provide an overview of the development phase of the Project. | Once | At Milestone 2 | Public | |
KS4 | Construction and Commissioning Report | To provide an overview of the construction and commissioning phases of the Project. | Once | At Milestone 4 | Public | |
KS5 | Interim Operational Report (12 months data collection) | Provide an overview of the Project’s performance during the first 12 months of operations. | Once | At Milestone 5 | Public | |
KS6 | Final Operational Report (24 months data collection) | Provide an updated version of the Interim Operational Report, with additional 12 months data and learnings presented as an additional section or appendix to the Interim Operational Report. | Once | At Milestone 6 | Public | |
KS7 | Operations Data repository | Share project information and operational data with industry where Operations Data is described at item 4.5(g) of Schedule 1. | Updated monthly | The operations data repository should be established by Milestone 4 and should be maintained and updated at least until Milestone 7. | Public | The Operational Data repository should be accessible through the Project Webpage and should include downloadable copies of operational data sets, as specified in item 4.6 of Schedule 1. |
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No. | Deliverable title | Purpose | Frequency | When? | Accessibility
(Public or Recipient Confidential Information (clause 26)) |
Content and delivery |
KS8 | Final Project Knowledge Sharing Report | Final project knowledge sharing report to document and disseminate the Project outcomes from a knowledge sharing perspective. | Once | At Milestone 6 | Public | Public report to be published on ARENA’s Knowledge Bank, and/or on a public platform agreed by the parties.
Any sensitive information (information not for public release) to be included as a confidential addendum for ARENA only (rather than separate report).
ARENA may request a briefing session to share and discuss the findings of the project, and the draft version of the report.
The scope of the Report is described in item 4.6 of Schedule 1. |
KS9 | ARENA-led event | Attendance and participation in an ARENA-led event (e.g. webinar, workshop or roundtable). Share Project information with other ARENA funded Projects and/or key stakeholders. |
Up to three each year, as agreed with ARENA | From CP3 Satisfaction Date to Final Milestone Date | Public, or as agreed by the parties on a case- by-case basis | Recipient to provide documentation (i.e. slides, word document, pdf etc) to ARENA following attendance, to contain sufficient information to be read as a standalone document. |
KS10 | Industry-led event | Project exposure, knowledge dissemination. | Minimum one per year or at the discretion of ARENA | From CP3 Satisfaction Date to 6 months following the Final Milestone Date | Public | As agreed with ARENA, at industry conferences or events with high attendance from target audience.
Evidence of active involvement to be provided (e.g. presentation slides, recordings, one-page summary of event), as agreed with ARENA. |
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No. | Deliverable title | Purpose | Frequency | When? | Accessibility
(Public or Recipient Confidential Information (clause 26)) |
Content and delivery |
KS11 | Site visit | On ground experience with key stakeholders and demonstration of facilities. | Twice | As agreed with ARENA | Public | Site visit to Project location or a virtual tour delivered online as agreed by ARENA. |
KS12 | Ad hoc reports, products and activities | Capture unknown unknowns. | No more than three per year | As required | Public, as agreed by the parties on a case- by-case basis | Format and topic to be agreed at the time of request. |
KS13 | Launch and maintenance of Project Webpage | To improve the awareness of the project and facilitate access to Project information and outputs. | Established once but maintained and regularly updated as required. | The Project Webpage should be established by Milestone 1 or at a time agreed with ARENA and should be maintained and updated at least until Milestone 7. | Public | Purpose-built webpage, or section of an existing website with clear information on the project ranging from basic descriptions of the project, explanations of the technology and project status updates, through to downloadable copies of operational data sets and public knowledge sharing deliverables. More details included in item 4.6 of Schedule 1. |
4.6 | Content of Knowledge Sharing Deliverables |
(a) | Project Webpage |
The Project Webpage, on the Recipient’s appropriate corporate website, should include the following elements as a minimum:
(a) | Brief description of the Project, including: |
(i) | Project overview |
(ii) | Project timeline and status (e.g., commencement of construction, scheduled Completion date, etc) |
(iii) | Brief and simple explanation of the CSP technology and how it will be used in the Project |
(iv) | key contractors |
(v) | key equipment suppliers |
(vi) | total Project cost |
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(vii) | summary of debt, equity and grant providers |
(b) | images of the site, including time delay footage |
(c) | Publicly available knowledge sharing reports (reports should be published on the Recipient’s website following public release by ARENA) |
(d) | Downloadable copies of Operational Data (data should be downloadable in csv format, or as otherwise agreed) |
(e) | Contact details for any community consultations, public queries or complaints handling |
(f) | ARENA acknowledgement |
(g) | A hyperlink to the project page on the ARENA website |
(b) | Development and Financial Close Report |
The Development and Financial Close Report will provide an overview of the development phase of the Project. The report will highlight any challenges as well as the key learnings gained from these stages of the Project. The expected length of this document is at least 15 pages of substantive content. The report should cover:
(a) | Executive summary |
(b) | Project overview and objectives (general project information, including sizing, location, services and functionality, registration, grid connection details, project partners, project delivery model and ownership model) |
(c) | Description of the journey to reach Financial Close, including: |
(i) | EPC tender process, award and pricing |
(ii) | Grid connection process |
(iii) | Procurement |
(iv) | Key commercial considerations and securing finance |
(v) | Community consultation and feedback |
(vi) | Planning and development approvals |
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(d) | Overview of Project Objectives with focus on innovative elements including: |
(i) | Emerging reliability and grid-related challenges and the potential role for CSP to address these challenges |
(ii) | Process and key learnings on the development and permitting of an CSP project |
(iii) | Process and key learnings on obtaining site control, regulatory challenges and mitigation strategies. |
(iv) | Process and key learnings on the use of an operational mine for energy storage development |
(v) | Risk allocation strategies and concerns identified by service providers and lenders |
(vi) | EPC contract strategies and risk appetites (and allocation) |
(vii) | Disclosure on the stakeholder positions, including the project participants |
(viii) | Other key findings to date |
(e) | Evaluations |
(i) | International benchmarking |
(ii) | Overview of the business case, including key project cost items and revenue strategy (with detail sufficient to allow industry participants to develop insights for future projects) |
(iii) | Technical innovations in the proposed Project compared to the previous plants set up by Vast Solar, including a discussion on how the plant safety aspects will be managed |
(iv) | Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) modelling |
(v) | Impact of regulatory or legislative changes on market pricing and the implication for the Vast Solar technology |
(vi) | Expected network services/benefits that the project is expected to deliver |
(vii) | Environmental impact |
(f) | Key challenges and lessons learnt |
(g) | Conclusions and next steps |
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(c) | Construction and Commissioning Report |
The Construction and Commissioning Report will provide an overview of the construction and commissioning phases of the Project. The report will highlight any challenges as well as the key learnings gained from these stages of the Project. The expected length of this document is at least 15 pages of substantive content. The report should include:
(a) | Executive summary |
(b) | Project overview and objectives |
(c) | Description of construction, commissioning and achieving commercial operations, including: |
(i) | Overview of construction, commissioning, and commercial operation activities |
(ii) | Headcounts and average income/headcount |
(iii) | Specialised equipment and logistic summary |
(iv) | Availability of specialised equipment (e.g., heliostats and receivers) and supply chain proofing |
(v) | Commissioning plans and strategies |
(vi) | Stakeholders and community engagement |
(vii) | Summary of impact to the local economy including approximate number of jobs created |
(viii) | Environmental plans |
(ix) | Grid connection challenges |
(x) | Land access |
(xi) | Contract challenges, claims, losses and extras summary |
(xii) | Safety and Security summary and metrics |
(xiii) | Regulatory requirements, including environmental (and other) approvals |
(xiv) | Community consultation and safety |
(xv) | Risk management plan and mitigation summary |
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(xvi) | Operation and maintenance expectations |
(xvii) | Analysis of actual progress to forecast (at financial close), including financial and non-financial factors |
(xviii) | Total actual project cost, including line-item breakdown analysis |
(xix) | Key challenges and lessons learnt |
(xx) | Conclusions and next steps |
(d) | Operational Reports |
