UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 22, 2021 (July 16, 2021)
Hyzon Motors Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-39632 | 82-2726724 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
475 Quaker Meeting House Road Honeoye Falls, NY |
14472 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(585)-484-9337
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ |
Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
||
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share | HYZN | Nasdaq Capital Market | ||
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | HYZNW | Nasdaq Capital Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introductory Note
On July 16, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“DCRB”), consummated the previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of February 8, 2021 (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Hyzon Motors Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Old Hyzon”), and DCRB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of DCRB (“Merger Sub”).
Immediately upon the completion of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Transactions”, and such completion, the “Closing”), Old Hyzon became a direct wholly owned subsidiary of DCRB. In connection with the Transactions, DCRB changed its name to Hyzon Motors Inc. (“Hyzon”) and Old Hyzon changed its name to Hyzon Motors USA Inc.
The Transactions are described in more detail in in the section entitled “Proposal Number 1 — The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 85 of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-39632) filed by DCRB with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 21, 2021 (the “Proxy”). Unless the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” refer to Hyzon Motors Inc., and its consolidated subsidiaries following the Closing and references to “DCRB” refer to Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation prior to the Closing.
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the Closing and on the Closing Date, DCRB, certain securityholders of Old Hyzon and certain securityholders of DCRB entered into that certain Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The material terms of the Registration Rights Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy beginning on page 85 titled “Proposal No. 1 - The Business Combination Proposal—Related Agreements—A&R Registration Rights Agreement.”
The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
On July 15, 2021, DCRB held a special meeting of the DCRB stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), at which the DCRB stockholders considered and adopted, among other matters, the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions. As described above, on July 16, 2021, the parties to the Business Combination Agreement consummated the Transactions.
Holders of 2,089,323 shares of DCRB’s Class A common stock sold in its initial public offering (the “Initial Shares”) properly exercised their right to have such shares redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the trust account holding the proceeds from DCRB’s initial public offering, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the business combination, which was approximately $10.00 per share, or $20,894,145 in the aggregate.
As a result of the Business Combination, each share of common stock of Old Hyzon, par value $0.0001 per share (“Old Hyzon Common Stock”) was converted into the right to receive 1.7720 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”) and the contingent right to receive the Earnout Shares (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) in accordance with the terms thereof.
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Additionally, the shares of DCRB Class B common stock held by Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Sponsor, LLC (“Sponsor”), DCRB’s independent directors and WRG DCRB Investors, LLC, automatically converted into 5,643,125 shares of Class A Common Stock.
As previously disclosed, on June 28, 2021, DCRB issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor in an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 (the “Note”). Pursuant to the terms of the Note, upon the consummation of the Business Combination, the Sponsor elected to convert the unpaid principal balance of the Note into that number of warrants to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock equal to the principal amount of the Note so converted divided by $1.00.
As previously disclosed, in connection with satisfying the Minimum Proceeds Condition (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), DCRB entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”), each dated as of February 8, 2021, with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”), pursuant to which, among other things, DCRB agreed to issue and sell, in private placements, an aggregate of 35,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of DCRB for $10.00 per share for an aggregate commitment of $355,000,000 (the “PIPE Financing”). At the Closing, the Company consummated the PIPE Financing.
As previously disclosed, on and after February 1, 2021 and February 15, 2021, Old Hyzon issued convertible promissory notes to Korea Zinc Co., Ltd. and Sewon Co., Ltd. in an aggregate principal amount of $45,000,000 (the “Convertible Notes”). Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Notes, the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the Convertible Notes converted immediately prior to Transactions into shares of Old Hyzon Common Stock at a price per share equal to 90% of the price per share paid by the PIPE Investors, and upon the Closing, converted into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.
Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions (including as a result of the conversion of the Convertible Notes described above), the redemption of Initial Shares as described above, and the consummation of the PIPE Financing, there were 246,994,208 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding. Upon the Closing, DCRB Class A common stock and warrants ceased trading, and Class A Common Stock and warrants began trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”). DCRB’s public units automatically separated into their component securities upon consummation of the Transactions and, as a result, no longer trade as a separate security and were delisted from Nasdaq.
As noted above, an aggregate of $20,894,145 was paid from the Company’s trust account to holders that properly exercised their right to have Initial Shares redeemed, and the remaining balance immediately prior to the Closing of approximately $204.8 million remained in the trust account. The remaining amount in the trust account was used to fund the Transactions.
FORM 10 INFORMATION
Prior to the Closing Date, the Company was a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) with no operations, formed as a vehicle to effect a business combination with one or more operating businesses.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K and the documents incorporated by reference herein include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this Form 8-K, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward looking statements, all of which are
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expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K and in any document incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K may include, for example, statements about (i) our ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; (ii) our ability to raise financing in the future; (iii) our ability to retain or recruit, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors; (iv) our ability to commercialize our strategic plans, including our ability to establish facilities to produce our vehicles or secure hydrogen supply in appropriate volumes, at competitive costs or with competitive emissions profiles; (v) our ability to effectively compete in the heavy-duty transportation sector, and intense competition and competitive pressures from other companies worldwide in the industries in which we operate; (vi) our ability to protect, defend or enforce intellectual property on which we depend; and (vii) other factors detailed under the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 29 of the Proxy and incorporated herein by reference.
Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this Current Report on Form 8-K, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could different materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the Proxy in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 29, which is incorporated herein by reference and in Hyzon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic filings with the SEC, which are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Business
The business of Hyzon is described in the Proxy in the section titled “Information About Hyzon” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Risk Factors
The risk factors related to the Hyzon’s business and operations and the Business Combination are set forth in the Proxy in the section titled “Risk Factors” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Information
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth in Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the financial information of DCRB and Old Hyzon. Reference is further made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy in the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hyzon” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of DCRB”, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Reference is made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy in the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hyzon” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of DCRB”, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Reference is made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hyzon - Key Trends and Uncertainties”, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Properties
The properties of Old Hyzon are described in the Proxy in the sections titled “Information about Hyzon - Facilities”, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of Company common stock as of the Closing Date by:
• |
each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of outstanding Company common stock; |
• |
each of the Company’s executive officers and directors; and |
• |
all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Company stock issuable upon exercise of options and warrants currently exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding solely for purposes of calculating the percentage of total voting power of the beneficial owner thereof.
The beneficial ownership of Company common stock is based on 246,994,208 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Closing Date, including the redemption of Initial Shares as described above and the consummation of the PIPE Investment. Unless otherwise indicated, the Company believes that each person named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Company common stock beneficially owned by them.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners |
Number of
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned |
% of
outstanding Class A Common Stock |
||||||
Five Percent Holders |
||||||||
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte. Ltd.(1) |
155,639,006 | 63.0 | ||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers |
||||||||
George Gu(2) |
5,759,000 | 2.3 | ||||||
Erik Anderson(3) |
630,947 | * | ||||||
Mark Gordon |
— | — | ||||||
Craig Knight(4) |
5,714,700 | 2.3 | ||||||
Elaine Wong |
781,386 | * | ||||||
Ivy Brown |
— | — | ||||||
Viktor Meng(6) |
44,300 | * | ||||||
Dennis Edwards |
177,200 | * | ||||||
KD Park |
— | — | ||||||
Gary Robb(5) |
295,330 | * | ||||||
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (14 Individuals)(7) |
13,581,063 | 5.3 |
* |
Less than one percent. |
(1) |
Hymas Pte. Ltd. (“Hymas”) is the record holder of the shares. Hymas is 79.62% owned indirectly by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte. Ltd. (“Horizon”), through its subsidiaries, including Jiangsu Qingneng New Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. (“JS-Horizon”) and Horizon Fuel Cell Technology (Hong Kong) Ltd. (“HFCT HK”). Horizon, by reason of its ownership of the voting securities of JS-Horizon, JS-Horizon’s ownership of the voting securities of HFCT HK, and HFCT HK’s ownership of the voting securities of Hymas, ultimately has the right to elect or appoint the members of the governing body of Hymas and, therefore, to direct the management and policies of Hymas. As a result, Horizon has voting and investment power over the shares of Class A Common Stock held of record by Hymas. Mr. Gu beneficially owns 17.6% of Horizon, consisting of 119,892 Ordinary Shares of Horizon, which is approximately 46.9% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of Horizon, and 1 D-1 Preferred Share of Horizon, which is approximately 0.0% of the outstanding D-1 Preferred Shares of Horizon. Mr. Knight beneficially 2.4% of Horizon, consisting of 1,205 Ordinary Shares of Horizon, which is approximately 0.0% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of Horizon, and 15,257 shares of A Preferred Shares of Horizon, which is approximately 19.9% of the outstanding A Preferred Shares of Horizon. Mr. Gu and Mr. Knight disclaim any beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock by reason of their beneficial ownership of shares of Horizon. The address for Horizon and Hymas is Enterprise Hub, 48 Toh Guan Road East, Postal 608586, #05-124, Singapore. The address for JS-Horizon is 302-309 Building A, New Environmental Materials Industrial Park, Huada Road, Jingang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China. The address for HFCT HK is 11/F., Capital Centre, 151 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. |
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(2) |
Consists of 221,500 shares of Class A Common Stock, and 5,537,500 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Hyzon options within 60 days, subject to the vesting conditions described in the section entitled “Executive Compensation” beginning on page 192 of the Proxy. |
(3) |
Interests shown exclude 726,057 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying private placement warrants that are not currently exercisable. WRG DCRB Investors, LLC is the record holder of the shares reported herein. WestRiver Management, LLC is the managing member and majority owner of WRG DCRB Investors, LLC with 82% ownership. Erik Anderson is the sole member of WestRiver Management, LLC and has voting and investment discretion with respect to the common stock held of record by WRG DCRB Investors, LLC. As such, each of WestRiver Management, LLC and Erik Anderson may be deemed to have or share beneficial ownership of the Class A Common Stock held directly by WRG DCRB Investors, LLC. Each such entity or person disclaims any such beneficial ownership. The business address of each of these entities and Erik Anderson is 920 5th Ave, Ste 3450, Seattle, WA 98104. |
(4) |
Consists of 177,200 shares of Class A Common Stock, and 5,537,500 shares of Hyzon Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of Hyzon options within 60 days. |
(5) |
Consists solely of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Hyzon options or restricted stock units within 60 days. |
(6) |
Consists of 26,580 shares of Class A Common Stock, and 17,720 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Hyzon options within 60 days. |
(7) |
Consists of 2,015,813 shares of Class A Common Stock and 11,565,250 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Hyzon options or restricted stock units within 60 days. |
Directors and Executive Officers
The Company’s directors and executive officers after the consummation of the Transactions are described in the Proxy in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Director Independence
Information with respect to the independence of the Company’s directors is set forth in the Proxy in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination—Director Independence; Controlled Company Exemption” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Information with respect to the composition of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) immediately after the Closing is set forth in the Proxy in the sections titled “Management After the Business Combination—Audit Committee,” “Management After the Business Combination—Compensation Committee” and “Management After the Business Combination—Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive and Director Compensation
A description of the compensation of the named executive officers of DCRB and of Old Hyzon before the consummation of the Business Combination and of Hyzon after the consummation of the Business Combination is set forth in the Proxy in the section titled “Executive Compensation” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
At the Special Meeting, DCRB stockholders approved the Hyzon Motors Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The description of the 2021 Plan is set forth in the Proxy section entitled “Proposal No. 5 - The 2021 Plan Proposal”, which is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the full text of the Incentive Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. Following the completion of the Business Combination, the Company expects that the Board or the Compensation Committee will make grants of awards under the 2021 Plan to eligible participants.
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Hyzon has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification and advancements by Hyzon of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from his or her service to Hyzon or, at our request, service to other entities, as officers or directors to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Further information about the indemnification of Hyzon’s directors and officers is set forth in the Proxy in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination—Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
The certain relationships and related party transactions of the Company are described in the Proxy in the sections titled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hyzon - Material Transactions with Related Parties”, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Legal Proceedings
Reference is made to the disclosure regarding legal proceedings in the sections of the Proxy titled “The Business Combination—Litigation Relating to the Business Combination” and “Information About Hyzon—Legal Proceedings” and that information is incorporated herein by reference
Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
The Company’s Class A Common Stock, Public Warrants and DCRB’s public units, each consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-half of a public warrant (the “Units”), were historically quoted on Nasdaq under the symbols “DCRB,” “DCRBW” and “DCRBU,” respectively. At the effective time of the merger, DCRB’s public units automatically separated into the component securities and, as a result, no longer trade as a separate security.
As of the Closing Date, there were approximately 154 holders of record of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and approximately 10 holders of record of the Company’s warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock. Hyzon’s Class A Common Stock and warrants began trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “HYZN” and “HYZNW”, on July 19, 2021, subject to ongoing review of Hyzon’s satisfaction of all listing criteria post-Business Combination.
Hyzon has not paid any cash dividends on shares of its Class A Common Stock to date. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition. The payment of any dividends will be within the discretion of the Board.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth in the Proxy in the section titled “Proposal No. 5 - The 2021 Plan Proposal” and that information is incorporated herein by reference. As described above, at the Special Meeting, the DCRB stockholders approved the 2021 Plan and the material terms thereunder, including the authorization of the initial share reserve thereunder. A copy of the full text of the 2021 Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Following the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company expects that the Board or the compensation committee of the Board will make grants of awards under the 2021 Plan to eligible participants. A description of the compensation of the directors of DCRB and of Old Hyzon before the consummation of the Business Combination is set forth in the Proxy in the sections titled “Executive Compensation” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
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Plan Category |
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Number of securities
remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
|||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
21,560,993 | (a) | $ | 1.13 | 23,226,543 | |||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
— | — | — | |||||||||
Total |
21,560,993 | $ | 1.13 | 23,226,543 |
(a) |
Amount represents 1,942,295 restricted stock units and 19,618,698 options, previously granted pursuant under the Company’s 2020 Stock Incentive Plan and which converted into equity awards denominated in shares under the 2021 Plan upon the Closing. |
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth below under Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the issuance and sale by the Company of certain unregistered securities, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Description of Registrant’s Securities to Be Registered
The description of the Company’s securities is contained in the Proxy in the section titled “Description of Securities” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
The information set forth under Item 4.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
Transaction Consideration
The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.
The securities issued in connection with the Transactions have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.
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The issuance of Class A Common Stock upon automatic conversion of DCRB’s Class B common stock at the Closing has not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The disclosure set forth in Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4.01. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm
On July 16, 2021, the Audit Committee of the Board approved the engagement of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. KPMG served as independent registered public accounting firm of Old Hyzon prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”), DCRB’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination, was informed that it would be replaced by KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm following completion of Withum’s review of the quarter ended June 30, 2021, which consists only of the accounts of the pre-Business Combination special purpose acquisition company, DCRB. The reports of Withum on DCRB’s, the Company’s legal predecessor, consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 and the consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period ended March 31, 2021, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles, other than the restatement of the Company’s financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and through July 16, 2021, there were no disagreements between DCRB or the Company, as applicable, and Withum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Withum, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the Company’s financial statements for such period. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and through July 16, 2021, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
The Company has provided Withum with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and has requested that Withum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Company set forth above. A copy of Withum’s letter, dated July 22, 2021, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.
Reference is made to the information contained in the section entitled “Introductory Note” and Item 2.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, and in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, each executive officer of DCRB ceased serving in such capacity; Dr. Jennifer Aaker, Jane Kearns, Pierre Lapeyre, Jr., David Leuschen, Robert Tichio, Jim McDermott, Jeffrey Tepper and Michael Warrent ceased serving on DCRB’s board of directors.
Dennis Edwards, Mark Gordon and Elaine Wong were appointed as Class I directors of the Company to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders, Ivy Brown, Viktor Meng and Ki Deok (KD) Park were appointed as Class II directors of the Company to serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders, and Erik Anderson, George Gu and Craig Knight were appoint was Class III directors of the Company, to serve until the third annual meeting of stockholders, in each cash, until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
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Upon the consummation of the Transactions, the Company established three board committees: audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. Mr. Park and Mses. Brown and Wong were appointed to serve on the Company’s audit committee, with Ms. Brown serving as the chair and Mr. Park qualifying as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Messrs. Anderson, Edwards and Meng were appointed to serve on the Company’s compensation committee, with Mr. Anderson serving as the chair. Messrs. Edward and Meng and Ms. Wong were appointed to serve on the Company’s nominating and corporate governance committee, with Ms. Wong serving as the chair.
Additionally, upon consummation of the Transactions, Craig Knight was appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; George Gu was appointed as the Company’s Executive Chairman; Mark Gordon was appointed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer; Adam Kroll was appointed as the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer; Gary Robb was appointed as Chief Technology Officer; Parker Meeks was appointed as Chief Strategy Officer; John Zavoli was appointed as General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary; and Max Holthausen was appointed as Managing Director of Hyzon Europe.
Reference is made to the disclosure described in the Proxy in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination” beginning on page 202 for biographical information about each of the directors and officers following the Transactions, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Hyzon Motors Inc. 2021 Incentive Award Plan
As described above, at the Special Meeting, the DCRB stockholders considered and approved the 2021 Plan. The board of DCRB previously approved the 2021 Plan on June 21, 2021, subject to stockholder approval. The 2021 Plan became effective immediately upon the Closing.
The 2021 Plan permits the Company to deliver up to 23,226,543 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to awards issued under the 2021 Plan. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year, beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, in an amount equal to the lesser of (A) three percent of the shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of shares as determined by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board.
A more complete summary of the terms of the 2021 Plan is set forth in the Proxy, in the section titled “The 2021 Plan Proposal”. That summary and the foregoing description of the 2021 Plan are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the 2021 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Employment Agreements
In connection with the Business Combination, Hyzon entered into new employment agreements with Craig Knight, Hyzon’s Chief Executive Officer, and George Gu, Hyzon’s Executive Chairman on July 9, 2021. The employment agreement with Mr. Knight provides a base salary of $450,000, and an annual target bonus opportunity of up to 70% of base salary. The employment agreement with Mr. Gu provides for a base salary of $475,000, and an annual target bonus opportunity of up to 70% of base salary.
Messrs. Knight and Gu are also each eligible to receive a one-time grant under the 2021 Plan of 3% of the fully diluted outstanding shares of Hyzon Class A common stock immediately following the Closing.
The executives will be entitled to participate in Hyzon employee health/welfare and retirement benefit plans and programs as are made available to senior executives or employees generally.
Upon a termination for any reason, each executive is entitled to receive any earned, but unpaid base salary, any accrued and unused vacation and any owed reimbursements pursuant to the employment agreement. Upon a termination of employment by Hyzon without “Cause” or by the executive for “Good Reason” (as those terms are defined in the employment agreements) within 12 months after, or three months prior to, a “Change in Control” (as defined in the employment agreements), each executive will also receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to 24 months’ base salary, (ii) a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination, and (iii) reimbursement for continued medical benefits for up to 24 months. Additionally, outstanding equity awards under the 2021 Plan will fully vest. Upon a
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termination of employment by Hyzon without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason that is not within 12 months after, and not three months prior to, a Change in Control, each executive will receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to 12 months’ base salary, (ii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, and (iii) reimbursement for continued medical benefits for up to 12 months. Additionally, outstanding equity awards under the 2021 Plan will vest on an accelerated basis for 12 months.
Severance and termination benefits payable pursuant to the employment agreements generally are subject to the executive’s execution of a release of claims.
The foregoing description of the employment agreements with each of Messrs. Knight and Gu does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the employment agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.7 and Exhibit 10.8, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
Upon consummation of the merger of Merger Sub with and into Old Hyzon, Merger Sub discontinued its existence as a Delaware company, with Old Hyzon surviving the merger. Immediately thereafter, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, DCRB changed its name to Hyzon Motors Inc. and adopted the second amended and restated articles of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws.
The Company’s common stock and Public Warrants are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “HYZN” and “HYZNW,” respectively. Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the CUSIP numbers relating to the Company’s common stock and warrants changed to 44951Y102 and 44951Y110, respectively.
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Company amended and restated its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, effective as of the Closing (the “Second A&R Charter”), effective as of the Closing. The stockholders of DCRB approved this amendment and restatement at the Special Meeting.
The material terms of the Second A&R Charter and the general effect upon the rights of holders of the Company’s capital stock are included in the Proxy under the sections titled “Proposal No. 2—The Authorized Share Charter Proposal,” “Proposal No. 3—The Additional Charter Approval Proposal,” and “Description of Securities” beginning on pages 120, 121 and 213 of the Proxy Statement, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.
This summary of the Second A&R Charter does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Second A& Charter, which is included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Bylaws
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Company amended and restated its bylaws to be consistent with the Company’s Second A&R Charter and to make certain other changes that the Board deemed appropriate for a public operating company. This summary of the amended and restated bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the amended and restated bylaws, which is included as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.06. Change in Shell Company Status.
As a result of the Business Combination, which fulfilled the definition of an “initial business combination” as required by DCRB’s organizational documents, the Company ceased to be a shell company upon the closing of the Business Combination. The material terms of the Business Combination are described in the section titled “Proposal No. 1 -The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 85 of the Proxy, and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.
The audited consolidated financial statements of Old Hyzon for the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 and the related notes and report of independent registered public accounting firm thereto are set forth in the Proxy beginning on page F-56 and are incorporated herein by reference.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Old Hyzon as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and for the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through March 31, 2020 are set forth in the Proxy beginning on page F-44 and are incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Pro forma financial information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the period ended December 31, 2020 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and are incorporated herein by reference.
(c) Exhibit.
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* |
All schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request. |
# |
Indicates management contract or compensatory arrangement. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: July 22, 2021
HYZON MOTORS INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Craig M. Knight |
|||
Name: | Craig M. Knight | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF |
|
|||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION |
July 16, 2021
Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Corporation), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 7, 2017, under the name of Silver Run Acquisition Corporation III, and was amended by the Certificate of Amendment, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 18, 2020 (the Original Certificate).
2. The Corporation amended and restated the Original Certificate on October 19, 2020 (as amended and restated, the First Amended and Restated Certificate).
3. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Second Amended and Restated Certificate), which both restates and amends the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by written consent of the Corporations stockholders in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL).
4. The First Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Hyzon Motors Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The street address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19801, and the name of the Corporations registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 410,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 400,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (the Common Stock) and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the Preferred Stock).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a Preferred Stock Designation) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
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Section 4.4 Rights and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (Bylaws), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate; the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate; and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at an annual meeting of stockholders by holders of Common Stock. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
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(c) Subject to Section 5. 5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such directors earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such directors earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4 Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock - Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1 Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the
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Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 7.3 Action by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless he or she violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her action as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal. If the DGCL is amended after the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a proceeding) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the
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indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article IX.
ARTICLE X
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 10.1 Forum.
(a) Subject to Section 10.1 (b), unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any internal or intra-corporate claim or any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine as defined by the laws of the State of Delaware, including, but not limited to: (i) any derivative
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action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders; or (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware).
(b) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933 or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended) shall be the federal district court for the District of Delaware (or, if such court does not have jurisdiction over such action, any other federal district court of the United States); provided, however, that if the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.1 (b) are, or the application of such provisions to any person or entity or any circumstance is, illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933 or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended) shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.1 shall not apply to any action seeking to enforce any liability, obligation or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended).
(d) To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 10.1.
Section 10.2 Severability. If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Peter Haskopoulos |
|
Name: | Peter Haskopoulos | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit 3.2
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
HYZON MOTORS INC.
Stockholders
Section 1.1 Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business shall be held at such date, time and place (a) either within or without the State of Delaware, and/or (b) by means of remote communication, in each case, as may be determined by the board of directors (the Board) of Hyzon Motors Inc. (the Corporation) from time to time.
Section 1.2 Special Meetings.
(a) A special meeting of stockholders (i) may be called at any time by the Board, the chairperson of the Board (the Chairperson), the chief executive officer of the Corporation (the CEO), to be held at such date, time and place (A) either within or without the State of Delaware, and/or (B) by means of remote communication, in each case, as may be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting of stockholders, a notice of the meeting, which may be in writing, shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting of stockholders, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders, and, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting of stockholders is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting of stockholders to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.4 Adjournments and Postponements.
(a) Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned or recessed from time to time for any reason, whether or not a quorum is present, by the Board, the Chairperson, or the presiding person of a meeting of stockholders, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned or recessed meeting of stockholders if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting of stockholders at which the adjournment or recess is taken. At the adjourned or recessed meeting of stockholders, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting of stockholders. If the adjournment or recess is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment the Board fixes a new record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned or recessed meeting of stockholders, a notice of the adjourned or recessed meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record as of the new record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the adjourned or recessed meeting of stockholders under Section 1.3.
(b) In addition, subject to applicable law, any meeting of stockholders may be postponed by the Board at any time before such meeting has been convened. Notice of the postponed meeting of stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 1.5 Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (as amended, restated, amended and restated, or otherwise modified, the Certificate of Incorporation) or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on a matter at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of the foregoing, where a separate vote by class or classes is required for any matter, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Two or more classes or series of capital stock shall be considered a single class if the holders thereof are entitled to vote together as a single class at the meeting. In the absence of a quorum of the holders of any class of capital stock entitled to vote on a matter, the Board, the Chairperson, or the presiding person of the meeting may on his or her own motion adjourn, recess or postpone the meeting from time to time in the manner provided by Section 1.4 until a quorum of such class shall be so present and represented without the approval of the stockholders who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote.
Section 1.6 Organization.
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson, or in the absence of the Chairperson by the CEO, or in the absence of the CEO, by any officer or director designated by the Chairperson. The secretary of the Corporation (the Secretary), or in the absence of the Secretary an assistant secretary of the Corporation (an Assistant Secretary), shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary, any officer or director designated by the Chairperson shall act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the presiding person of the meeting. The presiding person of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (i) establishing procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, (ii) establishing limitations on the time allotted for questions or comments, (iii) establishing restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof, (iv) establishing limitations on attendance and participation at the meeting to stockholders of record, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the presiding person of the meeting may determine, (v) establishing the opening and closing of the voting polls, for each item on which a vote is to be taken, (vi) determining and declaring that a matter, business or nomination was not properly brought before the meeting, (vii) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting rules, regulations and procedures as set forth by the presiding person of the meeting, (viii) concluding the meeting or adjourning or recessing the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date or time and at a place and (ix) restricting the use of audio/video recording devices and cell phones at the meeting.
Section 1.7 Inspectors. Prior to any meeting of stockholders, the Board, the Chairperson, the CEO or the Secretary shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting and make a written report thereof and may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at the meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. The inspectors shall ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, count all votes and ballots, determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons to assist them in the performance of their duties. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxy or vote, nor any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted therewith, any information provided by a stockholder who submits a proxy by electronic transmission from which it can be determined that the proxy was authorized by the stockholder, any written ballot or, if authorized by the Board, a ballot submitted by electronic transmission together with any information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder, any information provided in a record of a vote if such vote was taken at the meeting by means of remote communication along with any information used to verify that any person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder, ballots and the regular
books and records of the Corporation, and they may also consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for such purpose, they shall, at the time they make their certification, specify the precise information considered by them, including the person from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 1.8 Voting; Proxies.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question.
(b) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power, regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
(c) Directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by holders of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and, subject to the last sentence of this Section 1.8, entitled to vote on the election of directors; provided that if, as of the tenth day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast. In all other matters, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation or any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its capital stock, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Where a separate vote by class or classes is required, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares cast of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class or classes, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. For purposes of these By-laws, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast for a directors election exceeds the number of votes cast against that directors election (with abstentions and broker non-votes (or other shares of capital stock of the Corporation similarly not entitled to vote) not counted as a vote cast either for or against that directors election).
Section 1.9 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 1.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall prepare and make available, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing in this Section 1.10 shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held by
means of remote communication, then such list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
Section 1.11 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
(a) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders must be effected at a duly called meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Section 1.12 Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations of Directors.
(a) The matters to be considered and brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be limited to only such matters as shall be brought properly in a timely manner before such meeting in compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.2 and this Section 1.12, as applicable. This Section 1.12 sets forth the exclusive means for a stockholder to nominate persons for election to the Board at an annual or special meeting of stockholders other than nominations properly brought pursuant to Section 1.13 or to propose business to be considered at an meeting of stockholders (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8).
(b) For any business or nomination of persons for election to the Board to be properly brought before any meeting of stockholders, subject to the following sentence, the matter or nomination, as applicable, must be (A) specified in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, or (B) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board. For (1) any business to be properly brought before any meeting of stockholders or (2) any nomination of persons for election to the Board to be properly brought before any annual or special meeting of stockholders (other than pursuant to Section 1.13), in each case, by or at the direction of a Proposing Stockholder, (x) any such proposal and nomination, as applicable, must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action, (y) such Proposing Stockholder must deliver notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary, and (z) such Proposing Stockholder must be (I) a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.12, on the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to vote at such annual or special meeting of stockholders and at the time of such annual or special meeting of stockholders, and (II) entitled to vote at the annual or special meeting of stockholders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders by a stockholder only if the Board has determined that directors are to be elected at such special meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, stockholders may not nominate persons for election to the Board at any special meeting of stockholders.
(c) For business and nominations of persons for election to the Board to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder in a timely manner, a stockholders notice must be received in accordance with an Acceptable Delivery Method
(A) in the case of the annual meeting, not earlier than the 120th day, and not later than the 90th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than 30 days earlier or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment or recess) by more than 60 days later than such anniversary date, or, if the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, such stockholders notice must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of (1) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and (2) the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation; and (B) in the case of any special meeting, not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the later of (1) the 90th day prior to such special meeting and (2) the tenth day following the day on which such public disclosure is first made.
(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth in writing, all Stockholder Information, Proposal Information (in the event of a stockholder proposal proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders), Nominee Information (in the event of a nomination of a person for election to the Board at an annual meeting of stockholders), and such other information regarding each matter of business to be proposed, each proposed nominee, each Proposing Stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitations of proxies for such business or nomination, or is otherwise required pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (or pursuant to any law or statute replacing such section) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; provided that such notice shall not be required to contain any information already provided by such stockholder to the Secretary pursuant to Section 1.2(b).
(e) Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the Board, the Chairperson, or other person presiding at a stockholder meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine in good faith whether any business or nomination proposed to be brought before the meeting was properly brought before the meeting in a timely manner in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12, and (B) if any proposed business or nomination was not brought in compliance with this Section 1.12, to declare that such proposal or nomination, as applicable, is defective and shall be disregarded. In no event shall any adjournment, recess or postponement of a stockholder meeting (whether or not already publicly noticed) or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice pursuant to this Section 1.12.
(f) In the event that any information or communications provided by any Proposing Stockholder or any proposed nominee to the Corporation or its stockholders ceases to be true and correct in any respect or omits a fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Proposing Stockholder and such proposed nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering
such misstatement, omission or failure) of any such failure or inaccuracy or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to make such information or communication true and correct.
(g) Each Proposing Stockholder providing notice under this Section 1.12 shall update such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall continue to be true and correct (A) as of the record date for the meeting and (B) as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting (or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof), and such update shall be received by the Secretary in accordance with an Acceptable Delivery Method not later than five business days after the record date for such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made as of the record date) and not later than five business days prior to the date for such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made as of the date that is ten business days prior to such meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof).
(h) The obligation of a Proposing Stockholder to provide notice pursuant to Section 1.12(f) or an update pursuant to Section 1.12(g) shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by such Proposing Stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines under Section 1.12 or enable or be deemed to permit such Proposing Stockholder who has previously submitted notice under Section 1.12 to amend or update any nomination or proposal (other than solely to cure such deficiency), as applicable, or to submit any new nomination or proposal, including by changing or adding nominees or proposals, as applicable.
(i) Upon written request by the Secretary, the Board or any committee thereof, any Proposing Stockholder or proposed nominee shall provide, within five business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Secretary, the Board or any committee thereof, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to Section 1.12, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such Proposing Stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by such Proposing Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.12 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 1.12.
(j) In addition to the provisions of this Section 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.12; provided, however, that any references in these By-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to stockholder proposals or nominations to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.12.
(k) Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request the inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act; it being understood that a stockholder bringing a matter pursuant to Rule 14a-8 must comply with Rule 14a-8 and Section 1.12, and if applicable, Section 1.2, in each case to the extent consistent with Rule 14a-8. Section 1.12 shall not apply to the election of directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation having a preference over the common stock of the Corporation as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.
(l) Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the presiding person of the meeting, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) giving notice as provided for in this Section 1.12 does not appear in person at such meeting to present the proposed business or the proposed nominee, such matter or proposed nominee, as applicable, shall not be considered at the meeting
Section 1.13 Stockholder Nominations Included in the Corporations Proxy Materials (Proxy Access).
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 1.13, the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement (including its form of proxy) for an annual meeting of stockholders the name of any stockholder nominee for election to the Board submitted pursuant to this Section 1.13 (each, a Stockholder Nominee) provided (i) a timely written notice of such Stockholder Nominee satisfying this Section 1.13 (the Notice) is received by the Corporation by or on behalf of a Proposing Stockholder that, at the time the Notice is delivered, satisfies the ownership and other requirements of this Section 1.13, (ii) the Proposing Stockholder expressly elects in writing at the time of providing the Notice to have its nominee included in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to this Section 1.13 and (iii) the Proposing Stockholder and the Stockholder Nominee otherwise satisfy the requirements of this Section 1.13 and the director qualifications requirements set forth in the Corporations corporate governance guidelines and any other documents setting forth qualifications for directors. This Section 1.13 provides the exclusive means for a stockholders nominee for election to the Board to be included in the Corporations proxy materials.
(b) To be timely, a Proposing Stockholders Notice must be received by the Secretary in accordance with an Acceptable Delivery Method not earlier than the 150th day and not later than the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than 30 days earlier or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment or recess) by more than 60 days later than such anniversary date, or, if the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the Notice must be so received not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of (i) the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and (ii) the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation.
(c) In addition to including the name of the Stockholder Nominee in the Corporations proxy statement for the annual meeting, the Corporation also shall include (i) the information concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Proposing Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) if the Proposing Stockholder so elects, a Statement (defined below) . Nothing in this Section 1.13 shall limit the Corporations ability to solicit against and include in its proxy statement its own statements relating to any Stockholder Nominee.
(d) The number of Stockholder Nominees shall not exceed the greater of (i) two or (ii) 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which notice of a nomination may be received pursuant to this Section 1.13 (the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date) or, if such number is not a whole number, the closest whole number below 20% (such greater number, the Permitted Number); provided, however, that the Permitted Number shall be reduced by (A) the number of director candidates who will be included in the Corporations proxy materials with respect to the annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, by such stockholder or group of stockholders, from the Corporation), (B) the number of directors in office as of the nomination deadline who were included in the Corporations proxy statement as a Stockholder Nominee for any of the two preceding annual meetings and whose re-election at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board, (C) the number of Stockholder Nominees whom the Board itself decides to nominate for election at such annual meeting (each, a Board Nominee), (D) the number of Stockholder Nominees who cease to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Section 1.13, (E) the number of Stockholder Nominees whose nomination is withdrawn by the Proposing Stockholder or who become unwilling to serve on the Board and (F) the number of director candidates for which the Corporation shall have received one or more notices that a stockholder intends to nominate director candidates at the annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 1.12. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board at any time after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date and before the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the Board in connection therewith, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.
(e) If any Proposing Stockholder intends to nominate more than one Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 1.13, such Proposing Stockholder shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order in which such Proposing Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporations proxy materials in the event that the total number of
Stockholder Nominees submitted by the Proposing Stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.13 exceeds the Permitted Number. If the number of Stockholder Nominees pursuant to this Section 1.13 for any annual meeting of stockholders exceeds the Permitted Number, then the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee for each Proposing Stockholder that satisfies the requirements of this Section 1.13 will be selected for inclusion in the proxy statement until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of the ownership position as disclosed in each such Proposing Stockholders Notice. If the Permitted Number is not reached after the highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 1.13 from each Proposing Stockholder has been selected, then the next highest ranking Stockholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 1.13 from each Proposing Stockholder will be selected for inclusion in the Corporations proxy materials, and this process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached.
(f) A Proposing Stockholder must have owned (as defined below) continuously for at least three years a number of shares that represents 3% or more of the Corporations outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors (the Required Shares) as of (i) the date the Notice is received by the Corporation in accordance with this Section 1.13, (ii) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (iii) the date of the annual meeting (each such three year period, a Holding Period). For purposes of satisfying the ownership requirement under this Section 1.13, the shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned by one or more stockholders, or by the person or persons who own shares of the Corporations capital stock and on whose behalf any stockholder is acting, may be aggregated, provided that (i) the number of stockholders and other persons whose ownership of shares is aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed 20, (ii) each stockholder or other person whose shares are aggregated shall have held such shares continuously for the Holding Periods and (iii) a group of two or more funds that are (A) under common management and investment control, (B) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer (or by a group of related employers that are under common control) or (C) a group of investment companies, as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one stockholder or person for this purpose; provided, further, that if a Proposing Stockholder consists of or is proposed to consist of a permitted group of stockholders, then (1) only the least number of shares owned by a given stockholder at any time during the Holding Periods may be counted toward the Required Shares, and (2) the condition in this Section 1.13(f) regarding continued ownership shall be considered satisfied only if each stockholder that is a member of such group of stockholders continues to own through the date of the annual meeting no less than the least number of shares owned by such stockholder at any time during the Holding Periods. Whenever a Proposing Stockholder consists of a group of stockholders and/or other persons, any and all requirements and obligations for a Proposing Stockholder set forth in this Section 1.13 must be satisfied by and as to each such stockholder or other person, except that shares may be aggregated to meet the Required Shares as provided in this Section 1.13.
With respect to any one particular annual meeting, no stockholder or other person may be a member of more than one group of persons constituting a Proposing Stockholder under this Section 1.13, and if any Proposing Stockholder appears as a member of more than one group, it shall be deemed to be a member of the group that has the largest ownership position as reflected in the Notice. Should any stockholder cease to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.13, as determined by the Board in good faith, or withdraw from a group of Proposing Stockholders at any time prior to the annual meeting of stockholders, the group of Proposing Stockholders shall only be deemed to own the shares held by the remaining members of the group.
(g) For purposes of these By-laws, a stockholder shall be deemed to own only those outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation as to which the person possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares (A) purchased or sold by such stockholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (B) borrowed by such stockholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such person or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, (C) sold short by such stockholder or any of its affiliates or (D) subject to any Derivative Instrument entered into by such stockholder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporations capital stock, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such persons or affiliates full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares and/or (2) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such stockholder or affiliate. A person shall own shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the person retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. The terms owned, owning and other variations of the word own shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation are owned for these purposes shall be determined by the Board in good faith
(h) A persons ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which (i) the person has loaned such shares, provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on five business days notice and provides a representation that it will promptly recall, and promptly recalls, such loaned shares upon being notified that any of its Stockholder Nominees will be included in the Corporations proxy statement, or (ii) the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the person.
(i) A Proposing Stockholder must provide with its Notice the following in writing to the Secretary:
(i) one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite Holding Period) verifying that, as of the date the Notice is received by the Corporation, the Proposing Stockholder owns, and has owned continuously for the three-year period prior to the date of such Notice, the Required Shares, and the Proposing Stockholders agreement to provide within five business days after the record date for the annual meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying the Proposing Stockholders continuous ownership of the Required Shares during the Holding Periods;
(ii) documentation satisfactory to the Corporation demonstrating that a group of funds qualifies to be treated as one stockholder or person for purposes of this Section 1.13, if applicable;
(iii) a representation and/or undertaking, as applicable, that the Proposing Stockholder (including each member of any group of stockholders and/or persons that together is a Proposing Stockholder hereunder):
(A) shall continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in this Section 1.13 through the date of the annual meeting and own the Required Shares for at least one year following the annual meeting;
(B) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and does not presently have such intent;
(C) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominees being nominated pursuant to this Section 1.13;
(D) has not and will not engage in a solicitation and will not be a participant in another persons solicitation within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) with respect to the annual meeting, other than with respect to a Stockholder Nominee or any Board Nominee;
(E) has not and will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation;
(F) has provided and will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects, as applicable and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
(G) has complied and will comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to solicitations and the use, if any, of soliciting material in connection with the annual meeting;
(iv) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act;
(v) in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders that together is a Proposing Stockholder, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to receive communications, notices and inquiries from the Corporation and to act on behalf of all members of the Proposing Stockholder group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination;
(vi) all Stockholder Information and Nominee Information, as applicable;
(vii) an undertaking that the Proposing Stockholder agrees to:
(A) assume all liability stemming from any action, suit or proceeding concerning any actual or alleged legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication by the Proposing Stockholder or any of her, his or its Stockholder Nominees with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election of directors, including, without limitation, the notice given pursuant to this Section 1.13;
(B) indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other group members, in the case of a group member) the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorneys fees) incurred in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of or in connection with (1) the Proposing Stockholders nomination and/or efforts to elect its Stockholder Nominees pursuant to this Section 1.13 or (2) a failure or alleged failure of the Proposing Stockholder or any of its Stockholder Nominees to comply with, or any breach or alleged breach of, its or their obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 1.13; and
(C) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation or other communication with the Corporations stockholders relating to the annual meeting at which the Stockholder Nominee will be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(j) The Proposing Stockholder may include with its Notice a written statement for inclusion in the Corporations proxy statement for the annual meeting, not to exceed 500 words per Stockholder Nominee, in support of each Stockholder Nominees candidacy (the Statement).
(k) At the reasonable request of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, such Stockholder Nominee shall meet with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to discuss matters relating to the nomination of such Stockholder Nominee to the Board, including the information provided by such Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation in connection with his or her nomination and such Stockholder Nominees eligibility to serve as a member of the Board.