The Operational Reports will provide an overview of the Project’s performance across the first 12 months of operations (Interim Operational Report) and the second 12 months of operation (Final Operational Report). The reports should describe how the Project is being used (i.e. applications), its technical performance, and its ability to capture revenue in different applications. The expected length of this document is at least 15 pages of substantive content. The Operational Reports should include:
(a) | Executive summary |
(b) | Project overview and objectives |
(c) | Description of project operation and performance, including: |
(i) | Project status (cost and schedule update) |
(ii) | Safety and risk management |
(iii) | Environmental impact |
(iv) | Stakeholder and community engagement and feedback |
(v) | Operation and maintenance requirements and cost |
(vi) | Impact of soiling on heliostats and associated cost |
(vii) | Performance |
(viii) | Discussion on technical performance metrics (clearly defined with units and location of measurement, where applicable), including: |
(A) | round-trip efficiency (including commentary on site conditions such as incident solar irradiation, wind speed, temperature and humidity), comparison of forecast and actual round trip efficiencies |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 68 |
(B) | ramp rates |
(C) | operational constraints |
(D) | degradation (including commentary on site conditions such as temperature and humidity) |
(E) | auxiliary power usage |
(F) | equipment availability (including commentary on individual equipment performance) |
(ix) | Description of performance during any islanding events. |
(x) | Safety and environmental performance. |
(xi) | Applications and usage including: |
(A) | Analysis of CSP charging/discharging behaviour and storage duration, including participation in different applications (e.g. energy arbitrage / time shifting, contingency FCAS, regulation FCAS etc). |
(B) | New revenue opportunities (if any) |
(C) | Revised LCOE models using operational data |
(d) | Key challenges lessons learnt |
(e) | Conclusions and next steps |
(e) | Lessons Learnt Report |
The aim of these reports is to share key lessons from the Project and implications for industry. The expected length of these documents is 5-10 pages of substantive content. The reports should include, at a minimum:
(a) | Executive summary with project description, objectives and progress |
(b) | Challenges and lessons learnt related to technical, commercial/financial, regulatory, social/customer aspects, |
(c) | Any potential demand flexibility aspects or potential of the Project |
(d) | Implications for industry and future projects (e.g., process heat applications and provision of electrons) |
(e) | Lessons on stakeholder engagement, consultation, outcomes and impact |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 69 |
(f) | Final Project Knowledge Sharing Report |
The aim of this report is to summarise the preceding reports on development, construction, commissioning and operations and add some analysis of the lessons learned through the implementation of the project that are relevant to future potential projects. The expected length of this document is at least 25 pages of substantive content. This report should include, at a minimum:
(a) | Executive Summary |
(b) | Project background, overview and objectives |
(c) | Project review (performance against objectives) |
(d) | Challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations |
(e) | Improved understanding of CSP site considerations, design, construction, and technical performance. |
(f) | Impact on the broader dispatchable renewable generation and longer duration energy storage industry |
(g) | Conclusions and next steps |
(g) | Operations Data |
The Recipient will provide public access to the Project’s Operations Data. Data should be downloadable in csv format (or as otherwise agreed) and include 5-minute interval data including but not limited to:
(a) | State of charge |
(b) | Active power consumption and provision distinguished for energy market and FCAS modes of operation |
(c) | Reactive power consumption and provision |
(d) | Electricity losses on site |
(e) | Electricity exported to the grid |
(f) | Power outages – unforeseen and planned |
(g) | Applicable loss factors (generator and load) |
(h) | Turbine efficiency |
(i) | Storage power capacity and duration |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 70 |
(j) | Site conditions such as - incident solar irradiation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed |
(k) | Impact of site conditions such as - high temperature or high humidity on the plant’s output and degradation. |
(l) | Maintenance issues (downtime - scheduled and unscheduled etc.) |
(m) | Curtailment events (voluntary and involuntary) |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 71 |
![]() | ![]() |
Schedule 2 – Study Template
Not used.
Schedule 3 – Major Projects
5. | Approved Australian Industry Participation Plan |
Australian Industry Participation Authority or AIP Authority | the Australian Industry Participation Authority. | |
Australian Industry Participation Plan or AIP Plan | the plan referenced in item 1 of this Schedule 3 (Major Projects). | |
Australian Industry Participation Plans: User Guide or, AIP Plans: User Guide | the Australian Industry Participation Plans: User Guide for developing an AIP Plan and Implementation Report published by the Department of Industry which can be obtained from the internet site. https://www.industry.gov.au/regulation-and-standards/australian-industry-participation | |
Implementation Report | a report provided to ARENA in accordance with item Schedule 15(d) to Schedule 15(f) (inclusive). | |
Implementation Report Requirements | the requirements for an Implementation Report set out in the AIP Plans: User Guide for developing an AIP Plan and Implementation Report. |
(a) | Once the AIP Authority has approved the Recipient’s AIP plan, the Recipient’s must provide ARENA with a copy of: |
(i) | the Approved AIP plan; and |
(ii) | the Certificate of Approval. |
(b) | The Recipient must comply with the Approved AIP Plan. |
(c) | If any conflict arises between any part of the Approved AIP Plan and any other part of this Agreement, the other part of this Agreement prevails to the extent of the conflict. |
(d) | The Approved AIP Plan must not be construed as limiting the Recipient’s obligations to comply with the requirements of this Agreement. |
(e) | The Recipient must provide ARENA with an Implementation Report that meets the Implementation Report Requirements by the Milestone 2 completion date. |
(f) | Where ARENA considers that the Implementation Report does not meet the Implementation Report Requirements, ARENA may by written notice to the Recipient reject the Implementation Report. Where ARENA rejects the Implementation Report, ARENA will provide the Recipient with reasons for the rejection. |
(g) | Where ARENA rejects the Implementation Report, the Recipient must provide ARENA with the Implementation Report, amended to address the reasons for the rejections advised by ARENA and that otherwise meets the Implementation Report Requirements within 10 Business Days of the date of the notice issues by ARENA. |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 73 |
(h) | The Recipient consents to ARENA or any other Commonwealth agency: |
(i) | publishing the executive summary of its Approved AIP Plan; |
(j) | publicising or reporting on the Recipient’s performance in relation to the Approved AIP Plan and level of compliance with the AIP Plan; and |
(k) | publicising or reporting on any information contained in the Approved AIP Plan or AIP Implementation Report under this Agreement. |
(l) | This item 1 of Schedule 3 (Major Projects) survives the termination or expiry of this Agreement. |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 74 |
Signing page – ARENA
EXECUTED as an agreement.
SIGNED for and behalf of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency by its duly authorised delegate in the presence of: | ||
/s/ Ian Kay | /s/ Gautham Shankar | |
Signature of Authorised Delegate | Signature of Witness | |
Ian Kay | /s/ Gautham Shankar | |
Name of Authorised Delegate (Please print) |
Name of Witness (Please print) | |
CFO | ||
Position of Authorised Delegate (Please print) |
||
27-01-2023 | 4:29:07 PM AEDT | ||
Date |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 75 |
Signing page – Recipient
EXECUTED as an agreement.
EXECUTED by Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd (ABN 99 660 142 030) in accordance with the requirements of section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) by: | ||
/s/ Craig Wood | /s/ Colin Sussman | |
Signature of Director | Signature of Director/Company
Secretary (Please delete as applicable) | |
/s/ Craig Wood | Colin Sussman | |
Name of Director (Please print) |
Name of Director/Company Secretary (Please print) | |
27-01-2023 | 3:00:22 PM AEDT | ||
Date |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 76 |
Appendix A – Minor Variations to this Agreement (Clause 20.1)
This Appendix is intended to set out the process for effecting Minor Variations, to record details of Minor Variations for administrative purposes and to be updated as Minor Variations are effected.
Where the parties agree to a Minor Variation in accordance with clause 20.1, ARENA will send the Recipient an updated version of the table below containing details of the Minor Variations currently in effect. This Appendix will be deemed to have been amended accordingly. If there is any inconsistency between a Minor Variation and this Appendix, then the Minor Variation will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
[Drafting note: ARENA to update the table below and send to the Recipient once a Minor Variation is agreed - the table is intended to be an up-to-date record of all Minor Variations.]
Minor Variation No. |
Date
of Minor Variation |
Nature of Minor Variation | Details of Minor Variation |
[insert] | [Insert as directed by ARENA / agreed by the parties] | [Insert brief details] | |
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 77 |
Appendix B – Communications Material
To be completed in accordance with clause 9.
Advancing Renewables Program Funding Agreement | Vast Solar, Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power Project 2022/ARP026 | 78 |
Exhibit 10.45
Certain information has been redacted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish an unredacted copy of the exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analyses to the Commission upon request.
MINOR SUPPLY AGREEMENT
(Single Works Engagement)
PURCHASER | Vast Solar Pty Ltd ABN 37 136 258 574, [***] |
SUPPLIER | Contratos Y Diseños Industriales SA, [***] |
DATE | 10 July 2023 |
A. | The parties are in negotiation for the purpose of executing a contract supplying thermal storage tanks (Supply Agreement). This Minor Supply Agreement (Agreement) serves as a limited notice to proceed with the scope of works as defined in Schedule 1 (Works). The parties will use their respective best endeavours to negotiate and agree the Supply Agreement by no later than 30 November 2023. |
B. | The Supplier agrees to supply the Works to the Purchaser in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement (which includes the Schedules and any Appendices). |
SCHEDULE ONE
CONTRACT INFORMATION
COMMENCEMENT DATE | |
END DATE | Unless otherwise specifically agreed upon in writing between the parties, this Agreement shall expire on the earlier of: (a) on completion of the Works; or (b) upon the execution of the Supply Agreement. |
WORKS (See Schedule 3) |
Preliminary Engineering Works |
NON-EXCLUSIVE
or EXCLUSIVE SUPPLY (Clause 1.7) |
Non-exclusive |
STANDARD TERMS | Attached as Appendix A to this Agreement and as published from time to time at www.vastsolar.com |
KPIs (See Clause 0) |
Not Applicable |
INSURANCE (See clause 6) |
RC Insurance with cover of not less than 2,5 million Euro |
SERVICE
LEVELS (See clause 0) |
Not Applicable |
PURCHASER’S RELATIONSHIP MANAGER | Kurt
Drewes [***] |
SUPPLIER’S RELATIONSHIP MANAGER |
Sergio
Davila Borraz [****] |
SPECIAL
TERMS (See Schedule 5) |
1. Payment of the Fees will be applied to the Contract Price under the Supply Agreement. |
PARTIES | Purchaser (As defined above) | Supplier (As defined above) |
SIGNATURE | /s/ Craig Wood | /s/ Raul Andrea |
NAME | Craig Wood | Raul Andrea |
DATE SIGNED | 11 July 2023 | 12 July 2023 |
POSITION | Chief Executive Officer | General Manager |
ADDRESS | [***] | [***] |
a. | The Purchaser has engaged the Supplier to supply the Works to it in accordance with this Agreement and the Supplier agrees to be bound by the terms set out in this Agreement. |
1. | THE WORKS |
1.1 | The Supplier agrees to supply the Works set out in Schedule Three to the Purchaser and the Purchaser agrees to pay the Supplier the Fees set out in Schedule Three for the supply of the Works in accordance with this Agreement. |
1.2 | Payment by the Purchaser will be on account only, and will not be taken as an admission that the Works comply with the requirements of this Agreement. |
1.3 | The Supplier must ensure that the Works: |
(a) | comply with all relevant laws, codes and standards, and the requirements of this Agreement; |
(b) | are fit for the purposes stated in or reasonably contemplated by this Agreement; and |
(c) | are consistent with the highest standards commonly adopted in the industry to which the Works relate. |
1.4 | The Fees will be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the Fees Review Procedures set out in Schedule Three. |
1.5 | The Purchaser may set off against any amount payable under or in connection with this Agreement any amount which the Purchaser claims is owed to the Purchaser by the Supplier. |
1.6 | The Purchaser may order the Works by presenting the Supplier with a Purchase Order which is based on the relevant quotation. |
1.7 | Where the Contract Information page provides for: |
(a) | an exclusive supply arrangement in respect of all or some of the Works, the Purchaser will, subject to the Supplier’s compliance with this Agreement, purchase all of its requirements for those Works from the Supplier; |
(b) | a non-exclusive supply arrangement in respect of all or some of the Works, the Purchaser may acquire Works from a third party during the Term. |
2. | TERM |
2.1 | This Agreement begins on the Commencement Date and ends on the End Date unless terminated earlier in accordance with these Terms and Conditions or the Standard Terms. |
3. | STANDARD TERMS |
3.1 | The Standard Terms (which are set out in Schedule Two) apply to this Agreement, in addition to the Terms set out below and the Special Terms. The version which is current at the time this Agreement was entered into is attached as an Appendix to this Agreement. |
3.2 | To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between the Special Terms, the Standard Terms and the balance of the Agreement, the Special Terms prevail, then the balance of the terms of this Agreement, followed by the Standard Terms. |
3.3 | The Supplier agrees that the Standard Terms may be amended from time to time and the Purchaser will provide the Supplier with notification of any change to the Standard Terms. |
3.4 | In the event of a change of the Standard Terms the Supplier will within 14 days advise the Purchaser in writing of any objection to the new Standard Terms providing reasons. |
3.5 | Should the Supplier object to the changes in writing within the 14 days then until such time as the Purchaser agrees otherwise the Standard Terms which applied at the time of signing of this Agreement will continue to apply. |
3.6 | If the Supplier does not provide its written objection to the changes within the 14 day period the Supplier agrees that the new Standard Terms will apply to this Agreement. |
4. | MARKET COMPETITIVE PRICING |
4.1 | The Supplier must ensure at all times during the Term of this Agreement that: |
(a) | the current Fees which the Purchaser pays for the Works is no less favourable to the Purchaser than any price at which the Supplier supplies or offers to supply the Works or similar Works to any customer of the Supplier who purchases a similar volume from the Supplier; and |
(b) | if at any time the Purchaser is able to purchase the Works from another Supplier at a price which is less than or equal to 5% less than the Fees then the Supplier must meet that price provided the terms of supply for that Works are similar to the terms of this Agreement. |
5. | SPECIFICATIONS |
5.1 | Where a Specification has been agreed the Supplier must ensure that all Works supplied pursuant to this Agreement comply with the relevant Specification. |
DEFECTIVE WORKS
5.2 | The Supplier must, at its cost, remedy, rectify or re-perform (as determined by the Purchaser), in a timeframe determined by the Purchaser, any Works which do not comply with the requirements of this Agreement. |
6. | INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY |
6.1 | Prior to the Commencement Date, the Supplier must take out and maintain at its sole cost and expense the Insurance (and will ensure that any of its sub-contractors are similarly insured) in respect of any potential liability, loss or damage that may arise relating to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement with an insurer who is, and on terms and for amounts, satisfactory to the Purchaser. |
6.2 | The Supplier agrees to provide evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser of the Insurance required under this clause 0. The Supplier also further agrees that, if requested (at any time) by the Purchaser, it will procure that the Purchaser’ interest or interests will be noted directly on such policy or policies. |
6.3 | If the Supplier fails to: |
(a) | effect insurance in accordance with clause 6.1; or |
(b) | provide insurance in accordance with clause 6.2; the Purchaser may defer payment under clause 1.1 until such time as the Supplier complies with its obligations under clauses 6.1 or 6.2. |
6.4 | The Supplier acknowledges that the taking out of the Insurance by it will not in any way limit or exclude its obligations to indemnify the Purchaser pursuant to the Standard Terms. |
6.5 | The Supplier indemnifies: |
(a) | the Purchaser against any claim, damage, loss or liability suffered or incurred and arising from loss or damage to property or death or injury of persons, arising from the provision of the Works or a negligent act or omission of the Supplier; and |
(b) | the Purchaser against any claim, damage, loss or liability that it suffers or incurs arising from any breach by the Supplier of this Agreement or any breach of law by the Supplier in performing the Works. |
7. | INFORMATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY |
7.1 | In performing the Works, the Supplier must not (without the Purchaser’s consent) rely upon the accuracy, sufficiency or fitness for purpose of any information provided by or on behalf of the Purchaser. |
7.2 | The Supplier warrants that it has relied solely upon its own enquiries, investigations and due diligence in entering into this Agreement. |
7.3 | The Purchaser does not assume any responsibility or duty of care, and does not warrant or make any representation as to any information provided by or on behalf of the Principal. |
7.4 | The Supplier must not disclose to third parties or use for any purpose (other than for providing the Works) any: |
(a) | confidential information; or |
(b) | information relating to the Principal or the project related to the Works, that is disclosed or discovered by the Supplier in the course of or in connection with the provision of the Works. |
7.5 | The Supplier may disclose information referred to in clause 7.4 to the extent necessary in the provision of the Works to its professional advisors, provided the Supplier ensures that those recipients are also bound by a duty of confidentiality on the same terms as set out in clause 7.4. |
8. | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY |
8.1 | Each party hereby agrees that it has, and will have, no licence or other right to use the other party’s Intellectual Property, except as set out in this Agreement. |
8.2 | Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties and subject to clause 8.3, any improvements, developments or modifications to the: |
(a) | the Purchaser Intellectual Property created by, or on behalf of, either party during the Term (including future copyright), will vest absolutely and automatically on creation in the Purchaser and to the extent created by the Supplier, the Supplier hereby assigns all such Intellectual Property to the Purchaser on and from creation; and |
(b) | the Supplier’s Background Intellectual Property created by, or on behalf of, either party during the Term (including future copyright), will vest absolutely and automatically on creation in the Supplier and to the extent created by the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby assigns all such Intellectual Property to the Supplier on and from creation, |
and the parties agree to do all such things as are necessary, including the execution of documents, to give effect to this clause.