(l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.13, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement any Stockholder Nominee and any information concerning such Stockholder Nominee (including a Proposing Stockholders Statement) and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation), and the Proposing Stockholder may not, after the last day on which a Notice would be timely, cure in any way any defect preventing the nomination of such Stockholder Nominee, if:
(i) the Corporation receives a notice pursuant to Section 1.12 that a stockholder intends to nominate a candidate for director at the annual meeting, whether or not such notice is subsequently withdrawn or made the subject of a settlement with the Corporation;
(ii) the Proposing Stockholder or such Stockholder Nominee ceases to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.13, the Proposing Stockholder withdraws its nomination, such Stockholder Nominee becomes unwilling or unavailable to serve on the Board;
(iii) the Board determines that such Stockholder Nominees nomination or election to the Board would result in the Corporation violating or failing to be in compliance with these By-laws or the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable state or federal law or the rules of any stock exchange on which any Corporation Securities are traded;
(iv) Such Stockholder Nominee would not be independent under the Independence Standards;
(v) such Stockholder Nominee was nominated for election to the Board pursuant to Section 1.12 or this Section 1.13 at one of the Corporations two preceding annual meetings of stockholders and either withdrew or became ineligible or received a vote of less than 25% of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for such Stockholder Nominee;
(vi) such Stockholder Nominee has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a Competitor;
(vii) such Stockholder Nominee is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act;
(viii) such Stockholder Nominee is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten years; or
(ix) the Board determines that any of the information provided by the Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee in the Notice or otherwise ceases to be true and accurate in all respects (or omits a fact necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading) or any violation or breach occurs of the obligations, agreements, representations or warranties of the Proposing Stockholder or such Stockholder Nominee under this Section 1.13.
(m) If any nomination is disregarded pursuant to this Section 1.13, the Corporation may communicate to its stockholders, including without limitation by amending or supplementing its proxy statement or ballot or form of proxy, that a Stockholder Nominee will not be included as a nominee in the proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy and will not be voted on at the meeting.
(n) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.13, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement, or may supplement or correct, any information, including all or any portion of the Statement or any other statement in support of a Stockholder Nominee included in the Notice, if the Board determines that:
(i) such information directly or indirectly impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to, any person; or
(ii) the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would otherwise violate the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other applicable law, rule or regulation.
(o) For the avoidance of doubt, the information and documents required by this Section 1.13 to be provided by the Proposing Stockholder shall be: (i) provided with respect to and executed by each group member, in the case of information applicable to group members; and (ii) provided with respect to the persons specified in Instruction 1 to Items 6(c) and (d) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) in the case of a Proposing Stockholder or group member that is an entity. The Notice shall be deemed submitted on the date on which all the information and documents referred to in this Section 1.13 (other than such information and documents contemplated to be provided after the date the Notice is provided) have been received by the Secretary.
(p) Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the Board, the Chairperson, or other person presiding at a stockholder meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine in good faith
whether any nomination proposed to be included in the Corporations proxy materials was properly brought before the meeting in a timely manner in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13, and (B) if any proposed nomination was not brought in compliance with this Section 1.13, to declare that such nomination is defective and shall be disregarded. In no event shall any adjournment, recess or postponement of a stockholder meeting (whether or not already publicly noticed) or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice pursuant to this Section 1.13.
(q) In the event that any information or communications provided by the Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation or its stockholders ceases to be true and correct in any respect or omits a fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering such misstatement, omission or failure) of any such failure or inaccuracy or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to make such information or communication true and correct.
(r) A Proposing Stockholder providing notice under this Section 1.13 shall update such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall continue to be true and correct (A) as of the record date for the meeting and (B) as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting (or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof), and such update shall be received by the Secretary in accordance with an Acceptable Delivery Method not later than five business days after the record date for such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made as of the record date) and not later than five business days prior to the date for such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made as of the date that is ten business days prior to such meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof).
(s) The obligation of a Proposing Stockholder to provide notice pursuant to Section 1.13(q) or an update pursuant to Section 1.13(r) shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a Proposing Stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines under this Section 1.13 or enable or be deemed to permit a Proposing Stockholder who has previously submitted notice under this Section 1.13 to amend or update any nomination (other than solely to cure such deficiency) or to submit any new nomination, including by changing or adding nominees.
(t) Upon written request by the Secretary, the Board or any committee thereof, any Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee shall provide, within five business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Secretary, the Board, or any committee thereof, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the Proposing Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.13, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the
Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the Proposing Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.13 as of an earlier date. If a Proposing Stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 1.13.
(u) In addition to the provisions of this Section 1.13, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.13; provided, however, that any references in these By-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to stockholder proposals or nominations to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.13.
(v) Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the presiding person of the meeting, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) giving notice as provided for in this Section 1.13 does not appear in person at such meeting to present the Stockholder Nominee, such Stockholder Nominee shall not be considered at the meeting.
ARTICLE II
Board of Directors
Section 2.1 Powers; Qualifications. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2.2 Number of Directors. The Board shall consist of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by the Board.
Section 2.3 Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Board, the Chairperson, the CEO or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, in which case the resignation shall be effective at such later date or upon the happening of such event or events, and unless otherwise specified therein, no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective.
Section 2.4 Removal. Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Whenever the holders of any class or series of stock are entitled to elect one or more directors by the Certificate of Incorporation, the
provisions of the preceding sentence shall apply, with to respect to removal without cause of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.
Section 2.5 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the Board for any reason, whether because of death, resignation, disqualification or any other reason, may only be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. A director elected to fill a newly created directorship or a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders, and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by the sole remaining director so elected.
Section 2.6 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such date, time and place (a) either within or without the State of Delaware, and/or (b) by means of remote communication, as may be determined from time to time by the Board or the Chairperson.
Section 2.7 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson, the CEO, or by any two directors and shall be held at such place (a) either within or without the State of Delaware, and/or (b) by means of remote communication, on such date, and at such time as the Chairperson, the CEO or the directors calling the meeting shall fix.
Section 2.8 Notice and Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held at the principal office of the Corporation, or at any other place as is stated in the notice of such meeting. Notice of any special meeting, and except as the Board may otherwise determine by resolution, notice of any regular meeting, will be (a) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (b) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid, or (c) sent by electronic mail directed to each director at that directors address, telephone number or electronic mail address, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporations records at least 24 hours before the time at which the meeting is to commence; provided, however, that if the Chairperson or the CEO determines that it is otherwise necessary or advisable to hold the meeting sooner, the Chairperson or the CEO may prescribe a shorter notice to be given. Any business may be transacted and any corporate action may be taken at any regular or special meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present, whether or not the business or proposed action is stated in the notice of that meeting, unless special notice of such business or proposed action is required by statute.
Section 2.9 Participation in Meetings by Electronic Means Permitted. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the
Board or of such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone, electronic or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.10 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board a majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws shall require a vote of a greater number. In case at any meeting of the Board a quorum shall not be present, the members of the Board present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.
Section 2.11 Organization. Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson, or in the absence of the Chairperson, the CEO, or in the absence of the CEO, the lead independent director of the Board (the Lead Independent Director), or in the absence of the Lead Independent Director, by a presiding person chosen at the meeting. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary, the presiding person of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.12 Action by Directors Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 2.13 Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1 Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these By-laws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of
the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval, (b) adopting, amending or repealing these By-laws or (c) removing or indemnifying directors.
Section 3.2 Committee Rules. Unless the Board otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may adopt, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of a provision by the Board or a provision in the rules of such committee to the contrary, a majority of the directors then serving on such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at the time of such vote if a quorum is then present or the unanimous written consent of all members thereof shall be the act of such committee, any one or more members of such committee may participate in a meeting of such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, and in other respects each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Officers; Election. From time to time, the Board shall elect the CEO and a Secretary, and it may, if it so determines, elect from among its members a Chairperson and a Lead Independent Director. The Board may also elect one or more vice presidents (Vice Presidents), one or more assistant secretaries (Assistant Secretaries), a treasurer (Treasurer) or one or more assistant treasurers (Assistant Treasurers) or such other officers of the Corporation as the Board may deem desirable and may give any of them such further designations or alternate titles as it considers desirable. Any number of offices of the Corporation may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws provide otherwise.
Section 4.2 Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board electing any officer, each such officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board, the CEO, the Chairperson, or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, in which case it shall be effective at such later date or upon the happening of such event or events, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. The Board may remove any officer with or without cause at any time. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any,
with the Corporation, and the election of an officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by the Board at any regular or special meeting.
Section 4.3. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present and shall have and may exercise such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board or as may be provided by law.
Section 4.3 CEO. In the absence of the Chairperson, the CEO shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. The CEO shall be the chief executive officer and shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Corporation and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of CEO of a corporation and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board or as may be provided by law.
Section 4.4 Lead Independent Director. A majority of the independent directors of the Board may elect from among the independent directors of the Board a Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director may be removed as a Lead Independent Director by vote of a majority of the independent directors of the Board. The Lead Independent Director shall have such duties and authority as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time. For purposes of this by-law, an independent director is a director that is independent under the Independence Standards.
Section 4.5 Vice Presidents. The Vice President or Vice Presidents, at the request or in the absence of the President or during the Presidents inability to act, shall perform the duties of the CEO, and when so acting shall have the powers of the CEO. If there be more than one Vice President, the Board may determine which one or more of the Vice Presidents shall perform any of such duties; or if such determination is not made by the Board, the President may make such determination; otherwise any of the Vice Presidents may perform any of such duties. The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her or them by the Board or the President or as may be provided by law.
Section 4.6 Secretary. The Secretary shall have the duty to record the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board and any committees in a book to be kept for that purpose, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws or as required by law, shall be custodian of the records of the Corporation, may affix the corporate seal to any document the execution of which, on behalf of the Corporation, is duly authorized, and when so affixed may attest the same, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of secretary of a corporation and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board or the President or as may be provided by law.
Section 4.7 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Corporation and shall deposit
or cause to be deposited, in the name of the Corporation, all moneys or other valuable effects in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall, from time to time, be selected by or under authority of the Board. If required by the Board, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties, with such surety or sureties as the Board may determine. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements in books of the Corporation, shall render to the President and to the Board, whenever requested, an account of the financial condition of the Corporation, and, in general, shall perform all the duties incident to the office of treasurer of a corporation and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board or the President or as may be provided by law.
Section 4.8 Other Officers. The other officers, if any, of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as shall be stated in a resolution of the Board which is not inconsistent with these By-laws and, to the extent not so stated, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board. The Board may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1 Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporations stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate theretofore issued until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution or resolutions by the Board, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation (it being understood that each of the Chairperson, the CEO, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer shall be an authorized officer for such purpose), representing the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation registered in certificate form owned by such holder. The signatures of the officers upon a certificate may be by electronic signature as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law. If such certificate is manually signed by one officer or manually countersigned by a transfer agent or by a registrar, any other signature on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Corporation may not issue stock certificates in bearer form. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided by law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required by law to be set forth or stated on certificates or a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
Section 5.2 Transfers of Shares. Shares represented by certificates of the Corporation shall be transferable on the record of stockholders upon presentation to the Corporation or a transfer agent of a certificate or certificates representing the shares requested to be transferred, with proper endorsement on the certificate or on a separate accompanying document, together with such evidence of the payment of transfer taxes and compliance with other provisions of law as the Corporation or its transfer agent may require.
Section 5.3 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owners legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous
Section 6.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board.
Section 6.2 Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal; alter such seal at pleasure, and authorize it to be used by causing it or a reproduction of such seal to be affixed or impressed or reproduced in any other manner
Section 6.3 Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Whenever notice is required to be given by law or under any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws.
Section 6.4 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 6.4, the Corporation shall indemnify to the full extent permitted by Delaware law any person made or threatened to be made a party or otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding (a Proceeding) by reason of the fact that such person or such persons testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, serves or served at the request of the Corporation at any corporation, limited liability company, public limited company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, fund or other enterprise as a director, officer, employee or agent (each, an Indemnitee) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and other losses, in each case, reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided that the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any such Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Indemnitee, other than any Permitted Counterclaims, unless such Proceeding was authorized in a resolution adopted by the Board.
(b) Expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding shall be promptly paid or reimbursed by the Corporation, upon receipt of a written request therefor and receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking of such Indemnitee to repay such Expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation or, where indemnification is granted, to the extent the Expenses so advanced or reimbursed exceed the amount to which such Indemnitee is entitled; provided that such Indemnitee shall cooperate in good faith with any request by the Corporation that common counsel be utilized by the parties to an action or proceeding who are similarly situated unless to do so would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between or among such parties. An Indemnitees obligation to reimburse the Corporation shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
(c) The Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee or advance or reimburse an Indemnitees Expenses in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):
(i) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such Indemnitee under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;
(ii) for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or
(iii) relating to violations of Federal or state insider trading laws,
unless, in each case, such Indemnitee has been successful on the merits, received the written consent to incur the Expense or settled the case with the written consent of the Corporation, in which case the Corporation shall indemnify and reimburse the Expenses of such Indemnitee.
(d) No claim for indemnification shall be paid by the Corporation unless the Corporation has determined that such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determinations shall be made by (i) a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the Proceeding for which indemnification is sought, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by a majority vote of the stockholders. If such determination is not made by the Corporation within 60 days of a demand by such Indemnitee for indemnification, such Indemnitee shall be deemed to have met such standard. If it is so determined that an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to such Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. An Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation such documentation and information as is reasonably available to such Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that an Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, such Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
(e) If a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Section 6.4 is not paid in full within 90 days after receipt by the Corporation of the written request therefor, an Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall indemnify such Indemnitee against any and all Expenses that are incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any action for
indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Corporation under this Section 6.4(e), to the extent such Indemnitee is successful in such action, and to the extent not prohibited by applicable law. In any such suit, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving that such Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
(f) An Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Corporation in writing upon the sooner of (i) becoming aware of a Proceeding where indemnification or the advance payment or reimbursement of Expenses may be sought or (ii) being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any matter which may be subject to indemnification or the advance payment or reimbursement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Corporation shall not relieve the Corporation of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 6.4, except to the extent the Corporation is actually and materially prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure.
(g) As a condition to indemnification or the advance payment or reimbursement of Expenses, any demand for payment by an Indemnitee hereunder shall be in writing and shall provide reasonable accounting for the Expenses to be paid by the Corporation.
(h) All rights conferred to an Indemnitee in this Section 6.4, as to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and otherwise, shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which such Indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of Expenses may be entitled or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or the Board or otherwise. No amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws shall impair or otherwise adversely affect any rights of indemnification, advancement of Expenses or other rights of any Indemnitee conferred to such Indemnitee in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws arising at any time with respect to events or omissions occurring prior to such amendment.
(i) The Corporation may maintain insurance to protect itself and any Indemnitee against any Expenses, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and other losses, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such Indemnitee against such Expenses, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and other losses under applicable law.
(j) For the purposes of this Section 6.4, (i) the term Corporation shall include any predecessor of the Corporation and any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed by the Corporation in a consolidation or merger; (ii) at the request of the Corporation shall include service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries, and action by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan which such person reasonably believes to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of such plan shall be deemed to be action not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; and (iii) the term Expenses shall include all out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, including accountants and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily or actually incurred in prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, or investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, or responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide discovery in a Proceeding (including an Indemnitees counterclaims that directly respond to and negate the affirmative claim made against Indemnitee (Permitted Counterclaims) in such Proceeding, but excluding the costs of any of Indemnitees counterclaims other than Permitted Counterclaims).
(k) Any Proceeding regarding indemnification or advance payment or reimbursement of Expenses arising out of these By-laws or otherwise shall only be brought and heard in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. In the event of any payment under this Section 6.4, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee (under any insurance policy or otherwise), who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Corporation to effectively bring suit to enforce such rights. Except as required by law or as otherwise becomes public, an Indemnitee will keep confidential any information that arises in connection with this Section 6.4, including but not limited to, claims for indemnification or the advance payment or reimbursement of Expenses, amounts paid or payable under this Section 6.4 and any communications between the parties.
(l) In case any provision in this Section 6.4 shall be determined at any time to be unenforceable in any respect, the other provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the affected provision shall be given the fullest possible enforcement in the circumstances, it being the intention of the Corporation to afford indemnification and advancement of Expenses to its directors and officers, acting in such capacities or in the other capacities mentioned herein, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Section 6.5 Amendment of By-laws.
(a) By the Stockholders. Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new By-laws enacted, (i) at any special meeting of the stockholders if duly called for that purpose (provided that in the notice of such special meeting, notice of such purpose shall be given), or (ii) at any annual meeting, in each case, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of all the then outstanding capital stock of the Corporation, voting together as a single class.
(b) By the Board. Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new By-laws enacted, by the Board at any meeting or by written consent of the Board.
ARTICLE VII
Section 7.1 Exclusive Forum.
(a) Subject to Section 7.1(b), unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any internal or intra-corporate claim or any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine as defined by the laws of the State of Delaware, including, but not limited to: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders; or (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), or as to which the Delaware General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware).
(b) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended) shall be the federal district court for the District of Delaware (or if such court does not have jurisdiction over such action, any other federal district court of the United States); provided, however, that if the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1(b) are, or the application of such provisions to any person or entity or any circumstance is, illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended) shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these By-laws, the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1 shall not apply to any action seeking to enforce any liability, obligation or duty created by the Exchange Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended).
(d) To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7.1.
ARTICLE VIII
Definitions.
As used in this By-laws, the following terms have the meanings specified in this Article VIII.
Acceptable Delivery Method shall mean delivery in writing to the Secretary (i) by electronic mail (but only if confirmation of receipt of such e-mail is received; provided that any communication or confirmation automatically generated by electronic means (such as out-of-office replies) shall not constitute such confirmation of receipt) or (ii) by registered mail addressed to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, return receipt requested.
affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
associate has the meaning set forth Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
beneficially owned has the meaning provided in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.
Competitor means any entity that provides products or services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products produced or services provided by the Corporation or any affiliate thereof.
Corporation Securities means any capital stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof.
Derivative Instrument means any derivative instruments, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or other rights with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any Corporation Securities or the voting rights thereof or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any Corporation Securities or any other contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any Corporation Securities, in each case, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying Corporation Security.
Nominee Information means as to each person whom the Proposing Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as director pursuant to Section 1.12 or Section 1.13 at the annual or special meeting, as applicable:
(a) the name, age, business address and residence address of such proposed nominee;
(b) the principal occupation or employment of such proposed nominee;
(c) the class and series and number of Corporation Securities which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned or of record by such proposed nominee, and the dates such Corporation Securities were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and evidence of such beneficial or record ownership, and any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests owned, held or entered into by such proposed nominee;
(d) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee, and such other matters as reasonably determined by the Board or any committee thereof, completed by the proposed nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form the Proposing Stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to the Proposing Stockholder within ten days of receiving such request);
(e) such proposed nominees executed written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee;
(f) such proposed nominees written representation and agreement in the form required by the Corporation (which form the Proposing Stockholder shall request in writing from the Secretary and which the Secretary shall provide to such Proposing Stockholder within ten days of receiving such request) that:
(i) such proposed nominee is not and will not become party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed to the Board or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominees ability to comply, if elected as a director, with such persons fiduciary duties under applicable law;
(ii) such proposed nominee is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Board;
(iii) such proposed nominee would, if elected as a director, comply with applicable state or federal law or the rules of any stock exchange on which any Corporation Securities are traded, all of the Corporations corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines applicable generally to the Corporations directors and applicable fiduciary duties under state law and, if elected as a director, such person would be in compliance with any such policies and guidelines that have been publicly disclosed;
(iv) such proposed nominee intends to serve a full term if elected as a director of the Corporation;
(v) such proposed nominee will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct and that do not and will not omit to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(vi) such proposed nominee does not have any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation that would cause such person to be considered not independent pursuant to the Corporations corporate governance guidelines as most recently published on its website and otherwise qualifies as independent under the rules and listing standards of the primary stock exchange upon which the shares of common stock of the Corporation is listed or traded, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporations directors, including those applicable to a directors service on the audit committee, compensation committee and any other committees of the Board (the Independence Standards);
(vii) such proposed nominee is a non-employee director for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule);
(viii) such proposed nominee is an outside director for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision); and
(ix) such proposed nominee is not and has not been subject to any event specified in Rule 506(d)(1) of Regulation D (or any successor rule) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act, without reference to whether the event is material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of such person;
(g) any information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation under the Independence Standards or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee;
(h) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other relationships, between or among such proposed nominee, on the one hand, and the Proposing Stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any Stockholder Associated Person were the registrant for purposes of such rule and the person being nominated were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and
(i) details of any position where such proposed nominee has served as an officer or director of any Competitor within the three years preceding the submission of the stockholder notice.
Proposing Stockholder means any stockholder proposing matters to be brought before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate a person to the Board pursuant to Section 1.12 and Section 1.13.
Proposal Information means as to any business (other than nomination of persons for election to the Board) the Proposing Stockholder proposes to bring before a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 1.12:
(a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting of stockholders;
(b) the text of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend any incorporation document, including, but not limited to, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the language of the proposed amendment);
(c) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting of stockholders (including the text of any reasons for the proposed business that will be disclosed in any proxy statement or supplement thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission); and
(d) a complete and accurate description of any material interest in such business of the Proposing Stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Persons, individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the Proposing Stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Persons therefrom.
Requesting Stockholder means any stockholder of record and/or any beneficial owner that makes a Special Meeting Request or Written Consent Request, as the case may be.
Stockholder Associated Person shall mean (a) any person who is a member of a group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) with or otherwise acting in concert with the Proposing Stockholder, (b) any beneficial owner of shares of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned or of record by the Proposing Stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary), (c) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Proposing Stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person and beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, shares of capital stock of the Corporation and (d) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A, or any successor instructions) with the Proposing Stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person in respect of any proposals or nominations, as applicable.
Stockholder Information means as to any Proposing Stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person:
(a) whether such Proposing Stockholder is providing the notice at the request of a beneficial holder of any Corporation Securities;
(b) the name and record address of such Proposing Stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person (including, if applicable, as they appear on the Corporations books and records);
(c) the class and series and number of shares of each class and series of Corporation Securities which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned or of record by such Proposing Stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and the dates such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and evidence of such beneficial or record ownership;
(d) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Corporation Securities beneficially owned but not of record by such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person;
(e) a complete and accurate description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding pursuant to which such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has received any financial assistance, funding or other consideration from any other person with respect to the investment by such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person;
(f) a complete and accurate description of all Derivative Instruments or Short Interests owned, held or entered into by such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person;
(g) any rights to dividends on any Corporation Securities beneficially owned or of record by such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any;
(h) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any Competitor held or entered into by such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person;
(i) any interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Corporation Securities where such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;
(j) any proportionate interest in any Corporation Securities, Derivative Instruments or Short Interests held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited
partnership or similar entity in which such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (i) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, or (ii) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly beneficially, owns an interest in the manager or managing member of a limited liability company or similar entity;
(k) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among (i) the Proposing Stockholder and any of the Stockholder Associated Persons or (ii) the Proposing Stockholder or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons and any other person or entity (naming each such person or entity) in connection with or related to the proposal of business or nomination of a director for election, including without limitation (A) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Stockholder or Stockholder Associated Persons has the right to vote any Corporation Securities; (B) any understanding that the Proposing Stockholder or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons may have reached with any other stockholder (including their names) with respect to how each such stockholder will vote any Corporation Securities at any stockholder meeting or by written consent or take other action in support of or related to any business proposed or nomination or election of directors, or other action to be taken, by the Proposing Stockholder or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons; and (C) any other agreements that would be required to be disclosed by the Proposing Stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person or any other person or entity pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of a Schedule 13D that would be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person or other person or entity);
(l) a complete and accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such Proposing Stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of any Corporation Securities, Derivative Instruments or Short Interest;
(m) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such Proposing Stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such Proposing Stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;
(n) a summary of any material discussion regarding the business or director nomination to be brought before the meeting between such Proposing Stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Persons, on the one hand, and any other beneficial or record owners of Corporation Securities (including their names), on the other hand, and to the extent known by the Proposing Stockholder, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal of other business;
(o) a complete and accurate description of any pending or to such Proposing Stockholders knowledge, threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a party or participant involving the Corporation or any officer, affiliate or associate of the Corporation;
(p) a representation from the Proposing Stockholder as to whether the Proposing Stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (i) to deliver a proxy statement to and/or form of proxy with holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or nominate or elect a director and/or (i) otherwise to solicit proxies in support of such proposal or nomination or election of a director;
(q) a complete and accurate description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any Corporation Securities, without regard to whether such transaction is required to be reported on a Schedule 13D in accordance with the Exchange Act; and
(r) a representation that such Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, that such Proposing Stockholder intends to vote such capital stock at such meeting, and that such Proposing Stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to bring such business or nominate a person for election as a director, as applicable, before such meeting, and an acknowledgment that if such Proposing Stockholder does not appear to present such proposal or nominate such person at such meeting, the Corporation need not present such proposal or such person for a vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
public disclosure shall be deemed to include a disclosure made in a press release reported by a national news service, in a document filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or in a notice pursuant to the applicable rules of an exchange on which the securities of the Corporation are listed.
qualified representative shall mean a person authorized by a writing executed by a stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at a meeting of stockholders.
Short Interest shall mean any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship (including any repurchase or so called stock borrowing agreement or arrangement) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any Corporation Securities or manage risk with respect to any Corporation Securities, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any Corporation Securities.
Exhibit 4.4
Execution Version
WARRANT AGREEMENT
by and between
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
and
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of July 16, 2021, is by and between Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the Warrant Agent, also referred to herein as the Transfer Agent).
WHEREAS, on February 8, 2021, the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the BCA), by and among the Company, DCRB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (Merger Sub) and Hyzon Motors Inc. (Hyzon), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Hyzon, with Hyzon surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, concurrent with the signing of the BCA, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with ACP Mgmt Corp., a Delaware corporation (Ardour), Ardour Capital Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Financial Advisor) and Hyzon (the Subscription Agreement), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue the Warrants (as defined therein).
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the
Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Warrants.
2.1 Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only.
2.2 Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3 Registration.
2.3.1 Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the Warrant Register) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.
Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.3.2 Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the Registered Holder) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on any physical certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.4 No Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.
2.5 Rights Under Other Documents. The Warrants will be issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, and the Registered Holder is entitled to the rights and benefits set forth in such agreement (as such agreement may be amended, modified or restated in accordance with their terms).
3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1 Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $2.20 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term Warrant Price as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written
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notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants; and provided, further, that, in the event that the Company lowers the Warrant Price of any of the Public Warrants, the Warrant Price shall be lowered on an equivalent basis. For purposes hereof, Public Warrants means, collectively, the redeemable warrants originally issued by the Company as part of the units in the Companys initial public offering, the warrants issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of such initial public offering and any other warrants issued by the Company prior to, substantially contemporaneously with, or otherwise in connection with, the Closing (as defined in the BCA).
3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the Exercise Period) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing , and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (w) the date that is five (5) years after the Closing, (x) the liquidation of the Company, (y) the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.3 hereof, or (z) the Alternative Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the Expiration Date). Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) or the Alternative Redemption Price, in the event of a redemption as set forth in Section 6 hereof (and subject to the terms and conditions thereof), each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants; and provided, further, that, in the event that the Company extends the duration of any of the Public Warrants, the duration of the Warrants shall be extended on an equivalent basis.
3.3 Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1 Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of the Warrant Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and paying in full the Warrant Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, as follows:
(a) in lawful money of the United States, by wire transfer or in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the Warrant Agent;
(b) in the event that the Warrants are to be exercised upon a cashless basis, pursuant to the terms hereof, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Fair Market Value, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b), over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely
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for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b), the Fair Market Value shall mean the reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof; or
(c) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise.
3.3.2 Issuance of Shares of Common Stock on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a certificate for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full and is surrendered to the Company, a countersigned Warrant for the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. The Company may require holders of the Warrants to settle Warrant exercises on a cashless basis pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of warrants on a cashless basis, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary contained herein, the Registered Holder shall not be required to surrender any Warrant to the Company until the Registered Holder has purchased all of the shares available thereunder and such Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case the Registered Holder shall surrender such Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) trading days following the date the final subscription form is delivered to the Company. Execution and delivery of a subscription form with respect to a partial exercise shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of shares of Common Stock.
3.3.3 Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3.3.4 Date of Exercise/Issuance. The date of exercise of any Warrant shall be defined as the date that the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, completed and executed, is sent by facsimile or electronic mail to the Company, provided that payment of the Warrant Price, if applicable, is satisfied as soon as practicable thereafter but no later than two (2) trading days after the date of exercise. In the event that the Warrant Price (if applicable) set forth in the subscription form is not paid to the Company by the deadline therefor, as set forth in the preceding sentence, the date of exercise shall be such date as such Warrant Price is received by the Company. Each person in whose name any certificate for shares of Common Stock is to be issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the Warrant, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate, except that, if the date of such exercise is a date when the share transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares of Common Stock at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books are open.
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3.3.5 Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holders Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such persons affiliates), to the Warrant Agents actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% or such other amount as the holder may specify (the Maximum Percentage) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Companys most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
4. Adjustments.
4.1 Stock Dividends.
4.1.1 Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock or other similar
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event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of the Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the Fair Market Value (as defined below) shall be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) Fair Market Value means the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
4.1.2 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the Common Stock on account of such shares of Common Stock (or other shares of the Companys capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, or (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below) (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an Extraordinary Dividend), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, Ordinary Cash Dividends means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50(being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Companys initial public offering).
4.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.
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4.3 Adjustments in Exercise and Redemption Trigger Prices. Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.4 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change under subsection 4.1.1 or subsection 4.1.2 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the Alternative Issuance ); provided, however, that (i) if the holders of the Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Common Stock under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4; provided, further, that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such
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event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The Black-Scholes Warrant Value means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (Bloomberg). For purposes of calculating such amount, (1) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each share of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. Per Share Consideration means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.
4.5 Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.6 No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.
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4.7 Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
4.8 Other Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 (including, without limitation, any event which requires an adjustment to the terms of the Public Warrants), then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to avoid such adverse impact and/or to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment (which shall be equivalent to any adjustment to the Public Warrants). The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1 Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2 Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3 Transfers of Fractions of Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrants which would require the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant.
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5.4 Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5 Accredited Investors. The Warrants may only be transferred to (i) an accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act) or (ii) a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act).
5.6 Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
6. Redemption.
6.1 Redemption of Warrants for Cash When the Price Per Share of Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00. Not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that the last sales price of the Common Stock reported has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third Business Day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that (i) the Company is contemporaneously taking, or has taken, the same action in respect of all the Public Warrants, and (ii) there is an effective registration statement covering the resale by the Registered Holder of all of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below).
6.2 Redemption of Warrants When the Price Per Share of Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00. Not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.10 per Warrant, provided that the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), on the trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given . During the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below) in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, Registered Holders of the Warrants may elect to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and receive a number of shares of Common Stock determined by reference to the table set forth in Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement, dated October 19, 2020, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent (the Table), as equitably adjusted to reflect the Exercise Price of the Warrants as compared to the exercise price of the Public Warrants, based on the Redemption Date (as defined below) and the Redemption Fair Market Value (as such term is defined in this Section 6.2) (a Make-Whole Exercise). Solely for purposes of this Section 6.2, the Redemption Fair Market Value shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten trading days immediately following the date on which notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2
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is sent to the Registered Holders. In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, the Company shall provide the Registered Holders with the Redemption Fair Market Value no later than one Business Day after the ten trading day period described in the definition of Redemption Fair Market Value above ends.
If the exact Redemption Fair Market Value and Redemption Date (as defined below) are between two values in the Table or the Redemption Date is between two redemption dates in the Table, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued for each Warrant exercised in a Make-Whole Exercise shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower Redemption Fair Market Values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year.
The stock prices set forth in the column headings of the Table shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant is adjusted pursuant to Section 4. The adjusted stock prices in the column headings shall equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the Table shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant.
In no event shall the Warrants be exercisable in connection with a Make-Whole Exercise for more than 0.361 shares of Common Stock per whole warrant (as equitably adjusted to reflect the Exercise Price of the Warrants as compared to the exercise price of the Public Warrants and subject to further adjustment).
6.3 Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption; Redemption Price. In the event that the Company elects to redeem the Warrants pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2 hereof, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the Redemption Date). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the 30-day Redemption Period) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. As used in this Agreement, Redemption Price shall mean the price per Warrant at which any Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2 hereof.
6.4 Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised for cash (or, if in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, on a cashless basis in accordance with such section) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. On and after the Redemption Date, the Registered Holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights hereunder except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price, or to receive any shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of any exercises of the Warrants effected prior to the Redemption Date, as applicable.
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7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.
7.1 No Rights as Stockholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of stockholders of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as a stockholder in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.
7.2 Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3 Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4 Registration of Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Companys Option.
7.4.1 Registration of the Common Stock. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its best efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
7.4.2 Cashless Exercise at Companys Option. If the Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a covered security under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute), the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Warrants who exercise Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) as described in subsection 3.3.1(b) and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall (x) not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and (y) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant under the blue sky laws of the state of residence of the exercising Warrant holder to the extent an exemption is not available.
8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.
8.1 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the
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issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.
8.2 Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.
8.2.1 Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Companys cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2 Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3 Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
8.3 Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1 Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
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8.3.2 Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4 Liability of Warrant Agent.
8.4.1 Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4.2 Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agents gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
8.4.3 Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.
8.5 Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.
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8.6 Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (Claim) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.
9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
9.1 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent or the holders of the Warrants shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2 Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:
Hyzon Motors Inc.
85 East Street
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Attention: Craig Knight, George Gu
Email: craig.knight@hyzonmotors.com, gg@hyzonmotors.com
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Compliance Department
Email: compliance@continentalstock.com
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any subscription form may be delivered by a Registered Holder or its securities broker or intermediary via facsimile or electronic mail as provided herein.
9.3 Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
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9.4 Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5 Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holders Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.
9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
9.7 Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period and any amendment to the terms of the Warrants, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 50% of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained elsewhere herein, in the event that any of the Public Warrants (or the agreements in respect thereof) are directly or indirectly amended, modified or waived in a manner that favorably affects, or is otherwise beneficial to, any holder of any of the Public Warrants (by reducing the exercise price of such Public Warrants, or otherwise) and would be favorable to, or otherwise, benefit the Registered Holders of the Warrants, each Registered Holder of the Warrants shall be afforded the benefits of such amendment, modification or waiver on an equivalent basis, and this Agreement and the Warrants shall be deemed amended to give effect thereto.
9.9 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid
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or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Peter Haskopoulos |
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Name: | Peter Haskopoulos | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary | |||
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | ||||
By: |
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Name: | ||||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary | ||
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ Stacy Aqui |
|
Name: Stacy Aqui | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware
CUSIP
Warrant Certificate
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
This Warrant Certificate certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the Warrants and each, a Warrant) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (Common Stock), of Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the Exercise Price) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Exercise Price per share of Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $2.20 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION |
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent |
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: |
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of July 16, 2021 (the Warrant Agreement), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the Warrant Agent), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words holders or holder meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement(or through cashless exercise as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.
The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation (the Company) in the amount of $ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered to whose address is . If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to , whose address is .
In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement and a holder thereof elects to exercise its Warrant pursuant to a Make-Whole Exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) or Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement, as applicable.
In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a cashless basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock. If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to , whose address is .
[Signature Page Follows]
Date: , 20
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(Signature) |
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(Address) |
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(Tax Identification Number) |
Signature Guaranteed: |
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Exhibit 10.5
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of July 16, 2021, is made and entered into by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Sponsor), and the undersigned parties listed under Holder on the signature pages hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a Holder and collectively, the Holders).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on October 19, 2020, the Company, the Sponsor and certain other security holders named therein (the Existing Holders) entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the Existing Registration Rights Agreement), pursuant to which the Company granted the Sponsor and such other Existing Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company;
WHEREAS, on February 8, 2021, the Company, DCRB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), and Hyzon Motors Inc., a Delaware corporation (Hyzon), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the BCA), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into Hyzon on or about the date hereof, with Hyzon surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the Business Combination);
WHEREAS, after the closing of the Business Combination, the Holders will own shares of the Companys Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock), and the Sponsor, WRG DCRB Investors, LLC, James AC McDermott, Jeffrey Tepper, Dr. Jennifer Aaker, and Jane Kearns will own warrants to purchase 6,514,500 shares of Common Stock (the Private Placement Warrants); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Existing Holders desire to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1. Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
BCA shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Board shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
Business Combination shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Company shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
Demanding Holder shall mean any Holder or group of Holders that together elects to dispose of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $25 million, at the time of the Underwritten Demand, under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering.
Effectiveness Period shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.1 of this Agreement.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
Existing Holders shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Existing Registration Rights Agreement shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Form S-3 shall mean a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement that may be available at such time.
Holder Indemnified Persons shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.1 of this Agreement.
Holders shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
Hyzon shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Maximum Number of Securities shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3 of this Agreement.
Merger Sub shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Misstatement shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
Piggyback Registration shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement.
Private Placement Warrants shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Pro Rata shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3 of this Agreement.
Prospectus shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
Registrable Security shall mean (a) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (b) any outstanding shares of Common Stock held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of any other outstanding equity securities of the Company (other than equity securities issued pursuant to an employee stock option or other benefit plan) held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement), (c) any shares of Common Stock issued to a Holder after the date of this Agreement pursuant to the terms of the BCA, (d) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company by a Holder and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of
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such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations).
Registration shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any such registration statement having been declared effective by, or become effective pursuant to rules promulgated by, the Commission.
Registration Expenses shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed);
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Demand to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Underwritten Offering, not to exceed $50,000.
Registration Statement shall mean any registration statement under the Securities Act that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Requesting Holder shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2 of this Agreement.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
Sponsor shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
Suspension Event shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.
Underwriter shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealers market-making activities.
Underwritten Demand shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2 of this Agreement.
Underwritten Offering shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
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ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1. Registration.
2.1.1 Registration Statement. The Company agrees that, within fifteen (15) business days after the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company will file with the Commission (at the Companys sole cost and expense) a Registration Statement registering the resale of all Registrable Securities permitted to be registered for resale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 on a Registration Statement on Form S-1. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.3 and Section 2.3 of this Agreement, any Demanding Holder may make a written demand to the Company for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 2.1.1 of this Agreement or a new Registration Statement if such Demanding Holders Registrable Securities are not then registered by a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 or permitted to be offered in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 (an Underwritten Demand). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Companys receipt of the Underwritten Demand, notify, in writing, all other Holders of such demand, and each Holder who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holders Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holders Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering, a Requesting Holder) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s), such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.2 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company in consultation with the Demanding Holders initiating the Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect (i) more than an aggregate of three (3) Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.2 in any twelve (12)-month period, (ii) more than an aggregate of four (4) Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this section 2.1.3 in total, (iii) an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.2 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering or (iv) an Underwritten Offering unless the reasonably expected aggregate gross proceeds from the offering of the Registrable Securities to be registered in connection with such Underwritten Offering are at least $75,000,000 (the Minimum Amount).
2.1.3 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand, in good faith, advises or advise the Company, the Demanding Holders, the Requesting Holders and other persons or entities holding Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company is obligated to include pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities or other equity securities of the Company requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities of the Company that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the Maximum Number of Securities), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering (such proportion is referred to herein as Pro Rata)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company held by other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to include pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
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2.1.4 Registration Withdrawal. The Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.2 of this Agreement shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering or, if applicable, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that upon the withdrawal of an amount of Registrable Securities that results in the remaining amount of Registrable Securities included by the Demanding Holders and participating Holders in such Underwritten Offering being less than the Minimum Amount, the Company may cease all efforts to complete the Underwritten Offering and, for the avoidance of doubt, if such efforts are ceased, such Underwritten Offering shall not be counted as an Underwritten Offering for the purpose of the final sentence of subsection 2.1.2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Demand prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.4.
2.2. Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If the Company proposes to (i) file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities of the Company, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities of the Company, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company, other than a Registration Statement (A) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (B) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Companys existing stockholders, (C) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (D) for a dividend reinvestment plan, or (ii) consummate an Underwritten Offering for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed action to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable (but in the case of filing a Registration Statement, not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement), which notice shall (x) describe the amount and type of securities to be included, the intended method(s) of distribution and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, and (y) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within (a) five (5) days in the case of filing a Registration Statement and (b) two (2) days in the case of an Underwritten Offering (unless such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering, then one (1) day), in each case after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a Piggyback Registration). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Piggyback Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. If no written request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Piggyback Registration. All such Holders proposing to include Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of the equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement and (iii) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration or Underwritten Offering is undertaken for the Companys account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or Underwritten Offering (A) first, the Common Stock
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or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which Registration or Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; or
(b) If the Registration or Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or Underwritten Offering (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to, as applicable, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or the launch of the Underwritten Offering with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons or entities pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or abandon an Underwritten Offering in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration or Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall not be counted as an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand effected under Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
2.3 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and in the good faith judgment of the Board that such Underwritten Offering would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement or the undertaking of such Underwritten Offering at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed or to undertake such Underwritten Offering in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement or undertaking of such Underwritten Offering. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing or offering for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any twelve (12)-month period.