8.3 | Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, any Services IP (including future copyright) will vest in the Purchaser absolutely and automatically on creation and the Supplier hereby assigns all such Intellectual Property to the Purchaser on and from creation. The Supplier agrees to do all such things as are necessary, including the execution of documents, to effect the assignment of title in the Services IP to the Purchaser. |
8.4 | The Supplier must, at any time on demand by the Purchaser, provide to the Purchaser all documents (including specifications), designs, plans, moulds, media, dies, tooling and other information, equipment and materials (including all copies) relating to Intellectual Property owned by or vested in the Purchaser under clause 8.2(a) or 8.3 (including any such information, equipment and/or materials held by third parties) or licensed to the Purchaser under clause 8.5. |
8.5 | The Supplier will retain all rights, title and interest in any the Supplier Background Intellectual Property provided that the Supplier grants to the Purchaser a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, sub-licensable, and transferable (such transfer to be solely in connection with relevant Services IP) licence to use the Supplier Background Intellectual Property to the extent the Purchaser needs to use the Services IP for the Works. The Supplier agrees to provide the Purchaser with copies of any such information (including all specifications), equipment and materials relating to the Supplier Background Intellectual Property as the Purchaser may reasonably require from time to time. |
8.6 | Neither party shall knowingly do anything which may prejudice or infringe (except as is expressly permitted by this Agreement) the other party’s Intellectual Property. |
8.7 | The Supplier warrants to the Purchaser that the Works (including where applicable the use of any associated goods, materials and products) by the Supplier in accordance with this Agreement (including the Services IP created by the Supplier and owned by the Purchaser under clause 8.3, or the Supplier Background Intellectual Property licensed to the Purchaser under clause 8.5) will not infringe the Intellectual Property of a third party. The Supplier indemnifies the Purchaser for any claim, expense, direct loss, damage or cost (including legal costs incurred in defending any such claim on a party and party basis) arising from a breach of this warranty. |
8.8 | The Purchaser warrants to the Supplier that the use by the Supplier in accordance with this Agreement of the Purchaser Intellectual Property (excluding any Intellectual Property created by the Supplier) for the purposes of and to the extent strictly necessary for the Wroks in accordance with this Agreement will not infringe the Intellectual Property of a third party. The Purchaser indemnifies the Supplier for any claim, expense, loss, damage or cost (including legal costs incurred in defending any such claim on a full indemnity basis) arising from a breach of this warranty. |
8.9 | The Purchaser grants the Supplier a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Purchaser Intellectual Property and the Services IP until the for the Term of this Agreement solely for the purpose of, and to the extent strictly necessary for, the Works in accordance with this Agreement. The Supplier must ensure that each use of the Purchaser Intellectual Property is in a manner from time to time approved by the Purchaser (including any conditions attached to such consent). |
8.10 | The parties acknowledge and agree that all goodwill resulting from: |
(a) | the Supplier’s use of the Purchaser Intellectual Property or the Services IP will accrue solely for the benefit of the Purchaser; and |
(b) | the Purchaser’s use of the Supplier Background Intellectual Property will accrue solely for the benefit of the Supplier. |
8.11 | For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement is to be interpreted as restricting the ability of the parties to from time to time enter into a separate agreement in relation to any Intellectual Property connected with the supply of the Works, which will prevail to the extent of any conflict with the terms of this Agreement when it is made clear that this is the parties’ intention. |
9. | TERMINATION |
9.1 | The Purchaser may (in addition to any other provisions of this Agreement permitting termination) terminate this Agreement or any Purchase Order with immediate effect by giving notice of termination to the Supplier if the Supplier does not provide the Works or perform its obligations under this Agreement in a manner which is satisfactory to the Purchaser. |
9.2 | The Purchaser may terminate this Agreement or any Purchase Order at any time without cause by giving the Supplier three months notice of such termination and pay to the Supplier an equitable adjustment to include all amounts due for Works completed or due to be completed in accordance with the Agreement until such termination date. |
10. | ASSIGNMENT AND NOVATION |
10.1 | The Purchaser may assign, novate or otherwise deal with any part of its rights and obligations to any person without the Supplier’s consent to any party with the financial capacity to continue to pay the Supplier in accordance with this Agreement. |
10.2 | The Supplier must not assign its rights or obligations in relation to the Works. |
11. | SUBCONTRACTING |
11.1 | The Supplier cannot subcontract any part of the Works without the prior written consent of the Purchaser. |
12. | WARRANTIES |
12.1 | The Supplier warrants to the Purchaser and agrees that: |
(a) | in delivering the Works in conformity with the scope of the Agreement, the Supplier will exercise the skill, care and diligence expected of a skilled and competent professional practising in the particular fields relevant to the Works; |
(b) | shall comply with all laws, regulations, rules and other requirements relating to the Works; |
(c) | the Works will be suitable, appropriate and adequate for the purpose of the Supply Contract as contemplated by the Works set out in Schedule Three; and |
(d) | the Works do not infringe any intellectual property contemplated in clause 0 above. |
13. | RELATIONSHIP |
13.1 | Nothing in this Agreement and no action taken by the parties under this Agreement shall constitute a partnership, association, joint venture or other co-operative entity between the parties or constitute any party the partner, agent or legal representative of another. |
14. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
14.1 | This Agreement is governed by the law of New South Wales and each party irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales. |
15. | SPECIAL TERMS |
15.1 | To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between the Special Terms and this the balance of the Agreement, the Special Terms prevail. |
16. | DEFINITIONS |
16.1 | In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: |
“Standard Terms’’ means those terms published on the website listed on Schedule One from time to time. The version which is current at the time this Agreement was entered into is set out in the Appendix. “Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday or public holiday on which registered banks are open for business in Melbourne. “Fees” means the price for the Works set out in Schedule Three of this Agreement and amended from time to time in accordance with the price review procedure set out in Appendix A of Schedule Three. “Insurance” means the insurance described in Schedule One.
“KPI” means any key performance indicator that is specified by the Purchaser in Schedule Four for the purpose of measuring the performance of the Supplier.
“Purchase Order” means an order as determined by the Purchaser which will specify the Works to be provided.
“Purchaser Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property of the Purchaser including, but not limited to, the:
(a) | the specification for the Works set out in a Purchase Order placed by the Purchaser with the Supplier for the Works, as amended by agreement in writing between the parties from time to time; |
(b) | any materials, including all goods, printed material, electronic material, notices, artwork, drawings and graphics (in any form), trade dress, catch phrases, disclosure documents, advertising and promotional materials and documents supplied by the Purchaser to the Supplier for use in relation to the Works (if any); |
(c) | (c) the Purchaser’s trade marks (if any); and |
(d) | (d) any Intellectual Property of the Purchaser whether created pursuant to or before the date of this Agreement. |
“Quarter” means each period of three months ending 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December during the term of this Agreement and includes the period from the Commencement Date until the next such occurring date.
“Supplier Background Intellectual Property” means the pre-existing Intellectual Property, (including know-how, methodologies and trade secrets) of the Supplier (if any) that has not been created specifically for or as a result of the supply of the Works.
“Works” means the Works set out in Schedule Three. “Services IP” means any Intellectual Property that is created by or on behalf of the Supplier specifically in relation to or for the purpose of the supply of the Works.
“Service Levels” means the relevant standards of service which the Supplier must achieve in supplying the Works to the Purchaser, as specified in Schedule Three.
“Specification” means the specification for the Works attached as an appendix to this Agreement.
SCHEDULE TWO
STANDARD TERMS
VAST
SOLAR STANDARD TERMS OF PURCHASE
GOODS AND SERVICES
1. | DEFINITIONS |
1.1 | The following definitions are used in these Standard Terms: |
(a) | “You” and “your” means the supplier of the goods or services to us as nominated on a Vast purchase order or contract by which Vast purchases any goods or services from you. |
(b) | “We”, “our” and “us” means Vast or any Related Company that purchases the goods or services from You. |
(c) | “Vast” means Vast Solar Pty Ltd ABN 37 136 258 574. |
(d) | “Related Company” means any company that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by Vast. |
2. | TERMS APPLYING |
2.1 | These terms apply to all purchases of goods and/or services from you. |
2.2 | Any terms or conditions of supply on any invoice or other document provided by you will be of no effect and will not replace or vary any of these terms and conditions unless we agree in writing. |
3. | YOUR OBLIGATIONS |
3.1 | You must supply the goods and/or services in accordance with the terms of the purchase order and these terms. |
3.2 | You must hold ail consents, permits and licences necessary to provide the goods or perform the services. |
3.3 | Where the order includes provision of training or support and maintenance services you must promptly and/or at the correct intervals supply those services in accordance with best industry practice. |
3.4 | While on our sites you must at all time comply with: |
(a) | Our site rules and site access and security requirements; |
(b) | the provision of any relevant legislation, codes or standards; and |
(c) | any other reasonable directions given by us. |
4. | DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE |
4.1 | Unless otherwise directed by us, you must deliver the goods to or provide the services at the address shown on the purchase order. |
4.2 | Where the purchase order includes any installation by you, you must promptly complete installation by the date set out in the purchase order or if no date is provided in accordance with best practice, at times reasonably approved by us and with minimum disruption. |
4.3 | We may inspect, test and observe at all reasonable times the supply of the goods or services. |
4.4 | We may carry out any reasonable acceptance tests of any goods or services or any part thereof. If any goods or services fail any acceptance test you will at your cost immediately remedy any problem. You will assist us with testing as requested. |
4.5 | If you make part deliveries and/or fail to deliver the total quantities as stipulated on the relevant order we may cancel the entire order at no cost to ourselves and we may return any part deliveries to you at your cost. |
4.6 | Where a purchase order provides a time for delivery of the goods and/or services that time shall be the essence of the contract. |
4.7 | We may vary the delivery time and/or the delivery address at any time prior to delivery by providing you written notice of those changes. |
4.8 | TITLE AND RISK |
4.9 | Title to any goods (including any parts or items supplied as part of a service) passes to us on delivery, but where we pay any part of the price before delivery then title passes on payment. |
4.10 | Risk remains with you until completion of delivery and acceptance of the goods by us. |
5. | PRICING |
5.1 | The price is as set out in the purchase order (unless otherwise agreed in writing) and is the only amount we must pay. Unless otherwise stated in the purchase order the price is in Australian dollars and is inclusive of all taxes including goods and services tax (“GST”), duties, fees or other government levies and charges. |
5.2 | Where you make a Taxable Supply, payment by us will be subject to receipt from you of a valid Tax Invoice. |
5.3 | We will pay for the goods delivered or services provided in accordance with these terms within 30 days from the end of the following month in which your Tax Invoice was received. The unit of measure detailed on the purchase order must be the unit of measure you invoice us in. The Tax Invoice must quote the purchase order number and be sent to the address specified on the purchase order. |
6. | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY |
6.1 | Where any license or other authorisation from any person is required to own, possess, use or resell any good or any component you will within the Price, and at no extra cost to us, procure an irrevocable and unrestricted authorisation or licence on a non-exclusive and transferable basis for us to own, possess, use and resell the good or component. |
6.2 | All proprietary rights in any intellectual property (including any design, data, specifications, know-how or any other form of intellectual property) that is specifically developed for us as part of the provision of any goods or service will become our property. |
6.3 | All confidential information and any intellectual property provided by us in connection with any purchase order remains at all times our confidential and proprietary information and may be used by you solely to complete the relevant order and for no other purpose. Any such information must be returned to us at any time on request. |
7. | WARRANTIES |
7.1 | You warrant to us that: |
(a) | each service will be performed promptly, with due diligence, care and skill, by appropriately trained.experienced and supervised persons and to the best industry standards and be fit for the expected purpose; |
(b) | each good (and its components) will: |
i be fit for the expected use and purpose;
ii conform to the specification, design, quality, quantity, configuration, description and samples agreed and approved by us (if any);
iii be new and unused on delivery, and if a shelf/calendar life or utilisation life is applicable, at least 95% of such life remains on delivery;
iv not be subject to any mortgage, charge, lien, encumbrance or retention of title;
v be free from any defect (including any latent defect) in design, materials and workmanship and not emit any contaminant or hazardous substance;
(c) | our ownership, possession, use or resale of any good or the use or result of a service supplied by you will not infringe any proprietary or other intellectual property right or interest of any person and you must provide within the price any licence or other authorisation from any person necessary in order for us to obtain the full benefit and use of the goods or service; and |
(d) | all goods supplied and/or services provided will comply with all applicable laws or regulations and you will, at your cost, hold and maintain in good standing all necessary licences, registrations, permits, authorisations, consents and approvals required by or from any governmental, provincial or local department or agency. |
7.2 | These warranties are additional to any other warranties given by you or implied by custom or law, whether statutory or otherwise. You will pass on to us the benefit of any warranty relating to the goods or service received from any other person so that we may have recourse against those persons either directly or through you. |
7.3 | You will promptly remedy each warranty claim to our reasonable satisfaction. Warranties start again for the full period on completion of remedying each defect. Without limitation to any other provision of these terms, if any defect which is a breach of a warranty results in us not receiving the expected performance or value from the good then you will at your own cost promptly replace the good or goods (with a full warranty) if requested by us. |
8. | INDEMNITIES |
8.1 | You will indemnify and keep indemnified us, and our employees, agents and contractors (“Our Indemnified Parties”) against all claims, expenses, losses, damages and costs (“Liabilities”) (including all Liabilities arising as a result of damage to a third party’s property or injury to or death of any person, and all legal costs in relation to any Liabilities) sustained or incurred by any of Our Indemnified Parties arising from: |
(a) | any breach of these Standard Terms by the You; |
(b) | any breach by you of the terms of any agreement with us where these Standard Terms are incorporated in that Agreement; |
(c) | any negligent or wrongful act or omission of Yours or any of Your employees, agents or contractors in the course of or related to the performance of, or failure to perform, any obligations of the Yours under these Standard Terms; or |
(d) | any fraud, dishonesty, misrepresentation or wilful default of Yours. |
9. | RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES |
9.1 | If you fail to comply with any obligation in these terms and fail to properly remedy the situation to our satisfaction within 5 working days after we notify you of the breach or failure, or if you are or become insolvent or bankrupt or go into receivership or liquidation or enter into any compromise with your creditors, then we may, without limitation to any other right or remedy under these terms or at law: |
(a) | Cancel or suspend the purchase order or any uncompleted portion thereof; |
(b) | set off against any amount we owe you, any sum you owe us or that we are claiming from you in respect of these terms; |
(c) | recover from you any direct, indirect and consequential damage, loss or cost (including full legal costs) suffered by us. |
9.2 | Other than our obligation to pay the price, and except to the extent required by law, we have no liability whatsoever (including, but without limitation, in equity contract or tort, including negligence) to you or any other person for any loss of profits, income or savings, or for indirect or consequential damage, loss, cost or expense suffered by you or any other person. |
9.3 | Subject to clause 9.2, our liability to you (whether in contract or tort, including negligence) is limited to the price payable in respect of the relevant purchase order and we shall not be liable for any loss of profits, revenue, income or savings, or for indirect or consequential damage, loss, or cost. |
10. | MISCELLANEOUS |
10.1 | These terms may only be amended in writing signed by an authorised representative of each party. |
10.2 | If any amount is payable by you to us we are entitled to set that amount off against any amount payable by us to you. |
10.3 | You may not assign or sub-contract any of your rights and obligations in respect of a purchase order or these standard terms. |
10.4 | Nothing in these terms evidences any employment relationship, partnership, joint venture or agency. |
10.5 | Any unlawful provision in these standard terms will be severed and the remaining provisions will be enforceable. |
10.6 | Neither party is liable for any failure or delay in performing an obligation if the failure or delay is due to a cause beyond the affected party’s reasonable control. An affected party must notify the other party of the cause and likely delay as soon as practicable. |
10.7 | No delay or failure to act is a waiver. No waiver is effective unless it is in writing. A waiver of a breach is not a waiver of any other breach. |
10.8 | These terms and conditions are governed by the laws in the State of New South Wales and the Commonwealth of Australia and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that State and the Commonwealth of Australia. |
SCHEDULE THREE
WORKS and FEES
Part A - Works
a. | Preliminary design of foundation, Thermal analysis to check insulation behavior depending on proposed solutions by Suaval /supplier if required. |
b. | Preliminary CFD simulations for the definition of the layout of the income/recirculation rings for 1 tank. |
c. | Simulation of the supports for the recirculation ring in the walls/roof, confirmation of the viability of this option. |
d. | Preliminary analysis of preheating of the tank, according to preheating supplier data. |
e. | Analysis of the first melt of the salts and introduction in the tank according to melting supplier. |
See annex 3.1 attached for the details of works above mentioned.