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ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1. General Procedures. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and to the extent applicable:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission, within the time frame required by Section 2.1.1, a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective, including filing a replacement Registration Statement, if necessary, until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding (such period, the Effectiveness Period);
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Demanding Holders or any Underwriter or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or are no longer outstanding;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or Underwritten Offering, and such Holders legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commissions EDGAR system;
3.1.4 prior to any Registration of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
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3.1.8 during the Effectiveness Period, furnish a conformed copy of each filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, promptly after such filing of such documents with the Commission to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commissions EDGAR system;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act;
3.1.10 subject to the provisions of this Agreement, notify the Holders of the happening of any event as a result of which a Misstatement exists, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement;
3.1.11 permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the Holders),, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such persons own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and cause the Companys officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.12 obtain a comfort letter from the Companys independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to such placement agent, sales agent or Underwriter;
3.1.14 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Companys first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.16 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering in excess of the Minimum Amount, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary road show presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.17 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
3.2. Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses in respect of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of Registration Expenses, all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
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3.3. Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such persons securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension of Sales. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to (A) delay or postpone the (i) initial effectiveness of any Registration Statement or (ii) launch of any Underwritten Offering, in each case, filed or requested pursuant to this Agreement, and (B) from time to time to require the Holders not to sell under any Registration Statement or Prospectus or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event, the Board reasonably believes, upon the advice of legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by the Company in the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement or Prospectus would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Board, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement or Prospectus to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, a Suspension Event); provided, however, that the Company may not delay or suspend a Registration Statement, Prospectus or Underwritten Offering on more than two occasions, for more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or more than ninety (90) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of a Suspension Event while a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event a Misstatement exists, each Holder agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of Registered Securities under each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement until the Holder receives copies of a supplemental or amended Prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the relevant misstatements or omissions and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Company that it may resume such offers and sales and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of information included in such written notice delivered by the Company unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by the Company, the Holders will deliver to the Company or, in Holders sole discretion destroy, all copies of each Prospectus covering Registrable Securities in Holders possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy shall not apply (A) to the extent the Holders are required to retain a copy of such Prospectus (x) to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (y) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (B) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Registrable Securities held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1. Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (collectively, the Holder Indemnified Persons) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person specifically for use therein.
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4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the Holder so furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for use therein. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any persons right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified partys reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim or there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall to the extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or such indemnified party and the indemnifying partys and indemnified partys relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 of this Agreement, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not
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take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, telecopy, telegram, facsimile or email. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third (3rd) business day following the date on which it is mailed, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, telecopy or telegram, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation, and in the case of notices delivered by facsimile or email, at such time as it is successfully transmitted to the addressee. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company or the Sponsor prior to the closing of the Business Combination or to the Sponsor after the closing of the Business Combination, to: 2744 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, or by email at: phaskopoulos@riverstonellc.com, if to the Company after the closing of the Business Combination, to: Hyzon Motors Inc., 85 East Street, Honeoye Falls, New York 14472, Attention: Craig Knight, George Gu, or by email at: craig.knight@hyzonmotors.com, gg@hyzonmotors.com, and, if to any Holder, to the address of such Holder as it appears in the applicable register for the Registrable Securities or such other address as may be designated in writing by such Holder (including on the signature pages hereto). Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
5.2.2 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors.
5.2.3 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto or do not hereafter become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
5.2.4 No assignment by any party hereto of such partys rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice provided in accordance with Section 5.1 of this Agreement and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
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5.5 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.6 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (a) a Holder of Registrable Securities, (b) the parties to those certain Subscription Agreements, dated as of February 8, 2021, by and between the Company and certain investors, (c) the holders of the Companys warrants pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2020, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, and (d) Ardour Capital Investments LLC pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.7 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to any Holder, the date as of which such Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article IV shall survive any termination.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
/s/ Peter Haskopoulos |
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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HOLDERS: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
/s/ Peter Haskopoulos |
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Authorized Person | ||
WRG DCRB INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: West River Management, LLC, its Managing Member |
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By: |
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Name: Trent Dawson |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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James AC McDermott |
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Jeffrey Tepper |
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Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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HOLDERS: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Authorized Person | ||
WRG DCRB INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: West River Management, LLC, its Managing Member |
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By: |
/s/ Trent Dawson |
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Name: Trent Dawson |
||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
||
|
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James AC McDermott |
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|
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Jeffrey Tepper |
||
|
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Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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HOLDERS: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Authorized Person | ||
WRG DCRB INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: West River Management, LLC, its Managing Member |
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By: |
/s/ Trent Dawson |
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Name: Trent Dawson |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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/s/ James AC McDermott |
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James AC McDermott |
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Jeffrey Tepper |
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Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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HOLDERS: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Authorized Person | ||
WRG DCRB INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: West River Management, LLC, its Managing Member |
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By: |
|
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Name: Trent Dawson |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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|
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James AC McDermott |
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/s/ Jeffrey Tepper |
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Jeffrey Tepper |
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Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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HOLDERS: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Authorized Person | ||
WRG DCRB INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: West River Management, LLC, its Managing Member |
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By: |
|
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Name: Trent Dawson |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
||
|
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James AC McDermott |
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Jeffrey Tepper |
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/s/ Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
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Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
|
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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HOLDERS: | ||
DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
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Name: Peter Haskopoulos | ||
Title: Authorized Person | ||
WRG DCRB INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: West River Management, LLC, its Managing Member |
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By: |
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Name: Trent Dawson |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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James AC McDermott |
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Jeffrey Tepper |
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Dr. Jennifer Aaker |
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/s/ Jane Kearns |
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Jane Kearns |
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Michael Warren |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
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Jane Kearns |
/s/ Michael Warren |
Michael Warren |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
HYMAS PTE LTD, a Singapore private company limited by shares |
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By: |
/s/ Craig Knight |
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Name: Craig Knight | ||
Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
GEORGE GU | ||
By: |
/s/ George GU |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
CRAIG KNIGHT | ||
By: |
/s/ Craig Knight |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
VIKTOR MENG | ||
By: |
/s/ Viktor Meng |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
DENNIS EDWARDS | ||
By: |
/s/ Dennis Edwards |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
ELAINE WONG | ||
By: |
/s/ Elaine Wong |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.6
HYZON MOTORS INC.
2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: June 24, 2021
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS: July 15, 2021
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
1.1 Plan Purpose. The purpose of the Hyzon Motors Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is to help the Company to secure and retain the services of Employees, Directors and Consultants, to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate and to provide a means by which such persons may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Awards. Upon approval of this Plan by the Companys stockholders, and subject to the consummation of the transactions contemplated in that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, DCRB Merger Sub Inc. and the Company (the Closing), the Company 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2020 Plan) shall be terminated, and no new awards may be granted under the 2020 Plan after such date.
1.2 Adoption Date; Effective Date. The Plan will come into existence on the Adoption Date, but no Award may be granted prior to the Effective Date.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.1 As used in the Plan, the following definitions apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:
(a) Acquiring Entity means the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) in connection with a Change in Control.
(b) Adoption Date means the date the Plan is first approved by the Board or the Committee.
(c) Affiliate means, at the time of determination, any parent or subsidiary of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act. The Board may determine the time or times at which parent or subsidiary status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(d) Applicable Law means shall mean any applicable securities, federal, state, foreign, material local or municipal or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, listing rule, regulation, judicial decision, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Body (including under the authority of any applicable self-regulating organization such as the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
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(e) Award means any right to receive Common Stock, cash or other property granted under the Plan (including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, an RSU Award, a SAR, a Performance Award or any Other Award).
(f) Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an Award. The Award Agreement may also include a separate Grant Notice and an agreement containing a written summary of the general terms and conditions applicable to the Award, in addition to those set forth under the Plan, and which may be provided to a Participant along with the Grant Notice.
(g) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company (or its designee). Any decision or determination made by the Board shall be a decision or determination that is made in the sole discretion of the Board (or its designee), and such decision or determination shall be final and binding on all Participants
(h) Capitalization Adjustment means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.
(i) Cause has the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Participants conviction of or plea of no contest to any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude; (ii) such Participants attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participants intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company, of any statutory duty owed to the Company or of any code of ethics or material policies of the Company (including, without limitation, policies relating to sexual harassment or other prohibited discrimination); (iv) such Participants unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets; (v) the refusal or willful omission by such Participant, other than due to Disability, to perform any duties required of the Participant, which continues after a period of thirty (30) days following the Participants receipt of notice from the Company that it deems such conduct Cause for termination of employment; or (vi) such Participants gross misconduct.
(j) Change in Control means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any of the following events:
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(i) during any period of not more than 24 months, individuals who constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) will be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or publicly threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or publicly threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board will be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(ii) any person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur on account of the ownership or acquisition of securities of the Company: (A) by the Company, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii) of this Section 2.1(j));
(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company (directly or indirectly) that requires the approval of the Companys stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a Business Combination), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination Own, directly or indirectly, either (1) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such Business Combination (the Surviving Entity) or (2) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the Surviving Entity, in each case in substantially the same proportion as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Entity or the parent), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) of this paragraph (iii) will be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction);
(iv) the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any person or group (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or
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(v) the Companys stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, (A) the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company and (B) a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company as a result of the acquisition of outstanding voting securities of the Company by the Company which reduces the number of outstanding voting securities of the Company; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company described in the preceding clause (B) such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional voting securities of the Company that increases the percentage of outstanding voting securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control will then occur.
(k) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.
(l) Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board and any other committee of two or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board or Compensation Committee of the Board in accordance with the Plan; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Qualified Members.
(m) Common Stock means the common stock of the Company.
(n) Company means Hyzon Motors Inc., Delaware corporation.
(o) Consultant means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will not cause a Director to be considered a Consultant for purposes of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is treated as a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act is available to register either the offer or the sale of the Companys securities to such person.
(p) Continuous Service means that the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or Consultant or a change in the Entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, will not terminate a Participants Continuous Service; provided, however, that if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board, such Participants Continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant
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of an Affiliate or to a Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that partys sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Companys leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law. In addition, to the extent required for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A, the determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous Service will be made, and such term will be construed, in a manner that is consistent with the definition of separation from service as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).
(q) Director means a member of the Board.
(r) determine or determined means as determined by the Board or the Committee (or its designee) in its sole discretion.
(s) Disability means, with respect to a Participant, such Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances.
(t) Effective Date means July 16, 2021.
(u) Employee means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an Employee for purposes of the Plan.
(v) Employer means the Company or the Affiliate of the Company that employs the Participant.
(w) Entity means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(x) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.
(y) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the value of the Common Stock (as determined on a per share or aggregate basis, as applicable) determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such
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stock as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported by a source the Board deems reliable.
(ii) If there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value will be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(iii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, or if otherwise determined by the Board, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Board in good faith and in a manner that complies with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.
(z) Governmental Body means any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature; (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; (c) governmental or regulatory body, or quasi-governmental body of any nature (including any governmental division, department, administrative agency or bureau, commission, authority, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or other tribunal, and for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax authority) or other body exercising similar powers or authority; or (d) self-regulatory organization (including the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
(aa) Grant Notice means a notice provided to a Participant that he or she has been granted an Award under the Plan and which includes the name of the Participant, the type of Award, the date of grant of the Award, number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award or potential cash payment right, (if any), the vesting schedule for the Award (if any) and other key terms applicable to the Award.
(bb) Incentive Stock Option means an option granted pursuant to ARTICLE VI of the Plan that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(cc) Materially Impair means any amendment to the terms of the Award that materially adversely affects the Participants rights under the Award. A Participants rights under an Award will not be deemed to have been Materially Impaired by any such amendment if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participants rights. For example, the following types of amendments to the terms of an Award do not Materially Impair the Participants rights under the Award: (i) imposition of reasonable restrictions on the minimum number of shares subject to an Option that may be exercised; (ii) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iii) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option in a manner that disqualifies, impairs or otherwise affects the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iv) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with or qualify it for an exemption from, Section 409A; or (v) to comply with other Applicable Laws.
(dd) Non-Employee Director means a Director who either (i) is not a current
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employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (Regulation S-K)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a non-employee director for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(ee) Non-Exempt Award means any Award that is subject to, and not exempt from, Section 409A, including as the result of (i) a deferral of the issuance of the shares subject to the Award which is elected by the Participant or imposed by the Company or (ii) the terms of any Non-Exempt Severance Agreement.
(ff) Non-Exempt Director Award means a Non-Exempt Award granted to a Participant who was a Non-Employee Director on the applicable grant date.
(gg) Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement means a severance arrangement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company that provides for acceleration of vesting of an Award and issuance of the shares in respect of such Award upon the Participants termination of employment or separation from service (as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code (and without regard to any alternative definition thereunder) (Separation from Service) and such severance benefit does not satisfy the requirements for an exemption from application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(9) or otherwise.
(hh) Nonstatutory Stock Option means any option granted pursuant to ARTICLE VI of the Plan that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(ii) Officer means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(jj) Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.
(kk) Option Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and the Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of the Option grant. The Option Agreement includes any Grant Notice for the Option and any additional agreement containing a written summary of the general terms and conditions applicable to the Option and which may be provided to a Participant along with the Grant Notice. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ll) Optionholder means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.
(mm) Other Award means an award valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value at the time of grant) that is not an Incentive Stock Option, Nonstatutory Stock Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, RSU Award or Performance Award.
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(nn) Other Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Award grant. Each Other Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(oo) Own, Owned, Owner, Ownership means that a person or Entity will be deemed to Own, to have Owned, to be the Owner of, or to have acquired Ownership of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.
(pp) Participant means an Employee, Director or Consultant to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.
(qq) Performance Award means an Award that may vest or may be exercised or a cash award that may vest or become earned and paid contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals and which is granted under the terms and conditions of Section 7.2 pursuant to such terms as are approved by the Board. In addition, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash or other property may be used in payment of Performance Awards.
(rr) Performance Criteria means the one or more criteria that the Board will select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may be, but is not required to be, based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the Board: earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; total stockholder return; return on equity or average stockholders equity; return on assets, investment, or capital employed; stock price; margin (including gross margin); income (before or after taxes); operating income; operating income after taxes; pre-tax profit; operating cash flow; sales or revenue targets; increases in revenue or product revenue; expenses and cost reduction goals; improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; economic value added (or an equivalent metric); market share; cash flow; cash flow per share; share price performance; debt reduction; customer satisfaction; stockholders equity; capital expenditures; debt levels; operating profit or net operating profit; workforce diversity; growth of net income or operating income; billings; financing; regulatory milestones; stockholder liquidity; corporate governance and compliance; intellectual property; personnel matters; progress of internal research; progress of partnered programs; partner satisfaction; budget management; partner or collaborator achievements; internal controls, including those related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; investor relations, analysts and communication; implementation or completion of projects or processes; employee retention; number of users, including unique users; strategic partnerships or transactions (including in-licensing and out-licensing of intellectual property); establishing relationships with respect to the marketing, distribution and sale of the Companys products; supply chain achievements; co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture or other similar arrangements; individual performance goals; corporate development and planning goals; and other measures of performance selected by the Board or Committee.
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(ss) Performance Goals means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance Period. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise by the Board (i) in the Award Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (ii) in such other document setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the Performance Goals are established, the Board may appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period, which may include the following actions: (1) exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) exclude exchange rate effects; (3) exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; (5) exclude the effects of items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such divestiture; (8) exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under the Companys bonus plans; (10) exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; and (11) exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Board retains the discretion to increase, reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award.
(tt) Performance Period means the period of time selected by the Board over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participants right to vesting or exercise of an Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board.
(uu) Plan means this Hyzon Motors Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
(vv) Plan Administrator means the person, persons, and/or third-party administrator designated by the Company to administer the day-to-day operations of the Plan and the Companys other equity incentive programs.
(ww) Post-Termination Exercise Period means the period following termination of a Participants Continuous Service within which an Option or SAR is exercisable, as specified in Section 6.8.
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(xx) Prospectus means the document containing the Plan information specified in Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
(yy) Qualified Member means a member of the Board who is (i) a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3), and (ii) independent under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules.
(zz) Restricted Stock Award or RSA means an Award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7.1.
(aaa) Restricted Stock Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. The Restricted Stock Award Agreement includes any Grant Notice for the Restricted Stock Award and any agreement containing a written summary of the general terms and conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock Award and which may be provided to a Participant along with the Grant Notice. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(bbb) RSU Award or RSU means an Award of restricted stock units representing the right to receive an issuance of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7.1.
(ccc) RSU Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an RSU Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an RSU Award. The RSU Award Agreement includes any Grant Notice for the RSU Award and any agreement containing a written summary of the general terms and conditions applicable to the RSU Award and which may be provided to a Participant along with the Grant Notice. Each RSU Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ddd) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(eee) Rule 405 means Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(fff) Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code, as amended from time to time, and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.
(ggg) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.
(hhh) Share Reserve means the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan as set forth in Section 4.1.
(iii) Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of ARTICLE VI.
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(jjj) SAR Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a SAR evidencing the terms and conditions of a SAR grant. The SAR Agreement includes any Grant Notice for the SAR and any agreement containing a written summary of the general terms and conditions applicable to the SAR and which may be provided to a Participant along with the Grant Notice. Each SAR Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(kkk) Subsidiary means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding Common Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than 50%.
(lll) Ten Percent Stockholder means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.
(mmm) Trading Policy means the Companys policy permitting certain individuals to sell Company shares only during certain window periods and/or otherwise restricts the ability of certain individuals to transfer or encumber Company shares, as in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Administration by Board. The Board will administer the Plan.
3.2 Powers of Board. The Board will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(a) To determine from time to time: (i) which of the persons eligible under the Plan will be granted Awards; (ii) when and how each Award will be granted; (iii) what type or combination of types of Award will be granted; (iv) the provisions of each Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person will be permitted to receive an issuance of Common Stock or other payment pursuant to an Award; (v) the number of shares of Common Stock or cash equivalent with respect to which an Award will be granted to each such person; (vi) the Fair Market Value applicable to an Award; and (vii) the terms of any Performance Award that is not valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, the Common Stock, including the amount of cash payment or other property that may be earned and the timing of payment.
(b) To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to
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establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it deems necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective.
(c) To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it.
(d) To accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award Agreement stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.
(e) To prohibit the exercise of any Option, SAR or other exercisable Award during a period of up to 30 days prior to the consummation of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Common Stock or the share price of the Common Stock including any Change in Control, for reasons of administrative convenience.
(f) To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Suspension or termination of the Plan will not Materially Impair rights and obligations under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant.
(g) To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable; provided, however, that stockholder approval will be required for any amendment to the extent required by Applicable Law. Except as provided above, rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan will not be Materially Impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing.
(h) To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval.
(i) To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however, that a Participants rights under any Award will not be Materially Impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing.
(j) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards.
(k) To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit and facilitate participation in the Plan by, or take advantage of specific tax treatment for Awards granted to, Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Award Agreement to ensure or facilitate compliance with the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).
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(l) To effect, at any time and from time to time, subject to the consent of any Participant whose Award is Materially Impaired by such action, (i) the reduction of the exercise price (or strike price) of any outstanding Option or SAR; (ii) the cancellation of any outstanding Option or SAR and the grant in substitution therefor of (A) a new Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, RSU Award or Other Award, under the Plan or another equity plan of the Company, covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock, (B) cash and/or (C) other valuable consideration (as determined by the Board); or (iii) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; provided, however, that any such action that constitutes a repricing under then-applicable stock exchange rules and listing standards shall be subject to the approval of the Companys stockholders.
3.3 Delegation to Committee.
(a) General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to the Committee, subject to Section 3.3(b) below. If administration of the Plan is delegated to the Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to another Committee or a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board will thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. Each Committee may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with Committee or subcommittee to which it has delegated its authority hereunder and may, at any time, revest in such Committee some or all of the powers previously delegated. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with any Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.
(b) Rule 16b-3 Compliance. To the extent an Award is intended to qualify for the exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act that is available under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, the Award will be granted by the Board or a Committee that consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, as determined under Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act and thereafter any action establishing or modifying the terms of the Award will be approved by the Board or a Committee meeting such requirements to the extent necessary for such exemption to remain available.
3.4 Effect of Boards Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board or the Committee in good faith will not be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
3.5 Delegation to an Officer. The Board or any Committee may delegate to one or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options and SARs (and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, other types of Awards) and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the resolutions or charter adopted by the Board or any
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Committee evidencing such delegation will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant an Award to himself or herself. Any such Awards will be granted on the applicable form of Award Agreement most recently approved for use by the Board or the Committee, unless otherwise provided in the resolutions approving the delegation authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Board nor any Committee may delegate to an Officer who is acting solely in the capacity of an Officer (and not also as a Director) the authority to determine the Fair Market Value.
3.6 Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards:
(a) Incentive Stock Options;
(b) Nonstatutory Stock Options;
(c) SARs;
(d) Restricted Stock Awards;
(e) RSU Awards;
(f) Performance Awards; and
(g) Other Awards.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Share Reserve. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.3 and any adjustments as necessary to implement any Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards will not exceed the sum of 23,226,543 shares, plus shares subject to outstanding equity awards granted under the 2020 Plan that will be converted into equity awards denominated in shares under the Plan immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the Closing, plus an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, equal to the lesser of (A) two and one-half percent of the shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of shares as determined by the Board or the Committee.
4.2 Aggregate Incentive Stock Option Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.1 and subject to any adjustments as necessary to implement any Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options is 23,226,543 shares.
4.3 Share Reserve Operation.
(a) Limit Applies to Common Stock Issued Pursuant to Awards. For
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clarity, the Share Reserve is a limit on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards and does not limit the granting of Awards, except that the Company will keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required to satisfy its obligations to issue shares pursuant to such Awards. Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by, as applicable, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c), NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, NYSE American Company Guide Section 711 or other applicable rule, and such issuance will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(b) Actions that Do Not Constitute Issuance of Common Stock and Do Not Reduce Share Reserve. The following actions do not result in an issuance of shares under the Plan and accordingly do not reduce the number of shares subject to the Share Reserve and available for issuance under the Plan: (i) the expiration or termination of any portion of an Award without the shares covered by such portion of the Award having been issued; (ii) the settlement of any portion of an Award in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather than Common Stock); (iii) the withholding of shares that would otherwise be issued by the Company to satisfy the exercise, strike or purchase price of an Award; or (iv) the withholding of shares that would otherwise be issued by the Company to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with an Award.
(c) Reversion of Previously Issued Shares of Common Stock to Share Reserve. The following shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant to an Award and accordingly initially deducted from the Share Reserve will be added back to the Share Reserve and again become available for issuance under the Plan: (i) any shares that are forfeited back to or repurchased by the Company because of a failure to meet a contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares; (ii) any shares that are reacquired by the Company to satisfy the exercise, strike or purchase price of an Award; and (iii) any shares that are reacquired by the Company to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with an Award.
ARTICLE V
ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS
5.1 Eligible Award Recipients. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Employees, Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive Awards; provided, however, that, any such individual must be an employee of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8 if such individual is granted an Award that may be settled in Common Stock.
5.2 Specific Award Limitations.
(a) Limitations on Incentive Stock Option Recipients. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code).
(b) Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any
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calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).
(c) Limitations on Incentive Stock Options Granted to Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder may not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless (i) the exercise price of such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such Option and (ii) the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant of such Option.
5.3 Aggregate Incentive Stock Option Limit. The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options is the number of shares specified in Section 4.2.
5.4 Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. The aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid, as applicable, to any individual for service as a Non-Employee Director with respect to any calendar year, including Awards granted and cash fees paid by the Company to such Non-Employee Director, will not exceed (i) $750,000 in total value or (ii) in the event such Non-Employee Director is first appointed or elected to the Board during such calendar year, $1,000,000 in total value, in each case calculating the value of any equity awards based on the grant date fair value of such equity awards for financial reporting purposes.
5.5 Minimum Vesting Conditions. The Board or Plan Administrator, as applicable, may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the vesting (and/or exercisability with respect to an Option or SAR) as it determines, subject to a minimum vesting period for any Award of one year from the date of grant; provided, however, that vesting may be accelerated (in whole or in part) upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or a qualifying separation from service, as set forth in the Plan or the individual Award Agreement; and provided further, however, that up to 5% of the share reserve set forth in Section 4.1 above may be subject to Awards that do not meet such vesting (and, if applicable, exercisability) requirements, so long as such Awards are granted by the Board or Compensation Committee of the Board and not any designee of either the Board or Compensation Committee of the Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, vesting of Awards will cease upon termination of the Participants Continuous Service.
ARTICLE VI
OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
Each Option and SAR will have such terms and conditions as determined by the Board. Each Option will be designated in writing as an Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock Option at the time of grant; provided, however, that if an Option is not so designated, then such Option will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option, and the shares purchased upon exercise of each type of Option will be separately accounted for. Each SAR will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents. The terms and conditions of separate Options and SARs need not be
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identical; provided, however, that each Option Agreement and SAR Agreement will conform (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Award Agreement or otherwise) to the substance of each of the following provisions:
6.1 Term. Subject to Section 5.2(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant of such Award or such shorter period specified in the Award Agreement.
6.2 Exercise or Strike Price. Subject to Section 5.2(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each Option or SAR will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such Award if such Award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Change in Control and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 409A and, if applicable, 424(a) of the Code.
6.3 Exercise Procedure and Payment of Exercise Price for Options. In order to exercise an Option, the Participant must provide notice of exercise to the Plan Administrator in accordance with the procedures specified in the Option Agreement or otherwise provided by the Company. The Board has the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular method of payment. The exercise price of an Option may be paid, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and as determined by the Board, by one or more of the following methods of payment to the extent set forth in the Option Agreement:
(a) by cash or check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;
(b) pursuant to a cashless exercise program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the Common Stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;
(c) by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock that are already owned by the Participant free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise that does not exceed the exercise price, provided that (i) at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, (ii) any remaining balance of the exercise price not satisfied by such delivery is paid by the Participant in cash or other permitted form of payment, (iii) such delivery would not violate any Applicable Law or agreement restricting the redemption of the Common Stock, (iv) any certificated shares are endorsed or accompanied by an executed assignment separate from certificate, and (v) such shares have been held by the Participant for any minimum period necessary to avoid adverse accounting treatment as a result of such delivery;
(d) if the Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a net exercise arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value on the date
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of exercise that does not exceed the exercise price, provided that (i) such shares used to pay the exercise price will not be exercisable thereafter and (ii) any remaining balance of the exercise price not satisfied by such net exercise is paid by the Participant in cash or other permitted form of payment; or
(e) in any other form of consideration that may be acceptable to the Board and permissible under Applicable Law.
6.4 Exercise Procedure and Payment of Appreciation Distribution for SARs. In order to exercise any SAR, the Participant must provide notice of exercise to the Plan Administrator in accordance with the SAR Agreement. The appreciation distribution payable to a Participant upon the exercise of a SAR will not be greater than an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents that are vested and being exercised under such SAR, over (ii) the strike price of such SAR. Such appreciation distribution may be paid to the Participant in the form of Common Stock or cash (or any combination of Common Stock and cash) or in any other form of payment, as determined by the Board and specified in the SAR Agreement.
6.5 Transferability. Options and SARs may not be transferred to third party financial institutions for value. The Board may impose such additional limitations on the transferability of an Option or SAR as it determines. In the absence of any such determination by the Board, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options and SARs will apply, provided that except as explicitly provided herein, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for consideration and provided, further, that if an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer:
(a) Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant; provided, however, that the Board may permit transfer of an Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable tax and securities laws upon the Participants request, including to a trust if the Participant is considered to be the sole beneficial owner of such trust (as determined under Section 671 of the Code and applicable state law) while such Option or SAR is held in such trust, provided that the Participant and the trustee enter into a transfer and other agreements required by the Company.
(b) Domestic Relations Orders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the execution of transfer documentation in a format acceptable to the Company and subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order.
6.6 Termination of Continuous Service for Cause. Except as explicitly otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if a Participants Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Participants Options and SARs will terminate and be forfeited immediately upon such termination of Continuous Service, and the Participant will be prohibited from exercising any portion (including any vested portion) of such Awards on and after the date of such termination of
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Continuous Service and the Participant will have no further right, title or interest in such forfeited Award, the shares of Common Stock subject to the forfeited Award, or any consideration in respect of the forfeited Award.
6.7 Post-Termination Exercise Period Following Termination of Continuous Service for Reasons Other than Cause. Subject to Section 6.9, if a Participants Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than for Cause, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR to the extent vested, but only within the following period of time or, if applicable, such other period of time provided in the Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that in no event may such Award be exercised after the expiration of its maximum term (as set forth in Section 6.1):
(a) three months following the date of such termination if such termination is a termination without Cause (other than any termination due to the Participants Disability or death);
(b) 12 months following the date of such termination if such termination is due to the Participants Disability;
(c) 18 months following the date of such termination if such termination is due to the Participants death; or
(d) 18 months following the date of the Participants death if such death occurs following the date of such termination but during the period such Award is otherwise exercisable (as provided in (i) or (ii) above).
Following the date of such termination, to the extent the Participant does not exercise such Award within the applicable Post-Termination Exercise Period (or, if earlier, prior to the expiration of the maximum term of such Award), such unexercised portion of the Award will terminate, and the Participant will have no further right, title or interest in terminated Award, the shares of Common Stock subject to the terminated Award, or any consideration in respect of the terminated Award.
6.8 Restrictions on Exercise; Extension of Exercisability. A Participant may not exercise an Option or SAR at any time that the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon such exercise would violate Applicable Law. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if a Participants Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than for Cause and, at any time during the last thirty days of the applicable Post-Termination Exercise Period: (a) the exercise of the Participants Option or SAR would be prohibited solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon such exercise would violate Applicable Law, or (b) the immediate sale of any shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise would violate the Companys Trading Policy, then the applicable Post-Termination Exercise Period will be extended to the last day of the calendar month that commences following the date the Award would otherwise expire, with an additional extension of the exercise period to the last day of the next calendar month to apply if any of the foregoing restrictions apply at any time during such extended exercise period, generally without limitation as to the maximum permitted number of extensions); provided, however, that in no event may such Award be exercised after the expiration of its maximum term (as set forth in Section 6.1).
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6.9 Whole Shares. Options and SARs may be exercised only with respect to whole shares of Common Stock or their equivalents.
ARTICLE VII
AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
7.1 Restricted Stock Awards and RSU Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award and RSU Award will have such terms and conditions as determined by the Board; provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Award Agreement and RSU Award Agreement will conform (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Award Agreement or otherwise) to the substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) Form of Award.
(i) Restricted Stock Awards: To the extent consistent with the Companys Bylaws, at the Boards election, shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award may be (A) held in book entry form subject to the Companys instructions until such shares become vested or any other restrictions lapse, or (B) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate will be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a Participant will have voting and other rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award.
(ii) RSU Awards: An RSU Award represents a Participants right to be issued on a future date the number of shares of Common Stock that is equal to the number of restricted stock units subject to the RSU Award, or the cash equivalent thereof. As a holder of an RSU Award, a Participant is an unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to the Companys unfunded obligation, if any, to issue shares of Common Stock in settlement of such Award and nothing contained in the Plan or any RSU Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate or any other person. A Participant will not have voting or any other rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any RSU Award (unless and until shares are actually issued in settlement of a vested RSU Award).
(b) Consideration.
(i) Restricted Stock Awards: A Restricted Stock Award may be granted in consideration for (A) cash or check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company, (B) services to the Company or an Affiliate or (C) any other form of consideration as the Board may determine and permissible under Applicable Law.
(ii) RSU Awards: Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, an RSU Award will be granted in consideration for the Participants services to the Company or an Affiliate, such that the Participant will not be required to make any payment to the Company (other than such services) with respect to the grant or vesting of the RSU Award, or the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the RSU Award. If, at the time of grant, the
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Board determines that any consideration must be paid by the Participant (in a form other than the Participants services to the Company or an Affiliate) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock in settlement of the RSU Award, such consideration may be paid in any form of consideration as the Board may determine and permissible under Applicable Law.
(c) Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if a Participants Continuous Service terminates for any reason, (i) the Company may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant under his or her Restricted Stock Award that have not vested as of the date of such termination as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement and (ii) any portion of his or her RSU Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon such termination and the Participant will have no further right, title or interest in the RSU Award, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the RSU Award, or any consideration in respect of the RSU Award.
(d) Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid or credited, as applicable, with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award or RSU Award, as determined by the Board and specified in the Award Agreement).
(e) Settlement of RSU Awards. An RSU Award may be settled by the issuance of shares of Common Stock or cash (or any combination thereof) or in any other form of payment, as determined by the Board and specified in the RSU Award Agreement. At the time of grant, the Board may determine to impose such restrictions or conditions that delay such delivery to a date following the vesting of the RSU Award, provided that any such delay in settlement will be in compliance with Section 10.13.
7.2 Performance Awards. With respect to any Performance Award, the length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, the other terms and conditions of such Award, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be determined by the Board.
7.3 Other Awards. Other Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to Awards provided for under ARTICLE VI and the preceding provisions of this ARTICLE VII. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board will have sole and complete discretion to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Awards.
ARTICLE VIII
ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS
8.1 Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust: (a) the class(es) and maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan and the maximum number of shares by which the Share Reserve may annually increase pursuant to Section 4.1, (b) the class(es) and maximum
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number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 4.1 and (c) the class(es) and number of securities and exercise price, strike price or purchase price of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no fractional shares or rights for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be created in order to implement any Capitalization Adjustment. The Board shall determine an equivalent benefit for any fractional shares or fractional shares that might be created by the adjustments referred to in the preceding provisions of this Section 8.1.
8.2 Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Awards (other than Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a forfeiture condition or the Companys right of repurchase) will terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Companys repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture condition may be repurchased or reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Award is providing Continuous Service, provided, however, that the Board may determine to cause some or all Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.
8.3 Change in Control.
(a) The following provisions will apply to Awards in the event of a Change in Control except as set forth in ARTICLE XII, and unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Award or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of an Award.
(b) In the event of a Change in Control, the Board, in its sole discretion, shall take one or more of the following actions with respect to Awards, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Change in Control:
(i) settle such Awards for an amount of cash or securities equal to their value, where in the case of Options and SARs, the value of such Awards, if any, will be equal to their in-the-money spread value (if any), as determined in the sole discretion of the Board;
(ii) arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporations parent company) to assume or continue the Award or to substitute a substantially similar award for the Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Change in Control);
(iii) arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporations parent company);
(iv) modify the terms of such Awards to add events, conditions or circumstances (including termination of employment within a specified period after a Change in Control) upon which the vesting of such Awards or lapse of restrictions thereon will accelerate;
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(v) deem any performance conditions satisfied at target, maximum or actual performance through closing or provide for the performance conditions to continue (as is or as adjusted by the Committee) after closing;
(vi) arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Award;
(vii) cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the Board, in its sole discretion, may consider appropriate; or
(viii) provide that for a period of at least 20 days prior to the Change in Control, any Options or SARs that would not otherwise become exercisable prior to the Change in Control will be exercisable as to all shares of Common Stock subject thereto (but any such exercise will be contingent upon and subject to the occurrence of the Change in Control and if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the exercise will be null and void) and that any Options or SARs not exercised prior to the consummation of the Change in Control will terminate and be of no further force and effect as of the consummation of the Change in Control.
In the event that the consideration paid in the Change in Control includes contingent value rights, earnout or indemnity payments or similar payments, then the Board will determine if Awards settled under clause (i) above are (a) valued at closing taking into account such contingent consideration (with the value determined by the Board in its sole discretion) or (b) entitled to a share of such contingent consideration. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Change in Control where all Options and SARs are settled for an amount (as determined in the sole discretion of the Board) of cash or securities, the Board may, in its sole discretion, terminate any Option or SAR for which the exercise price is equal to or exceeds the per share value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction without payment of consideration therefor. Similar actions to those specified in this Section 8.3 may be taken in the event of a merger or other corporate reorganization that does not constitute a Change in Control.
The Board need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants.
8.4 Appointment of Stockholder Representative. As a condition to the receipt of an Award under this Plan, a Participant will be deemed to have agreed that the Award will be subject to the terms of any agreement governing a Change in Control involving the Company, including, without limitation, a provision for the appointment of a stockholder representative that is authorized to act on the Participants behalf with respect to any escrow, indemnities and any contingent consideration.
8.5 No Restriction on Right to Undertake Transactions. The grant of any Award under the Plan and the issuance of shares pursuant to any Award does not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or
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authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Companys capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, rights or options to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
ARTICLE IX
TAX WITHHOLDING
9.1 Withholding Authorization. As a condition to acceptance of any Award under the Plan, a Participant authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to such Participant, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including), any sums required to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, local and/or foreign tax or social insurance contribution withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in connection with the exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award, as applicable. Accordingly, a Participant may not be able to exercise an Award even though the Award is vested, and the Company shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock subject to an Award, unless and until such obligations are satisfied.
9.2 Satisfaction of Withholding Obligation. To the extent permitted by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any U.S. federal, state, local and/or foreign tax or social insurance withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (a) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (b) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Award; (c) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; (d) withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant; (e) by allowing a Participant to effectuate a cashless exercise pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; or (f) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Agreement.
9.3 No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes; No Liability to Claims. Except as required by Applicable Law the Company has no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Award. Furthermore, the Company has no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award and will not be liable to any holder of an Award for any adverse tax consequences to such holder in connection with an Award. As a condition to accepting an Award under the Plan, each Participant (a) agrees to not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from such Award or other Company compensation and (b) acknowledges that such Participant was advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, financial and other legal advisors regarding the tax consequences of the Award and has either done so or knowingly and voluntarily declined to do so. Additionally, each Participant acknowledges any Option or SAR granted under the Plan is exempt from Section 409A only if the exercise or strike price is at least equal to the fair market value of the Common
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Stock on the date of grant as determined by the Internal Revenue Service and there is no other impermissible deferral of compensation associated with the Award. Additionally, as a condition to accepting an Option or SAR granted under the Plan, each Participant agrees not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that such exercise price or strike price is less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant as subsequently determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
9.4 Withholding Indemnification. As a condition to accepting an Award under the Plan, in the event that the amount of the Companys and/or its Affiliates withholding obligation in connection with such Award was greater than the amount actually withheld by the Company and/or its Affiliates, each Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company and/or its Affiliates harmless from any failure by the Company and/or its Affiliates to withhold the proper amount.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise.
10.2 Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Awards will constitute general funds of the Company.
10.3 Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action approving the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement or related grant documents as a result of a clerical error in the Award Agreement or related grant documents, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement or related grant documents.
10.4 Stockholder Rights. No Participant will be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms, if applicable, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award is reflected in the records of the Company.
10.5 No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate at will and without regard to any future vesting
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opportunity that a Participant may have with respect to any Award (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (b) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultants agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (c) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state or foreign jurisdiction in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be. Further, nothing in the Plan, any Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award will constitute any promise or commitment by the Company or an Affiliate regarding the fact or nature of future positions, future work assignments, future compensation or any other term or condition of employment or service or confer any right or benefit under the Award or the Plan unless such right or benefit has specifically accrued under the terms of the Award Agreement and/or Plan.
10.6 Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participants regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of absence) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Board may determine, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, to (a) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares or cash amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment and (b) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
10.7 Execution of Additional Documents. As a condition to accepting an Award under the Plan, the Participant agrees to execute any additional documents or instruments necessary or desirable, as determined in the Plan Administrators sole discretion, to carry out the purposes or intent of the Award, or facilitate compliance with securities and/or other regulatory requirements, in each case at the Plan Administrators request.
10.8 Electronic Delivery and Participation. Any reference herein or in an Award Agreement to a written agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Companys intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access). By accepting any Award the Participant consents to receive documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through any on-line electronic system established and maintained by the Plan Administrator or another third party selected by the Plan Administrator. The form of delivery of any Common Stock (e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) shall be determined by the Company.
10.9 Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Companys securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Law and any clawback policy that the Company otherwise adopts, to the extent applicable and permissible under Applicable Law. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award
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Agreement as the Board determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or other cash or property upon the occurrence of Cause. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a Participants right to voluntary terminate employment upon a resignation for good reason, or for a constructive termination or any similar term under any plan of or agreement with the Company.
10.10 Securities Law Compliance. A Participant will not be issued any shares in respect of an Award unless either (a) the shares are registered under the Securities Act; or (b) the Company has determined that such issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Award also must comply with other Applicable Law governing the Award, and a Participant will not receive such shares if the Company determines that such receipt would not be in material compliance with Applicable Law.
10.11 Transfer or Assignment of Awards; Issued Shares. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the form of Award Agreement, Awards granted under the Plan may not be transferred or assigned by the Participant. After the vested shares subject to an Award have been issued, or in the case of Restricted Stock and similar awards, after the issued shares have vested, the holder of such shares is free to assign, hypothecate, donate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any interest in such shares provided that any such actions are in compliance with the provisions herein, the terms of the Trading Policy and Applicable Law.
10.12 Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of any Award granted under the Plan, as determined upon grant, vesting or settlement, shall not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating any Participants benefits under any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Affiliate, except as such plan otherwise expressly provides. The Company expressly reserves its rights to amend, modify, or terminate any of the Companys or any Affiliates employee benefit plans.
10.13 Deferrals. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may also establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by will be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.
10.14 Section 409A. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an Award Agreement, the Plan and Award Agreements will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section 409A, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A. If the Board determines that any Award granted hereunder is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an Award Agreement is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise), if the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded, and if a Participant holding an Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A is a specified employee for purposes of Section 409A,
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no distribution or payment of any amount that is due because of a separation from service (as defined in Section 409A without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months and one day following the date of such Participants separation from service or, if earlier, the date of the Participants death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule.
10.15 Choice of Law. This Plan and any controversy arising out of or relating to this Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in any application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
11.1 Compliance with Law. The Company will seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency, as may be deemed to be necessary, having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise or vesting of the Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts and at a reasonable cost, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary or advisable for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company will be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise or vesting of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant is not eligible for the grant of an Award or the subsequent issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any Applicable Law.
ARTICLE XII
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR AWARDS SUBJECT TO SECTION 409A
12.1 Application. Unless the provisions of this ARTICLE XII of the Plan are expressly superseded by the provisions in the form of Award Agreement, the provisions of this ARTICLE XII shall apply and shall supersede anything to the contrary set forth in the Award Agreement for a Non-Exempt Award.
12.2 Non-Exempt Awards Subject to Non-Exempt Severance Arrangements. To the extent a Non-Exempt Award is subject to Section 409A due to application of a Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement, the following provisions of this Section 12.2 apply.
(a) If the Non-Exempt Award vests in the ordinary course during the Participants Continuous Service in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Award Agreement, and does not accelerate vesting under the terms of a Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement, in no event will the shares be issued in respect of such Non-Exempt Award any later than the later of: (i) December 31st of the calendar year that includes the applicable vesting date, or (ii) the 60th day that follows the applicable vesting date.
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(b) If vesting of the Non-Exempt Award accelerates under the terms of a Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement in connection with the Participants Separation from Service, and such vesting acceleration provisions were in effect as of the date of grant of the Non-Exempt Award and, therefore, are part of the terms of such Non-Exempt Award as of the date of grant, then the shares will be earlier issued in settlement of such Non-Exempt Award upon the Participants Separation from Service in accordance with the terms of the Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement, but in no event later than the 60th day that follows the date of the Participants Separation from Service. However, if at the time the shares would otherwise be issued the Participant is subject to the distribution limitations contained in Section 409A applicable to specified employees, as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such shares shall not be issued before the date that is six months following the date of such Participants Separation from Service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participants death that occurs within such six month period.
(c) If vesting of a Non-Exempt Award accelerates under the terms of a Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement in connection with a Participants Separation from Service, and such vesting acceleration provisions were not in effect as of the date of grant of the Non-Exempt Award and, therefore, are not a part of the terms of such Non-Exempt Award on the date of grant, then such acceleration of vesting of the Non-Exempt Award shall not accelerate the issuance date of the shares, but the shares shall instead be issued on the same schedule as set forth in the Award Agreement as if they had vested in the ordinary course during the Participants Continuous Service, notwithstanding the vesting acceleration of the Non-Exempt Award. Such issuance schedule is intended to satisfy the requirements of payment on a specified date or pursuant to a fixed schedule, as provided under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(a)(4).
ARTICLE XIII
SEVERABILITY
If all or any part of the Plan or any Award Agreement is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not invalidate any portion of the Plan or such Award Agreement not declared to be unlawful or invalid. Any Section of the Plan or any Award Agreement (or part of such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.
ARTICLE XIV
TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of: (i) the Adoption Date, or (ii) the date the Plan is approved by the Companys stockholders. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
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Exhibit 10.7
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of July 9, 2021, by and between Hyzon Motors Inc. (the Company), with its principal offices at 475 Quaker Meeting House Road, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 and Craig Knight (Executive).
Recitals
WHEREAS, Executive is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to an employment agreement, dated as of February 23, 2021, between Executive and the Company (the Existing Employment Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which Executive will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the closing of the Merger, as defined in that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Business Combination Agreement), dated as of February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, DCRB Merger Sub Inc. and the Company;
WHEREAS, this Agreement will replace the Existing Employment Agreement effective as of the closing of the Merger (the Effective Date); provided, that if Executives employment with the Company is terminated before the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the Closing) or if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Agreement
1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. Term. The term of Executives employment hereunder by the Company will commence on the Effective Date and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 6 below, will continue for three years thereafter (the Initial Period). Upon the expiration of the Initial Period, and on each anniversary thereafter (in each case, unless Executives employment hereunder has been earlier terminated pursuant to Section 6 below) the term of Executives employment hereunder will automatically renew for one-year periods (each, a Renewal Period) unless either party notifies the other party of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the end of the Initial Period or such Renewal Period that renewal will not occur, in which case (unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 6 below), Executives employment hereunder will end upon the expiration of the then-existing Initial Period or Renewal Period (the term that Executive is employed hereunder is referred to as the Employment Period).
3. Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, Executive will serve as Chief Executive Officer and will report to the Companys Executive Chairman (EC). Executive will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of Chief
Executive Officer and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the EC. Executive will devote substantially all of Executives working time, business attention and energies (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to the performance of Executives duties for the Company. Without the consent of the Board, during the Employment Period, Executive will not serve on the board of directors, trustees or any similar governing body of any for-profit entity. Notwithstanding the above, Executive will be permitted, to the extent such activities do not interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate Section 10 of this Agreement, to (i) manage Executives (and his immediate familys) personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve, with the prior approval of the Board, on civic or charitable boards or committees (it being expressly understood and agreed that Executives continuing to serve on the civic or charitable boards or committees on which Executive is serving, or with which Executive is otherwise associated, as of the Effective Date (each of which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement), will be deemed not to interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement).
4. Place of Performance. Except for work-from-home arrangements established by the Company in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or business travel as may be required from time to time, the principal place of employment of Executive will be at the Companys offices in Honeoye Falls, NY.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of $450,000 per year (Base Salary), to be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Companys customary payroll practices in effect from time to time. The level of Executives Base Salary will be subject to review as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process. In connection with the first regularly-scheduled payroll period following the Effective Date, the Company will make a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of Base Salary that Executive would have received had he been employed hereunder between June 1, 2021, and ending on the Effective Date (such period, the Pre-Closing Period) and (ii) any salary paid to Executive under the Existing Employment Agreement during the Pre-Closing Period.
(b) Annual Bonus. Retroactive to June 1, 2021, and during the Employment Period, and subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus with a target of up to 70% of Base Salary (Target Bonus). The actual amount of any such annual bonus payment will be determined in the sole discretion of the Board (Actual Bonus). The Actual Bonus (if any) shall be paid between January 1 and March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the performance year. To receive any such annual bonus, Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such annual bonus is paid. The level of Executives Target Bonus will be subject to review by the Board or a committee thereof as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(c) Long-Term Incentive Award. Executive will receive one long-term incentive grant under the Companys 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor plan with respect to a number of shares equal to 3% of the fully diluted outstanding shares of the Companys Class A common stock following the closing of the Merger (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), in a form to be determined by the Board or a committee thereof in its sole and absolute discretion. Any such long-term incentive awards will be subject to Executives continuing employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company and its subsidiaries are referred to as the Company Group), and any other terms and conditions as set forth in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor plan and the applicable award agreement.
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(d) Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate in employee health/welfare and retirement benefit plans and programs of the Company and its subsidiaries as are made available to the Companys senior-level executives or to its employees generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time, and subject to the terms of the applicable plans or programs.
(e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company will promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company Group in effect from time to time.
6. Reasons for Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding Section 2, Executives employment hereunder may terminate at any time under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Executives employment hereunder will terminate upon Executives death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Executives incapacity due to physical or mental impairment, Executive will have been substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for a continuous period of 180 days or for 210 days within any one-year period, then the Company may terminate Executives employment as a result of Disability.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have Cause to terminate Executives employment upon Executives:
(i) conviction of or plea of no contest to any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude;
(ii) attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iii) material violation of any contract or agreement between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates, or of any duty owed to the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iv) material violation of any code of ethics, law applicable to the workplace, or material policies of the Company (including, without limitation, policies relating to sexual harassment or other prohibited discrimination) which violation, if capable of cure (as reasonably determined by the Board) remains uncured for 30 days after notice from the Board;
(v) unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets;
(vi) refusal or willful omission, other than due to Disability, to perform any duties required of Executive, which (if such refusal or omission is capable of cure, as reasonably determined by the EC and Board of Directors) continues after a period of 30 days following the Executives receipt of notice from the Board of Directors that it deems such conduct Cause for termination of employment; or
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(vii) gross misconduct or gross negligence.
For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive will be considered willful if taken or omitted in the reasonable and good faith belief that the act or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(d) Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason within 90 days after Executive has, or should have had, actual knowledge of the occurrence, without the consent of Executive, of one of the following events that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the event; provided that such notice must be given to the Company within 30 days of Executive becoming aware of such condition:
(i) a material diminution by the Company in Executives Base Salary or Target Bonus;
(ii) a material diminution in Executives authority, duties and responsibilities;
(iii) a relocation of Executives location of employment by more than 50 miles; or
(iv) the Companys material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
Executives continued employment during the 90-day period referred to above in this Section 6(d) will not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company placing Executive on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate Executive for Cause, will not constitute a Good Reason event; provided, that, if Executive is subsequently terminated for Cause, then Executive will repay any amounts paid by the Company to Executive during such paid leave period.
(e) Without Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7(a)). This means that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Executives employment with the Company will be at will.
(f) Without Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination.
7. Termination of Employment Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executives employment hereunder by the Company or, with at least 60 days advance written notice, by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 14. For purposes of this Agreement, a Notice of Termination means a notice which will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executives employment under
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the provision so indicated if the termination is based on Section 6(b), (c) or (d). The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause will not waive any right of Executive or the Company, respectively, under this Agreement or preclude Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
(b) Date of Termination. Date of Termination means (i) if Executives employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; (ii) if Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b), the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; (iii) if Executives employment is terminated upon the expiration of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period following the issuance of a notice of non-renewal from one party to the other, the date of expiration of the Initial Period or Renewal Period, as applicable; and (iv) if Executives employment is terminated for any other reason, the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if such termination is due to a Notice of Termination by Executive, the Company will have the right to accelerate such notice and make the Date of Termination the date of the Notice of Termination or such other date prior to Executives intended Date of Termination as the Company deems appropriate, which acceleration will in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause or constitute Good Reason.
(c) Removal from Any Boards and Position. Upon the termination of Executives employment with the Company for any reason, Executive will automatically, and without any further action by Executive, be deemed to resign (i) from the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company and/or any other board to which Executive has been appointed or nominated by or on behalf of the Company (including the Board), and (ii) from any position with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, as an officer and director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries.
8. Compensation upon Termination of Employment. This Section 8 provides the payments and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive as a result of his termination of employment. Except as provided in this Section 8, Executive will not be entitled to any payments or benefits from the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable, as a result of the termination of his employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(a) Termination for Any Reason. Following the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination and including, without limitation, a termination of his employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, the Company will:
(i) pay Executive (or his estate in the event of his death) as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and (B) any accrued and unused vacation pay through the Date of Termination if payable in accordance with law or Company policy then in effect;
(ii) reimburse Executive as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination for any amounts due to Executive pursuant to Section 5(e) (unless such termination occurred as a result of misappropriation of funds); and
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(iii) provide Executive with any compensation and/or benefits as may be due or payable to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable.
(b) Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason (a Qualifying Termination), Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, in addition, subject to Section 8(d) and subject to Executives continued compliance with Section 10 as if Executive remained employed during the period Executive is eligible to receive any severance benefits, Executive will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits: (i) a lump sum amount equal to the Severance Amount, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus, (iii) the Medical Benefits and (iv) the Equity Vesting Benefits. For the avoidance of doubt, a termination upon the expiration of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period (x) due to the Companys issuance of a notice of non-renewal pursuant to Section 2 shall be a Qualifying Termination, and (y) due to Executives issuance of a notice of non-renewal pursuant to Section 2 shall not be a Qualifying Termination.
(i) The Severance Amount will be equal to:
(A) if such Qualifying Termination is (1) within 3 months prior to a Change in Control of the Company or (2) within 12 months following a Change in Control of the Company (a Qualifying CIC Termination), 24 months Base Salary; or
(B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, 12 months Base Salary.
(ii) The Pro Rata Bonus will be equal to: (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance through the date of such Qualifying CIC Termination and payable within 30 days following such Qualifying CIC Termination or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance and payable at the end of the performance period.
(iii) The Medical Benefits means reimbursement provided by the Company for (A) 12 months following the Date of Termination if such Qualifying Termination is a not a Qualifying CIC Termination, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, 24 months following the Date of Termination, in each case for the premiums paid by Executive, if any, for the continuation of coverage under a Company group health plan that Executive and his dependents are eligible to receive, and that Executive timely elects to receive, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), Executive must not be eligible to receive health insurance benefits under any other employers group health plan and Employee must provide Company with documentation evidencing his payment of the applicable premiums within 30 days of their payment. If this Agreement to provide benefits continuation raises any compliance issues or impositions of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 or other applicable law, then the parties agree to modify this Agreement so that it complies with the terms of such laws without impairing the economic benefit to Executive.
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(i) The Equity Vesting Benefits means A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, full vesting of outstanding equity awards under the 2021 Plan, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards under the 2021 Plan that would have vested during the 12 month period following such Qualifying Termination had Executive remained continuously employed by the Company (including, in each case, for the avoidance of doubt, outstanding equity awards initially granted under the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan).
(ii) Change in Control will mean:
(A) during any period of not more than 24 months, individuals who constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) will be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or publicly threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or publicly threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board will be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(B) any person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the Exchange Act), and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur on account of the ownership or acquisition of securities of the Company: (A) by the Company, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in below);
(C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company (directly or indirectly) that requires the approval of the Companys stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a Business Combination), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination own, directly or indirectly, either (1) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity in such Business Combination (the Surviving Entity) or (2) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the Surviving Entity, in each case in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination; (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
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sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Entity or the parent); is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity); and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this paragraph (v) will be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction);
(D) the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any person or group (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or
(E) the Companys stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, (A) the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, (B) a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company as a result of the acquisition of outstanding voting securities of the Company by the Company which reduces the number of outstanding voting securities of the Company, and (C) the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement shall not constitute a Change in Control; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company described in the preceding clause (B) such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional voting securities of the Company that increases the percentage of outstanding voting securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control will then occur.
(c) Death or Disability. In the event Executives employment terminates as a result of Executives death or Disability, Executive would be entitled to (i) the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, subject to Section 8(d), (ii) a prorated portion of Executives annual Target Bonus based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, and (iii) vesting of all outstanding unvested equity-based awards on the Date of Termination (if applicable, any performance share unit performance requirements will vest based on actual performance at the end of the performance period), in each case, to be paid in a cash lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination.
(d) Condition to Payment and Benefits. As a condition to the payments and benefits set forth in this Section 8 (other than the payments or benefits described in Section 8(a)), Executive must timely execute (and not revoke in any time provided by the Company to do so) a separation and general release agreement in favor of the Company and its affiliates (the Release) in a form acceptable to the Company in connection with severance pay modified to reflect the terms of this Agreement, which Release shall release the Company and each of its affiliates, and each of the foregoing entities respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, predecessors, successors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Executives
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employment, engagement or affiliation with the Company and any of its affiliates or the termination of such employment, engagement or affiliation, but excluding all claims to severance payments Executive may have under this Section 8. Subject to Section 18 hereof, any payments or benefits provided pursuant to this Section 8 will be paid or provided (or begin to be paid or provided, in the case of the Medical Benefits) to Executive on the later of (i) within 30 days after such Release becomes effective and (ii) in the case of the payment or accelerated vesting of the Pro Rata Bonus not in connection with a Qualifying CIC Termination or Equity Vesting Benefits, within 30 days after the date on which any applicable performance conditions are fully and finally determined for active employee participants; provided, however, that if Executives Date of Termination occurs on or after November 1 of a given calendar year, such payment will, subject to Section 18 hereof, be paid no earlier than January 1 and no later than March 15 of the immediately following calendar year.
9. Section 280G. In the event that any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive (1) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) but for this Section 9, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (Section 4999), then such payments and benefits will be either (x) delivered in full, or (y) delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 (and any equivalent state or local excise taxes), results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits may be taxable under Section 4999. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this provision will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) reduction of the vesting acceleration of equity awards (if any); and (3) reduction of other benefits paid or provided to Executive. In the event that the acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant for equity awards. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro rata basis.
10. Confidential Information; Ownership of Documents; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group will, during Executives employment, bring Executive into close contact with confidential affairs of the Company Group, including information about costs, profits, markets, sales, products, key personnel, organizational plans, pricing policies, operational methods, technical processes, trade secrets, plans for future development, strategic plans of the most valuable nature and other business affairs and methods and other information not readily available to the public. All such information and all other information regarding the Company or its affiliates (regardless of whether obtained by, or made available to, Executive prior to the date of this Agreement or hereafter) is referred to herein as Confidential Information. Executive further acknowledges that the services to be performed under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character.
During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive agrees to keep secret all confidential matters of the Company Group (including all Confidential Information) and shall not disclose such matters to anyone outside the Company Group, or to anyone inside
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the Company Group who does not have a need to know or use such information, and shall not use such information for personal benefit or the benefit of a third party except with the prior written consent of the Company; provided, that (i) Executive shall have no such obligation to the extent such matters are or become publicly known other than as a result of Executives breach of Executives obligations hereunder and (ii) Executive may, after giving prior notice to the Company to the extent practicable under the circumstances, disclose such matters to the extent required by applicable laws or governmental regulations or judicial or regulatory process. For the avoidance of doubt, such confidential matters (and Confidential Information) include any oral or written information relating to any member of the Company Group or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and joint venture partners. In addition, Executive agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed confidential and shall not be discussed or disclosed by Executive with any person other than Executives spouse (if applicable), attorney or accountant; provided, that such discussions or disclosures shall be conditioned upon the agreement of the person to whom the terms are disclosed to maintain the confidentiality of such terms, or as provided in clause (i) or (ii) above. This confidentiality covenant is not intended to, and shall be interpreted in a manner that does not, limit or restrict Executive from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights under any applicable law and receiving compensation therefor if provided by applicable law or rule for information provided to a governmental entity.
Executive is hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833 of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to Executives attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is not disclosed except pursuant to court order.
Moreover, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action, or encourage others to take any action, to denigrate, ridicule, criticize or disparage the Company or any of its affiliates, or any of their respective current or former officers, directors, employees, joint venture partners, products, services or customers to any third party (whether through non-public communication with any person, social media or in any public communication to the media). In addition, Executive agrees that Executive will not improperly use, disclose or induce the Company or any other member of the Company Group to use any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity, nor will Executive bring onto the premises of the Company or any other member of the Company Group any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by both the Company and such employer, person or entity. Nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall preclude Executive from enforcing his rights under this Agreement or truthfully testifying in response to legal process or a governmental inquiry, or providing confidential performance reviews in the ordinary course of his services hereunder.
(b) Non-Competition. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following
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the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) render any services to, or manage, operate, control, associate with or act in any capacity (whether as a principal, partner, director, officer, member, agent, employee, consultant, owner, independent contractor or otherwise and whether or not for compensation) for, any person or entity that is a Competitive Entity; or
(ii) acquire, on a prospective basis, a 3% or greater equity, voting or profit participation interest in any Competitive Entity (except as provided in the following sentence), including, without limitation, as an owner, holder or beneficiary of any stock, stock options (whether or not exercisable) or other equity interest.
Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from acquiring solely as a passive investment and through market purchases (i) securities of any Competitive Entity that are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that are publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control are not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted or convertible securities, do not constitute more than 1% of the outstanding voting power of that entity and (ii) securities of any Competitive Entity that are not registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and are not publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control is not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted securities, do not constitute more than 3% of the outstanding voting power of that entity; provided, that in each case Executive has no active participation in the business of such entity except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
Competitive Entity means a business (whether conducted through an entity or by individuals including employees in self-employment) that is engaged in any business that competes, directly or indirectly through any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, partnership or otherwise, with (x) any of the business activities carried on by the Company or another member of the Company Group in any geographic location (including in any U.S. state or country outside the United States) where the Company or another member of the Company Group conducts business (including, without limitation, a Competitive Activity, as defined below), (y) any business activities being planned by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in the process of development at the time of Executives termination of employment (as evidenced by written proposals, market research, RFPs and similar materials) or (z) any business activity that the Company or another member of the Company Group has covenanted, in writing, not to compete with in connection with the disposition of such a business.
Competitive Activity means business activities within the lines of business of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, the design, development and manufacturing of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and fuel cell systems, the development and provision of hydrogen mobility solutions, including hydrogen supply and fuel cell lifecycle management and vehicle leasing, the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and other renewable energy sources, the manufacturing and sale of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, and commercial vehicles powered by other forms of renewable energy, including, but not limited to, electric vehicles.
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(c) Non-Solicitation. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, in any manner, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or employ, and shall not cause any entity of which Executive is an affiliate to employ, any person who was an employee of the Company or another member of the Company Group at the date of such termination of employment or within 12 months prior thereto, (ii) solicit any Client to transact business with a Competitive Entity or (other than with any member of the Company Group) with respect to Competitive Activity or to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Company or another member of the Company Group, (iii) transact business with any Client that would cause Executive to be a Competitive Entity or to be engaging in (other than on behalf of any member of the Company Group) Competitive Activity, or (iv) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company Group and a Client.
For purposes of this Agreement, a Client means any client or customer or prospective client or customer of any member of the Company Group to whom Executive provided services, or for whom Executive transacted business, or whose identity became known to Executive in connection with his relationship with or employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group, or about whom Executive obtained Confidential Information, and Solicit means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or refrain from taking any action.
(d) Work Product. Executive acknowledges that during Executives employment, Executive may conceive of, discover, invent or create inventions, improvements, new contributions, literary property, material, ideas and discoveries, whether patentable or copyrightable or not (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to herein as Work Product), and that various business opportunities shall be presented to Executive by reason of Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group. Executive acknowledges that all of the foregoing, including all intellectual property and proprietary rights therein and thereto, are works made for hire as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company and that Executive shall have no personal interest therein; provided that they are either related in any manner to the business (commercial or experimental) of the Company Group, or are, in the case of Work Product, conceived or made on the Company Groups time or with the use of the facilities or materials of the Company Group, or, in the case of business opportunities, are presented to Executive for the possible interest or participation of the Company or another member of the Company Group. Executive (i) shall promptly disclose any such Work Product and business opportunities to the Company; (ii) hereby assigns to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, upon request and without additional compensation, the entire rights to such Work Product and business opportunities; (iii) shall sign all papers necessary to carry out the foregoing; (iv) shall give testimony in support of Executives inventorship or creation in any appropriate case; and (v) otherwise assist the Company, another member of the Company Group or any designee of the foregoing, at the Company Groups expense and request, in all matters related to securing, protecting and enforcing the Company Groups rights in the Work Product and any copyright, patent or other intellectual property rights therein and thereto in any and all countries. Executive agrees that Executive will not assert any rights to any Work Product or business opportunity as having been made or acquired by Executive prior to the date of this Agreement except for
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Work Product or business opportunities, if any, disclosed in Schedule 1, attached hereto (a Prior Invention). If no Prior Inventions are listed on Schedule 1, Executive represents that there are no Prior Inventions. Executive agrees not to incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, any Prior Invention into a Company Group product, process or service without the Companys prior written consent. To the extent Executive has disclosed any Prior Inventions on Schedule 1 hereto, Executive grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, sublicensable, worldwide license to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, perform, display, import, make, have made, modify, use, sell offer to sell, and exploit in any other way such Prior Invention to the extent incorporated into any Company Group product, process or service. If and to the extent that, prior to the date of this Agreement, Executive has conceived, discovered, invented or created any item, including any intellectual property rights with respect thereto, that would have been Work Product if conceived, discovered, invented or created following the date of this Agreement, then any item will be deemed Work Product under this Agreement, and this Agreement will apply to such item as if conceived, discovered, invented or created under this Agreement. Furthermore, all modifications to and derivative works of such Prior Inventions are Work Product under this Agreement.
(e) Covenants to Others. Executive has indicated, and expressly represents, to the Company that there are no agreements or obligations that would impact Executives ability to be employed by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in this position, or in any way would prevent Executive from performing the functions of this position. Executive hereby agrees that Executive will not use any trade secrets, confidential information or proprietary information obtained from third parties, including any former employer or any other entity or person. Further, Executive will not use any unpublished documents or any other property belonging to any former employer or any other party to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. To the extent the Company discovers that any of such materials or information has been brought with Executive or is being used by Executive in connection with performing Executives job duties, this will be grounds for disciplinary action.
(f) Validity. The terms and provisions of this Section 10 are intended to be separate and divisible provisions and if, for any reason, any one or more of them is held to be invalid or unenforceable, neither the validity nor the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement will thereby be affected. The parties acknowledge that the potential restrictions on Executives future employment imposed by this Section 10 are reasonable in both duration and geographic scope and in all other respects and necessary to protect the Company Groups goodwill, Confidential Information, and other business interests. If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction will find any provisions of this Section 10 unreasonable in duration or geographic scope or otherwise, Executive and the Company agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained herein will be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law in such jurisdiction and such court will reform such restrictions and prohibitions as necessary such that they will be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
(g) Injunctive Relief. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10, Executive agrees that the Company would suffer irreparable harm, and will be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.
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(h) Cease Payments. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10 by Executive, the Companys obligation to make or provide payments or benefits under Section 8 will cease. Such remedies and the remedies described in Section 10(g) above shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and its affiliates, at law and equity.
(i) Continuing Operation. The termination of Executives employment or of this Agreement will have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 10, as this Section 10 shall survive the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(j) Return of Materials. Upon the Date of Termination, and at any other time upon request of the Company, Executive shall (i) promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company Group property (including any Company Group-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Executives possession, custody or control and Executive shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company Group and (ii) deliver to the Company any personal device (as well as a list of passwords or codes needed to operate or access any personal device) that Executive synced with or used to access any Company system solely for the purpose of removal of any Company Group property. Within five (5) days of any such request, Employee shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents, materials and property have been returned to the Company.
11. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the New York Business Corporation Law (including the advancement of applicable, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification will continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and will inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive pursuant to this Section 11(a) in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Executive only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in writing by the Board. Further, the foregoing provisions of the first sentence of this Section 11(a) shall not apply (and Executive shall have no right, and the Company shall have no obligation, with respect to indemnification, payment, or otherwise) with respect to any Proceeding (or any expense, liability, or loss arising from or relating to such Proceeding): (i) arising out of or relating to the willful misconduct, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence of Executive, or (ii) initiated by Executive or the Company or any
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of its subsidiaries or other affiliates related to any contest or dispute between Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates with respect to this Agreement or Executives employment hereunder or any other contest or dispute between Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates.
12. Insurance. Executive will be entitled to coverage under the Companys directors and officers liability insurance policy on the same terms as are made available to similarly situated executives of the Company.
13. Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a) Companys Successors. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that the Company may assign this Agreement to any parent or subsidiary of the Company and cause such entity to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(b) Executives Successors. No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If Executive dies following his Date of Termination while any amounts would still be payable to Executive hereunder if Executive had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein will be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.
14. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by email or other electronic transmission (including portable document format (.pdf) and with confirmation of transmission) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) as follows:
If to Executive:
Address on file with the Company
If to the Company:
Hyzon Motors Inc.
475 Quaker Meeting House Road
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Telephone 585-484-9337
Attention: General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer
15. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration.
(a) The parties will use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with the Companys internal review procedures, except that this requirement will not apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 10 of this Agreement.
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(b) If, despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such controversy or claim through the Companys internal review procedures, then such controversy or claim will be resolved by arbitration in Manhattan, New York, in accordance with the rules then applicable of the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) (provided that the Company will pay the filing fee and all AAA hearing fees, arbitrator expenses, and administrative and other fees of the AAA associated with any such arbitration), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Companys agreement to pay AAA fees and arbitrator expenses as set forth in the foregoing sentence does not mean that the Company shall pay Executives legal fees or any expert or other fees or expenses incurred by Executive in conjunction with any arbitration proceeding, as Executive and the Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of their own legal fees and other expenses other than the expenses of the AAA that the Company has agreed to pay pursuant to the foregoing sentence. Any arbitration conducted under this Section 15 shall be private, and shall be heard by a single arbitrator (the Arbitrator) selected in accordance with the then-applicable rules of the AAA. All disputes shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and each party hereto hereby foregoes and waives any right to arbitrate any dispute as a class action or collective action or on a consolidated basis or in a representative capacity on behalf of other persons or entities who are claimed to be similarly situated, or to participate as a class member in such a proceeding. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be reasoned, rendered in writing, be final and binding upon the disputing parties and the parties agree that judgment upon the award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 15 is subject to the Federal Arbitration Act.
(c) Notwithstanding the other terms of this Section 15, either party may make a timely application for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of Section 15; provided, however, that the remainder of any such Dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall be subject to arbitration under this Section 15.
(d) By entering into this Agreement and entering into the arbitration provisions of this Section 15, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL.
(e) Nothing in this Section 15 shall prohibit a party to this Agreement from (i) instituting litigation to enforce any arbitration award, or (ii) joining the other party to this Agreement in a litigation initiated by a person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement. Further, nothing in this Section 15 precludes Executive from filing a charge or complaint with a federal, state or other governmental administrative agency.
(f) Further, notwithstanding anything in this Section 15, to the extent that any dispute, controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arises out of or relates to any equity-based incentive awards referenced in Section 8 above, such dispute,
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controversy or claim shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions set forth in the applicable equity-based incentive award documentation.1
16. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.
(b) Full Settlement. Except as set forth in Section 10(h) of this Agreement, the Companys obligations to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not (absent fraud or willful misconduct or a termination for Cause) be affected by any set-offs, counterclaims, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. After termination of the Employment Period, in no event will Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
(c) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law principles.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent permitted by law, Executive and the Company waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 15 and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in the Borough of Manhattan in the State of New York.
17. Entire Agreement/Effectiveness; Satisfaction of Obligations. This Agreement will automatically become null and void in the event the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the closing of the Merger. Upon the Effective Date, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, term sheets, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter; provided, however, this Agreement is in addition to and complements (and does not replace or supersede) any other obligation that Executive has to the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure and return of information. Any other prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the
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subject matter contained herein, including, without limitation, the Existing Consulting Agreement, is terminated and cancelled as of the Effective Date, except with respect to any equity agreements or any compensatory plan or program in which Executive is a participant on the Effective Date. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that: (i) as of the Effective Date, Executive shall have no further rights under the Existing Employment Agreement (other than any right to payment of base salary for services provided in that portion of the pay period in which the Effective Date occurs that is prior to the Effective Date); and (ii) as of the date Executive signs this Agreement, Executive has been provided all sums, payments, benefits, rights and other entitlements that Executive has been entitled to receive from the Company and each of its affiliates.
18. Section 409A Compliance.
(a) This Agreement is intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with the applicable regulations thereunder, Section 409A). To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A (including, without limitation, Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision will be read, or will be modified by the Company in its sole discretion, as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement will be treated as a separate and distinct payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment for any amount payable hereunder.
(b) All reimbursements provided under this Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executives lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) Executive further acknowledges that any tax liability incurred by Executive under Section 409A of the Code is solely the responsibility of Executive.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code concerning payments to specified employees (as defined in Section 409A) any payment on account of Executives separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation will nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following Executives date of termination and the first such payment will include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Executive will not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 8 hereof unless Executive would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.
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19. Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive is under no contractual or other binding legal restriction which would prohibit Executive from entering into and performing under this Agreement or that would limit the performance of Executives duties under this Agreement.
20. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes and any other amounts that are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law, order or regulation.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, will bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic, faxed or PDF copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
signature page follows
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
HYZON MOTORS INC. | EXECUTIVE | |||||
By: |
/s/ George Gu
|
/s/ Craig Knight
|
||||
George Gu | Craig Knight | |||||
Executive Chairman |
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SCHEDULE 1
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
If Executive has Prior Inventions, please list them in the space below. If Executive does not have any Prior Inventions or would like to include additional Prior Inventions on separate pages, check the appropriate box at the bottom of the page.
Check the following as applicable:
☐ | All of my Prior Inventions are listed above | |
☒ | I have no Prior Inventions (it will be presumed that there are none if this sheet is left blank) | |
☐ | I have attached additional sheets describing my Prior Inventions |
Signature of Executive: |
/s/ Craig Matthew Knight
|
Print Name of Executive: Craig Matthew Knight
Date: 9 July 2021
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Exhibit 10.8
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of July 9, 2021, by and between Hyzon Motors Inc. (the Company), with its principal offices at 475 Quaker Meeting House Road, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472, and George Gu (Executive).
Recitals
WHEREAS, Executive is currently serving as Executive Chairman of the Company pursuant to an employment agreement, dated as of January 10, 2020, between Executive and HyMas PTE Ltd., parent company of the Company, for and on behalf of Company (the Existing Employment Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which Executive will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Company following the closing of the Merger, as defined in that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Business Combination Agreement), dated as of February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, DCRB Merger Sub Inc. and the Company;
WHEREAS, this Agreement will replace the Existing Employment Agreement effective as of the closing of the Merger (the Effective Date); provided, that if Executives employment with the Company is terminated before the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the Closing) or if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Agreement
1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. Term. The term of Executives employment hereunder by the Company will commence on the Effective Date and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 6 below, will continue for three years thereafter (the Initial Period). Upon the expiration of the Initial Period, and on each anniversary thereafter (in each case, unless Executives employment hereunder has been earlier terminated pursuant to Section 6 below) the term of Executives employment hereunder will automatically renew for one-year periods (each, a Renewal Period) unless either party notifies the other party of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the end of the Initial Period or such Renewal Period that renewal will not occur, in which case (unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 6 below), Executives employment hereunder will end upon the expiration of the then-existing Initial Period or Renewal Period (the term that Executive is employed hereunder is referred to as the Employment Period).
3. Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, Executive will serve as Executive Chairman and will report to the Companys Board of Directors (the Board). Executive will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of Executive Chairman and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the Board. Executive will devote substantially all of Executives working time, business attention and energies (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to the performance of Executives duties for the Company. Without the consent of the Board, during the Employment Period, Executive will not serve on the board of directors, trustees or any similar governing body of any for-profit entity. Notwithstanding the above, Executive will be permitted, to the extent such activities do not interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate Section 10 of this Agreement, to (i) manage Executives (and his immediate familys) personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve, with the prior approval of the Board, on civic or charitable boards or committees (it being expressly understood and agreed that Executives continuing to serve on the civic or charitable boards or committees on which Executive is serving, or with which Executive is otherwise associated, as of the Effective Date (each of which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement), will be deemed not to interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement).
4. Place of Performance. Except for work-from-home arrangements established by the Company in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or business travel as may be required from time to time, the principal place of employment of Executive will be at the Companys offices in the greater Chicago area.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of $475,000 per year (Base Salary), to be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Companys customary payroll practices in effect from time to time. The level of Executives Base Salary will be subject to review as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process. In connection with the first regularly-scheduled payroll period following the Effective Date, the Company will make a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of Base Salary that Executive would have received had he been employed hereunder between June 1, 2021, and ending on the Effective Date (such period, the Pre-Closing Period) and (ii) any salary paid to Executive under the Existing Employment Agreement during the Pre-Closing Period.
(b) Annual Bonus. Retroactive to June 1, 2021 and during the Employment Period, and subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus with a target of up to 70% of Base Salary (Target Bonus). The actual amount of any such annual bonus payment will be determined in the sole discretion of the Board (Actual Bonus). The Actual Bonus (if any) shall be paid between January 1 and March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the performance year. To receive any such annual bonus, Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such annual bonus is paid. The level of Executives Target Bonus will be subject to review by the Board or a committee thereof as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(c) Long-Term Incentive Award. Executive will receive one long-term incentive grant under the Companys 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor plan with respect to a number of shares equal to 3% of the fully diluted outstanding shares of the Companys Class A common stock following the closing of the Merger (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), in a form to be determined by the Board or a committee thereof in its sole and absolute discretion. Any such long-term incentive awards will be subject to Executives continuing employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company and its subsidiaries are referred to as the Company Group), and any other terms and conditions as set forth in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor plan and the applicable award agreement.
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(d) Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate in employee health/welfare and retirement benefit plans and programs of the Company and its subsidiaries as are made available to the Companys senior-level executives or to its employees generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time, and subject to the terms of the applicable plans or programs.
(e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company will promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company Group in effect from time to time.
6. Reasons for Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding Section 2, Executives employment hereunder may terminate at any time under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Executives employment hereunder will terminate upon Executives death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Executives incapacity due to physical or mental impairment, Executive will have been substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for a continuous period of 180 days or for 210 days within any one-year period, then the Company may terminate Executives employment as a result of Disability.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have Cause to terminate Executives employment upon Executives:
(i) conviction of or plea of no contest to any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude;
(ii) attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iii) material violation of any contract or agreement between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates, or of any duty owed to the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iv) material violation of any code of ethics, law applicable to the workplace, or material policies of the Company (including, without limitation, policies relating to sexual harassment or other prohibited discrimination) which violation, if capable of cure (as reasonably determined by the Board) remains uncured for 30 days after notice from the Board;
(v) unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets;
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(vi) refusal or willful omission, other than due to Disability, to perform any duties required of Executive, which (if such refusal or omission is capable of cure, as reasonably determined by the Board) continues after a period of 30 days following the Executives receipt of notice from the Board that it deems such conduct Cause for termination of employment; or
(vii) gross misconduct or gross negligence.
For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive will be considered willful if taken or omitted in the reasonable and good faith belief that the act or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(d) Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason within 90 days after Executive has, or should have had, actual knowledge of the occurrence, without the consent of Executive, of one of the following events that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the event; provided that such notice must be given to the Company within 30 days of Executive becoming aware of such condition:
(i) a material diminution by the Company in Executives Base Salary or Target Bonus;
(ii) a material diminution in Executives authority, duties and responsibilities;
(iii) a relocation of Executives location of employment by more than 50 miles; or
(iv) the Companys material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
Executives continued employment during the 90-day period referred to above in this Section 6(d) will not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company placing Executive on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate Executive for Cause, will not constitute a Good Reason event; provided, that, if Executive is subsequently terminated for Cause, then Executive will repay any amounts paid by the Company to Executive during such paid leave period.
(e) Without Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7(a)). This means that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Executives employment with the Company will be at will.
(f) Without Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination.
7. Termination of Employment Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executives employment hereunder by the Company or, with at least 60 days advance written notice, by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination
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to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 14. For purposes of this Agreement, a Notice of Termination means a notice which will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executives employment under the provision so indicated if the termination is based on Section 6(b), (c) or (d). The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause will not waive any right of Executive or the Company, respectively, under this Agreement or preclude Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
(b) Date of Termination. Date of Termination means (i) if Executives employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; (ii) if Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b), the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; (iii) if Executives employment is terminated upon the expiration of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period following the issuance of a notice of non-renewal from one party to the other, the date of expiration of the Initial Period or Renewal Period, as applicable; and (iv) if Executives employment is terminated for any other reason, the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if such termination is due to a Notice of Termination by Executive, the Company will have the right to accelerate such notice and make the Date of Termination the date of the Notice of Termination or such other date prior to Executives intended Date of Termination as the Company deems appropriate, which acceleration will in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause or constitute Good Reason.
(c) Removal from Any Boards and Position. Upon the termination of Executives employment with the Company for any reason, Executive will automatically, and without any further action by Executive, be deemed to resign (i) from the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company and/or any other board to which Executive has been appointed or nominated by or on behalf of the Company (including the Board), and (ii) from any position with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, as an officer and director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries.
8. Compensation upon Termination of Employment. This Section 8 provides the payments and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive as a result of his termination of employment. Except as provided in this Section 8, Executive will not be entitled to any payments or benefits from the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable, as a result of the termination of his employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(a) Termination for Any Reason. Following the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination and including, without limitation, a termination of his employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, the Company will:
(i) pay Executive (or his estate in the event of his death) as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and (B) any accrued and unused vacation pay through the Date of Termination if payable in accordance with law or Company policy then in effect;
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(ii) reimburse Executive as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination for any amounts due to Executive pursuant to Section 5(e) (unless such termination occurred as a result of misappropriation of funds); and
(iii) provide Executive with any compensation and/or benefits as may be due or payable to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable.
(b) Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason (a Qualifying Termination), Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, in addition, subject to Section 8(d) and subject to Executives continued compliance with Section 10 as if Executive remained employed during the period Executive is eligible to receive any severance benefits, Executive will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits: (i) a lump sum amount equal to the Severance Amount, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus, (iii) the Medical Benefits and (iv) the Equity Vesting Benefits. For the avoidance of doubt, a termination upon the expiration of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period (x) due to the Companys issuance of a notice of non-renewal pursuant to Section 2 shall be a Qualifying Termination, and (y) due to Executives issuance of a notice of non-renewal pursuant to Section 2 shall not be a Qualifying Termination.
(i) The Severance Amount will be equal to:
(A) if such Qualifying Termination is (1) within 3 months prior to a Change in Control of the Company or (2) within 12 months following a Change in Control of the Company (a Qualifying CIC Termination), 24 months Base Salary; or
(B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, 12 months Base Salary.
(ii) The Pro Rata Bonus will be equal to: (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance through the date of such Qualifying CIC Termination and payable within 30 days following such Qualifying CIC Termination or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance and payable at the end of the performance period.
(iii) The Medical Benefits means reimbursement provided by the Company for (A) 12 months following the Date of Termination if such Qualifying Termination is a not a Qualifying CIC Termination, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, 24 months following the Date of Termination, in each case for the premiums paid by Executive, if any, for the continuation of coverage under a Company group health plan that Executive and his dependents are eligible to receive, and that Executive timely elects to receive, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), Executive must not be eligible to receive health insurance benefits under any other employers group health plan and Employee must provide Company with
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documentation evidencing his payment of the applicable premiums within 30 days of their payment. If this Agreement to provide benefits continuation raises any compliance issues or impositions of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 or other applicable law, then the parties agree to modify this Agreement so that it complies with the terms of such laws without impairing the economic benefit to Executive.
(i) The Equity Vesting Benefits means A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, full vesting of outstanding equity awards under the 2021 Plan, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards under the 2021 Plan that would have vested during the 12 month period following such Qualifying Termination had Executive remained continuously employed by the Company (including, in each case, for the avoidance of doubt, outstanding equity awards initially granted under the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan).