Consider whether a Specification is required to ensure that the Supplier supplies Works which are in compliance with the Specification.
Total Agreement price: [***]
Payment milestones:
15% advance payment at the signature
of the contract of each position
85% final payment when VAST receive the deliverables of each position (monthly payment advance)
Work a.: | [***] |
Work b: | [***] |
Work c: | [***] |
Work d: | [***] |
Work e: | [***] |
SCHEDULE FOUR
KPI’S AND SERVICE LEVELS
Not used.
SCHEDULE FIVE
SPECIAL TERMS
1. | If the Supply Agreement has been executed by the parties, all payments made by the Purchaser under this Agreement are in part payment of the ‘Contract Price’ under the Supply Contract, are made on account and will be deducted from the ‘Contract Price’ under the Supply Contract. |
2. | The provisions in the Thermal Storage Tank Intellectual Property Agreement and Supply Agreement will prevail over clause 8 (Intellectual Property) of this Agreement. |
[***]
Exhibit 10.47
Subscription agreement
for shares in Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. (ACN 136 258 574) by CT Investments Group Pty Limited (ACN 634 004 907)
Date: 18 September 2023
Parties
1 | Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. (ACN 136 258 574) of [***] (Issuer) |
2 | The party set out in item 1 of Schedule 2 (Investor) |
The parties agree
1 | Defined terms and interpretation |
1.1 | Definitions in the Dictionary |
A term or expression starting with a capital letter:
(a) | which is defined in the Dictionary in Schedule 1 (Dictionary), has the meaning given to it in the Dictionary; and |
(b) | which is defined in the Corporations Act, but is not defined in the Dictionary, has the meaning given to it in the Corporations Act. |
1.2 | Interpretation |
The interpretation clause in Schedule 1 (Dictionary) sets out rules of interpretation for this agreement.
2 | Subscription |
2.1 | Primary Subscription |
Subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement, on Completion the Issuer is hereby obligated to and must allot and issue, and the Investor is hereby obligated to and must subscribe (either directly or through its nominee) for, the Primary Subscription Shares for the Primary Subscription Amount.
2.2 | Secondary Subscription |
(a) | Subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement, the Issuer is hereby obligated to and must allot and issue, and the Investor is hereby obligated to and must subscribe (either directly or through its nominee) for, the Secondary Subscription Shares for the Secondary Subscription Amount. |
(b) | The Issuer will inform the Investor of the Secondary Subscription Amount 20 Business Days prior to the scheduled completion of the Transaction. |
2.3 | Time and place for Completion |
(a) | Completion is conditional on the Issuer completing the Transaction. |
(b) | Subject to the condition in clause 2.3(a) being satisfied, Completion will take place concurrently with the Transaction. |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 1 |
2.4 | Rights and ranking |
All Subscription Shares issued to the Investor will:
(a) | be issued as fully paid; |
(b) | be free of Encumbrances; and |
(c) | rank equally in all respects with the other Shares on issue in the capital of the Issuer as at the Completion Date. |
2.5 | Investor’s obligations at Completion |
(a) | Immediately before Completion, the Investor must pay to the Issuer the Subscription Amount in immediately available funds into the Issuer’s bank account with the details specified in item 5 of Schedule 2. |
(b) | To the extent the Investor has transferred the Subscription Amount to the Issuer prior to the condition in clause 2.3(a) being satisfied, the Issuer holds such amount on trust for the Investor until the Completion Date, at which time it will be released to the Issuer. |
(c) | If the condition is not satisfied by 18 December 2023, the Issuer must immediately return to the Investor any amounts held by it on trust for the Investor to the bank account specified by the Investor. |
2.6 | Issuer’s obligations at Completion |
At Completion, subject to the Investor satisfying its obligation in clause 2.5, the Issuer must:
(a) | allot and issue the Subscription Shares to the Investor (or its nominee) in consideration of the Subscription Amount; and |
(b) | register the Subscription Shares in the Issuer’s register of members, free from any Encumbrance and deliver to the Investor evidence of the Investor's (or its nominee’s) entitlement to the Subscription Shares. |
2.7 | Share application |
(a) | Clauses 2.1 to 2.6 (inclusive) operate as an application by the Investor for the issue and allotment by the Issuer to the Investor of the Subscription Shares on the Completion Date without the necessity for any separate instrument of application by the Investor. |
(b) | The Investor acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the constitution of the Issuer as amended from time to time. |
2.8 | No on-sale purpose |
The parties agree that within the 12 month period immediately following the Completion Date, the purpose of:
(a) | the Issuer is not issuing the Subscription Shares with the purpose of the Investor selling or transferring the Subscription Shares, or granting, issuing or transferring interests in, or options over, them; and |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 2 |
(b) | the Investor is not acquiring the Subscription Shares with the purpose of selling or transferring the Subscription Shares, or granting, issuing or transferring interests in, or options over, them. |
2.9 | Interdependence of obligations at Completion |
The obligations of the parties under clauses 2.5 and 2.6 are interdependent and must be performed, as nearly as possible, simultaneously. If any obligation specified in clause 2.6 is not performed following performance of the obligations under in 2.5 then, without limiting any other rights of the parties, Completion is taken not to have occurred and any payment made under clause 2.5 must be returned to the Investor.
2.10 | Regulation S |
Investor agrees, in accordance with the 40-day distribution compliance period contemplated by Rule 903(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act 1933, that it will not offer or sell the Subscription Shares to a U.S. Person (as defined below) or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person.