(ii) Change in Control will mean:
(A) during any period of not more than 24 months, individuals who constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) will be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or publicly threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or publicly threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board will be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(B) any person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the Exchange Act), and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur on account of the ownership or acquisition of securities of the Company: (A) by the Company, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in below);
(C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company (directly or indirectly) that requires the approval of the Companys stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a Business Combination), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination own, directly or indirectly, either (1) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity in such Business Combination (the Surviving Entity) or (2) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the
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Surviving Entity, in each case in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination; (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Entity or the parent); is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity); and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this paragraph (v) will be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction);
(D) the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any person or group (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or
(E) the Companys stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, (A) the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, (B) a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company as a result of the acquisition of outstanding voting securities of the Company by the Company which reduces the number of outstanding voting securities of the Company, and (C) the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement shall not constitute a Change in Control; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company described in the preceding clause (B) such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional voting securities of the Company that increases the percentage of outstanding voting securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control will then occur.
(c) Death or Disability. In the event Executives employment terminates as a result of Executives death or Disability, Executive would be entitled to (i) the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, subject to Section 8(d), (ii) a prorated portion of Executives annual Target Bonus based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, and (iii) vesting of all outstanding unvested equity-based awards on the Date of Termination (if applicable, any performance share unit performance requirements will vest based on actual performance at the end of the performance period), in each case, to be paid in a cash lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination.
(d) Condition to Payment and Benefits. As a condition to the payments and benefits set forth in this Section 8 (other than the payments or benefits described in Section 8(a)), Executive must timely execute (and not revoke in any time provided by the Company to do so) a separation and general release agreement in favor of the Company and its affiliates (the Release) in a form acceptable to the Company in connection with severance pay modified to reflect the terms of this Agreement, which Release shall release the Company and each of its affiliates, and each of the foregoing entities respective shareholders,
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members, partners, officers, managers, directors, predecessors, successors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Executives employment, engagement or affiliation with the Company and any of its affiliates or the termination of such employment, engagement or affiliation, but excluding all claims to severance payments Executive may have under this Section 8. Subject to Section 18 hereof, any payments or benefits provided pursuant to this Section 8 will be paid or provided (or begin to be paid or provided, in the case of the Medical Benefits) to Executive on the later of (i) within 30 days after such Release becomes effective and (ii) in the case of the payment or accelerated vesting of the Pro Rata Bonus not in connection with a Qualifying CIC Termination or Equity Vesting Benefits, within 30 days after the date on which any applicable performance conditions are fully and finally determined for active employee participants; provided, however, that if Executives Date of Termination occurs on or after November 1 of a given calendar year, such payment will, subject to Section 18 hereof, be paid no earlier than January 1 and no later than March 15 of the immediately following calendar year.
9. Section 280G. In the event that any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive (1) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) but for this Section 9, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (Section 4999), then such payments and benefits will be either (x) delivered in full, or (y) delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 (and any equivalent state or local excise taxes), results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits may be taxable under Section 4999. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this provision will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) reduction of the vesting acceleration of equity awards (if any); and (3) reduction of other benefits paid or provided to Executive. In the event that the acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant for equity awards. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro rata basis.
10. Confidential Information; Ownership of Documents; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group will, during Executives employment, bring Executive into close contact with confidential affairs of the Company Group, including information about costs, profits, markets, sales, products, key personnel, organizational plans, pricing policies, operational methods, technical processes, trade secrets, plans for future development, strategic plans of the most valuable nature and other business affairs and methods and other information not readily available to the public. All such information and all other information regarding the Company or its affiliates (regardless of whether obtained by, or made available to, Executive prior to the date of this Agreement or hereafter) is referred to herein as Confidential Information. Executive further acknowledges that the services to be performed under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character.
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During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive agrees to keep secret all confidential matters of the Company Group (including all Confidential Information) and shall not disclose such matters to anyone outside the Company Group, or to anyone inside the Company Group who does not have a need to know or use such information, and shall not use such information for personal benefit or the benefit of a third party except with the prior written consent of the Company; provided, that (i) Executive shall have no such obligation to the extent such matters are or become publicly known other than as a result of Executives breach of Executives obligations hereunder and (ii) Executive may, after giving prior notice to the Company to the extent practicable under the circumstances, disclose such matters to the extent required by applicable laws or governmental regulations or judicial or regulatory process. For the avoidance of doubt, such confidential matters (and Confidential Information) include any oral or written information relating to any member of the Company Group or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and joint venture partners. In addition, Executive agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed confidential and shall not be discussed or disclosed by Executive with any person other than Executives spouse (if applicable), attorney or accountant; provided, that such discussions or disclosures shall be conditioned upon the agreement of the person to whom the terms are disclosed to maintain the confidentiality of such terms, or as provided in clause (i) or (ii) above. This confidentiality covenant is not intended to, and shall be interpreted in a manner that does not, limit or restrict Executive from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights under any applicable law and receiving compensation therefor if provided by applicable law or rule for information provided to a governmental entity.
Executive is hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833 of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to Executives attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is not disclosed except pursuant to court order.
Moreover, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action, or encourage others to take any action, to denigrate, ridicule, criticize or disparage the Company or any of its affiliates, or any of their respective current or former officers, directors, employees, joint venture partners, products, services or customers to any third party (whether through non-public communication with any person, social media or in any public communication to the media). In addition, Executive agrees that Executive will not improperly use, disclose or induce the Company or any other member of the Company Group to use any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity, nor will Executive bring onto the premises of the Company or any other member of the Company Group any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by both the Company and such employer, person or entity. Nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall preclude Executive from enforcing his rights under this Agreement or truthfully testifying in response to legal process or a governmental inquiry, or providing confidential performance reviews in the ordinary course of his services hereunder.
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(b) Non-Competition. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) render any services to, or manage, operate, control, associate with or act in any capacity (whether as a principal, partner, director, officer, member, agent, employee, consultant, owner, independent contractor or otherwise and whether or not for compensation) for, any person or entity that is a Competitive Entity; or
(ii) acquire, on a prospective basis, a 3% or greater equity, voting or profit participation interest in any Competitive Entity (except as provided in the following sentence), including, without limitation, as an owner, holder or beneficiary of any stock, stock options (whether or not exercisable) or other equity interest.
Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from acquiring solely as a passive investment and through market purchases (i) securities of any Competitive Entity that are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that are publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control are not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted or convertible securities, do not constitute more than 1% of the outstanding voting power of that entity and (ii) securities of any Competitive Entity that are not registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and are not publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control is not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted securities, do not constitute more than 3% of the outstanding voting power of that entity; provided, that in each case Executive has no active participation in the business of such entity except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
Competitive Entity means a business (whether conducted through an entity or by individuals including employees in self-employment) that is engaged in any business that competes, directly or indirectly through any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, partnership or otherwise, with (x) any of the business activities carried on by the Company or another member of the Company Group in any geographic location (including in any U.S. state or country outside the United States) where the Company or another member of the Company Group conducts business (including, without limitation, a Competitive Activity, as defined below), (y) any business activities being planned by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in the process of development at the time of Executives termination of employment (as evidenced by written proposals, market research, RFPs and similar materials) or (z) any business activity that the Company or another member of the Company Group has covenanted, in writing, not to compete with in connection with the disposition of such a business.
Competitive Activity means business activities within the lines of business of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, the design, development and manufacturing of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and fuel cell systems, the development and provision of hydrogen mobility solutions, including hydrogen supply and fuel cell lifecycle management and vehicle leasing, the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and other renewable energy sources, the manufacturing and sale of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, and commercial vehicles powered by other forms of renewable energy, including, but not limited to, electric vehicles.
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(c) Non-Solicitation. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, in any manner, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or employ, and shall not cause any entity of which Executive is an affiliate to employ, any person who was an employee of the Company or another member of the Company Group at the date of such termination of employment or within 12 months prior thereto, (ii) solicit any Client to transact business with a Competitive Entity or (other than with any member of the Company Group) with respect to Competitive Activity or to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Company or another member of the Company Group, (iii) transact business with any Client that would cause Executive to be a Competitive Entity or to be engaging in (other than on behalf of any member of the Company Group) Competitive Activity, or (iv) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company Group and a Client.
For purposes of this Agreement, a Client means any client or customer or prospective client or customer of any member of the Company Group to whom Executive provided services, or for whom Executive transacted business, or whose identity became known to Executive in connection with his relationship with or employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group, or about whom Executive obtained Confidential Information, and Solicit means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or refrain from taking any action.
(d) Work Product. Executive acknowledges that during Executives employment, Executive may conceive of, discover, invent or create inventions, improvements, new contributions, literary property, material, ideas and discoveries, whether patentable or copyrightable or not (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to herein as Work Product), and that various business opportunities shall be presented to Executive by reason of Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group. Executive acknowledges that all of the foregoing, including all intellectual property and proprietary rights therein and thereto, are works made for hire as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company and that Executive shall have no personal interest therein; provided that they are either related in any manner to the business (commercial or experimental) of the Company Group, or are, in the case of Work Product, conceived or made on the Company Groups time or with the use of the facilities or materials of the Company Group, or, in the case of business opportunities, are presented to Executive for the possible interest or participation of the Company or another member of the Company Group. Executive (i) shall promptly disclose any such Work Product and business opportunities to the Company; (ii) hereby assigns to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, upon request and without additional compensation, the entire rights to such Work Product and business opportunities; (iii) shall sign all papers necessary to carry out the foregoing; (iv) shall give testimony in support of Executives inventorship or creation in any appropriate case; and (v) otherwise assist the Company, another member of the Company Group or any designee of the foregoing, at the Company Groups expense and request, in all matters related to securing, protecting and enforcing the Company Groups rights in the Work Product and any copyright, patent or other intellectual property rights therein and thereto in any and all countries. Executive agrees that Executive will not assert any rights to any Work Product or business opportunity as having been made or acquired by Executive prior to the date of this Agreement except for
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Work Product or business opportunities, if any, disclosed in Schedule 1, attached hereto (a Prior Invention). If no Prior Inventions are listed on Schedule 1, Executive represents that there are no Prior Inventions. Executive agrees not to incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, any Prior Invention into a Company Group product, process or service without the Companys prior written consent. To the extent Executive has disclosed any Prior Inventions on Schedule 1 hereto, Executive grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, sublicensable, worldwide license to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, perform, display, import, make, have made, modify, use, sell offer to sell, and exploit in any other way such Prior Invention to the extent incorporated into any Company Group product, process or service. If and to the extent that, prior to the date of this Agreement, Executive has conceived, discovered, invented or created any item, including any intellectual property rights with respect thereto, that would have been Work Product if conceived, discovered, invented or created following the date of this Agreement, then any item will be deemed Work Product under this Agreement, and this Agreement will apply to such item as if conceived, discovered, invented or created under this Agreement. Furthermore, all modifications to and derivative works of such Prior Inventions are Work Product under this Agreement.
(e) Covenants to Others. Executive has indicated, and expressly represents, to the Company that there are no agreements or obligations that would impact Executives ability to be employed by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in this position, or in any way would prevent Executive from performing the functions of this position. Executive hereby agrees that Executive will not use any trade secrets, confidential information or proprietary information obtained from third parties, including any former employer or any other entity or person. Further, Executive will not use any unpublished documents or any other property belonging to any former employer or any other party to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. To the extent the Company discovers that any of such materials or information has been brought with Executive or is being used by Executive in connection with performing Executives job duties, this will be grounds for disciplinary action.
(f) Validity. The terms and provisions of this Section 10 are intended to be separate and divisible provisions and if, for any reason, any one or more of them is held to be invalid or unenforceable, neither the validity nor the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement will thereby be affected. The parties acknowledge that the potential restrictions on Executives future employment imposed by this Section 10 are reasonable in both duration and geographic scope and in all other respects and necessary to protect the Company Groups goodwill, Confidential Information, and other business interests. If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction will find any provisions of this Section 10 unreasonable in duration or geographic scope or otherwise, Executive and the Company agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained herein will be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law in such jurisdiction and such court will reform such restrictions and prohibitions as necessary such that they will be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
(g) Injunctive Relief. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10, Executive agrees that the Company would suffer irreparable harm, and will be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.
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(h) Cease Payments. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10 by Executive, the Companys obligation to make or provide payments or benefits under Section 8 will cease. Such remedies and the remedies described in Section 10(g) above shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and its affiliates, at law and equity.
(i) Continuing Operation. The termination of Executives employment or of this Agreement will have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 10, as this Section 10 shall survive the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(j) Return of Materials. Upon the Date of Termination, and at any other time upon request of the Company, Executive shall (i) promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company Group property (including any Company Group-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Executives possession, custody or control and Executive shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company Group and (ii) deliver to the Company any personal device (as well as a list of passwords or codes needed to operate or access any personal device) that Executive synced with or used to access any Company system solely for the purpose of removal of any Company Group property. Within five (5) days of any such request, Employee shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents, materials and property have been returned to the Company.
11. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the New York Business Corporation Law (including the advancement of applicable, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification will continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and will inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive pursuant to this Section 11(a) in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Executive only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in writing by the Board. Further, the foregoing provisions of the first sentence of this Section 11(a) shall not apply (and Executive shall have no right, and the Company shall have no obligation, with respect to indemnification, payment, or otherwise) with respect to any Proceeding (or any expense, liability, or loss arising from or relating to such Proceeding): (i) arising out of or relating to the willful misconduct, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence of Executive, or (ii) initiated by Executive or the Company or any
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of its subsidiaries or other affiliates related to any contest or dispute between Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates with respect to this Agreement or Executives employment hereunder or any other contest or dispute between Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates.
12. Insurance. Executive will be entitled to coverage under the Companys directors and officers liability insurance policy on the same terms as are made available to similarly situated executives of the Company.
13. Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a) Companys Successors. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that the Company may assign this Agreement to any parent or subsidiary of the Company and cause such entity to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(b) Executives Successors. No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If Executive dies following his Date of Termination while any amounts would still be payable to Executive hereunder if Executive had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein will be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.
14. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by email or other electronic transmission (including portable document format (.pdf) and with confirmation of transmission) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) as follows:
If to Executive:
Address on file with the Company
If to the Company:
Hyzon Motors Inc.
475 Quaker Meeting House Road
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Telephone 585-484-9337
Attention: General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer
15. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration.
(a) The parties will use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with the Companys internal review procedures, except that this requirement will not apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 10 of this Agreement.
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(b) If, despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such controversy or claim through the Companys internal review procedures, then such controversy or claim will be resolved by arbitration in Manhattan, New York, in accordance with the rules then applicable of the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) (provided that the Company will pay the filing fee and all AAA hearing fees, arbitrator expenses, and administrative and other fees of the AAA associated with any such arbitration), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Companys agreement to pay AAA fees and arbitrator expenses as set forth in the foregoing sentence does not mean that the Company shall pay Executives legal fees or any expert or other fees or expenses incurred by Executive in conjunction with any arbitration proceeding, as Executive and the Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of their own legal fees and other expenses other than the expenses of the AAA that the Company has agreed to pay pursuant to the foregoing sentence. Any arbitration conducted under this Section 15 shall be private, and shall be heard by a single arbitrator (the Arbitrator) selected in accordance with the then-applicable rules of the AAA. All disputes shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and each party hereto hereby foregoes and waives any right to arbitrate any dispute as a class action or collective action or on a consolidated basis or in a representative capacity on behalf of other persons or entities who are claimed to be similarly situated, or to participate as a class member in such a proceeding. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be reasoned, rendered in writing, be final and binding upon the disputing parties and the parties agree that judgment upon the award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 15 is subject to the Federal Arbitration Act.
(c) Notwithstanding the other terms of this Section 15, either party may make a timely application for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of Section 15; provided, however, that the remainder of any such Dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall be subject to arbitration under this Section 15.
(d) By entering into this Agreement and entering into the arbitration provisions of this Section 15, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL.
(e) Nothing in this Section 15 shall prohibit a party to this Agreement from (i) instituting litigation to enforce any arbitration award, or (ii) joining the other party to this Agreement in a litigation initiated by a person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement. Further, nothing in this Section 15 precludes Executive from filing a charge or complaint with a federal, state or other governmental administrative agency.
(f) Further, notwithstanding anything in this Section 15, to the extent that any dispute, controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arises out of or relates to any equity-based incentive awards referenced in Section 8 above, such dispute,
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controversy or claim shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions set forth in the applicable equity-based incentive award documentation.1
16. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.
(b) Full Settlement. Except as set forth in Section 10(h) of this Agreement, the Companys obligations to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not (absent fraud or willful misconduct or a termination for Cause) be affected by any set-offs, counterclaims, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. After termination of the Employment Period, in no event will Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
(c) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law principles.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent permitted by law, Executive and the Company waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 15 and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in the Borough of Manhattan in the State of New York.
17. Entire Agreement/Effectiveness; Satisfaction of Obligations. This Agreement will automatically become null and void in the event the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the closing of the Merger. Upon the Effective Date, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, term sheets, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter; provided, however, this Agreement is in addition to and complements (and does not replace or supersede) any other obligation that Executive has to the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure and return of information. Any other prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the
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subject matter contained herein, including, without limitation, the Existing Employment Agreement, is terminated and cancelled as of the Effective Date, except with respect to any equity agreements or any compensatory plan or program in which Executive is a participant on the Effective Date. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that: (i) as of the Effective Date, Executive shall have no further rights under the Existing Employment Agreement (other than any right to payment of base salary for services provided in that portion of the pay period in which the Effective Date occurs that is prior to the Effective Date); and (ii) as of the date Executive signs this Agreement, Executive has been provided all sums, payments, benefits, rights and other entitlements that Executive has been entitled to receive from the Company and each of its affiliates.
18. Section 409A Compliance.
(a) This Agreement is intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with the applicable regulations thereunder, Section 409A). To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A (including, without limitation, Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision will be read, or will be modified by the Company in its sole discretion, as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement will be treated as a separate and distinct payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment for any amount payable hereunder.
(b) All reimbursements provided under this Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executives lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) Executive further acknowledges that any tax liability incurred by Executive under Section 409A of the Code is solely the responsibility of Executive.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code concerning payments to specified employees (as defined in Section 409A) any payment on account of Executives separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation will nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following Executives date of termination and the first such payment will include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Executive will not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 8 hereof unless Executive would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.
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19. Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive is under no contractual or other binding legal restriction which would prohibit Executive from entering into and performing under this Agreement or that would limit the performance of Executives duties under this Agreement.
20. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes and any other amounts that are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law, order or regulation.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, will bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic, faxed or PDF copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
signature page follows
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
HYZON MOTORS INC. | EXECUTIVE | |||||
By: |
/s/ Craig Knight
|
/s/ George Gu
|
||||
Craig Knight | George Gu | |||||
Chief Executive Officer |
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SCHEDULE 1
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
If Executive has Prior Inventions, please list them in the space below. If Executive does not have any Prior Inventions or would like to include additional Prior Inventions on separate pages, check the appropriate box at the bottom of the page.
Check the following as applicable:
☐ | All of my Prior Inventions are listed above | |
✓ | I have no Prior Inventions (it will be presumed that there are none if this sheet is left blank) | |
☐ | I have attached additional sheets describing my Prior Inventions |
Signature of Executive: |
/s/ George Gu
|
Print Name of Executive: George Gu
Date: July 9, 2021
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Exhibit 10.9
EXECUTION VERSION
CONFIDENTIAL
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of July 15, 2021, by and between Hyzon Motors Inc. (the Company), with its principal offices at 475 Quaker Meeting House Road, Honeoye Falls, New York 14472, and John Zavoli (Executive).
Recitals
WHEREAS, Executive is currently serving as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the Company pursuant to an employment agreement, dated as of February 12, 2021, between Executive and the Company (the Existing Employment Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which Executive will continue to serve as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the Company following the closing of the Merger, as defined in that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Business Combination Agreement), dated as of February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, DCRB Merger Sub Inc. and the Company;
WHEREAS, this Agreement will replace the Existing Employment Agreement effective as of the closing of the Merger (the Effective Date); provided, that if your Existing Employment Agreement with the Company is terminated before the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the Closing) or if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Agreement
1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. At-Will Employment. Executives employment hereunder by the Company will commence on Effective Date or such other date as agreed by the parties. Executives employment shall at all times be at will notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement.
3. Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, Executive will serve as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer and will report both to the Companys Executive Chairman (Executive Chairman) and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Executive will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the Executive Chairman or the CEO. Executive will devote substantially all of Executives working time, business attention and energies (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to the performance of Executives duties for the Company. Without the consent of the Companys Board of Directors (the Board), during the Employment Period, Executive will not serve on the board of directors, trustees or any similar governing body of any for-profit entity. Notwithstanding the above, Executive will be permitted, to the extent such activities do not interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate Section 10 of this Agreement, to (i) manage Executives
(and his immediate familys) personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve, with the prior approval of the Board, on civic or charitable boards or committees (it being expressly understood and agreed that Executives continuing to serve on the civic or charitable boards or committees on which Executive is serving, or with which Executive is otherwise associated, as of the Effective Date (each of which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement), will be deemed not to interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement).
4. Place of Performance. Except for work-from-home arrangements established by the Company in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or business travel as may be required from time to time, the place of employment of Executive will be at the Companys offices in Chicago, Illinois (the Chicago area office). Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties agree that Executive is not required initially to relocate to the Chicago area and is authorized to commute from his current home in Cumming, Georgia, to the Chicago area office designated by the Company. While Executive is commuting from Georgia, the Company agrees to reimburse Executive for all commute-related airfare, reasonably priced lodging, and other reasonable expenses per Company policies and budgetary considerations.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of $250,000 per year (Base Salary), to be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Companys customary payroll practices in effect from time to time. The level of Executives Base Salary will be subject to review as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(b) Annual Bonus. During the Employment Period and subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus with a target of 30% of Base Salary (Target Bonus). The actual amount of any such annual bonus payment will be determined in the sole discretion of the Board (Actual Bonus). The Actual Bonus (if any) shall be paid between January 1 and March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the performance year. To receive any such annual bonus, Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such annual bonus is paid. The level of Executives Target Bonus will be subject to review by the Board or a committee thereof as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(c) Long-Term Incentive Award. On February 18, 2021, Executive was granted 60,000 restricted stock units under the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan. Commencing in 2022 and for the remainder of the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual long-term incentive opportunity under the Companys 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor plan as for similarly-situated executive employees (other than the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman), in a form and in such amounts to be determined by the Board or a committee thereof in its sole and absolute discretion. Any such long-term incentive awards will be subject to Executives continuing employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company and its subsidiaries are referred to as the Company Group), and any other terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable award agreement.
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(d) Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate in employee health/welfare and retirement benefit plans and programs of the Company and its subsidiaries as are made available to the Companys senior-level executives or to its employees generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time, and subject to the terms of the applicable plans or programs.
(e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company will promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company Group in effect from time to time.
6. Reasons for Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding Section 2, Executives employment hereunder may terminate at any time under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Executives employment hereunder will terminate upon Executives death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Executives incapacity due to physical or mental impairment, Executive will have been substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for a continuous period of 180 days or for 210 days within any one-year period, then the Company may terminate Executives employment as a result of Disability.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have Cause to terminate Executives employment upon Executives:
(i) conviction of or plea of no contest to any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude;
(ii) attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iii) material violation of any contract or agreement between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates, or of any duty owed to the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iv) material violation of any code of ethics, law applicable to the workplace, or material policies of the Company (including, without limitation, policies relating to sexual harassment or other prohibited discrimination) which violation, if capable of cure (as reasonably determined by the Company) remains uncured for 30 days after notice from the Company;
(v) unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets;
(vi) refusal or willful omission, other than due to Disability, to perform any duties required of Executive, which (if such refusal or omission is capable of cure, as reasonably determined by the Company) continues after a period of 30 days following the Executives receipt of notice from the Company that it deems such conduct Cause for termination of employment; or
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(vii) gross misconduct or gross negligence.
For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive will be considered willful if taken or omitted in the reasonable and good faith belief that the act or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(d) Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason within 90 days after Executive has, or should have had, actual knowledge of the occurrence, without the consent of Executive, of one of the following events that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the event; provided that such notice must be given to the Company within 30 days of Executive becoming aware of such condition:
(i) a material diminution by the Company in Executives Base Salary or Target Bonus;
(ii) a material diminution in Executives authority, duties or responsibilities;
(iii) a relocation of Executives location of employment by more than 50 miles; or
(iv) the Companys material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
Executives continued employment during the 90-day period referred to above in this Section 6(d) will not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company placing Executive on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate Executive for Cause, will not constitute a Good Reason event; provided, that, if Executive is subsequently terminated for Cause, then Executive will repay any amounts paid by the Company to Executive during such paid leave period.
(e) Without Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7(a)). This means that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Executives employment with the Company will be at will.
(f) Without Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination.
7. Termination of Employment Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executives employment hereunder by the Company or, with at least 60 days advance written notice, by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 13. For purposes of this Agreement, a Notice of Termination means a notice which will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executives employment under
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the provision so indicated if the termination is based on Section 6(b), (c) or (d). The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause will not waive any right of Executive or the Company, respectively, under this Agreement or preclude Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
(b) Date of Termination. Date of Termination means (i) if Executives employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; (ii) if Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b), the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if Executives employment is terminated for any other reason, the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if such termination is due to a Notice of Termination by Executive, the Company will have the right to accelerate such notice and make the Date of Termination the date of the Notice of Termination or such other date prior to Executives intended Date of Termination as the Company deems appropriate, which acceleration will in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause or constitute Good Reason.
(c) Removal from Any Boards and Position. Upon the termination of Executives employment with the Company for any reason, Executive will automatically, and without any further action by Executive, be deemed to resign (i) from the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company and/or any other board to which Executive has been appointed or nominated by or on behalf of the Company (including the Board), and (ii) from any position with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, as an officer and director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries.
8. Compensation upon Termination of Employment. This Section 8 provides the payments and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive as a result of his termination of employment. Except as provided in this Section 8, Executive will not be entitled to any payments or benefits from the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable, as a result of the termination of his employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(a) Termination for Any Reason. Following the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination and including, without limitation, a termination of his employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, the Company will:
(i) pay Executive (or his estate in the event of his death) as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and (B) any accrued and unused vacation pay through the Date of Termination if payable in accordance with law or Company policy then in effect;
(ii) reimburse Executive as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination for any amounts due to Executive pursuant to Section 5(e) (unless such termination occurred as a result of misappropriation of funds); and
(iii) provide Executive with any compensation and/or benefits as may be due or payable to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable.
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(b) Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason (a Qualifying Termination), Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, in addition, subject to Section 8(d) and subject to Executives continued compliance with Section 10 as if Executive remained employed during the period Executive is eligible to receive any severance benefits, Executive will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits: (i) a lump sum amount equal to the Severance Amount, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus, (iii) the Medical Benefits and (iv) the Equity Vesting Benefits.
(i) The Severance Amount will be equal to:
(A) if such Qualifying Termination is (1) within 3 months prior to a Change in Control of the Company or (2) within 12 months following a Change in Control of the Company (a Qualifying CIC Termination), eighteen (18) months Base Salary; or
(B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months Base Salary.
(ii) The Pro Rata Bonus will be equal to: (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on the greater of actual and target performance or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance and payable at the end of the performance period.
(iii) The Medical Benefits require the Company to provide Executive medical insurance coverage substantially identical to (including the applicable cost of coverage) that provided to other senior executives of the Company (which may be provided pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) for: (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, eighteen (18) months following the Date of Termination, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination. If this Agreement to provide benefits continuation raises any compliance issues or impositions of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 or other applicable law, then the parties agree to modify this Agreement so that it complies with the terms of such laws without impairing the economic benefit to Executive.
(iv) The Equity Vesting Benefits mean (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, full vesting of all unvested equity based awards, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months accelerated vesting of unvested equity based awards.
(v) Change in Control will mean:
(A) during any period of not more than 24 months, individuals who constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming
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a director subsequent to the beginning of such period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) will be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or publicly threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or publicly threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board will be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(B) any person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the Exchange Act), and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur on account of the ownership or acquisition of securities of the Company: (A) by the Company, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in below);
(C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company (directly or indirectly) that requires the approval of the Companys stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a Business Combination), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination own, directly or indirectly, either (1) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity in such Business Combination (the Surviving Entity) or (2) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the Surviving Entity, in each case in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination; (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Entity or the parent); is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity); and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this paragraph (v) will be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction);
(D) the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any person or group (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or
(E) the Companys stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, (A) the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company and (B) a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company as a result of the acquisition of outstanding voting securities of the Company by the Company which reduces the number of outstanding voting securities of the Company; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company described in the preceding clause (B) such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional voting securities of the Company that increases the percentage of outstanding voting securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control will then occur.
(c) Death or Disability. In the event Executives employment terminates as a result of Executives death or Disability, Executive would be entitled to (i) the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, subject to Section 8(d), (ii) a prorated portion of Executives annual Target Bonus based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, and (iii) vesting of all outstanding unvested equity-based awards on the Date of Termination (if applicable, any performance share unit performance requirements will vest based on actual performance at the end of the performance period), in each case, to be paid in a cash lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination.
(d) Condition to Payment and Benefits. As a condition to the payments and benefits set forth in this Section 8 (other than the payments or benefits described in Section 8(a)), Executive must timely execute (and not revoke in any time provided by the Company to do so) a separation and general release agreement in favor of the Company and its affiliates (the Release) in a form acceptable to the Company in connection with severance pay modified to reflect the terms of this Agreement, which Release shall release the Company and each of its affiliates, and each of the foregoing entities respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, predecessors, successors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Executives employment, engagement or affiliation with the Company and any of its affiliates or the termination of such employment, engagement or affiliation, but excluding all claims to severance payments Executive may have under this Section 8. Subject to Section 17 hereof, any lump sum payments provided pursuant to this Section 8 will be paid to Executive within 30 days after such Release becomes effective; provided, however, that if Executives Date of Termination occurs on or after November 1 of a given calendar year, such payment will, subject to Section 17 hereof, be paid in January of the immediately following calendar year.
9. Section 280G. In the event that any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive (1) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) but for this Section 9, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (Section 4999), then such payments and benefits will be either (x) delivered in full, or (y) delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 (and any equivalent state or local excise taxes), results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits may be taxable under Section 4999. Any
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reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this provision will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) reduction of the vesting acceleration of equity awards (if any); and (3) reduction of other benefits paid or provided to Executive. In the event that the acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant for equity awards. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro rata basis.
10. Confidential Information; Ownership of Documents; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group will, during Executives employment, bring Executive into close contact with confidential affairs of the Company Group, including information about costs, profits, markets, sales, products, key personnel, organizational plans, pricing policies, operational methods, technical processes, trade secrets, plans for future development, strategic plans of the most valuable nature and other business affairs and methods and other information not readily available to the public. All such information and all other information regarding the Company or its affiliates (regardless of whether obtained by, or made available to, Executive prior to the date of this Agreement or hereafter) is referred to herein as Confidential Information. Executive further acknowledges that the services to be performed under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character.
During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive agrees to keep secret all confidential matters of the Company Group (including all Confidential Information) and shall not disclose such matters to anyone outside the Company Group, or to anyone inside the Company Group who does not have a need to know or use such information, and shall not use such information for personal benefit or the benefit of a third party except with the prior written consent of the Company; provided, that (i) Executive shall have no such obligation to the extent such matters are or become publicly known other than as a result of Executives breach of Executives obligations hereunder and (ii) Executive may, after giving prior notice to the Company to the extent practicable under the circumstances, disclose such matters to the extent required by applicable laws or governmental regulations or judicial or regulatory process. For the avoidance of doubt, such confidential matters (and Confidential Information) include any oral or written information relating to any member of the Company Group or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and joint venture partners. In addition, Executive agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed confidential and shall not be discussed or disclosed by Executive with any person other than Executives spouse (if applicable), attorney or accountant; provided, that such discussions or disclosures shall be conditioned upon the agreement of the person to whom the terms are disclosed to maintain the confidentiality of such terms, or as provided in clause (i) or (ii) above. This confidentiality covenant is not intended to, and shall be interpreted in a manner that does not, limit or restrict Executive from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights under any applicable law and receiving compensation therefor if provided by applicable law or rule for information provided to a governmental entity.
Executive is hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833 of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials, either directly
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or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to Executives attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is not disclosed except pursuant to court order.
Moreover, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action, or encourage others to take any action, to denigrate, ridicule, criticize or disparage the Company or any of its affiliates, or any of their respective current or former officers, directors, employees, joint venture partners, products, services or customers to any third party (whether through non-public communication with any person, social media or in any public communication to the media). In addition, Executive agrees that Executive will not improperly use, disclose or induce the Company or any other member of the Company Group to use any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity, nor will Executive bring onto the premises of the Company or any other member of the Company Group any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by both the Company and such employer, person or entity. Nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall preclude Executive from enforcing his rights under this Agreement or truthfully testifying in response to legal process or a governmental inquiry, or providing confidential performance reviews in the ordinary course of his services hereunder.
(b) Non-Competition. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) render any services to, or manage, operate, control, associate with or act in any capacity (whether as a principal, partner, director, officer, member, agent, employee, consultant, owner, independent contractor or otherwise and whether or not for compensation) for, any person or entity that is a Competitive Entity; or
(ii) acquire, on a prospective basis, a 3% or greater equity, voting or profit participation interest in any Competitive Entity (except as provided in the following sentence), including, without limitation, as an owner, holder or beneficiary of any stock, stock options (whether or not exercisable) or other equity interest.
Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from acquiring solely as a passive investment and through market purchases (i) securities of any Competitive Entity that are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that are publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control are not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted or convertible securities, do not constitute more than 1% of the outstanding voting power of that entity and (ii) securities of any Competitive Entity that are not registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and are not publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control is not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted securities, do not constitute more than 3% of the outstanding voting power of that entity; provided, that in each case Executive has no active participation in the business of such entity except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
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Competitive Entity means a business (whether conducted through an entity or by individuals including employees in self-employment) that is engaged in any business that competes, directly or indirectly through any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, partnership or otherwise, with (x) any of the business activities carried on by the Company or another member of the Company Group in any geographic location (including in any U.S. state or country outside the United States) where the Company or another member of the Company Group conducts business (including, without limitation, a Competitive Activity, as defined below), (y) any business activities being planned by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in the process of development at the time of Executives termination of employment (as evidenced by written proposals, market research, RFPs and similar materials) or (z) any business activity that the Company or another member of the Company Group has covenanted, in writing, not to compete with in connection with the disposition of such a business.
Competitive Activity means business activities within the lines of business of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, the design, development and manufacturing of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and fuel cell systems, the development and provision of hydrogen mobility solutions, including hydrogen supply and fuel cell lifecycle management and vehicle leasing, the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and other renewable energy sources, the manufacturing and sale of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, and commercial vehicles powered by other forms of renewable energy, including, but not limited to, electric vehicles.
(c) Non-Solicitation. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, in any manner, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or employ, and shall not cause any entity of which Executive is an affiliate to employ, any person who was an employee of the Company or another member of the Company Group at the date of such termination of employment or within 12 months prior thereto, (ii) solicit any Client to transact business with a Competitive Entity or (other than with any member of the Company Group) with respect to Competitive Activity or to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Company or another member of the Company Group, (iii) transact business with any Client that would cause Executive to be a Competitive Entity or to be engaging in (other than on behalf of any member of the Company Group) Competitive Activity, or (iv) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company Group and a Client.
For purposes of this Agreement, a Client means any client or customer or prospective client or customer of any member of the Company Group to whom Executive provided services, or for whom Executive transacted business, or whose identity became known to Executive in connection with his relationship with or employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group, or about whom Executive obtained Confidential Information, and Solicit means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or refrain from taking any action.
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(d) Work Product. Executive acknowledges that during Executives employment, Executive may conceive of, discover, invent or create inventions, improvements, new contributions, literary property, material, ideas and discoveries, whether patentable or copyrightable or not (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to herein as Work Product), and that various business opportunities shall be presented to Executive by reason of Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group. Executive acknowledges that all of the foregoing, including all intellectual property and proprietary rights therein and thereto, are works made for hire as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company and that Executive shall have no personal interest therein; provided that they are either related in any manner to the business (commercial or experimental) of the Company Group, or are, in the case of Work Product, conceived or made on the Company Groups time or with the use of the facilities or materials of the Company Group, or, in the case of business opportunities, are presented to Executive for the possible interest or participation of the Company or another member of the Company Group. Executive (i) shall promptly disclose any such Work Product and business opportunities to the Company; (ii) hereby assigns to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, upon request and without additional compensation, the entire rights to such Work Product and business opportunities; (iii) shall sign all papers necessary to carry out the foregoing; (iv) shall give testimony in support of Executives inventorship or creation in any appropriate case; and (v) otherwise assist the Company, another member of the Company Group or any designee of the foregoing, at the Company Groups expense and request, in all matters related to securing, protecting and enforcing the Company Groups rights in the Work Product and any copyright, patent or other intellectual property rights therein and thereto in any and all countries. Executive agrees that Executive will not assert any rights to any Work Product or business opportunity as having been made or acquired by Executive prior to the date of this Agreement except for Work Product or business opportunities, if any, disclosed in Schedule 1, attached hereto (a Prior Invention). If no Prior Inventions are listed on Schedule 1, Executive represents that there are no Prior Inventions. Executive agrees not to incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, any Prior Invention into a Company Group product, process or service without the Companys prior written consent. To the extent Executive has disclosed any Prior Inventions on Schedule 1 hereto, Executive grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, sublicensable, worldwide license to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, perform, display, import, make, have made, modify, use, sell offer to sell, and exploit in any other way such Prior Invention to the extent incorporated into any Company Group product, process or service. If and to the extent that, prior to the date of this Agreement, Executive has conceived, discovered, invented or created any item, including any intellectual property rights with respect thereto, that would have been Work Product if conceived, discovered, invented or created following the date of this Agreement, then any item will be deemed Work Product under this Agreement, and this Agreement will apply to such item as if conceived, discovered, invented or created under this Agreement. Furthermore, all modifications to and derivative works of such Prior Inventions are Work Product under this Agreement.
(e) Covenants to Others. Executive has indicated, and expressly represents, to the Company that there are no agreements or obligations that would impact Executives ability to be employed by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in this position, or in any way would prevent Executive from performing the functions of this position. Executive hereby agrees that Executive will not use any trade secrets, confidential information or proprietary information obtained from third parties, including any former employer or any other entity or person. Further, Executive will not use any unpublished
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documents or any other property belonging to any former employer or any other party to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. To the extent the Company discovers that any of such materials or information has been brought with Executive or is being used by Executive in connection with performing Executives job duties, this will be grounds for disciplinary action.
(f) Validity. The terms and provisions of this Section 10 are intended to be separate and divisible provisions and if, for any reason, any one or more of them is held to be invalid or unenforceable, neither the validity nor the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement will thereby be affected. The parties acknowledge that the potential restrictions on Executives future employment imposed by this Section 10 are reasonable in both duration and geographic scope and in all other respects and necessary to protect the Company Groups goodwill, Confidential Information, and other business interests. If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction will find any provisions of this Section 10 unreasonable in duration or geographic scope or otherwise, Executive and the Company agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained herein will be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law in such jurisdiction and such court will reform such restrictions and prohibitions as necessary such that they will be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
(g) Injunctive Relief. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10, Executive agrees that the Company would suffer irreparable harm, and will be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.
(h) Cease Payments. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10 by Executive, the Companys obligation to make or provide payments or benefits under Section 8 will cease. Such remedies and the remedies described in Section 10(g) above shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and its affiliates, at law and equity.
(i) Continuing Operation. The termination of Executives employment or of this Agreement will have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 10, as this Section 10 shall survive the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(j) Return of Materials. Upon the Date of Termination, and at any other time upon request of the Company, Executive shall (i) promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company Group property (including any Company Group-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Executives possession, custody or control and Executive shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company Group and (ii) deliver to the Company any personal device (as well as a list of passwords or codes needed to operate or access any personal device) that Executive synced with or used to access any Company system solely for the purpose of removal of any Company Group property. Within five (5) days of any such request, Employee shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents, materials and property have been returned to the Company.
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11. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary or either thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law (including the advancement of applicable, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification will continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and will inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.
(b) Executive will be entitled to coverage under the Companys directors and officers liability insurance policy on the same terms as are made available to similarly situated executives of the Company.
12. Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a) Companys Successors. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that the Company may assign this Agreement to any parent or subsidiary of the Company and cause such entity to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(b) Executives Successors. No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If Executive dies following his Date of Termination while any amounts would still be payable to Executive hereunder if Executive had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein will be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.
13. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by email or other electronic transmission (including portable document format (.pdf) and with confirmation of transmission) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) as follows:
If to Executive:
Address on file with the Company
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If to the Company:
Hyzon Motors Inc.
475 Quaker Meeting House Road
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Telephone 585-484-9337
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
14. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration.
(a) The parties will use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with the Companys internal review procedures, except that this requirement will not apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 10 of this Agreement.
(b) If, despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such controversy or claim through the Companys internal review procedures, then such controversy or claim will be resolved by arbitration in Manhattan, New York, in accordance with the rules then applicable of the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) (provided that the Company will pay the filing fee and all AAA hearing fees, arbitrator expenses, and administrative and other fees of the AAA associated with any such arbitration), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Companys agreement to pay AAA fees and arbitrator expenses as set forth in the foregoing sentence does not mean that the Company shall pay Executives legal fees or any expert or other fees or expenses incurred by Executive in conjunction with any arbitration proceeding, as Executive and the Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of their own legal fees and other expenses other than the expenses of the AAA that the Company has agreed to pay pursuant to the foregoing sentence. Any arbitration conducted under this Section 14 shall be private, and shall be heard by a single arbitrator (the Arbitrator) selected in accordance with the then-applicable rules of the AAA. All disputes shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and each party hereto hereby foregoes and waives any right to arbitrate any dispute as a class action or collective action or on a consolidated basis or in a representative capacity on behalf of other persons or entities who are claimed to be similarly situated, or to participate as a class member in such a proceeding. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be reasoned, rendered in writing, be final and binding upon the disputing parties and the parties agree that judgment upon the award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 14 is subject to the Federal Arbitration Act.