3 | Warranties |
3.1 | Giving of Warranties |
(a) | The Issuer represents and warrants to the Investor, and the Investor represents and warrants to the Issuer, that each of the Issuer Warranties and the Investor Warranties (as applicable) are true and accurate as at the date of this agreement and as at Completion. |
(b) | The Issuer acknowledges that the Investor has entered into this agreement in reliance on the Issuer Warranties. The Investor acknowledges that the Issuer has entered into this agreement in reliance on the Investor Warranties. |
(c) | Each Warranty must be construed independently and is not limited by reference to another Warranty. |
(d) | Except as expressly set out otherwise, neither the Issuer nor its representatives have made any representation or given any advice, warranty, undertaking, promise or forecast in relation to the Issuer, the business of the Issuer, the Subscription Shares or this agreement, including in relation to any economic, fiscal or other interpretations or evaluations by any person or future matters, including future or forecast costs, prices, revenues or profits. |
3.2 | Issuer Warranties |
The Issuer represents and warrants that:
(a) | (registration) it is registered and validly existing under its laws of incorporation; |
(b) | (corporate power) it has the corporate power to own its assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted; |
(c) | (authority) it has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this agreement; |
(d) | (authorisations) it has taken all necessary action to authorise the execution and performance of this agreement; |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 3 |
(e) | (public company) the Issuer has taken all steps necessary under the Corporations Act to convert to a public company limited by shares and will be a public company on Completion; |
(f) | (binding obligations) this agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations and is enforceable in accordance with its terms; |
(g) | (Subscription Shares) the issue of the Subscription Shares, and the performance by it of its obligations under this agreement, has been duly authorised by it and its members (including as required under its constituent documents); |
(h) | (agreement permitted) the execution and performance by it of this agreement, and the issue by it of the Subscription Shares, complies with its constituent documents or any arrangements between the Issuer and its members and does not and will not violate, breach, or result in a violation or breach of: |
(i) | any law, regulation or authorisation; |
(ii) | its constituent documents (including any arrangements between the Issuer and its members); |
(iii) | any agreement to which the Issuer is party; or |
(iv) | any Encumbrance which is binding on it or any of its assets; and |
(i) | (ownership) the Investor will acquire at Completion: |
(i) | the full legal and beneficial ownership of the Subscription Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances, subject to registration of the Investor in the register of shareholders; and |
(ii) | the Subscription Shares that are fully paid and have no money owing in respect of them. |
3.3 | Acknowledgement regarding the Issuer |
The Investor acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) | the Issuer makes no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the suitability of the Investor to make an investment in the Issuer; |
(b) | it has independently assessed and carried out its own investigations and analysis of the Issuer and its proposed investment in the Issuer, and the Investor does not rely on any statement, warranty or representation made by the Issuer, its directors, employees or advisers, in making a decision whether or not to invest in the Issuer; and |
(c) | this agreement does not purport to contain all of the material information that a prospective investor may require and the agreement has not been prepared as a disclosure document under the Corporations Act. |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 4 |
3.4 | Investor Warranties |
The Investor represents and warrants that:
(a) | (investor status) |
(i) | it is an investor to whom the Subscription Shares and Shares may be issued without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act by reason of it being a person to whom one or more of sections 708(8) (sophisticated investor), 708(10) (offer made through a financial services licensee), 708(11) (professional investor) or 708(12) (offer to people associated with the body) of the Corporations Act applies. If requested by the Issuer, the Investor shall provide to the Issuer such information and documents as may be required by the Issuer to so verify; and |
(ii) | it is not a ‘U.S. Investor’, being for the purposes of the issue of the Subscription Shares a person who is a U.S. Person (as that term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act 1933) or who is acting for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person; |
(b) | (registration) the Investor is a corporation, it is registered and validly existing under its laws of incorporation; |
(c) | (authority) it has full power and authority to enter into and perform this agreement and all necessary steps, authorisations and statutory requirements have been taken to enable it to do so; |
(d) | (authorisations) it has taken all necessary action to authorise the execution and performance of this agreement; |
(e) | (binding obligations) this agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations and is enforceable in accordance with its terms; |
(f) | (agreement permitted) the execution and performance by it of this agreement, complies with its constituent documents (if applicable) or any arrangements between the Investor and its members and does not and will not violate, breach, or result in a violation or breach of: |
(i) | any law, regulation or authorisation; |
(ii) | its constituent documents (including any arrangements between the Issuer and its members) (if applicable); |
(iii) | any agreement to which the Investor is party; or |
(iv) | any Encumbrance which is binding on it or any of its assets; |
(g) | (financial ability) the investor has financial ability to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Subscription Shares; |
(h) | (litigation) there is no litigation, arbitration, mediation or administrative proceedings taking place, pending or threatened, to which it is a party or to which it is reasonably likely to be a party; |
(i) | (risks) the Investor has considered the risks associated with an investment in the Subscription Shares, made and solely relied on, its own searches, investigations and enquiries, and independently determined to enter into this agreement; |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 5 |
(j) | (information) |
(i) | the Investor has had access to and received all documents and information necessary or appropriate in connection with, and in adequate time prior to, the Investor’s application for Subscription Shares so as to enable the Investor to make an informed investment decision; and |
(ii) | no statement or representation has induced or influenced the Investor to subscribe for the Subscription Shares, been relied on as being accurate, been warranted as being true, or been taken into account as important when deciding to subscribe for the Subscription Shares (other than where expressly set out otherwise); and |
(k) | (disclosure) it has disclosed any and all information concerning it which could reasonably be regarded as affecting the decision of the Issuer to enter into this agreement. |
4 | Confidentiality |
(a) | Subject to cause 4(b), each party (recipient) must keep secret and confidential, and must not divulge or disclose any information relating to another party or its business (which is disclosed to the recipient by the other party, its representatives or advisers in connection with this agreement), other than to the extent that: |
(i) | the information is in the public domain as at the date of this agreement (or subsequently becomes in the public domain) other than by breach of any obligation of confidentiality binding on the recipient; |
(ii) | the recipient is required to disclose the information by applicable law, any requirement of a regulatory authority, the rules of any recognised stock exchange on which its shares or the shares of any of its related bodies corporate are listed; |
(iii) | the disclosure is made by the recipient to any of its related bodies corporate or its financiers or lawyers, accountants, investment bankers, consultants or other professional advisers to the extent necessary to enable the recipient to properly perform its obligations under this agreement or to conduct their business generally, in which case the recipient must ensure that such persons keep the information secret and confidential and do not divulge or disclose the information to any other person; |
(iv) | the disclosure is required for use in threatened, pending or actual legal proceedings regarding this agreement and the matters contained within it; or |
(v) | the party to whom the information relates has consented in writing before the disclosure. |
Each recipient must ensure that its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, financiers, advisers and related bodies corporate comply in all respects with the recipient’s obligations under this clause 4. This clause 4 survives termination of this agreement.
(b) | Clause 4(a) shall not restrict the Issuer or its representatives, financiers, advisers and related bodies corporate from disclosing, prior to the Completion Date, this agreement or any of its terms to any investor in the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries. |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 6 |
5 | Notices |
5.1 | Notices |
Any notice required to be given under this agreement by any party to another must be:
(a) | in writing addressed to the address of the intended recipient shown in this agreement below or to such other address as has been most recently notified by the intended recipient to the party giving the notice: |
(i) | in the case of the Issuer: |
Address: | [***] |
Email: | [***] (with a copy to [***]) |
Attention: | Alec Waugh / Craig Wood |
(ii) | in the case of the Investor, the details specified in item 1 of Schedule 2; |
(b) | signed by a person duly authorised by the sender; |
(c) | deemed to have been given and served: |
(i) | where delivered by hand, at the time of delivery; |
(ii) | where sent by email, at the time shown in the delivery confirmation report generated by the sender’s email system; and |
(iii) | where sent by post: |
(A) | if posted within Australia to an Australian address, five Business Days after posting; or |
(B) | in any other case, 10 Business Days after posting, |
but if such delivery or receipt is on a day on which commercial premises are not generally open for business in the place of receipt or is later than 4.00 pm (local time) on any day, the notice will be deemed to have been given and served on the next day on which commercial premises are generally open for business in the place of receipt.
6 | General |
6.1 | Costs and expenses |
Each party must pay its own costs and expenses of negotiating, preparing, signing, delivering and registering this agreement and any other agreement or document entered into or signed under this agreement.
6.2 | Counterparts |
This agreement may consist of a number of copies, each signed (electronically or in handwriting) by one or more parties to the agreement. If so, the signed copies are treated as making up the one document and the date on which the last counterpart is executed will be the date of the agreement.
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 7 |
6.3 | Governing law and jurisdiction |
The laws of New South Wales govern this agreement. Each party irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.
6.4 | Invalidity and severance |
(a) | If a provision of this agreement or a right or remedy of a party under this agreement is invalid or unenforceable in a particular jurisdiction: |
(i) | it is read down or severed in that jurisdiction only to the extent of the invalidity or unenforceability; and |
(ii) | it does not affect the validity or enforceability of that provision in another jurisdiction or the remaining provisions in any jurisdiction. |
(b) | Any term of this agreement which is wholly or partially void or unenforceable is severed to the extent that it is void or unenforceable. The validity or enforceability of the remainder of this agreement is not affected. |
(c) | This clause is not limited by any other provision of this agreement in relation to severability, prohibition or enforceability. |
6.5 | Assignment, novation and other dealings |
(a) | A party must not assign or novate this agreement or otherwise deal with the benefit of it or a right under it, or purport to do so, without the prior written consent of the other party. |
(b) | No variation of this agreement is effective unless made in writing and signed by each party. |
6.6 | Waiver |
No waiver of a right or remedy under this agreement is effective unless it is in writing and signed by the party granting it. It is only effective in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is granted.