(c) Notwithstanding the other terms of this Section 14, either party may make a timely application for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of Section 14; provided, however, that the remainder of any such Dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall be subject to arbitration under this Section 14.
(d) By entering into this Agreement and entering into the arbitration provisions of this Section 14, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL.
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(e) Nothing in this Section 14 shall prohibit a party to this Agreement from (i) instituting litigation to enforce any arbitration award, or (ii) joining the other party to this Agreement in a litigation initiated by a person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement. Further, nothing in this Section 14 precludes Executive from filing a charge or complaint with a federal, state or other governmental administrative agency.
(f) Further, notwithstanding anything in this Section 14, to the extent that any dispute, controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arises out of or relates to any equity-based incentive awards referenced in Section 8 above, such dispute, controversy or claim shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions set forth in the applicable equity-based incentive award documentation.
15. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.
(b) Full Settlement. Except as set forth in Section 10(h) of this Agreement, the Companys obligations to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not (absent fraud or willful misconduct or a termination for Cause) be affected by any set-offs, counterclaims, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. After termination of the Employment Period, in no event will Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
(c) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law principles.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent permitted by law, Executive and the Company waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 14 and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in the Borough of Manhattan in the State of New York.
16. Entire Agreement/Effectiveness; Satisfaction of Obligations. This Agreement will automatically become null and void in the event the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the closing of the Merger. Upon the Effective Date, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, term sheets, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties,
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whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter; provided, however, this Agreement is in addition to and complements (and does not replace or supersede) any other obligation that Executive has to the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure and return of information. Any other prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein, including, without limitation, the Existing Employment Agreement, is terminated and cancelled as of the Effective Date, except with respect to any equity agreements or any compensatory plan or program in which Executive is a participant on the Effective Date. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that: (i) as of the Effective Date, Executive shall have no further rights under the Existing Employment Agreement (other than any right to payment of base salary for services provided in that portion of the pay period in which the Effective Date occurs that is prior to the Effective Date); and (ii) as of the date Executive signs this Agreement, Executive has been provided all sums, payments, benefits, rights and other entitlements that Executive has been entitled to receive from the Company and each of its affiliates.
17. Section 409A Compliance.
(a) This Agreement is intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with the applicable regulations thereunder, Section 409A). To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A (including, without limitation, Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision will be read, or will be modified by the Company in its sole discretion, as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement will be treated as a separate and distinct payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment for any amount payable hereunder.
(b) All reimbursements provided under this Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executives lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) Executive further acknowledges that any tax liability incurred by Executive under Section 409A of the Code is solely the responsibility of Executive.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code concerning payments to specified employees (as defined in Section 409A) any payment on account of Executives separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation will nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following Executives date of termination and the first such payment will include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Executive will
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not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 8 hereof unless Executive would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.
18. Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive is under no contractual or other binding legal restriction which would prohibit Executive from entering into and performing under this Agreement or that would limit the performance of Executives duties under this Agreement.
19. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes and any other amounts that are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law, order or regulation.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, will bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic, faxed or PDF copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
HYZON MOTORS INC. | EXECUTIVE | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Craig Knight |
/s/ John Zavoli |
||||||
Craig Knight | John Zavoli | |||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
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SCHEDULE 1
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
If Executive has Prior Inventions, please list them in the space below. If Executive does not have any Prior Inventions or would like to include additional Prior Inventions on separate pages, check the appropriate box at the bottom of the page.
Check the following as applicable:
☐ All of my Prior Inventions are listed above
☑ I have no Prior Inventions (it will be presumed that there are none if this sheet is left blank)
☐ I have attached additional sheets describing my Prior Inventions
Signature of Executive: |
/s/ John Zavoli |
|
Print Name of Executive: | John Zavoli |
Date: 7/15/2021
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Exhibit 10.10
475 Quaker Meeting Hse Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 |
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT- Updated 1/29/21
This Employment Agreement (this Agreement) is made effective upon dated signature by all parties, by and between:
HYZON Motors Inc (HYZON or the Employer)
10 Carriage Street
Honeoye Falls, New York 14472
and
Gary Robb (the Employee)
A) |
The Employer is engaged in the business of development, manufacturing and supply of fuel cell systems, vehicles and services. |
B) |
The Employer desires to receive the services of Gary Robb. |
C) |
Gary Robb will primarily perform the job duties at the following locations: |
|
475 Quaker Meeting House Rd |
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
|
10 Carriage Street |
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
D) |
Gary Robb is an at will employee of the Employer. Either party can terminate the employment agreement at any time for any lawful reason. |
Therefore, the parties agree as follows:
1) |
EMPLOYMENT |
The Employer shall employ the Employee as the Chief Technology Officer reporting to George Gu. The Employee shall provide to the Employer duties as needed. The Employee accepts and agrees to such employment beginning on April 1, 2020. The Employee agrees to be subject to the general supervision, advice and direction of the Employer and its supervisory personnel.
2) |
BEST EFFORTS OF EMPLOYEE |
As an employee of the Employer, the Employee is subject to the Employers policies and procedures and agrees to perform faithfully, industriously and to the best of their ability, experience and talents, all of the duties that may be
Page 1 of 11 | Initials: | |||
475 Quaker Meeting Hse Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 |
required by the express and implicit terms of this Agreement, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Employer. Such duties shall be provided at such place as the needs, business or opportunities of the Employer may require from time to time.
3) |
COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEE |
As compensation for the services provided by the Employee under this Agreement, the Employer will pay the Employee an annual base salary of $200,000 payable every other week and subject to applicable federal, state and local withholding. In addition, there is an agreement of 3 years salary guaranteed and a 5% annual increase to take place on each anniversary date. Outside of this agreement upon termination, payments under this paragraph shall cease; provided, however, that the Employee shall be entitled to payments for periods or partial periods that occurred prior to the date of termination and for which the Employee has not yet been paid. Accrued vacation will be paid in accordance with state law and the Employers policies. This section of the Agreement is included only for accounting and payroll purposes and should not be construed as establishing a minimum or definite term of employment.
4) |
EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT |
The Employer will reimburse the Employee for approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred in accordance with the Employers policies.
5) |
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING OPERATIONS |
The Employee shall provide the Employer with all information, suggestions, and recommendations regarding the Employers business, of which the Employee has knowledge, that will be of benefit to the Employer.
6) |
CONFIDENTIALITY |
The Employee recognizes that the Employer has and will have, and that the Employee may have access to, confidential information, including with respect to inventions, product information, designs, processes, trade secrets, know-how, and information relating to customers, customer lists, prices, costs, business plans, and other vital confidential information (collectively Information) which should be treated as valuable, special and unique assets of the Employer. The Employee will protect the Information and treat it as strictly confidential. The Employee agrees not to divulge, disclose, or communicate any Information to any third party without the prior written consent of the Employer. The Employee will not cause or allow confidential Information to be stored in any place other than where access in maintained, controlled and secured by the Employer. The Employee will provide written notification to the Employer in the event they are legally obligated to disclose confidential Information. Upon termination, if requested, the Employee will provide written acknowledgement that all property and Information has been returned to the Employer, and has not been shared with any third party, and that any electronic records have been permanently deleted.
Page 2 of 11 | Initials: | |||
475 Quaker Meeting Hse Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 |
18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) provides: An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that(A) is made(i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). Accordingly, the Employee has the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The Employee also has the right to disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure.
7) |
UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION |
If it appears that the Employee has disclosed (or has threatened to disclose) Information in violation of this Agreement, the Employer shall be entitled to an injunction to restrain the Employee from disclosing, in whole or in part, such Information, or from providing any services to any party to whom such Information has been disclosed or may be disclosed. The Employer shall not be prohibited by this provision from pursuing other remedies, including a claim for losses and damages.
8) |
CONFIDENTIALITY AFTER TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT |
The confidentiality provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force in perpetuity after the voluntary or involuntary termination of the Employees employment.
9) |
CONFLICTS |
The Employee acknowledges employment with the Employer does not conflict with or violate any contract or agreement with any other employer, entity or person that could limit their ability to perform their work responsibilities. Further, any full time Employee agrees not to accept or continue in any job, consulting work, directorship, or employment that may conflict with Employees duties and responsibilities without the written approval of the Employer. The Employee agrees not to use or disclose any secret or confidential information of other parties including prior employers.
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10) |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY |
The |
Employee agrees that: |
10.1) |
All inventions, discoveries, developments, trade secrets, know-how, ideas, methods, software and other work product created, reduced to practice or conceived at any time during their employment, and all rights therein and thereto (collectively, Work Product), are and shall remain the exclusive property of the Employer. |
10.2) |
All work performed is on a work for hire basis, and the Employee shall assign and hereby assigns to the Employer all rights, title and interests in and to all Work Product. |
10.3) |
All Work Product will be disclosed promptly, and the Employee will assist the Employer, at its request, to obtain patents for those Work Product in any selected countries. |
10.4) |
They will maintain written or electronic records of all such Work Product. |
10.5) |
Upon termination of employment, they will promptly deliver all records belonging to the Employer created or acquired during performance of their duties including all copies of materials they possess or have under their control. |
10.6) |
During and after their employment they will cooperate with the Employer in the acquisition, maintenance and enforcement of all intellectual property. |
10.7) |
During and after their employment they will sign and support all documents necessary to the Employer to protect its rights and interests in any company related developments, including any Work Product. If the signature of the Employee cannot reasonably be secured, The Employer is authorized to execute any such documents on the behalf of the Employee. |
10.8) |
Notwithstanding any of the forgoing, Sections 10.1 through 10.7 will not apply to any Work Product the assignment of which is prohibited under applicable law or rule, including California Labor Code Section 2870 (restated in its entirety below). |
California Labor Code Section 2870
(a) Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention that the employee developed entirely
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on his or her own time without using the employers equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:
(1) Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the employers business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the employer; or
(2) Result from any work performed by the employee for the employer.
(b) To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being required to be assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is against the public policy of this state and is unenforceable.
10.9) |
To the extent the Employee incorporates into any product, service or process of the Employer any intellectual property that is not or cannot be, as a matter of law (including as set forth in Section 10.8), assigned to the Employer under this Section 10, the Employee hereby grants to the Employer an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, fully sublicensable, transferable, royalty-free and fully paid-up license to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display such intellectual property, and make, have made, use, sell, import, export, offer for sale, and otherwise exploit any products and services of the Employer that include or are based on such intellectual property. |
11) |
NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES |
The Employee agrees that during their employment and for one year after their employment ends (for any reason) they will not directly or indirectly solicit or accept business from any customers of the Employer with whom he/she interacted during their employment. The Employee agrees that for one year after their employment ends (for any reason) they will not directly or indirectly attempt to employ any employee of the Employer or encourage any employee to end their employment.
12) |
NON-DISPARAGEMENT |
The Employee agrees that during their employment and for one year after their employment ends (for any reason) he/she will not interfere with the Employers business operations or relationships and further will not disparage the Employer or its employees.
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13) |
EMPLOYEES INABILITY TO CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYER |
The Employee shall not have the right to make any contracts or commitments for or on behalf of the Employer without first obtaining the express written consent of the Employer.
14) |
BENEFITS |
The Employee shall be entitled to employment benefits, as provided by the Employers policies in effect during the term of employment. These benefits include:
14.1) Stock Options
The Employee was granted 1,000,000 options to purchase shares of HYZON Motors Inc. You received 166,665 vested immediately and the rest of these stocks will vest 166,667 for the next 5 years.
14.2) Health Care
The Employer will provide health insurance for the Employee and family. Coverage for 2020/2021 will include the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Gold 17 Hybrid Plan. The coverage plans are reviewed by the Employer on an annual basis and are subject to change to ensure the most competitive and cost-effective options are available its employees. The employee has the option to opt out of the health insurance available from the Employer and in return will receive $5,000 annually (pro-rated), distributed equally over each pay period.
14.3) Dental Care
The Employer will provide dental insurance for the Employee and family. Coverage for 2020 will include Excellus BCBS Dental Blue DBOC-4 Plan. The coverage plans are reviewed by the Employer on an annual basis and are subject to change to ensure the most competitive and cost-effective options are available to its employees.
14.4) Vision Care
The Employer will provide vision insurance for the Employee and family. Coverage for 2020 will include Soltice Davis Vision IC10 Plan. The coverage plans are reviewed by the Employer on an annual basis and are subject to change to ensure the most competitive and cost-effective options are available to its employees.
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14.5) Holidays
The Employer will provide (10) paid Federal holidays plus (2) additional paid floating holidays.
14.6) Vacation and Sick Days
The Employer will provide (20) paid vacation days per year, accrued bi-weekly. (1) vacation day will be added each anniversary date up to a maximum of 25 vacation days. Vacation time may be used prior to accruing it only with supervisory approval. For the first year of employment the number of granted vacation days will be prorated based on the Employees start date. At the end of each calendar year, any unused vacation time may be rolled over into the first three months of the following year only with supervisory approval.
The Employer will also provide 40 hours for sick time annually on January 1st of each year. This is to be used only for absences due to illness and with supervisory approval. Unused sick days will be rolled into the next year.
In the event of termination of employment, any vacation time accrued but not used will be paid to the Employee based on the policies of the Employer. Conversely, any vacation time that has been used ahead of accrual must be repaid by the Employee to the Employer. Unused sick time will not be paid out for any reason.
14.7) Retirement
The Employer will provide a 401(k) retirement plan on the 1st of the month following the Employee start date. The Employer will contribute 5% of the Employees base salary evenly distributed during each pay period. The Employee is encouraged to defer a portion of their pay to best take advantage of the benefits of the retirement plan. The retirement plan is reviewed by the Employer on an annual basis and is subject to change to ensure the most competitive and cost-effective options are available to its employees.
14.8) Life Insurance
The Employer will provide life insurance coverage equaling two times the Employees annual base salary up to a maximum of $250,000. The Employee has the option of increasing life insurance coverage at their own expense.
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14.9) Enhanced Short Term Disability Insurance
Coverage of 60% of weekly salary loss to $2,000; benefits are eligible after a 7-day elimination period, All employees are eligible for the benefit on their date of hire.
Long Term Disability Insurance
Coverage of 60% of salary loss to $10,000 monthly; benefits are eligible after a 90-day elimination period. All employees are eligible for the benefit on their date of hire.
14.10 Annual Bonus Opportunities
The Employer will provide a performance bonus annually based on meeting documented objectives in the amount of 0-20% (Nominal 5% )of the Employees base salary based on the Employees individual performance and contributions to the company. Additionally, the Employer will provide a profit-sharing bonus annually based on annual success in the amount of 0-20% (Nominal 5%) of the Employees base salary based on the economic performance of the company. The bonus plans are reviewed by the Employer on an annual basis. The Employer maintains authority to change the timing and amounts of annual bonus payments. Bonus payments are not guaranteed from year to year. For the first year of employment any bonuses will be prorated based on the Employees start date.
15) |
TERM/TERMINATION |
The Employees employment under this Agreement shall be for an unspecified term on an at will basis. Employees who resign are expected to give one month written notice. If the Employer shall so terminate this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to continued payment of base salary for one month per year of service (up to 36 months) beyond the termination date of such termination, unless the Employee is terminated with cause as determined by the Employers sole digression. If the Employee is in violation of this Agreement, the Employer may terminate employment without notice and with compensation to the Employee only to the date of such termination. The compensation paid under this Agreement shall be the Employees exclusive remedy.
16) |
COMPLIANCE WITH EMPLOYERS RULES |
The Employee agrees to comply with all of the Employers rules and regulations.
17) |
RETURN OF PROPERTY |
Upon termination of this Agreement, the Employee shall deliver to the Employer all property which is the Employers property or related to the Employers business (including keys, records, notes, data, memoranda, models and equipment) that is in the Employees possession or under the Employees control.
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18) |
NOTICES |
All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered when delivered in person or on the third day after being deposited in the United States mail, postage paid, addressed as follows:
Employer
HYZON Motors Inc
Karen Jenkins
Human Resources Director
475 Quaker Meeting Hse Rd
Honeoye Falls, New York 14472
Employee
Gary Robb
85 East Street
Honeoye Falls, NY14472
Such addresses may be changed from time to time by either party by providing written notice in the manner set forth above.
19) |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and there are no other promises or conditions in any other agreement whether oral or written. This Agreement supersedes any prior written or oral agreements between the parties.
20) |
AMENDMENT |
This Agreement may be modified or amended, if the amendment is made in writing and is signed by both parties.
21) |
SEVERABILITY |
If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable. If a court finds that any provision of this Agreement in invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting such provision it would become valid or enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be written, construed, and enforced as so limited.
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22) |
WAIVER OF CONTRACTUAL RIGHT |
The failure of either party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or limitation of that partys right to subsequently enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision of this Agreement.
23) |
APPLICABLE LAW |
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
24) |
INTERPRETATION |
The section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires: (i) when a reference is made in this Agreement to a section, such reference is to a section of this Agreement; (ii) whenever the words include, includes, including, exclude, excludes, and excluding are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words without limitation; (iii) the words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and (iv) references to any agreement or other document are to such agreement or document as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time.
25) |
THIS AGREEMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON: |
25.1) Agreement to Background Check
The Employer requests the Employee agree to a background check which may include criminal history, employment references, driving record, license verification and social media review. The Employee will be notified regarding any specific background checks prior to them being run. The Employer retains the sole discretion to determine the acceptability of the results of any background check.
25.2) Employment Eligibility Verification
The Employer requests the Employee confirm employment eligibility and, if asked, complete the U.S. Government Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) and provide documents that verify identity and employment eligibility.
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SIGNATURE PAGE
This Agreement is executed and made effective as of the latest of the dated signatures of all parties below. By signing below, the parties acknowledge their responsibility to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
/s/ Zhijun (George) Gu |
Feb 12th 2021 |
|||
Zhijun (George) Gu | Date | |||
Executive Chairman | ||||
HYZON Motors Inc | ||||
/s/ Craig Knight |
|
|||
Craig Knight | Date | |||
Chief Executive Officer | ||||
HYZON Motors Inc | ||||
/s/ Gary Robb |
12 Feb 21 |
|||
Gary Robb | Date |
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Exhibit 10.11
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of March 18, 2021, by and between Hyzon Motors Inc. (the Company), with its principal offices at 475 Quaker Meeting House Road, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472, and Adam Kroll (Executive).
Recitals
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the development and production of hydrogen fuel cell technology and products for large commercial vehicles;
WHEREAS, Executive represents that he is a finance professional possessing the skills and experience the Company requires to serve initially as the Companys Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and eventually as the Companys Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to hire Executive and Executive desires to accept the Companys offer of employment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Agreement
1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. At-Will Employment. Executives employment hereunder by the Company will commence on Effective Date or such other date as agreed by the parties. Executives employment shall at all times be at will notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement.
3. Position and Duties. Commencing on the Effective Date, Executive will serve as Chief Administrative Officer and will report to the Companys Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman. Executive will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of CAO and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the CEO and the Chairman. [Upon the closing of the Merger, as defined in that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Business Combination Agreement), dated as of February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, DCRB Merger Sub Inc. and the Company], Executive will assume the role of and serve as Chief Financial Officer. As the Companys CFO, Executive will continue to report to the Companys CEO and Chairman and will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of CAO and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the CEO and the Chairman. Executive will devote substantially all of Executives working time, attention and energies during normal business hours (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to the performance of his duties for the Company. Without the consent of the CEO and Chairman, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, Executive will not serve on the board of directors, trustees, or any similar governing body of any for-profit entity. Notwithstanding the above, Executive will be permitted, to the extent such activities do not interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate Section 10 of this Agreement, to (i) manage Executives (and his immediate familys) personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve, with the prior approval of the Board, on civic or charitable boards or committees
(it being expressly understood and agreed that Executives continuing to serve on the civic or charitable boards or committees on which Executive is serving, or with which Executive is otherwise associated, as of the Effective Date (each of which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement), will be deemed not to interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.
4. Place of Performance. The main place of employment of Executive will be at the Companys offices in the greater Chicago area, including the Companys intended offices planned to be located including Bolingbrook, Illinois. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, Company may establish Executives main office at such other location in the greater Chicago area and surrounding suburbs.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. During Executives employment, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of $425,000.00 (FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS) per annum (Base Salary), less applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes, as well as other deductions pertaining to benefits as may be elected by Executive, to be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Companys customary payroll practices. The level of Executives Base Salary will be subject to review as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(b) Annual Bonus. During Executives employment, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus with an annual target of 50% (FIFTY PERCENT) of Base Salary (Target Bonus) based on both personal and Company performance against agreed goals and key performance indicators. The actual amount of any such annual bonus payment will be determined in the sole discretion of the CEO in consultant with the Board (Actual Bonus), and no guarantee is made that a Actual Bonus will be paid or payable. The level of Executives Target Bonus will be subject to review as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process as may, from time to time, be amended.
(c) Long-Term Incentive Award. During Executives employment, Executive will be eligible to be granted when and at such time as the Companys board approves or ratifies such grant, 240,000 (TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND) Restricted Stock Units as defined in and pursuant to the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan or any successor plan, and in the form and subject to the terms and conditions to be determined by the Board or an independent committee thereof in its sole and absolute discretion. Such Restricted Stock Units will be subject to Executives continuing employment with the Company or any of its affiliates, and any other terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit grant. Executive acknowledges receiving a copy of Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan.
(d) Benefits. During Executives employment, Executive will be entitled to participate in employee health/welfare and retirement benefit plans and other programs of the Company and its subsidiaries as are made available to the Companys senior-level executives or to its employees generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time.
(e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company will promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company and its subsidiaries now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all senior executive officers of the Company.
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6. Reasons for Termination of Employment. Executives employment hereunder may terminate under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Executives employment hereunder will terminate upon his death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Executives incapacity due to physical or mental illness, Executive will have been substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for a continuous period of 180 days, the Company may terminate Executives employment as a result of Disability.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have Cause to terminate Executives employment upon Executives:
(i) conviction of or plea of no contest to any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement, or moral turpitude;
(ii) attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company;
(iii) intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Executive and the Company, of any statutory duty owed to the Company or of any code of ethics or material policies of the Company (including, without limitation, policies relating to sexual harassment or other prohibited discrimination);
(iv) unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets in violation of Company policy and procedure;
(v) refusal or willful omission, other than due to Disability, to perform any duties required of Executive, which continues after a period of thirty (30) days following the Executives receipt of notice from the Company that it deems such conduct Cause for termination of employment; or
(vi) gross misconduct.
For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive will be considered willful if taken or omitted in the good faith belief that the act or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(d) Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason within 90 days after Executive has actual knowledge of the occurrence, without the written consent of Executive, of one of the following events that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the event; provided that such notice must be given to the Company within 30 days of Executive becoming aware of such condition:
(i) a material diminution by the Company in Executives Base Salary or Target Bonus;
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(ii) a material diminution in Executives authority, duties or responsibilities;
(iii) a relocation of Executives location of employment by more than 50 miles; or
(iv) the Companys material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
Executives continued employment during the 90-day period referred to above in this Section 6(d) will not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company placing Executive on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate Executive for Cause, will not constitute a Good Reason event; provided, that, if Executive is subsequently terminated for Cause, then Executive will repay any amounts paid by the Company to Executive during such paid leave period.
(e) Without Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7(a)). This means that, notwithstanding this Agreement, Executives employment with the Company will be at will.
(f) Without Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination.
7. Termination of Employment Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executives employment by the Company or, by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 13 with at least 60 days advance written notice. For purposes of this Agreement, a Notice of Termination means a notice which will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executives employment under the provision so indicated if the termination is based on Section 6(b), (c) or (d). The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause will not waive any right of Executive or the Company, respectively, under this Agreement or preclude Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
(b) Date of Termination. Date of Termination means (i) if Executives employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; (ii) if Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b) (Disability), the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if Executives employment is terminated for any other reason, the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if such termination is due to a Notice of Termination by Executive, the Company will have the right to accelerate such notice and make the Date of Termination the date of the Notice of Termination or such other date prior to Executives intended Date of Termination as the Company deems appropriate, which acceleration will in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause or constitute Good Reason. Furthermore, such acceleration by the Company shall not reduce or eliminate the payments or benefits Executive is entitled to receive under this Agreement.
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Removal from any Boards and Position. Upon the termination of Executives employment with the Company for any reason, he will be deemed to resign (i) from the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company and/or any other board to which he has been appointed or nominated by or on behalf of the Company (including the Board), and (ii) from any position with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, as an officer and director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries.
8. Compensation upon Termination of Employment. This Section 8 provides the payments and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive as a result of his termination of employment. Except as provided in this Section 8, Executive will not be entitled to any payments or benefits from the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable, as a result of the termination of his employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(a) Termination for Any Reason. Following the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination and including, without limitation, a termination of his employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, the Company will:
(i) pay Executive (or his estate in the event of his death) as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and (B) any accrued and unused vacation pay through the Date of Termination;
(ii) reimburse Executive as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination for any amounts due to Executive pursuant to Section 5 (e) (unless such termination occurred as a result of misappropriation of funds); and
(iii) provide Executive with any compensation and/or benefits as may be due or payable to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable.
(b) Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof. In addition, and solely in the case of a termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason that occurs after six months following Executives first day of employment, and further subject to Section 8(d) and subject to Executives continued compliance with Section 10 as if Executive remained employed during the period Executive is eligible to receive any severance benefits, Executive will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits: (i) a lump sum amount equal to the Severance Amount, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus paid at the time bonuses are paid to similarly situated employees of the Company, (iii) the Medical Benefits and (iv) the Equity Vesting Benefits.
(i) The Severance Amount will be equal to:
(A) if such termination is within two years following a Change in Control of the Company (a Qualifying CIC Termination), 12 (twelve) months Base Salary then in effect; or
(B) if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, 12 (twelve) months Base Salary then in effect.
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(ii) The Pro Rata Bonus will be equal to: (A) if such termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on the greater of actual and target performance or (B) if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance and payable at the end of the performance period. For the avoidance of doubt, actual performance referred to herein shall be calculated on a basis comparable to the Companys other Named Executive Officers for the same period.
(iii) The Medical Benefits require the Company to provide Executive medical insurance coverage substantially identical to (including the applicable cost of coverage) that provided to other senior executives of the Company (which may be provided pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) for: (A) if such termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination or (B) if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination. If this Agreement to provide benefits continuation raises any compliance issues or impositions of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or other applicable law, then the parties agree to modify this Agreement so that it complies with the terms of such laws without impairing the economic benefit to Executive.
(iv) The Equity Vesting Benefits mean whether in the case of either a Qualifying or non-Qualifying CIC Termination such additional vesting as the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan Committee may determine pursuant to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, provided that such determination for Executive shall be made in a manner substantially similar to Companys other executive officers.
(v) Change in Control will have the following meaning contained in the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan or such other successor plan as may adopted by the Company following closing of the Merger (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), which is hereby incorporated by reference, except that for purposes of this Agreement, the term Change in Control shall not include the closing of the Merger (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement.
(c) Death or Disability. In the event Executives employment terminates as a result of Executives death or Disability, Executive would be entitled to (i) the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, subject to Section 8(d), (ii) a prorated portion of Executives annual Target Bonus based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, and (iii) vesting of all outstanding unvested equity-based awards on the Date of Termination (if applicable, any performance share unit performance requirements will vest based on actual performance at the end of the performance period), in each case, to be paid in a cash lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination.
(d) Condition to Payment. As a condition to the payments set forth in Section 8, Executive must execute (and not revoke) a separation and general release agreement in favor of the Company and its subsidiaries (the Release) in substantially the form typically used by the Company in connection with severance pay modified to reflect the terms of this Agreement. Subject to Section 17 hereof, any lump sum payments provided pursuant to this Section 8 will be paid to Executive within 30 days after such Release becomes effective;
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provided, however, that if Executives Date of Termination occurs on or after November 1 of a given calendar year, such payment will, subject to Section 17 hereof, be paid in January of the immediately following calendar year.
9. Section 280G. In the event that any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive (1) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) but for this Section 9, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then such payments and benefits will be either (x) delivered in full, or (y) delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (and any equivalent state or local excise taxes), results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this provision will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) reduction of the vesting acceleration of equity awards (if any); and (3) reduction of other benefits paid or provided to Executive. In the event that the acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant for equity awards. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro rata basis.
10. Confidential Information, Ownership of Documents; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that Executives employment by the Company will, throughout Executives employment, bring Executive into close contact with many confidential affairs of the Company, including information about costs, profits, markets, sales, products, key personnel, organizational plans, pricing policies, operational methods, technical processes, trade secrets, plans for future development, strategic plans of the most valuable nature and other business affairs and methods and other information not readily available to the public. Executive further acknowledges that the services to be performed under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character.
During Executives employment with the Company and thereafter, Executive agrees to keep secret all confidential matters of the Company and shall not disclose such matters to anyone outside of the Company, or to anyone inside the Company who does not have a need to know or use such information, and shall not use such information for personal benefit or the benefit of a third party except with the prior written consent of the Company; provided, that (i) Executive shall have no such obligation to the extent such matters are or become publicly known other than as a result of Executives breach of Executives obligations hereunder and (ii) Executive may, after giving prior notice to the Company, to the extent permissible under law or regulation as reasonably perceived by Executive or advised by Executives counsel, disclose such matters to the extent required by applicable laws or governmental regulations or judicial or regulatory process. For the avoidance of doubt, such confidential matters include any oral or written information relating to the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents and joint venture partners. In addition, Executive agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed confidential and shall not be discussed or disclosed by Executive with any person other than Executives spouse (if applicable), attorney, or accountant; provided, that such discussions
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or disclosures shall be conditioned upon the agreement of the person to whom the terms are disclosed to maintain the confidentiality of such terms, or as provided in clauses (i) or (ii) above. This confidentiality covenant is not intended to, and shall be interpreted in a manner that does not, limit or restrict Executive from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights under any applicable law and receiving compensation therefore if provided by applicable law or rule for information provided to a governmental entity.
Executive is hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833 of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to Executives attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is not disclosed except pursuant to court order.
Moreover, Executive acknowledges and agrees for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company that he shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, knowingly take any action, or encourage others to take any action, to denigrate, criticize or disparage the Company or any of its respective current officers, directors, employees, joint venture partners, products, services or customers to any third party (whether through non-public communication with any person, social media or in any public communication to the media). Notwithstanding the foregoing, as it relates to customers and joint venture partners, this paragraph is limited to such acts that are expressly tied to, in context of, or in reference to Executives role with the Company. Nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall preclude Executive from enforcing his rights under this Agreement or truthfully testifying in response to legal process or a governmental inquiry, or providing confidential performance reviews in the ordinary course of his services hereunder.
(b) Non-Competition. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) render any services to, or manage, operate, control, associate with or act in any capacity (whether as a principal, partner, director, officer, member, agent, employee, consultant, owner, independent contractor or otherwise and whether or not for compensation) for, any person or entity that is a Competitive Entity, or
(ii) acquire, on a prospective basis, a 5% or greater equity, voting or profit participation interest in any Competitive Entity (except as provided in the following sentence), including, without limitation, as an owner, holder or beneficiary of any stock, stock options (whether or not exercisable) or other equity interest.
Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from acquiring solely as an investment and through market purchases (i) securities of any Competitive Entity that are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that are publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control are not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted or convertible securities, do not
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constitute more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding voting power of that entity and (ii) securities of any Competitive Entity that are not registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and are not publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control is not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted securities, do not constitute more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting power of that entity; provided, that in each case Executive has no active participation in the business of such entity except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
Competitive Entity means a business (whether conducted through an entity or by individuals including employees in self-employment) that is engaged in any business that competes, directly or indirectly through any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, or partnership, with (x) any of the business activities carried on by the Company in any geographic location where the Company conducts business (including, without limitation, a Competitive Activity as defined below), (y) any business activities being planned by the Company or in the process of development at the time of Executives termination of employment (as evidenced by written proposals, market research, RFPs and similar materials) or (z) any business activity that the Company has covenanted, in writing, not to compete with in connection with the disposition of such a business.
Competitive Activity means business activities within the lines of business of the Company, including, without limitation, the design, development and manufacturing of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and fuel cell systems, the development and provision of hydrogen mobility solutions, including hydrogen supply and fuel cell lifecycle management and vehicle leasing, the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and other renewable energy sources pertaining to hydrogen-powered vehicles fuel cells, the manufacturing and sale of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, and commercial vehicles powered by other forms of renewable energy including, but not limited to, electric vehicles.
(c) Non-Solicitation. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company, and for the one year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, (i) solicit or employ, and shall not cause any entity of which Executive is an affiliate to employ, any person who is a full-time employee of the Company, (ii) solicit any Client to transact business with a Competitive Entity that would directly cause such Client to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Company, (iii) transact business with any Client that would cause Executive to be a Competitive Entity, or (iv) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company and a Client.
For purposes of this Agreement, a Client means any client or prospective client or customer of the Company to which Company provided products or services, or for which Company transacted business, or whose identity became known to Executive in connection with his relationship with or employment by the Company, and Solicit means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to reduce or refrain from taking any action that would benefit the Company.
(d) Work Product. Executive acknowledges that during Executives employment, Executive may conceive of, discover, invent or create inventions, improvements, new contributions, literary property, material, ideas and discoveries, whether patentable or copyrightable or not (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to herein as Work
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Product), and that various business opportunities shall be presented to Executive by reason of Executives employment by the Company. Executive acknowledges that all of the foregoing shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company and that Executive shall have no personal interest therein; provided that they are either related in any manner to the business (commercial or experimental) of the Company, or are, in the case of Work Product, conceived or made on the Companys time or with the use of the facilities or materials of the Company, or, in the case of business opportunities, are presented to Executive for the possible interest or participation of the Company. Executive shall (i) promptly disclose any such Work Product and business opportunities to the Company; (ii) assign to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, upon request and without additional compensation, the entire rights to such Work Product and business opportunities; (iii) sign all papers necessary to carry out the foregoing; and (iv) give testimony in support of Executives inventorship or creation in any appropriate case. Executive agrees that Executive will not assert any rights to any Work Product or business opportunity as having been made or acquired by Executive prior to the date of this Agreement except for Work Product or business opportunities, if any, that are either (a) disclosed to and acknowledged by the Company in writing prior to the date hereof or (b) can be proven by Executive to have existed in substantial form prior to the date hereof.
(e) Covenants to Others. Executive has indicated to the Company that there are no agreements that would impact Executives ability to be employed by the Company in this position, or in any way would prevent Executive from performing the functions of this position. Executive hereby agrees that Executive will not use, bring onto the Companys premises, or copy or store electronically onto Companys computers, servers or networks servers or networks onto any works, files, documents, trade secrets, confidential information or proprietary information obtained from third parties, including any former employer or any other entity or person. Further, Executive will not use any unpublished documents or any other property belonging to any former employer or any other party to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. To the extent the Company discovers that any of such materials have been brought with Executive or are being used by Executive in connection with performing Executives job duties, Executive may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination.
(f) Validity. The terms and provisions of this Section 10 are intended to be separate and divisible provisions and if, for any reason, any one or more of them is held to be invalid or unenforceable, neither the validity nor the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement will thereby be affected. The parties acknowledge that the potential restrictions on Executives future employment imposed by this Section 10 are reasonable in both duration and geographic scope and in all other respects. If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction will find any provisions of this Section 10 unreasonable in duration or geographic scope or otherwise, Executive and the Company agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained herein will be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law in such jurisdiction.
(g) Injunctive Relief. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of Section 10, Executive agrees that the Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.
(h) Cease Payments. In the event of a breach of this Section 10 by Executive, the Companys obligation to make or provide payments or benefits under Section 8 will cease.
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(i) Continuing Operation. Except as specifically provided in this Section 10, the termination of Executives employment or of this Agreement will have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 10.
11. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary or either thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law (including the advancement of applicable, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification will continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and will inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.
(b) Executive will be entitled to coverage under the Companys directors and officers liability insurance policy on the same terms as are made available to similarly situated executives of the Company.
12. Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a) Companys Successors. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that (i) the Company may assign this Agreement to any parent or subsidiary of the Company and cause such entity to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place and (ii) the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
(b) Executives Successors. No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If Executive dies following his Date of Termination while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein will be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.
13. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by email or other electronic transmission (including portable document format (.pdf) and with confirmation of transmission) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) as follows:
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If to Executive:
Address on file with the Company
If to the Company:
Hyzon Motors Inc.
475 Quaker Meeting House Road
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Telephone (585) 484-9337
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
14. Dispute Resolution; Management Arbitration Agreement.
(a) The parties will use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with the Companys internal review procedures, except that this requirement will not apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 10 of this Agreement. If, despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such controversy or claim through the Companys internal review procedures, then such controversy or claim will be resolved by arbitration in Chicago, Illinois, in accordance with the rules then applicable of the American Arbitration Association (provided that the Company will pay the filing fee and all hearing fees, arbitrator expenses and compensation fees, and administrative and other fees associated with any such arbitration), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
15. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.
(b) Full Settlement. Except as set forth in Section 10(h) of this Agreement, the Companys obligations to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not (absent fraud or willful misconduct or a termination for Cause) be affected by any set-offs, counterclaims, recoupment, defense, or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. After Executives termination of employment, in no event will Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
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(c) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its conflict of law principles.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent permitted by law, Executive and the Company waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement.
16. Entire Agreement/Effectiveness. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, term sheets, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter. Any other prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein, including, without limitation, the Existing Employment Agreement, is hereby terminated and cancelled, except with respect to any equity agreements or any compensatory plan or program in which Executive is a participant on the Effective Date.
17. Section 409A Compliance.
(a) This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with the applicable regulations thereunder, Section 409A). To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A (including, without limitation, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision will be read, or will be modified (with the mutual consent of the parties, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this Agreement will comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement will be treated as a separate payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.
(b) All reimbursements provided under this Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executives lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) Executive further acknowledges that any tax liability incurred by Executive under Section 409A of the Code is solely the responsibility of Executive.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code concerning payments to specified employees (as defined in Section 409A) any payment on account of Executives separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation will nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following Executives date of termination and the first such payment will include the
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cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction, together with interest on such cumulative amount during the period of such restriction at a rate, per annum, equal to the applicable federal short-term rate (compounded monthly) in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the Date of Termination. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Executive will not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 8 hereof unless he would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.
18. Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is under no contractual or other binding legal restriction which would prohibit Executive from entering into and performing under this Agreement or that would limit the performance of Executives duties under this Agreement.
19. Withholding Taxes. The Company will withhold from any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes that are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, will bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic, faxed or PDF copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
HYZON MOTORS INC. |
EXECUTIVE |
|||||
By: |
/s/ Craig Knight |
/s/ Adam Kroll |
||||
Craig Knight |
Adam Kroll |
|||||
Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 10.12
CONFIDENTIAL
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of June 7, 2021, by and between Hyzon Motors Inc. (this Company), with its principal offices at 475 Quaker Meeting House Road, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 and Parker Meeks (Executive), an individual whose principal residence is
Recitals
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the development and production of hydrogen fuel cell technology and products for large commercial vehicles;
WHEREAS, Executive represents that he is a business professional possessing the skills and experience the Company requires to serve initially as the Companys Chief Strategy Officer (CSO);
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which Executive will serve as CSO of the Company both prior to and following the closing of the Merger, as defined in that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Business Combination Agreement), dated as of February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, DCRB Merger Sub Inc. and the Company; and
WHEREAS, if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Agreement
1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. At-Will Employment. Executives employment hereunder by the Company will commence on Effective Date or such other date as agreed by the parties. Executives employment shall at all times be at will notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement.
3. Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, Executive will serve as CSO and will report both to the Companys Executive Chairman and to its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Executive will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of CSO and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by or at the direction of the Executive Chairman and/or the CEO. In the event that Employer, in its sole determination, decides to spin off its existing subsidiary, Hyzon Zero Carbon, Inc. (HZCI), a Delaware corporation, Employer will propose Executive as a candidate for the position of Chief Executive Officer of HZCI. Executive will devote substantially all of Executives working time, business attention and energies (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to the performance of Executives duties for the Company. Without the consent of the Executive Chairman and CEO, during the Employment Period, Executive will not serve on the board of directors, trustees or any similar governing body of any for-profit entity. Notwithstanding the above, Executive will be permitted, to the extent such activities do not
interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate Section 10 of this Agreement, to (i) manage Executives (and his immediate familys) personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve, with the prior approval of the Board, on civic or charitable boards or committees (it being expressly understood and agreed that Executives continuing to serve on the civic or charitable boards or committees on which Executive is serving, or with which Executive is otherwise associated, as of the Effective Date (each of which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement), will be deemed not to interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement).
4. Place of Performance. Except for work-from-home arrangements established by the Company in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or business travel as may be required from time to time, the place of employment of Executive will be at the Companys offices in the greater Chicago area or surrounding suburbs, including the Companys intended offices in Bolingbrook, Illinois or such other offices in the foregoing area as designated by the Company. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties agree that Executive is not required initially to relocate to the Chicago area and is authorized to commute from his current home in Houston, Texas, to the Chicago area office designated by the Company. While Executive is commuting from Houston, the Company agrees to reimburse Executive for all commute-related airfare, reasonably priced lodging, and other reasonable expenses per Company policies and budgetary considerations.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of $450,000 (FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) per year (Base Salary), to be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Companys customary payroll practices in effect from time to time. The level of Executives Base Salary will be subject to review as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(b) Annual Bonus. During the Employment Period and subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus with a target of 70% (SEVENTY PERCENT) of Base Salary (Target Bonus). The actual amount of any such annual bonus payment will be determined in the sole discretion of the Executive Chairman and CEO (Actual Bonus) in consultation with the Employers Board of Directors, and no guarantee is made that the Actual Bonus will be payable in whole or in part, if at all. To receive any such annual bonus, Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such annual bonus is paid, subject to Section 8(b) below. The level of Executives Target Bonus will be subject to review by the Board or a committee thereof as part of the Companys ordinary course annual review process.
(c) Long-Term Incentive Award. During Executives employment, Executive will be eligible to be granted when and at such time as the Companys board approves or ratifies such grant, 70,000 (SEVENTY THOUSAND) Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) per annum for 4 (four) years, for a total of 280,000 (TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND) RSUs as defined in and pursuant to the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan or any successor plan, and in the form and subject to the terms and conditions to be determined by the Board or an independent committee thereof in its sole and absolute discretion. Such Restricted Stock Units will be subject to Executives continuing employment with the Company or any of its affiliates, and any other terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock
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Unit grant, and will include the contingent right to receive Earnout Shares, as defined in the Business Combination Agreement. Executive acknowledges receiving a copy of Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan.
(d) Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate in employee health/welfare and retirement benefit plans and programs of the Company and its subsidiaries as are made available to the Companys senior-level executives or to its employees generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time, and subject to the terms of the applicable plans or programs.
(e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company will promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company Group in effect from time to time as may be modified for all senior executive officers of the Company.
6. Reasons for Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding Section Error! Reference source not found., Executives employment hereunder may terminate at any time under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Executives employment hereunder will terminate upon Executives death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Executives incapacity due to physical or mental impairment, Executive will have been substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for a continuous period of 180 days or for 210 days within any twelve-month period, then the Company may terminate Executives employment as a result of Disability.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have Cause to terminate Executives employment upon Executives:
(i) conviction of or plea of no contest to any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude;
(ii) attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iii) intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iv) material violation of any code of ethics, law applicable to the workplace, or material policies of the Company (including, without limitation, policies relating to sexual harassment or other prohibited discrimination) which violation if capable of cure (as reasonably determined by the Company) remains uncured for 30 days after Executives receipt of notice from the Company that it deems such violation Cause for termination of employment;
(v) unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets;
(vi) refusal or willful omission, other than due to Disability, to perform any duties required of Executive, which refusal or omission if capable of cure (as reasonably determined by the Company) remains uncured for 30 days after Executives receipt of notice from the Company that it deems such conduct Cause for termination of employment; or
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(vii) gross misconduct or gross negligence.
For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive will be considered willful if taken or omitted in the reasonable and good faith belief that the act or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(d) Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason within 90 days after Executive has, or should have had, actual knowledge of the occurrence, without the consent of Executive, of one of the following events that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the event; provided that such notice must be given to the Company within 30 days of Executive becoming aware of such condition:
(i) a material diminution by the Company in Executives Base Salary or Target Bonus;
(ii) the failure to grant any annual installment of the Long Term Incentive Award described in Section 5(c), above, that has been approved or ratified by the Companys board in its sole and absolute discretion;
(iii) a material diminution in Executives authority, duties or responsibilities;
(iv) a relocation of Executives location of employment by more than 50 miles; or
(v) the Companys material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
Executives continued employment during the 90-day period referred to above in this Section 6(d) will not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company placing Executive on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate Executive for Cause, will not constitute a Good Reason event.
(e) Without Cause. The Company may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7(a)). This means that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Executives employment with the Company will be at will.
(f) Without Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executives employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination.
7. Termination of Employment Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executives employment hereunder by the Company or, with at least 60 days advance written notice, by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination
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to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 13. For purposes of this Agreement, a Notice of Termination means a notice which will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executives employment under the provision so indicated if the termination is based on Section 6(b), (c) or (d). The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause will not waive any right of Executive or the Company, respectively, under this Agreement or preclude Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
(b) Date of Termination. Date of Termination means (i) if Executives employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; (ii) if Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b), the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; (iii) if Executives employment is terminated upon the expiration of the Initial Period or a Renewal Period following the issuance of a notice of non-renewal from one party to the other, the date of expiration of the Initial Period or Renewal Period, as applicable; and (iv) if Executives employment is terminated for any other reason, the date set forth in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if such termination is due to a Notice of Termination by Executive, the Company will have the right to accelerate such notice and make the Date of Termination the date of the Notice of Termination or such other date prior to Executives intended Date of Termination as the Company deems appropriate, which acceleration will in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause or constitute Good Reason.
(c) Removal from Any Boards and Position. Upon the termination of Executives employment with the Company for any reason, Executive will automatically, and without any further action by Executive, be deemed to resign (i) from the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company and/or any other board to which Executive has been appointed or nominated by or on behalf of the Company (including the Board), and (ii) from any position with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, as an officer and director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries.
8. Compensation upon Termination of Employment. This Section 8 provides the payments and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive as a result of his termination of employment. Except as provided in this Section 8, Executive will not be entitled to any payments or benefits from the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable, as a result of the termination of his employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(a) Termination for Any Reason. Following the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination and including, without limitation, a termination of his employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, the Company will:
(i) pay Executive (or his estate in the event of his death) as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and (B) any accrued and unused vacation pay through the Date of Termination if payable in accordance with law or Company policy then in effect;
(ii) reimburse Executive as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination for any amounts due to Executive pursuant to Section 5(e) (unless such termination occurred as a result of misappropriation of funds); and
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(iii) provide Executive with any compensation and/or benefits as may be due or payable to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable.
(b) Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof. In addition, and solely in the case of a termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason (a Qualifying Termination), and further subject to Section 8(d) and subject to Executives continued compliance with Section 10 as if Executive remained employed during the period Executive is eligible to receive any severance benefits, Executive will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits: (i) a lump sum amount equal to the Severance Amount, (ii) any unpaid bonus relating to performance periods that have ended on or before Executives termination of employment, (iii) the Pro Rata Bonus paid at the time bonuses are paid to similarly situated employees of the Company, (iv) the Medical Benefits and (v) the Equity Vesting Benefits.
(i) The Severance Amount will be equal to:
(A) if such Qualifying Termination is within three (3) months prior to or twelve (12) months following a Change in Control of the Company (a Qualifying CIC Termination), eighteen (18) months Base Salary; or
(B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months Base Salary.
(ii) The Pro Rata Bonus will be equal to: (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on the greater of actual and target performance or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, calculated based on actual performance.
(iii) The Medical Benefits require the Company to provide Executive medical insurance coverage substantially identical to (including the applicable cost of coverage) that provided to other senior executives of the Company (which may be provided pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) for: (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, eighteen (18) months following the Date of Termination, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination. If this Agreement to provide benefits continuation raises any compliance issues or impositions of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 or other applicable law, then the parties agree to modify this Agreement so that it complies with the terms of such laws without impairing the economic benefit to Executive.
(iv) The Equity Vesting Benefits mean (A) if such Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, full vesting of all unvested equity or other Long Term Incentive Awards, or (B) if such Qualifying Termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, twelve (12) months accelerated vesting of unvested equity or other Long Term Incentive Awards.
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(v) Change in Control will mean:
(A) during any period of not more than 24 months, individuals who constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) will be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or publicly threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or publicly threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board will be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(B) any person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the Exchange Act), and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur on account of the ownership or acquisition of securities of the Company: (A) by the Company, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in below);
(C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company (directly or indirectly) that requires the approval of the Companys stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a Business Combination), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination own, directly or indirectly, either (1) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity in such Business Combination (the Surviving Entity) or (2) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the Surviving Entity, in each case in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination; (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Entity or the parent) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity); and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent (or, if there is no parent, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this paragraph (v) will be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction);
(D) the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any person or group (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or
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(E) the Companys stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, (A) the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company and (B) a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company as a result of the acquisition of outstanding voting securities of the Company by the Company which reduces the number of outstanding voting securities of the Company; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company described in the preceding clause (B) such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional voting securities of the Company that increases the percentage of outstanding voting securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control will then occur.
(c) Death or Disability. In the event Executives employment terminates as a result of Executives death or Disability, Executive would be entitled to (i) the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, subject to Section 8(d), (ii) a prorated portion of Executives annual Target Bonus based on the period of time elapsed from the start of the applicable performance period through the Date of Termination, and (iii) vesting of all outstanding unvested equity-based awards on the Date of Termination (if applicable, any performance share unit performance requirements will vest based on actual performance at the end of the performance period), in each case, to be paid in a cash lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination.
(d) Condition to Payment and Benefits. As a condition to the payments and benefits set forth in this Section 8 (other than the payments or benefits described in Section 8(a)), Executive must timely execute (and not revoke in any time provided by the Company to do so) a separation and general release agreement in favor of the Company and its affiliates (the Release) in a form acceptable to the Company in connection with severance pay modified to reflect the terms of this Agreement, which Release shall release the Company and each of its affiliates, and each of the foregoing entities respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, predecessors, successors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Executives employment, engagement or affiliation with the Company and any of its affiliates or the termination of such employment, engagement or affiliation, but excluding all claims to severance payments Executive may have under this Section 8. Subject to Section 17 hereof, any lump sum payments provided pursuant to this Section 8 will be paid to Executive within 30 days after such Release becomes effective; provided, however, that if Executives Date of Termination occurs on or after November 1 of a given calendar year, such payment will, subject to Section 17 hereof, be paid in January of the immediately following calendar year.
9. Section 280G. In the event that any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive (1) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) but for this Section 9, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (Section 4999), then such payments and benefits will be either (x) delivered in full, or (y) delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the
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applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 (and any equivalent state or local excise taxes), results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits may be taxable under Section 4999. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this provision will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) reduction of the vesting acceleration of equity awards (if any); and (3) reduction of other benefits paid or provided to Executive. In the event that the acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant for equity awards. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro rata basis.
10. Confidential Information; Ownership of Documents; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that Executives employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group will, during Executives employment, bring Executive into close contact with confidential affairs of the Company Group, including information about costs, profits, markets, sales, products, key personnel, organizational plans, pricing policies, operational methods, technical processes, trade secrets, plans for future development, strategic plans of the most valuable nature and other business affairs and methods and other information not readily available to the public. All such information and all other information regarding the Company or its affiliates (regardless of whether obtained by, or made available to, Executive prior to the date of this Agreement or hereafter) is referred to herein as Confidential Information. Executive further acknowledges that the services to be performed under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character.
During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive agrees to keep secret all confidential matters of the Company Group (including all Confidential Information) and shall not disclose such matters to anyone outside the Company Group, or to anyone inside the Company Group who does not have a need to know or use such information, and shall not use such information for personal benefit or the benefit of a third party except with the prior written consent of the Company; provided, that (i) Executive shall have no such obligation to the extent such matters are or become publicly known other than as a result of Executives breach of Executives obligations hereunder and (ii) Executive may, after giving prior notice to the Company to the extent practicable under the circumstances, disclose such matters to the extent required by applicable laws or governmental regulations or judicial or regulatory process. For the avoidance of doubt, such confidential matters (and Confidential Information) include any oral or written information relating to any member of the Company Group or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and joint venture partners. In addition, Executive agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed confidential and shall not be discussed or disclosed by Executive with any person other than Executives spouse (if applicable), attorney or accountant; provided, that such discussions or disclosures shall be conditioned upon the agreement of the person to whom the terms are disclosed to maintain the confidentiality of such terms, or as provided in clause (i) or (ii) above. This confidentiality covenant is not intended to, and shall be interpreted in a manner that does not, limit or restrict Executive from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights under any applicable law and receiving compensation therefor if provided by applicable law or rule for information provided to a governmental entity.
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Executive is hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833 of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to Executives attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is not disclosed except pursuant to court order.
Moreover, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action, or encourage others to take any action, to denigrate, ridicule, criticize or disparage the Company or any of its affiliates, or any of their respective current or former officers, directors, employees, joint venture partners, products, services or customers to any third party (whether through non-public communication with any person, social media or in any public communication to the media). In addition, Executive agrees that Executive will not improperly use, disclose or induce the Company or any other member of the Company Group to use any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity, nor will Executive bring onto the premises of the Company or any other member of the Company Group any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by both the Company and such employer, person or entity. Nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall preclude Executive from enforcing his rights under this Agreement or truthfully testifying in response to legal process or a governmental inquiry, or providing confidential performance reviews in the ordinary course of his services hereunder.
(b) Non-Competition. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) render any services to, or manage, operate, control, associate with or act in any capacity (whether as a principal, partner, director, officer, member, agent, employee, consultant, owner, independent contractor or otherwise and whether or not for compensation) for, any person or entity that is a Competitive Entity; or
(ii) acquire, on a prospective basis, a three percent (3%) or greater equity, voting or profit participation interest in any Competitive Entity (except as provided in the following sentence), including, without limitation, as an owner, holder or beneficiary of any stock, stock options (whether or not exercisable) or other equity interest.
Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from acquiring solely as a passive investment and through market purchases (i) securities of any Competitive Entity that are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that are publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity under Executives control are not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted or convertible securities, do not constitute more than 1% of the outstanding voting power of that entity and (ii) securities of any Competitive Entity that are not registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and are not publicly traded, so long as Executive or any entity
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under Executives control is not part of any control group of such Competitive Entity and such securities, including converted securities, do not constitute more than 3% of the outstanding voting power of that entity; provided, that in each case Executive has no active participation in the business of such entity except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
Competitive Entity means a business (whether conducted through an entity or by individuals including employees in self-employment) that is engaged in any business that competes, directly or indirectly through any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, partnership or otherwise, with (x) any of the business activities carried on by the Company or another member of the Company Group in any geographic location (including in any U.S. state or country outside the United States) where the Company or another member of the Company Group conducts business (including, without limitation, a Competitive Activity, as defined below), (y) any business activities being planned by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in the process of development at the time of Executives termination of employment (as evidenced by written proposals, market research, RFPs and similar materials) or (z) any business activity that the Company or another member of the Company Group has covenanted, in writing, not to compete with in connection with the disposition of such a business.
Competitive Activity means business activities within the lines of business of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, the design, development and manufacturing of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and fuel cell systems, the development and provision of hydrogen mobility solutions, including hydrogen supply and fuel cell lifecycle management and vehicle leasing, the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and other renewable energy sources, the manufacturing and sale of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, and commercial vehicles powered by other forms of renewable energy, including, but not limited to, electric vehicles.
(c) Non-Solicitation. While Executive is employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, and for the one-year period following the date on which Executive is no longer employed by, or providing services to, the Company or another member of the Company Group, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, in any manner, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or employ, and shall not cause any entity of which Executive is an affiliate to employ, any person who was an employee of the Company or another member of the Company Group at the date of such termination of employment or within 12 months prior thereto, (ii) solicit any Client to transact business with a Competitive Entity or (other than with any member of the Company Group) with respect to Competitive Activity or to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Company or another member of the Company Group, (iii) transact business with any Client that would cause Executive to be a Competitive Entity or to be engaging in (other than on behalf of any member of the Company Group) Competitive Activity, or (iv) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company Group and a Client.
For purposes of this Agreement, a Client means any client or customer or prospective client or customer of any member of the Company Group to whom Executive provided services, or for whom Executive transacted business, or whose identity became known to Executive in connection with his relationship with or employment by the Company or another member of the Company Group, or about whom Executive obtained Confidential Information, and Solicit means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or refrain from taking any action.
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(d) Work Product. Executive acknowledges that during Executives employment, Executive may conceive of, discover, invent or create inventions, improvements, new contributions, literary property, material, ideas and discoveries, whether patentable or copyrightable or not, that are (i) related in any manner to the business (commercial or experimental) of the Company Group, (ii) conceived or made on the Company Groups time or with the use of the facilities or materials of the Company Group, or (iii) related in any manner to business opportunities presented to Executive for the possible interest or participation of the Company or another member of the Company Group (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to herein as Work Product). Executive acknowledges that all of the foregoing, including all intellectual property and proprietary rights therein and thereto, are works made for hire as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company and that Executive shall have no personal interest therein. Executive (i) shall promptly disclose any such Work Product and business opportunities to the Company; (ii) hereby assigns to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, upon request and without additional compensation, the entire rights to such Work Product and business opportunities; (iii) shall sign all papers necessary to carry out the foregoing; (iv) shall give testimony in support of Executives inventorship or creation in any appropriate case; and (v) otherwise assist the Company, another member of the Company Group or any designee of the foregoing, at the Company Groups expense and request, in all matters related to securing, protecting and enforcing the Company Groups rights in the Work Product and any copyright, patent or other intellectual property rights therein and thereto in any and all countries. Executive agrees that Executive will not assert any rights to any Work Product or business opportunity as having been made or acquired by Executive prior to the date of this Agreement except for Work Product or business opportunities, if any, disclosed in Schedule 1, attached hereto (a Prior Invention). If no Prior Inventions are listed on Schedule 1, Executive represents that there are no Prior Inventions. Executive agrees not to incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, any Prior Invention into a Company Group product, process or service without the Companys prior written consent. To the extent Executive has disclosed any Prior Inventions on Schedule 1 hereto, Executive grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, sublicensable, worldwide license to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, perform, display, import, make, have made, modify, use, sell offer to sell, and exploit in any other way such Prior Invention to the extent incorporated with Executives consent into any Company Group product, process or service. If and to the extent that, prior to the date of this Agreement, Executive has conceived, discovered, invented or created any item, including any intellectual property rights with respect thereto, that would have been Work Product if conceived, discovered, invented or created following the date of this Agreement, then any item will be deemed Work Product under this Agreement, and this Agreement will apply to such item as if conceived, discovered, invented or created under this Agreement. Furthermore, all modifications to and derivative works of such Prior Inventions are Work Product under this Agreement so long as the relevant work during Executives employment otherwise meets the above definition of Work Product.
(e) Covenants to Others. Executive has indicated, and expressly represents, to the Company that there are no agreements or obligations that would impact Executives ability to be employed by the Company or any other member of the Company Group in this position, or in any way would prevent Executive from performing the functions of this position. Executive hereby agrees that Executive will not use any trade secrets, confidential information or proprietary information obtained from third parties, including any former employer or any other entity or person. Further, Executive will not use any unpublished documents or any other property belonging to any former employer or any other party to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. To the extent the Company discovers that any of such materials or information has been brought with Executive or is being used by Executive in connection with performing Executives job duties, this will be grounds for disciplinary action.
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(f) Validity. The terms and provisions of this Section 10 are intended to be separate and divisible provisions and if, for any reason, any one or more of them is held to be invalid or unenforceable, neither the validity nor the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement will thereby be affected. The parties acknowledge that the potential restrictions on Executives future employment imposed by this Section 10 are reasonable in both duration and geographic scope and in all other respects and necessary to protect the Company Groups goodwill, Confidential Information, and other business interests. If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction will find any provisions of this Section 10 unreasonable in duration or geographic scope or otherwise, Executive and the Company agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained herein will be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law in such jurisdiction and such court will reform such restrictions and prohibitions as necessary such that they will be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
(g) Injunctive Relief. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10, Executive agrees that the Company would suffer irreparable harm, and will be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.
(h) Cease Payments. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 10 by Executive, the Companys obligation to make or provide payments or benefits under Section 8 will cease. Such remedies and the remedies described in Section 10(g) above shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and its affiliates, at law and equity.
(i) Continuing Operation. The termination of Executives employment or of this Agreement will have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 10, as this Section 10 shall survive the termination of Executives employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.
(j) Return of Materials. Upon the Date of Termination, and at any other time upon request of the Company, Executive shall (i) promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company Group property (including any Company Group-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Executives possession, custody or control and Executive shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company Group and (ii) deliver to the Company any personal device (as well as a list of passwords or codes needed to operate or access any personal device) that Executive synced with or used to access any Company system solely for the purpose of removal of any Company Group property. Within five (5) days of any such request, Executive shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents, materials and property have been returned to the Company.
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11. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary or either thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law (including the advancement of applicable, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification will continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and will inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.
(b) At all times during the term of this Agreement, the Company will maintain a directors and officers liability insurance policy, and Executive will be entitled to coverage under that policy on the same terms as are made available to similarly situated executives of the Company.
12. Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a) Companys Successors. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that the Company may assign this Agreement to any parent or subsidiary of the Company and cause such entity to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.1
(b) Executives Successors. No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If Executive dies following his Date of Termination while any amounts would still be payable to Executive hereunder if Executive had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein will be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.
13. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by email or other electronic transmission (including portable document format (.pdf) and with confirmation of transmission) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) as follows:
If to Executive:
Address on file with the Company
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If to the Company:
Hyzon Motors Inc.
475 Quaker Meeting House Road
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Attention: Director of Human Resources
14. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration.
(a) The parties will use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with the Companys internal review procedures, except that this requirement will not apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 10 of this Agreement.
(b) If, despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such controversy or claim through the Companys internal review procedures, then such controversy or claim will be resolved by arbitration in Cook County, Illinois, in accordance with the rules then applicable of the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) (provided that the Company will pay the filing fee and all AAA hearing fees, arbitrator expenses, and administrative and other fees of the AAA associated with any such arbitration), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Companys agreement to pay AAA fees and arbitrator expenses as set forth in the foregoing sentence does not mean that the Company shall pay Executives legal fees or any expert or other fees or expenses incurred by Executive in conjunction with any arbitration proceeding, as Executive and the Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of their own legal fees and other expenses other than the expenses of the AAA that the Company has agreed to pay pursuant to the foregoing sentence. Any arbitration conducted under this Section 14 shall be private, and shall be heard by a single arbitrator (the Arbitrator) selected in accordance with the then-applicable rules of the AAA. All disputes shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and each party hereto hereby foregoes and waives any right to arbitrate any dispute as a class action or collective action or on a consolidated basis or in a representative capacity on behalf of other persons or entities who are claimed to be similarly situated, or to participate as a class member in such a proceeding. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be reasoned, rendered in writing, and be final and binding upon the disputing parties, and the parties agree that judgment upon the award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 14 is subject to the Federal Arbitration Act.
(c) Notwithstanding the other terms of this Section 14, either party may make a timely application for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of Section 14; provided, however, that the remainder of any such dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall be subject to arbitration under this Section 14.
(d) By entering into this Agreement and entering into the arbitration provisions of this Section 14, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL.
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(e) Nothing in this Section 14 shall prohibit a party to this Agreement from (i) instituting litigation to enforce any arbitration award, or (ii) joining the other party to this Agreement in a litigation initiated by a person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement. Further, nothing in this Section 14 precludes Executive from filing a charge or complaint with a federal, state or other governmental administrative agency.
(f) Further, notwithstanding anything in this Section 14, to the extent that any dispute, controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arises out of or relates to any equity-based incentive awards referenced in Section 8 above, such dispute, controversy or claim shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions set forth in the applicable equity-based incentive award documentation.2
15. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.
(b) Full Settlement. Except as set forth in Section 10(h) of this Agreement, the Companys obligations to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not be affected by any set-offs, counterclaims, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. After termination of the Employment Period, in no event will Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
(c) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its conflict of law principles.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent permitted by law, Executive and the Company waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any controversy or claim between Executive and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 14 and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in Cook County in the State of Illinois.
16. Entire Agreement/Effectiveness; Satisfaction of Obligations. This Agreement will automatically become null and void in the event the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the closing of the Merger. Upon the Effective Date, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, term sheets,
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promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter; provided, however, this Agreement is in addition to and complements (and does not replace or supersede) any other obligation that Executive has to the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure and return of information.
17. Section 409A Compliance.
(a) This Agreement is intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with the applicable regulations thereunder, Section 409A). To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A (including, without limitation, Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision will be read, or will be modified by the Company in its sole discretion, as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement will be treated as a separate and distinct payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment for any amount payable hereunder.
(b) All reimbursements provided under this Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executives lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) Executive further acknowledges that Section 409A of the Code imposes tax liability solely on service providers and not on service recipients.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code concerning payments to specified employees (as defined in Section 409A) any payment on account of Executives separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation will nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following Executives date of termination and the first such payment will include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Executive will not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 8 hereof unless Executive would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.
18. Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive is under no contractual or other binding legal restriction which would prohibit Executive from entering into and performing under this Agreement or that would limit the performance of Executives duties under this Agreement.
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19. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes and any other amounts that are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law, order or regulation.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, will bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic, faxed or PDF copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
signature page follows
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
HYZON MOTORS INC. | EXECUTIVE | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Craig Knight |
/s/ Parker Meeks |
||||||
Craig Knight | Name | |||||||
Chief Executive Officer | Parker Meeks |
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SCHEDULE 1
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
If Executive has Prior Inventions, please list them in the space below. If Executive does not have any Prior Inventions or would like to include additional Prior Inventions on separate pages, check the appropriate box at the bottom of the page.
Check the following as applicable:
☐ All of my Prior Inventions are listed above
☒ I have no Prior Inventions (it will be presumed that there are none if this sheet is left blank)
☐ I have attached additional sheets describing my Prior Inventions
Signature of Executive: |
/s/ Parker Meeks |
|
Print Name of Executive: | Parker Meeks | |
Date: 6/7/2021 |
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Exhibit 10.13
FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is made this [ ] day of [ ] (the Agreement) by and between Hyzon Motors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and [ ] (Indemnitee).
WHEREAS, the Company believes that in order to attract and retain highly competent persons to serve as directors or in other capacities, including as officers, it must provide such persons with adequate protection against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their services to and activities on behalf of the Company;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to insurance and to indemnification that provide protection against such risks have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Companys stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer and may also desire and request the Indemnitee to serve in the future in another Position (as hereinafter defined) at an Affiliated Entity (as hereinafter defined);
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company or in another Position at an Affiliated Entity, the Company is willing to grant the Indemnitee the indemnification provided for herein. Indemnitee is willing to so serve on the basis that such indemnification be provided. The indemnification provided herein is a supplement to and in furtherance of any rights granted under the Companys and any applicable Affiliated Entitys certificate of incorporation and bylaws and shall not be deemed to be a substitute therefor nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) Change of Control shall mean, and shall be deemed to have occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement, (i) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), other than (A) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries acting in such capacity, or (B) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 20% of the total voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding Voting Securities (as hereinafter defined), (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of directors of the Company (the Board) and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds ( 2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of its assets, or (v) the Company shall file or have filed against
it, and such filing shall not be dismissed, any bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution proceedings, or a trustee, administrator or creditors committee shall be appointed to manage or supervise the affairs of the Company; provided that the beneficial ownership by Hymas Pte Ltd of those shares of common stock beneficially owned by Hymas Pte Ltd as of July 16, 2021 (as increased solely by any shares issued to Hymas Pte Ltd pursuant to that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated February 8, 2021, by and among Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation DCRB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the Company) shall not be deemed a Change of Control hereunder.
(b) Expenses shall mean all out of pocket fees, costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred or actually incurred in prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), or responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide discovery in a Proceeding, and the fees and costs incurred in seeking to enforce, interpret or construe an indemnification, reimbursement or payment right under this Agreement, the Companys or any Affiliated Entitys certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any other agreement to which Indemnitee and the Company or any Affiliated Entity is party, any vote of stockholders or directors of the Company or any of its Affiliated Entities, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL), any other applicable law or any liability insurance policy or in connection with a determination contemplated by Section 6 of this Agreement.
(c) Independent Legal Counsel means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Legal Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement.
(d) Position shall mean (i) service as a director, officer, partner, trustee, fiduciary, manager or employee of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, public limited company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, fund or other enterprise as to which the Company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the voting power of equity or membership interests, or in the case of employee benefit plans, is sponsored or maintained by the Company or one of the foregoing (any of the foregoing, an Affiliated Entity) or (ii) service at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, fiduciary, manager or employee of a corporation, limited liability company, public limited company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, fund or other enterprise which is not an Affiliated Entity (an Unaffiliated Entity), provided, however, that such request for service has been approved in writing by the Board or a committee thereof or by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(e) Proceeding shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or investigative (formal or informal), in which the Indemnitee is involved in any manner by reason of the fact of the Indemnitees Position or Positions, including, without limitation, as a party or a witness.
(f) Undertaking shall mean a written undertaking by Indemnitee to repay Expenses if it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
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(g) Voting Securities shall mean any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
Section 2. Indemnification General. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, awards, fines, penalties, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and losses, in each case subject to the terms of this Agreement, and shall pay or reimburse all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee, in each case subject to the terms of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in effect on the date hereof or as amended to increase the scope of permitted indemnification, if Indemnitee is involved in any manner (including, without limitation, as a party or a witness) in any Proceeding by reason of the fact of Indemnitees Position or Positions, including, without limitation, any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, but excluding any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee other than (a) Proceedings initiated by Indemnitee which are consented to in advance in writing by the majority vote of the directors of the Company (excluding any directors who are parties to the Proceeding, even though less than a quorum; or if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion) and (b) counterclaims made by Indemnitee in a Proceeding which directly respond to and negate the affirmative claim made against Indemnitee in such Proceeding. In the event Indemnitee incurs Expenses or settles a Proceeding under circumstances in which the Company would have an obligation to indemnify Indemnitee for the Expenses or settlement amount, the Company may discharge its indemnification obligation by making payments on behalf of Indemnitee directly to the parties to whom such Expenses or settlement amounts are owed by Indemnitee.
Section 3. Indemnification Expenses. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement, the Company will also, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in effect on the date hereof or as amended to increase the scope of permitted indemnification, indemnify, reimburse and pay Indemnitee for Expenses incurred in seeking to enforce, interpret or construe an indemnification, reimbursement or payment right under this Agreement, the Companys certificate of incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Affiliated Entity, any other agreement to which Indemnitee and the Company or any of its Affiliated Entities are party, any vote of stockholders or directors of the Company or any of its Affiliated Entities, the DGCL or other corporate entity law governing any Affiliated Entities, any other applicable law relating to the Positions or any liability insurance policy.
Section 4. Advancement of Expenses. Upon receipt by the Company of an Undertaking by Indemnitee, the Company shall pay or reimburse Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding, any action or proceeding contemplated by the last sentence of Section 2 of this Agreement and any determination contemplated by Section 6 of this Agreement, in each case in advance of its final disposition. The Company shall not impose other conditions to advancement and shall not seek or agree to any order that would prohibit Indemnitee from enforcing such right to advancement. Such payment shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a written request from Indemnitee requesting reimbursement or payment of such Expenses. Such request shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. The burden of proving that the Company is not liable for reimbursement or payment of Expenses shall be on the Company. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 4 shall be unsecured and interest free.
Section 5. Limitations. The Company shall not indemnify Indemnitee:
(a) if such indemnification or payment would be prohibited under any applicable laws, rules or regulations,
(b) for an accounting of profits arising from the purchase and sale by the Indemnitee of securities under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
(c) for violations of federal or state insider trading laws,
(d) for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or
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(e) for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act,
unless, in each such case, Indemnitee has received the Companys written consent prior to incurring an Expense, after receiving the Companys written consent to incurring the cost of settlement, settled the Proceeding, or been successful on the merits. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the merits or otherwise, but is successful as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter. This Section 5 shall not limit the Companys obligation to advance Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement.
Section 6. Standard of Conduct. No claim for indemnification shall be paid by the Company unless it has been determined that Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, which is the standard of conduct set forth in Section 145 of the DGCL (as such, the Standard of Conduct, with such Standard of Conduct to be automatically revised to conform to any successor provision of the DGCL that is more favorable to Indemnitee); provided that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any Proceeding by or in right of the Company as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, except as determined by the court or other tribunal adjudicating the Proceeding. Unless (a) a Change of Control has occurred or (b) ordered by a court or other tribunal, such determinations of whether the Standard of Conduct has been satisfied shall be made by (i) a majority vote of the directors of the Company who are not parties to the Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by Independent Legal Counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by stockholders of the Company. If a Change of Control has occurred, such determination of whether the Standard of Conduct has been satisfied shall be made by Independent Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee. Such Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed). The Company shall pay the fees and expenses of the Independent Legal Counsel and indemnify the Independent Legal Counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to its engagement and shall indemnify, reimburse and pay Indemnitee for Expenses incurred in connection with such determination. Indemnitee shall be deemed to have met the Standard of Conduct if the determination is not made by the Company within sixty (60) days of receipt by the General Counsel of a written request by Indemnitee for indemnity. If the Indemnitee has been determined not to have met the Standard of Conduct, Indemnitee may commence litigation in any court in the State of Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper seeking an initial de novo determination by the court or challenging any such determination or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and agrees to appear in any such proceeding. Except in the case of litigation referred to in the previous sentence, any determination under this Section 6 shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee. In no event shall a determination be a prerequisite to or affect the Companys obligation to advance Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement.
Section 7. Contribution. If the full indemnification and payment or reimbursement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be paid to Indemnitee because it has been finally adjudicated that such indemnification or payment or reimbursement of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee is prohibited by Delaware or other law, or if it has been determined as provided above that the Standard of Conduct has not been met, then in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company or an Affiliated Entity is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), as determined:
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(a) if no Change of Control has occurred, by (i) majority vote of the directors of the Company who are not parties to the Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by Independent Legal Counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by stockholders of the Company, or
(b) if a Change of Control has occurred, by Independent Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee (such Independent Legal Counsel to be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed)),
the Company shall contribute to the amount of loss, liability or Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in such proportion as appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and any Affiliated Entity on the one hand and Indemnitee on the other hand from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose and (ii) the relative fault of the Company, any Affiliated Entity or Unaffiliated Entity, including other persons indemnified by the Company, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events which resulted in such Proceeding, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, any Affiliated Entity or Unaffiliated Entity, including other persons indemnified by the Company, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such Proceeding. The Company acknowledges that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take into account the foregoing equitable considerations.
Section 8. Defense of Claim. If any Proceeding asserted or commenced against Indemnitee is also asserted or commenced against the Company or an Affiliated Entity, the Company or the Affiliated Entity shall be entitled, except as otherwise provided herein below, to assume the defense thereof. After notice from the Company or any Affiliated Entity to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitees own counsel in such Proceeding, but the Expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company or any Affiliated Entity to Indemnitee of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee and, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any Expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith other than reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable travel and lodging expenses arising out of Indemnitees participation in the defense of such Proceeding, unless (a) otherwise notified by the Company, (b) Indemnitees counsel shall have reasonably concluded and so notified the Company that there is a conflict of interest between the Company or any Affiliated Entity and Indemnitee in the conduct of defense of such Proceeding, or (c) the Company or any Affiliated Entity shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, in any of which cases the Expenses of Indemnitee in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed or paid by the Company. The Company or any Affiliated Entity shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company by its stockholders or as to which Indemnitees counsel shall have made the conclusion set forth in clause (b) of the preceding sentence of this Section 8.
Section 9. Settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, which may be provided or withheld in Indemnitees sole discretion, effect any settlement of any Proceeding against Indemnitee unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money by persons other than Indemnitee and includes an unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability arising from or relating to any matters that are the subject of such Proceeding. The Company shall not indemnify Indemnitee against amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding against Indemnitee if such settlement is effected by Indemnitee without the Companys prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).
Section 10. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement will be considered to be in effect on the first day of the Indemnitees Position or Positions, even if such date occurs prior to the date of this Agreement, and will continue for so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact of Indemnitees Position or Positions, whether or not Indemnitee ceases to hold such Position or Positions.
Section 11. Confidentiality. Except as required by law or as otherwise becomes public (other than in violation of this Agreement) or as communicated to Indemnitees counsel or to Indemnitees or the Companys insurer, in
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seeking indemnification or reimbursement or payment of Expenses hereunder, Indemnitee agrees to keep confidential any information that arises in connection with this Agreement, including but not limited to, claims for indemnification or payment or reimbursement of Expenses, amounts paid or payable under this Agreement and any communications between the Indemnitee and the Company.
Section 12. Applicability to Other Indemnification Provisions. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to Section 145(f) of the DGCL and to the fullest extent permitted by law shall be in addition to indemnification and reimbursement or payment of Expenses provided by the DGCL. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall apply this Agreement in considering requests for indemnification or reimbursement or payment of Expenses under its certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or any other agreement or undertaking of the Company or similar constituent documents of an Affiliated Entity that provides rights to indemnification or reimbursement or payment of Expenses.
Section 13. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall indemnify and pay or reimburse Expenses of the Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment under this Agreement to the extent that Indemnitee (a) is otherwise entitled to receive or has received reimbursement or payment of amounts otherwise payable hereunder from an Unaffiliated Entity (including insurance maintained by an Unaffiliated Entity) as a result of Indemnitees Position or Positions at or with respect to an Unaffiliated Entity, (b) is entitled to receive or has received reimbursement or payment of amounts otherwise payable hereunder under an insurance policy maintained by the Company or by or out of a fund created by the Company and under the control of a trustee or otherwise, (c) is entitled to receive or has received reimbursement or payment of amounts otherwise payable hereunder from other sources provided by the Company, or (d) is entitled to receive or has received reimbursement or payment of amounts otherwise payable hereunder under an insurance policy maintained by the Indemnitee or from any other source. If Indemnitee has a right of recovery from an Unaffiliated Entity (including insurance maintained by an Unaffiliated Entity), Indemnitee shall take all actions reasonably necessary to recover payment (or insurance) from such Unaffiliated Entity before seeking payment from the Company under this Agreement, including initiating a civil, criminal, administrative or investigation action, suit, proceeding or procedure; provided, however, that to the extent recovery of such payment requires meeting a prior deductible or other financial outlay, the Company may be liable under this Agreement for such prior deductible or other financial outlay in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 14. Insurance. The Company shall purchase and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies with A.M. Best ratings of A or better, providing Indemnitee with coverage for any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf by reason of the fact of Indemnitees Position or Positions, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. Such insurance policies shall have coverage terms and policy limits that are reasonable in scope and amount, as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to purchase or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of the coverage provided, if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit, or if the Company otherwise determines in good faith that obtaining or maintaining such insurance is not in the best interests of the Company. At the time the Company receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of an action, suit or proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy. The Company agrees that if there is a change in control of the Company, the Company shall maintain (or cause to be maintained) for the benefit of Indemnitee, the same policy or policies of insurance maintained in accordance with this Section 14 immediately prior to such change in control for a period of six years after the change in control or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10, whichever is later.
Section 15. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee under any insurance policy held by the Company or an Affiliated Entity or otherwise. Indemnitee shall execute all documents reasonably required and shall do everything reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company to effectively bring suit to enforce such rights.
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Section 16. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing in accordance with Section 22 of this Agreement upon the earlier of (a) becoming aware of a Proceeding where indemnity or reimbursement or payment of Expenses may be sought or (b) receiving or being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, inquiry or other document relating to any Proceeding which may be subject to indemnification or reimbursement or payment of Expenses covered hereunder. As a condition to indemnification or reimbursement or payment of Expenses, any demand for payment by Indemnitee hereunder shall be in writing. The failure to promptly notify the Company of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding, or of Indemnitees request for indemnification, will not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Company is actually and materially prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure.
Section 17. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, inoperative or unenforceable as applied to any particular Proceeding or in any particular jurisdiction, for any reason, such circumstances shall not have the effect of rendering the provision in question invalid, inoperative or unenforceable in any other distinguishable Proceeding or jurisdiction, or of rendering any other provision or provisions herein contained invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent whatsoever. The invalidity, inoperability or unenforceability of any one or more phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in this Agreement shall not affect any other remaining part of this Agreement.
Section 18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, Indemnitee and Indemnitees heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators and upon the Company and its successors and assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. The Company shall require any such successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 18, this Agreement shall not be assignable or delegable by the Company.
Section 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 20. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 21. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 22. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand, on the date delivered, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is mailed or (c) sent by guaranteed overnight courier service, with postage prepaid, on the business day after the date on which it is sent:
(i) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement;
(ii) If to the Company, to:
Hyzon Motors Inc.85 East Street
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Attention: General Counsel
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or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
Section 23. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall make a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other than Delaware govern indemnification by the Company of Indemnitee, then the indemnification provided under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.
Section 24. Venue. Any Proceeding relating to or arising from this Agreement, including without limitation, any Proceeding regarding indemnification or reimbursement or payment of Expenses arising out of this Agreement, shall only be brought and heard in the Chancery Court in and for the State of Delaware (the Delaware Court), and may not be brought in any other judicial forum. The Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agrees that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may brought in the Delaware Court, (b) consents to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) consents to service of process at the Companys address set forth in Section 22 of this Agreement with the same legal force and validity as if served upon the Company personally within the State of Delaware, (d) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court and (e) waives, and agrees not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
HYZON MOTORS INC. |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:
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Name: |
[Insert Name of Indemnitee] | |
Address: |
[Insert Address of Indemnitee] |
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Exhibit 10.14
EXECUTION VERSION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT
This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of January 12, 2021 (the Effective Date), is made and entered into by and between Jiangsu Qingneng New Energy Technologies Co., Ltd., located at 302-309 Building A, New Environmental Materials Industrial Park, Huada Road, Jingang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu, Peoples Republic of China (Jiangsu Horizon), its (as of the Effective Date) wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Qingneng Horizon New Energy Ltd. (Shanghai Horizon and, taken together with Jiangsu Horizon, JS Horizon), and Hyzon Motors Inc., located at 85 East Street, Honeoye Falls, NY 14475, United States (Hyzon). Each of JS Horizon and Hyzon may be referred to individually in this Agreement as a Party and collectively as the Parties. All capitalized terms in this Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto) shall have the meaning set forth in Exhibit A, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
WHEREAS, Hyzon and JS Horizon are, as of the Effective Date, Controlled by the same ultimate parent and each specialize in the Exploitation of Fuel Cells for use in different technological and geographical applications;
WHEREAS, the Parties contemplate a transaction or series of transactions whereby equity interests in one or both Parties will become owned by unaffiliated third parties; and
WHEREAS, in contemplation of such transactions, the Parties wish to enter into this Agreement to govern and clarify each Partys ownership of, and respective rights and responsibilities under, the Background IP, Hyzon Patents and Improvements, and also for Hyzon to grant, and JS Horizon to receive, a perpetual license to the Hyzon Patents, in each case, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each Party, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
OWNERSHIP AND ASSIGNMENT
Section 1.1 Joint Ownership and Assignment of Background IP. Each Party will be, as of and following the Effective Date, an undivided joint owner of all right, title and interest in and to all Background IP. Each Party, on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates, hereby makes, and agrees to make, all assignments under all of its and its Affiliates respective right, title and interest in and to the Background IP as necessary to effectuate such undivided joint ownership interest in favor of each of the Parties. Other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the terms set forth in Article II), neither Party will have any duty to account, or any obligation to make any payment or seek consent (including in connection with licensing or enforcement), to Exploit any of its respective joint ownership rights, or any products or services, under the Background IP.