6.7 | Further assurances |
Except as expressly provided in this agreement, each party must, at its own expense, do all things reasonably necessary to give full effect to this agreement and the matters contemplated by it.
6.8 | Survival and merger |
(a) | No term of this agreement merges on completion of any transaction contemplated by this agreement. |
(b) | Clauses 4 and 6 survive termination or expiry of this agreement together with any other term which by its nature is intended to do so. |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 8 |
6.9 | Entire agreement |
(a) | This agreement is the entire agreement between the parties about its subject matter and replaces all previous agreements, understandings, representations and warranties about that subject matter. |
(b) | Each party represents and warrants that it has not relied on any representations or warranties about the subject matter of this agreement except as expressly provided in this agreement. |
Gilbert + Tobin | page | 9 |
Schedule 1 | Dictionary |
1 | Dictionary |
In this agreement:
Additional Investments means the aggregate of the dollar value of any cash that the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries have commitments to receive because of the issue of Shares or debt instruments in connection with the Transaction which will be received by them on the Completion Date, not including the Sponsor Subscription and the Primary Subscription Amount.
Business Combination Agreement means the Business Combination Agreement dated 14 February 2023 between, among others, the Issuer and NETC.
Business Day means a day on which banks are open for general banking business in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Completion means the completion of the issue and allotment of the Subscription Shares in accordance with this agreement and Complete has a corresponding meaning.
Completion Date means the date notified in writing by the Issuer to the Investor.
Corporations Act means Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Encumbrance means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest, title retention, preferential right, trust arrangement, contractual right of set-off, or any other security agreement or arrangement in favour of any person, whether registered or unregistered, including any security interest within the meaning of that term in section 12 of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth).
Investor Warranties means the representations and warranties set out in clause 3.4.
Issuer Warranties means the representations and warranties set out in clause 3.2.
Listing means the listing of the Issuer on a major United States securities exchange in connection with the Merger.
Merger means the Issuer’s proposed business combination with NETC as contemplated under the Business Combination Agreement.
NETC means Nabors Energy Transition Corp.
Primary Subscription Amount means the amount specified in item 2 of Schedule 2.
Primary Subscription Shares means the number of Shares specified in item 3 of Schedule 2.
Share means an ordinary share in the capital of the Issuer.
Secondary Subscription Shares means the number of Shares specified in item 4 of Schedule 3
Secondary Subscription Amount means the amount specified in item 1 of Schedule 3.
Gilbert + Tobin | Schedule 1 – Dictionary | page | 10 |
Sponsor Subscription means the amounts committed to the Issuer under the Equity Subscription Agreements (as that term is defined in the Business Combination Agreement).
Subscription Amount means:
(a) | the Primary Subscription Amount; plus |
(b) | Secondary Subscription Amount (if any). |
Subscription Price means US$10.20 per ordinary share.
Subscription Shares means the Primary Subscription Shares and the Secondary Subscription Shares (if any have been issued).
Transaction means the Merger and the Listing (together).
Warranties means the Issuer Warranties and the Investor Warranties.
2 | Interpretation |
In this agreement the following rules of interpretation apply unless the contrary intention appears:
(a) | headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this agreement. |
(b) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa. |
(c) | where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings. |
(d) | the words ‘such as’, ‘including’, ‘particularly’ and similar expressions are not used as nor are intended to be interpreted as words of limitation. |
(e) | a reference to: |
(i) | a person includes a natural person, partnership, joint venture, government agency, association, corporation or other body corporate; |
(ii) | a party includes its successors and permitted assigns; |
(iii) | a document includes all amendments or supplements to that document; |
(iv) | a clause, term, party, schedule or attachment is a reference to a clause or term of, or party, schedule or attachment to this agreement; |
(v) | this agreement includes all schedules and attachments to it; and |
(vi) | a monetary amount is in Australian dollars. |
(f) | when the day on which something must be done is not a Business Day, that thing must be done on the following Business Day. |
Gilbert + Tobin | Schedule 1 – Dictionary | page | 11 |
(g) | in determining the time of day where relevant to this agreement, the relevant time of day is: |
(i) | for the purposes of giving or receiving notices, the time of day where a party receiving a notice is located; or |
(ii) | for any other purpose under this agreement, the time of day in the place where the party required to perform an obligation is located. |
(h) | no rule of construction applies to the disadvantage of a party because that party was responsible for the preparation of this agreement or any clause of it. |
Gilbert + Tobin | Schedule 1 – Dictionary | page | 12 |
Schedule 2 | Primary Subscription |
Item no. |
Term | Details |
1. | Investor | Name: CT Investments Group Pty Limited
ACN: 634 004 907
Address: [***]
Email: [***] (with copies to [***] and [***]) |
2. | Primary Subscription Amount: | US$5,000,000 |
3. | Primary Subscription Shares: | 490,197 |
4. | Issuer’s bank account details: | The Issuer will provide details of the nominated bank account by no later than 10 Business Days before Completion. |
Gilbert + Tobin | Schedule 2 – Primary Subscription | page | 13 |
Schedule 3 | Secondary Subscription |
Item
no. |
Term | Details |
1. | Secondary Subscription Amount | US$5,000,000 less US$1 for each US$3 of Additional Investments (until such amount is zero). |
2. | Secondary Subscription Shares | The number of Shares that is equal to the Secondary Subscription Amount divided by the Subscription Price, being up to a maximum of 490,197 (rounding up to the nearest whole number). |
3. | Subscription Fee | The Issuer must pay the Investor an amount equal to:
(a) the greater of:
(i) 1% of US$5,000,000 each month from the date of this agreement until the Completion Date; and
(ii) US$100,000; plus
(b) 5% of the sum of the Secondary Subscription Amount,
in cash within 20 Business Days of the Completion Date. |
4. | Investor’s bank account details | The Investor will provide details of the nominated bank account by no later than 10 Business Days before Completion. |
Gilbert + Tobin | Schedule 3 – Secondary Subscription | page | 14 |
Execution page
Executed as an agreement
Signed by Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. ACN 136 258 574 in accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) by: | ||
/s/ Craig Wood | /s/ Alec Waugh | |
Signature of director | Signature of director/secretary | |
Craig Wood | Alec Waugh | |
Name of director (print) | Name of director/secretary (print) |
Gilbert + Tobin | Execution | page | 15 |
Executed as an agreement (cont.)
Signed by CT Investments Group Pty Limited ACN 634 004 907 in accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) by: | ||
/s/ Stephen James Byron | /s/ Stephen Leslie Carson | |
Signature of director | Signature of director/secretary | |
Stephen James Byron | Stephen Leslie Carson | |
Name of director (print) | Name of director/secretary (print) |
Gilbert + Tobin | Execution | page | 16 |
Exhibit 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF VAST SOLAR PTY LTD
Entity | Jurisdiction |
NWQHPP Pty Ltd | Australia |
Vast Solar Consulting Pty Ltd | Australia |
Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd | Australia |
Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd | Australia |
SiliconAurora Pty Ltd | Australia |
Neptune Merger Sub, Inc. | Delaware |
Solar Methanol 1 Pty Ltd | Australia |
Vast Renewables Management Services LLC | Delaware |
Vast Renewables Holdco Corp. | Delaware |
Solar Methanol 1 Pty Ltd | Australia |
Vast Australia Holdco Pty Ltd | Australia |
HyFuel Solar Refinery Pty Ltd | Australia |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Vast Renewables Limited (formerly known as Vast Solar Pty Ltd) of our report dated September 29, 2023 relating to the financial statements of Vast Solar Pty Ltd, which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
Sydney, Australia
November 13, 2023
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Vast Renewables Limited (formerly known as Vast Solar Pty Ltd) of our report dated September 29, 2023 relating to the financial statements of SiliconAurora Pty Ltd, which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
Sydney, Australia
November 13, 2023
Exhibit 23.3
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Vast Renewables Limited (formerly known as Vast Solar Pty Ltd) of our report dated March 22, 2023, relating to the financial statements of Nabors Energy Transition Corp. appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. Our report contains an explanatory paragraph regarding Nabors Energy Transition Corp.’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
/s/ Ham, Langston & Brezina, L.L.P.
Houston, TX
November 13, 2023