Section 1.2 Exclusive Ownership and Assignment of Hyzon Patents. Hyzon will, as of and following the Effective Date, exclusively own all right, title and interest in and to the Hyzon Patents. JS Horizon, on behalf of itself and all other Horizon Entities, hereby assigns to Hyzon all of its and their respective right, title and interest (if any) in and to the Hyzon Patents.
Section 1.3 Additional Patents. On or before July 30, 2021, Power JV will become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of JS Horizon (such event, the Entity Acquisition). Effective only upon the Entity Acquisition, (a) JS Horizon, on behalf of itself and the Horizon Entities (including, as of such time, Power JV), hereby assigns and agrees to assign to Hyzon an undivided joint ownership interest in and to the Additional Patents, and (b) such Additional Patents will thereafter be Background IP and subject to the terms of this Agreement as such. The assignment contemplated in this Section 1.3 is referred to herein as the Additional Patent Assignment.
ARTICLE II
RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS IN BACKGROUND IP & HYZON PATENTS
Section 2.1 Hyzon License and Exclusivity.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, JS Horizon, on behalf of itself, Power JV and any applicable Horizon Entities, hereby grants to Hyzon a perpetual, irrevocable, fully sublicensable (solely within the scope of the Hyzon Field), non-transferable (except as set forth in Section 5.4) license under the Horizon Improvements, the Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment) and JS Horizons (and, to the extent applicable, any other Horizon Entitys) joint ownership interest in the Background IP to Exploit (i) standalone Mobility Fuel Cells anywhere in the world, but only for use in Mobility Products that are Commercialized outside of Asia, Africa and South America, and (ii) Mobility Products anywhere in the world, and Fuel Cells as incorporated into, or as replacement parts in connection with the servicing of, Mobility Products to be sold or leased by or on behalf of any Hyzon Entity anywhere in the world (such Exploitation as described in clauses (i) and (ii), the Hyzon Field). The foregoing license will be exclusive (even as to JS Horizon, the Horizon Entities and Power JV and any of their applicable successors in interest) with respect to the Horizon Improvements, the Additional Patents and JS Horizons (or any other applicable Horizon Entitys) joint ownership interest in the Background IP.
(b) JS Horizon shall not, and shall cause the other Horizon Entities and Power JV not to, without prior written consent from Hyzon, Commercialize, or license or authorize any other Person to Commercialize, directly or indirectly, any of the following that incorporate or are covered by any Background IP, Horizon Improvements, Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment), Hyzon Patents or Hyzon Patent Improvements: (i) standalone Mobility Fuel Cells anywhere in the world, other than for use in Mobility Products to be sold or leased for use solely within Asia, Africa or South America; (ii) Mobility Products anywhere in the world; or (iii) standalone Fuel Cells to any Person that JS Horizon, the applicable other Horizon Entity or Power JV knows, following reasonable inquiry, intends to incorporate (or permit others to incorporate) such Fuel Cells into Mobility Products to be sold or leased for use outside of Asia, Africa and South America. For clarity, nothing in this Section 2.1 restricts Horizon, any other Horizon Entities or Power JV from Exploiting products or services within the Horizon Field.
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(c) Notwithstanding the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.1(a), Hyzon may pledge this Agreement as collateral in connection with any loan, credit facility, or other debt financing involving Hyzon or the Hyzon Entities.
Section 2.2 JS Horizon License and Exclusivity.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Hyzon hereby grants to JS Horizon a perpetual, irrevocable, fully sublicensable (solely within the scope of the Horizon Field), non-transferable (except as set forth in Section 5.4) license under the Hyzon Patents, the Hyzon Improvements and Hyzons joint ownership interest in the Background IP to Exploit (i) Non-Mobility Fuel Cells anywhere in the world, other than for incorporation into Mobility Products to be sold or leased solely outside of Asia, Africa and South America, and (ii) Mobility Fuel Cells to third parties, but only for incorporation into Mobility Products to be Commercialized in Asia, Africa or South America (such Exploitation described in clauses (i) and (ii), the Horizon Field). The foregoing license will be (y) exclusive (even as to Hyzon and the Hyzon Entities or any of their applicable successors in interest) with respect to the Hyzon Background Improvements and Hyzons joint ownership interest in the Background IP and (z) non-exclusive with respect to the Hyzon Patents and Hyzon Patent Improvements.
(b) Hyzon shall not, and shall cause the Hyzon Entities not to, without prior written consent from JS Horizon, Commercialize, or license or authorize any other Person to Commercialize, directly or indirectly, any of the following that incorporate or are covered by any Background IP, Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment) or Hyzon Background Improvements: (i) Non-Mobility Fuel Cells anywhere in the world; or (ii) Fuel Cells to any Person that Hyzon or the applicable Hyzon Entity knows, following reasonable inquiry, intends to incorporate (or permit others to incorporate) such Fuel Cells into Mobility Products to be sold or leased in Asia, Africa or South America. For clarity, nothing in this Section 2.2 restricts Hyzon or any Hyzon Entities from Exploiting products or services within the Hyzon Field.
(c) Notwithstanding the restrictions on transfer set forth in Sections 2.2(a) and 2.2(b), JS Horizon may pledge this Agreement as collateral in connection with any loan, credit facility, or other debt financing involving JS Horizon or the Horizon Entities.
Section 2.3 IP Enforcement.
(a) Hyzon will have the exclusive right to bring any Action for any past, present or future infringement of the Hyzon Patents and any Hyzon Patent Improvements throughout the world. JS Horizon shall, and shall cause any other applicable Horizon Entities to, reasonably cooperate with respect to any such Action at Hyzons request and expense, including by joining any such Action as a party to the extent reasonably requested by Hyzon and reasonably necessary to bring or maintain such Action.
(b) As between the Parties: (i) Hyzon will have the right, but not the obligation, to institute and control any Action against any Person for infringement, misappropriation, or violation of any Background IP, Hyzon Background Improvements, Horizon Improvements or Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment), in each case, to the extent
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within the Hyzon Field (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes any Action for any past, present or future infringement with respect to any Mobility Products anywhere in the world); and (ii) JS Horizon will have the right, but not the obligation, to institute and control any Action against any Person for infringement, misappropriation, or violation of any Background IP, Hyzon Background Improvements, Horizon Improvements or Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment), in each case, to the extent within the Horizon Field. For any Action described in clause (i) above, JS Horizon shall, and shall cause any other applicable Horizon Entities to, reasonably cooperate with such Action at Hyzons request and expense, including by joining any such Action as a party to the extent required by applicable Law. For any Action described in clause (ii) above, Hyzon shall, and shall cause any other applicable Hyzon Entities to, reasonably cooperate with such Action at JS Horizons request and expense, including by joining any such Action as a party to the extent required by applicable Law.
(c) Each Party shall, at least fifteen (15) days (or, in the case of Actions likely to cause immediate irreparable harm, as promptly as reasonably practicable) before instituting any Action against any third party (other than any Hyzon Entity or Horizon Entity) that could reasonably be expected to include claims of infringement, misappropriation or violation of Background IP, Hyzon Background Improvements, Horizon Improvements or the Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment) within both the scope of both the Hyzon Field and Horizon Field, provide written notice to the other Party of its intent to institute such Action (including reasonable detail regarding the known or suspected activities of such other Person that are the basis of such first Partys intended Action). Upon receipt of such notice, the other Party shall have ten (10) days to provide the first Party with written notice of its wish to join such Action, whereupon the Parties shall negotiate in good faith with the intention of entering into a mutually acceptable joint litigation agreement pursuant to which, among other things, the Parties will agree to the apportionment and allocation of applicable expenses, damages and other monetary remedies arising in connection with such Action. If such second Party does not provide such written notice of its intent to join such Action, or responds that it does not wish to join such Action, then the first Party may continue with its Action pursuant to Section 2.3(b).
(d) Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, the Party that institutes and controls an Action as permitted under this Agreement will be entitled to all damages, settlement amounts and other remedies resulting from such Action.
Section 2.4 IP Prosecution and Maintenance.
(a) Hyzon will have the exclusive right to file, prosecute, maintain and defend any and all Hyzon Patents and Hyzon Improvements, and JS Horizon shall, at Hyzons request and cost, provide reasonable assistance in connection with Hyzons prosecution, maintenance and defense of any Hyzon Patents and Hyzon Improvements.
(b) JS Horizon will have the exclusive right to file, prosecute, maintain and defend any and all Horizon Improvements, and Hyzon shall, at JS Horizons request and cost, provide reasonable assistance in connection with JS Horizons prosecution, maintenance and defense of any Horizon Improvements.
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(c) Each Party will have joint responsibility and joint decision-making authority to file, prosecute, maintain and defend all applications and registrations (including issued patents) included within the Background IP or the Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment); provided that if any defense (including in connection with any inter partes review) arises as part of enforcement of the Background IP, such defense will be controlled by the Party who controls such enforcement pursuant to Section 2.3. Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, JS Horizon shall continue to pay all expenses and fees required to prosecute and maintain the Background IP or the Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment) that are already issued or registered by, or subject to a pending application before, any Governmental Entity, and Hyzon shall pay one-half of any such out-of-pocket expense and fees upon a written invoice submitted by JS Horizon on an annual basis to Hyzon. If one Party desires to proceed with prosecution or maintenance of a patent or patent application and the other Party does not desire to do so or is unwilling to pay its portion of the expenses, the declining Party will assign all of its rights in such patent or patent applications to the other Party subject to a perpetual, irrevocable non-exclusive license back to the declining Party, but otherwise subject to the restrictions applicable to such declining Partys Exploitation of products and services as set forth in Section 2.1 or 2.2, as applicable.
(d) Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any Action challenging the validity, enforceability or ownership of any Background IP or the Additional Patents (prior to consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment), including any relevant information related to such claim (if and to the extent sharing such information does not destroy attorney-client privilege with respect thereto).
Section 2.5 Improvements. As between the Parties, all Hyzon Improvements will be owned exclusively by Hyzon, and all Horizon Improvements will be owned exclusively by JS Horizon. All such Improvements will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the exclusive licenses and restrictions set forth in this Article II); provided that, for clarity, neither Party will have any obligation to disclose any of its Improvements or materials describing such Improvements to the other Party unless otherwise agreed by separate written agreement (including, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.6).
Section 2.6 Future Joint Development. If and to the extent any Horizon Entities, on the one hand, and any Hyzon Entities, on the other hand, intend to jointly develop any further Intellectual Property Rights (including any Improvements) after the Effective Date, the Parties shall enter into separate written agreement(s) governing each Partys rights in and with respect to any
Intellectual Property Rights developed or discovered in connection with such activities.
Section 2.7 Further Assurances. Each Party shall, and shall use best efforts to procure that any necessary Persons, promptly take any actions reasonably requested by the other Party in connection with the filing of any assignments or other documents necessary to perfect, and record with the United States Patent & Trademark Office or any foreign counterparts thereof, the ownership of the Background IP, the Hyzon Patents, and Improvements as described under this Agreement.
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Section 2.8 Audit Rights.
(a) No more often than once in any calendar year, each Party may, through an independent, internationally recognized and respected third-party auditor or such other third-party reasonably agreed between the Parties (the Auditor), have audited the other Partys compliance with the terms and conditions of this Article II. The audited Party shall provide the Auditor with access to all written agreements entered into by such Party or its Affiliates with customers, distributors, or resellers related to any products or services Commercialized by the audited Party or its Affiliates that incorporate or otherwise Exploit the Background IP, Hyzon Patents, and Improvements, as applicable. All audits shall be performed during normal business hours and in compliance with the audited Partys applicable written security policies.
(b) The Auditor shall, prior to having access to the audited Partys written agreements, be required to enter into a confidentiality agreement with both Parties, on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Parties, that prohibits the (i) disclosure of the information obtained through such audit, including to the Party that has requested the audit, and (ii) use of any such information, except, in the case of (i) or (ii), for disclosures and uses reasonably necessary for the limited purpose of conducting such audit and either verifying the audited Partys compliance or describing the scope of such Partys non-compliance, if any, in a manner that is compliant with applicable law and that does not disclose the name of any applicable customer, distributor or reseller of the audited Party or its Affiliates. Any information received by the auditing Party with respect to the agreements or business operations of the audited Party shall be treated as confidential information, and may be used solely for the purpose of enforcing the auditing Partys rights under this Agreement with respect to the audited Partys non-compliance, if any.
(c) If an applicable audit finds that the audited Party has failed to comply with its obligations in Article II in any material respect, the other Party may have conducted an additional audit (which will not be counted toward such Partys right to conduct an audit once per calendar year) to verify that such non-compliance has been corrected. All costs and expenses of an audit shall be at the expense of the Party requesting the audit, except for the costs and expenses associated with any additional audits requested pursuant to the foregoing sentence, which shall be at the expense of the audited Party.
Section 2.9 Transfers of Background IP. The restrictions, rights and obligations set forth in this Article II will be deemed to run with the Intellectual Property Rights governed under this Agreement, including each Partys (and any applicable Hyzon Entitys or Horizon Entitys) joint ownership interests in Background IP. Any assignee or transferee of any part of a Partys (or the applicable Hyzon Entitys or Horizon Entitys) joint ownership interest in Background IP shall acquire any such rights subject to the restrictions and obligations described in this Article II, and the Party making such assignment or transfer shall ensure (and, if and as applicable, shall cause its applicable Horizon Entity or Hyzon Entity) that such assignee or transferee agrees, in a written agreement entered into with the non-transferring and non-assigning Party, to be bound by this Article II with respect to the joint ownership interest that it acquires from such assigning Party (or the applicable Hyzon Entity or Horizon Entity).
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ARTICLE III
PAYMENT TERMS
Section 3.1 Hyzon Payments. Hyzon shall pay to JS Horizon: (a) $1 million within ninety (90) days following the Effective Date, and (b) $9 million on or before July 30, 2021 (such combined payments, for the avoidance of doubt, to equal $10 million in total).
Section 3.2 Currency and Wire Transfer. All amounts payable to JS Horizon pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in U.S. Dollars or other currency agreed between the Parties by wire transfer to an account designated in writing by JS Horizon.
ARTICLE IV
TERM AND TERMINATION
Section 4.1 Term. This Agreement is effective as of the Effective Date and will continue for as long as there continues to exist any Background IP or Hyzon Patents.
Section 4.2 No Other Termination. The licenses, rights and restrictions set forth in this Agreement with respect to Background IP, Improvements and Hyzon Patents are perpetual and irrevocable.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 5.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Exhibits hereto), constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties both written and oral, between the Parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 5.2 Reservation of Rights. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither Party grants any license, covenant not to sue or other right under its Intellectual Property Rights to the other Party or any of its Affiliates, including by implication, estoppel, exhaustion or otherwise. All rights not expressly granted are hereby reserved.
Section 5.3 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and in English, and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by e-mail, upon written confirmation of receipt by e-mail or otherwise, (b) on the first (1st) business day in the receiving Partys location following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth (5th) business day in the receiving Partys location following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice:
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(i) if to JS Horizon: | ||
Address: |
Jiangsu Qingneng New Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. 302-309 Building A, New Environmental Materials Industrial Park, Huada Road, Jingang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu |
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Attention: | George Gu | |
E-mail: | gg@horizonfct.com | |
(ii) if to Hyzon: | ||
Address: |
Hyzon Motors Inc. 10 Carriage Street Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 United States |
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Attention: | Gary M. Robb, VP of Engineering | |
E-mail: | gary.m.robb@hyzonmotors.com |
Section 5.4 Assignment. Neither Party may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement, whether directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided that each Party may assign this Agreement in whole, without the prior written consent of the other Party, to any Person that acquires all or substantially all of the stock or assets of such Party; provided, further, that the assigning Party shall bind such acquiror Person, in a written agreement, to all applicable terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Person had entered into this Agreement in the place and stead of such assigning Party. Any attempted assignment or other transfer of this Agreement, in whole or in part, in violation of this Section 5.4 shall be null and void ab initio. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 5.5 Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal Laws of New York.
Section 5.6 Dispute Resolution.
(a) Each Party irrevocably agrees that any controversy, dispute, legal action, proceeding, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration (ICC) in force on the date on which the request for arbitration is submitted. The place of arbitration shall be New York, New York and the language of the arbitration shall be English. The number of arbitrators shall be three (3), one of whom shall be appointed by each of the Parties and the third of whom shall be selected by mutual agreement of the co-arbitrators with the input of both Parties, if possible, within thirty (30) days of the selection of the second arbitrator and thereafter by the ICC. The arbitration award rendered by the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the Parties. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the Parties or their respective assets. Either Party may apply to the arbitrators for interim injunctive relief until the arbitration decision is rendered or the dispute is otherwise resolved. Either Party also may, without waiving any right or remedy
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under this Agreement, seek from any court having jurisdiction any injunctive or provisional relief necessary to protect the rights or property of that Party pending resolution of the dispute pursuant to this Section 5.6(a).
(b) The Parties shall keep any such arbitration confidential and shall not disclose to any person, other than those necessary to the proceedings, the existence of the arbitration, any information, testimony or documents submitted during the arbitration or received from the other Party, a witness or the arbitrators in connection with the arbitration, and any award, unless and to the extent that disclosure is required by Law or is necessary for permitted court proceedings, such as proceedings to recognize or enforce an award.
Section 5.7 Waiver. A Party may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained herein, or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements of the other Party or conditions to such obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party to be bound thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or future exercise of any other right hereunder. Any waiver of any term or condition hereof shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or as a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement.
Section 5.8 Confidentiality.
(a) Each Party agrees not to, and to cause its respective Affiliates not to, disclose or otherwise make available to any third party, (i) the terms of this Agreement (to the extent not already made public), and (ii) any trade secrets and other information and materials (including confidential and proprietary know-how, processes, schematics, business methods, formulae, drawings, models, source code, designs and other technical or business information) that constitute or document confidential and proprietary Background IP. JS Horizon shall not, and shall cause the other Horizon Entities not to, disclose or otherwise make available to any to any third party (other than at Hyzons request) any of the provisional patent applications constituting Hyzon Patents before such patent applications are published. Each Party shall, and shall cause its applicable Affiliates to, use reasonable care, at least as protective as the efforts it uses with respect to its other important confidential information, to safeguard all such confidential information from any use or disclosure prohibited under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party (or such Partys applicable Affiliate) may disclose information described in this Section 5.8 to: (i) its Affiliates, (ii) any of its accountants, legal representatives, employees, contractors, customers, suppliers, agents, licensees, assignees or other successors-in-interest in connection with the exercise of its rights under this Agreement, but only to the extent such Person is bound by confidentiality terms at least as protective as those set forth in Section 5.8(a); (iii) the extent it becomes publicly available through no fault of such first Party; (iv) to actual or potential investors, acquirors, or sources of financing in connection with obtaining or seeking to obtain financing, but only to the extent such Persons are bound by confidentiality terms at least as protective as those set forth in Section 5.8(a); or (v) the extent required by an order of an applicable Governmental Entity, but only after the other Party has been so notified and has had the opportunity, if possible, to obtain reasonable protection in connection with such disclosure.
9
Section 5.9 Interpretation; Rules of Construction.
(a) The Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(b) In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires: (i) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section or Exhibit, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement; (ii) whenever the words include, includes, including, exclude, excludes, and excluding are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words without limitation; (iii) the words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (iv) references to any agreement or other document are to such agreement or document as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time; (v) the word shall is to be interpreted as imperative; and (vi) Dollars and $ shall mean and refer to U.S. Dollars.
(c) The Parties understand and agree that every term and condition of this Agreement has been mutually negotiated, prepared and drafted, and that if at any time the Parties desire or are required to interpret or construe any such term or condition or any agreement or instrument subject thereto, no consideration shall be given to the issue of which Party actually prepared, drafted or requested any term or condition of this Agreement.
Section 5.10 Specific Performance. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Parties hereto would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached and that any nonperformance or breach of this Agreement by any Party could not be adequately compensated by monetary damages alone and that the Parties would not have any adequate remedy at Law. Accordingly, in addition to any other right or remedy to which any Party may be entitled, at Law or in equity (including monetary damages), such Party shall be entitled to seek to enforce any provision of this Agreement by a decree of specific performance and to temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of any of the provisions of this Agreement, without posting any bond or other undertaking.
Section 5.11 Bankruptcy.
(a) The Parties intend that all rights and licenses, including the scope of exclusivity granted under those licenses, survive unchanged any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar condition of the Parties hereunder, or any similar proceeding instituted, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by any Governmental Entity of any jurisdiction with respect to a Party. Without limiting any of the foregoing, the licenses and rights granted under this Agreement, including the exclusive rights granted hereunder, are intended for the purpose of any applicable Laws concerning bankruptcy and insolvency (including the Business Bankruptcy Law of the Peoples Republic of China and the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 of Singapore), as a one-time,
10
perpetual and irrevocable division and allocation of rights in and to the Background IP and Hyzon Patents, coupled with terms intended to clarify and reinforce that division and allocation of rights. The licenses and rights granted under this Agreement, and the other terms hereof are not intended, for the purposes of such applicable Laws, as onerous property or substantial ongoing performance obligations of either Party in its capacity as a licensor.
(b) All rights and licenses granted hereunder are, for purposes of section 365(n) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provisions of any other applicable Laws in other jurisdictions concerning bankruptcy or insolvency and offering similar licensee protections), licenses of intellectual property within the scope of section 101 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar provisions of any other applicable Laws.
(c) Each Party recognizes that the other Party, as a licensee of such rights and licenses hereunder, will retain and may fully exercise all of its rights and elections under the United States Bankruptcy Code or similar Laws of any other applicable jurisdiction (including, as applicable, the Business Bankruptcy Law of the Peoples Republic of China or the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 of Singapore), and that the rejection of this Agreement by a Party in connection with any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings shall constitute a breach of this Agreement by that Party, but not the rescission or termination of any of the licenses (including any of the exclusive licenses) granted hereunder.
Section 5.12 Severability. In the event that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or applicable arbitrating body (in accordance with Section 5.6) that any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable, such provision will be enforced as nearly as possible in accordance with the stated intention of the Parties, while the remainder of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and bind the Parties according to its terms. To the extent any provision cannot be enforced in accordance with the stated intentions of the Parties, such provisions will be deemed not to be part of this Agreement.
Section 5.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, such as by electronic mail in pdf form) in two or more counterparts, and by the Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Intellectual Property Agreement effective as of the Effective Date.
JIANGSU QINGNENG NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. |
HYZON MOTORS INC. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Zhijun (George) Gu |
By: |
/s/ Craig Knight |
|||||
Name: | Zhijun (George) Gu | Name: | Craig Knight | |||||
Title: | Chairman | Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||
Date: | January 12, 2021 | Date: | January 12, 2021 | |||||
SHANGHAI QINGNENG HORIZON NEW ENERGY LTD. |
||||||||
By: |
/s/ Zhijun (George) Gu |
|||||||
Name: | Zhijun (George) Gu | |||||||
Title: | Chairman | |||||||
Date: | January 12, 2021 |
Exhibit A
Definitions
For the purposes of the Agreement the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Exhibit A:
Action means any action, litigation, proceeding, arbitration or other claim (including for injunctive relief) in or before any Governmental Entity.
Additional Patents means the patents and patent applications owned by Power JV as of the Effective Date and identified on Exhibit D, together with any patent that issues from any such patent applications, and any reissue, division, continuation, continuation-in-part (excluding new subject matter), extension, or reexamination, in each case, that claims priority to any of the foregoing patents or patent applications; provided that no patent or patent application will be considered an Additional Patent after the time it has expired or has been adjudged pursuant to a final decision or order of a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be invalid (unless and until such decision or order is appealed and finally adjudged by a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be valid).
Asia means the following countries and territories (including any successors thereto): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Africa means the following countries and territories (including any successors thereto): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such first Person.
Auditor has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).
Background IP means (a) any and all Intellectual Property Rights owned by JS Horizon, or by any other Horizon Entity, in each case, as of November 19, 2020, covering or relating to Mobility Products or Fuel Cells, including any Intellectual Property Rights described in Exhibit B, together with any patent that issues from any such patent applications included in the foregoing, and any reissue, division, continuation, continuation-in-part (excluding new subject matter), extension, or reexamination, in each case, that claims priority to any of the foregoing patents or patent applications, and (b) the Additional Patents together with any patent that issues from any
A-1
patent applications included in the Additional Patents, and any reissue, division, continuation, continuation-in-part (excluding new subject matter), extension, or reexamination, in each case, that claims priority to any of the foregoing patents or patent applications; provided that (x) the patents and patent applications described in clause (b) of this definition will only be considered Background IP as of and after the Entity Acquisition, and (y) no Intellectual Property Right will be considered Background IP after the time it has expired or has been adjudged pursuant to a final decision or order of a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be invalid (unless and until such decision or order is appealed and finally adjudged by a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be valid). For clarity, Background IP does not include any Hyzon Patents.
Commercialize means to sell, lease, offer for sale or lease, service, market, import, distribute, or otherwise commercialize, or do any combination of the foregoing.
Control (including the correlative meanings of the terms Controlled by and under common Control with), when used with respect to any specified Person, means (a) the ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities or other voting interests of such Person, or (b) the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise.
Entity Acquisition has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
Exploit means to research, develop, make, manufacture, have made (and have manufactured), assemble, retrofit, use, reproduce, display, create derivative works of, Commercialize, provide or otherwise exploit, or do any combination of the foregoing.
Fuel Cell means (a) any fuel cell or fuel cell system, (b) any components or sub-assemblies of such fuel cell or fuel cell system, including fuel cell materials, catalyst, membrane and membrane electrode assembly, bipolar plates, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell controllers, balance of plant, components of balance of plant, hydrogen storage, humidifier, power conditioning module, high efficiency DC/DC, ejector/injector, and any other components or materials that enable a fuel cell system to produce regulated power, and (c) any services related to such fuel cells, or such components or sub-assemblies.
Governmental Entity means any state, nation or international body or governmental organization, whether domestic, foreign or multinational, including any agency, authority, commission, body, court or other legislative, executive, regulatory or judicial governmental authority.
Horizon Entities means JS Horizon and its current and future Affiliates, but excluding any Hyzon Entities; provided that an Affiliate of JS Horizon shall only be considered a Horizon Entity for so long as such Person remains an Affiliate of JS Horizon; and provided further that, if Jiangsu Horizon and Shanghai Horizon become, at any time after the Effective Date, non-Affiliates, and one or both continue to own any right, title or interest in and to any Background IP, then Horizon Entities includes each such Party that continues to own any right, title or interest in and to any Background IP and any of such Partys then-current and future Affiliates.
A-2
Horizon Improvement means an Improvement made by or on behalf of any Horizon Entity.
Horizon Field has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
Hyzon Background Improvement means a Hyzon Improvement that is not a Hyzon Patent Improvement.
Hyzon Entities means Hyzon, Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, and any of their respective current and future Subsidiaries; provided that a Subsidiary of Hyzon or Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, as applicable, shall only be considered a Hyzon Entity for so long as such Person remains a Subsidiary of Hyzon or Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation.
Hyzon Field has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Hyzon Improvement means an Improvement made by or on behalf of any Hyzon Entity.
Hyzon Patents means the provisional patent applications identified on Exhibit C hereto, together with any patent that issues from any such provisional patent applications, and any reissue, division, continuation, continuation-in-part (excluding new subject matter), extension, or reexamination, in each case, that claims priority to any of the foregoing patents or provisional patent applications; provided that no patent or patent application will be considered a Hyzon Patent after the time it has expired or has been adjudged pursuant to a final decision or order of a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be invalid (unless and until such decision or order is appealed and finally adjudged by a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be valid).
Hyzon Patent Improvement means a Hyzon Improvement made with respect to one or more Hyzon Patents.
ICC has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
Improvement means an Intellectual Property Right that incorporates or is derived from any Background IP, Hyzon Patent or, prior to the consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment, Additional Patents, including new subject matter in any continuation-in-part of any pending patent application that constitutes Background IP, a Hyzon Patent or, prior to the consummation of the Additional Patent Assignment, an Additional Patent, but which, in each case, is not itself Background IP, a Hyzon Patent or an Additional Patent; provided that no Intellectual Property Right will be considered an Improvement after the time it has expired or has been adjudged pursuant to a final decision or order of a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be invalid (unless and until such decision or order is appealed and finally adjudged by a Governmental Entity of applicable jurisdiction to be valid).
Intellectual Property Rights means any and all intellectual property or proprietary rights anywhere in the world, including any such rights in or to the following: (a) inventions, discoveries, ideas and improvements, whether patentable or not, and all patents, registrations, invention disclosures and applications therefor, including divisions, revisions, supplementary protection
A-3
certificates, continuations, continuations-in-part, renewals, extensions, reissues and reexaminations; (b) trade secrets and other intellectual property rights in proprietary information, know-how, processes, schematics, business methods, formulae, drawings, models, and designs; (c) mask works, published and unpublished works of authorship, whether copyrightable or not (including software), copyrights therein and thereto, and registrations and applications therefor, and all renewals, extensions, restorations and reversions thereof; and (d) all other intellectual property, moral, industrial and proprietary rights; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Intellectual Property Rights shall not include any rights in or to any trademarks, service marks, logos or similar identifiers of origin.
Jiangsu Horizon has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
JS Horizon has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Law means any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction, decree, arbitration award, agency requirement, opinion, franchise, license or permit of any Governmental Entity or common law.
Mobility Fuel Cell means a Fuel Cell that is designed or intended for use in Vehicles.
Mobility Product means (a) any vehicle, or mobility-related machinery or equipment, including any car, truck, bus, train, port equipment, material handling machinery, earthmoving equipment, logistics vehicles, crane, forklift, tractor, excavator, drill, crawler, scrapper, grader, gondola, shuttle car, conveyor, locomotive, airborne craft, watercraft or spacecraft (collectively, Vehicles), (b) any Vehicle components (other than Fuel Cells), and (c) any services related to any of the foregoing as described in clauses (a) or (b).
Non-Mobility Fuel Cell means a Fuel Cell that is not a Mobility Fuel Cell.
Party and Parties have the respective meanings set forth in the Preamble.
Person means an individual, a group, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a limited liability company, a Governmental Entity, a trust or other entity or organization.
Power JV means Jiangsu Qingneng Power Technology Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Horizon has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
South America means the following countries and territories (including any successors thereto): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is Controlled by such first Person.
Vehicles has the meaning set forth in the definition of Mobility Product.
A-4
Exhibit B
Identified Background IP
Patents and Patent Applications
Title |
Patent No. / App. No. /
|
Jurisdiction |
Current
|
|||||
1. | A CASE FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELL WITH TOP-LIFT HEAT DISSIPATING CHARGING AND DISCHARGING DEVICE | 201820538730.0 | China | Granted | ||||
2. | A CHARGING DEVICE FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELL WITH LATERAL ANGLE FIXED MECHANISM | 201820440512.3 | China | Granted | ||||
3. | A FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND ITS OPERATION METHOD | 201810480558.2 | China | Pending | ||||
4. | A GRAVITY INDUCTION HEAT DISSIPATION ENCLOSURE FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS | 201820440387.6 | China | Granted | ||||
5. | A HYBRID BIPOLAR PLATE FUEL CELL STRUCTURE AND SEALING METHOD | 201710790857.1 | China | Pending | ||||
6. | A HYDROGEN SUPPLY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 201810448704.3 | China | Pending | ||||
7. | A MULTISTAGE ADJUSTABLE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS | 201820538668.5 | China | Granted | ||||
8. | A SEALING METHOD OF MEA ENCAPSULATION ADHESIVE | 201710791654.4 | China | Pending | ||||
9. | A SEALING STRUCTURE FOR FUEL CELLS | 200710101540.9 | China | Granted | ||||
10. | A SELF-HUMIDIFYING ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE | 200710039532.6 | China | Granted | ||||
11. | A TURBINE HEAT DISSIPATOR SHELL FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELL | 201820458273.4 | China | Granted | ||||
12. | A WALL-MOUNTED CONNECTING MECHANISM FOR CHARGING DEVICE OF HYDROGEN FUEL CELL | 201820440449.3 | China | Granted | ||||
13. | AN ADJUSTABLE HEAT DISSIPATOR SHELL FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS | 201820612280.5 | China | Granted | ||||
14. | CATHODE STRUCTURE OF FUEL CELLS | PCT/CN2017/085899 | China | Pending | ||||
15. | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND ITS CONTROL METHOD | PCT/CN2017/097440 | China | Pending | ||||
16. | HYBRID BIPOLAR PLATE ASSEMBLY FOR FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL STACK BASED ON IT | 201821801646.X | China | Granted | ||||
17. | HYBRID BIPOLAR PLATE FOR FUEL CELL | PCT/CN2018/109670 | PCT | Pending | ||||
18. | HYBRID BIPOLAR PLATE FOR FUEL CELL | 16/093,890 | USA | Pending | ||||
19. | HYBRID BIPOLAR PLATE FOR FUEL CELL | 201811301777.6 | China | Pending | ||||
20. | A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN GAS | 200510030909.2 | China | Granted | ||||
21. | THE STRUCTURE OF A HYDROGEN-POWERED TOY CAR | 200510111373.7 | China | Granted | ||||
22. | INTEGRATED REFORMATOR AND PURIFIER | 201611001306.4 | China | Pending |
B-1
Title |
Patent No. / App. No. /
|
Jurisdiction |
Current
|
|||||
23. | SEALING STRUCTURE OF FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME | 8,067,128 | USA | Granted | ||||
24. | ELECTRIC POWER SOURCE ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF HOW TO USE IT | 8,367,258 | USA | Granted | ||||
25. | ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE PROTECTED FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEM | 7,358,006 | USA | Granted | ||||
26. | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING IT | 201106713-9 | Singapore | Granted | ||||
27. | HYDROGEN GENERATOR | 9,187,322 | USA | Granted | ||||
28. | INTEGRATED REFORMER AND PURIFIER | 10,081,543 | USA | Granted | ||||
29. | REFORMING AND HYDROGEN PURIFICATION SYSTEM | 7,341,609 | USA | Granted | ||||
30. | REFORMING AND HYDROGEN PURIFICATION SYSTEM | 2,501,137 | Canada | Granted | ||||
31. | HYDROGEN PURIFIER MODULE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME | 8,110,022 | USA | Granted | ||||
32. | HYDROGEN PURIFIER MODULE WITH MEMBRANE SUPPORT | 8,226,750 | USA | Granted | ||||
33. | REFORMING AND HYDROGEN PURIFICATION SYSTEM | 4598529 | Japan | Granted | ||||
34. | REFORMING AND HYDROGEN PURIFICATION SYSTEMS | 200380104792.7 | China | Granted | ||||
35. | HYDROGEN GENERATOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING HYDROGEN GENERATORS | 201103178-8 | Singapore | Granted | ||||
36. | FUEL CELL METAL BIPOLAR PLATE STRUCTURE AND FUEL CELL STACK | 202022310304.1 | China | Pending | ||||
37. | A DEIONIZER FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 2020224797115 | China | Pending | ||||
38. | A WATER FILTER FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 2020228007854 | China | Pending | ||||
39. | A PREPARATION METHOD OF FLEXIBLE GRAPHITE PLATE | 2020111971086 | China | Pending | ||||
40. | A METHOD OF MAKING GRAPHITE BIPOLAR PLATE | 202011192688X | China | Pending | ||||
41. | SEALING STRUCTURE OF SINGLE FUEL CELL | 202011174869X | China | Pending | ||||
42. | A WATER HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL | 2020223572237 | China | Pending | ||||
43. | A WATER HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL | 2020111338229 | China | Pending | ||||
44. | TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVE FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 2020224003680 | China | Pending | ||||
45. | FUEL CELL MODULE | 2020224003727 | China | Pending | ||||
46. | A 130KW FUEL CELL STACK TEST BENCH | 2020230724427 | China | Pending |
Know How and Designs
Know-how related to Mobility Products. Fuel Cell systems designed to be deployed in motive systems, such as heavy vehicles, port equipment, earthmoving equipment, material handling machinery, logistics vehicles and other commercial vehicles, and further including components and sub-assemblies including bipolar plates, fuel cell stacks, balance of plant within automotive fuel cell systems, humidifier, high efficiency DC/DC, ejector/injector, fuel cell controller, fuel cell system (powertrain) design, control software, battery-fuel cell hybrid control, electric drivetrain design, and excluding catalyst, membrane and membrane electrode assembly.
B-2
Know-how related to Fuel Cell design and assembly. Best practices related to the production of the hydrogen Fuel Cells; QC/QA of the Fuel Cells; appropriate and preferred materials of construction.
Know-how related to Fuel Cell system control. Integrated control scheme with external DC power system, batteries and hydrogen storage and delivery system.
Know-how related to Fuel Cell system cost optimization.
B-3
Exhibit C
Hyzon Patents
Title |
Provisional Patent
|
Jurisdiction |
Current
|
|||||
1. | PRODUCTION METHOD USED FOR SINGLE CELL COMPONENTS SEALING | 63/084,146 | United States | Pending | ||||
2. | GAS-SOLID REDUCTION PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF PLATINUM-CONTAINING CATALYSTS FOR FUEL CELLS | 63/084,167 | United States | Pending | ||||
3. | ELECTRODES WITH IMPROVED CELL REVERSAL TOLERANCE THROUGH FUNCTIONALIZED AND STABILIZED OXIDES | 63/084,177 | United States | Pending | ||||
4. | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE USING TWO COMPONENT FLUORINATED BLENDED ELECTROLYTE ADDITIVES | 63/084,185 | United States | Pending | ||||
5. | FUEL CELLS WITH IMPROVED MEMBRANE LIFE | 63/084,329 | United States | Pending | ||||
6. | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WITH ENHANCED START-UP AND SHUT-DOWN DURABILITY | 63/084,359 | United States | Pending | ||||
7. | FUEL CELLS WITH ENHANCED CARBON MONOXIDE TOLERANCE CATALYST LAYER USING COMPOSITE CATALYST | 63/084,380 | United States | Pending | ||||
8. | MICRO POROUS LAYER FOR FUEL CELLS | 63/084,402 | United States | Pending | ||||
9. | CATALYST, ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME FOR PEM FUEL CELLS | 63/123,001 | United States | Pending | ||||
10. | REINFORCED PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE | 63/129,045 | United States | Pending | ||||
11. | DRY FUEL CELL ELECTRODES AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURE | 63/131,389 | United States | Pending | ||||
12. | FUEL CELL CATALYST COATED MEMBRANE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE | 63/132,773 | United States | Pending | ||||
13. | INTEGRATED PLATE AND CELL SEALING | 63/071,476 | United States | Pending | ||||
14. | ENHANCED DURABILITY OF FUEL CELL METALLIC BIPOLAR PLATE | 63/084,213 | United States | Pending | ||||
15. | NON-CHANNELED AND ANISOTROPIC FLOW FIELD FOR DISTRIBUTION SECTIONS IN FUEL CELLS | 63/084,157 | United States | Pending | ||||
16. | OVERLAYER TO IMPROVE METALLIC PLATE DURABILITY | 63/084,232 | United States | Pending | ||||
17. | STACK ASSEMBLY MACHINE AND PROCESS | 63/071,486 | United States | Pending | ||||
18. | MANUFACTURABLE HUMIDIFIER | 63/071,481 | United States | Pending | ||||
19. | MODULAR BOOST CONVERTER SYSTEM WITH SUPER CAPACITOR | 63/090,794 | United States | Pending | ||||
20. | NESTING HYDROGEN TANK | 63/108,555 | United States | Pending |
C-1
Exhibit D
Additional Patents
Title |
Patent App No. / Pub.
|
Jurisdiction |
Current
|
|||||
1. | A CONNECTING ROD OF POWER GENERATION DEVICE WITH LOCKING AND HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION | 200610029939.6 | China | Granted | ||||
2. | A HEAT DISSIPATION STRUCTURE FOR FUEL CELLS | 201821707223.1 | China | Granted | ||||
3. | A HEAT DISSIPATION STRUCTURE FOR FUEL CELLS | 201821917779.3 | China | Granted | ||||
4. | A HUMIDIFICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL STARTUP | 200710039334.X | China | Granted | ||||
5. | A JOINT SAFETY SEALING DEVICE FOR HYDROGEN GENERATOR | 201821960991.8 | China | Granted | ||||
6. | A KIND OF CYLINDER VALVE | 201821778347.9 | China | Granted | ||||
7. | A LITHIUM BATTERY PACKAGE WITH SEPARATE HEAT DISSIPATION PROTECTION FUNCTION | 201821707286.7 | China | Granted | ||||
8. | A MINI HYDROGEN REFILLING STRUCTURE | 201821829770.7 | China | Granted | ||||
9. | A MINI PRESSURE VALVE | 201821917778.9 | China | Granted | ||||
10. | A NEW SEALING STRUCTURE OF EMBEDDED FUEL CELL | 201821707224.6 | China | Granted | ||||
11. | A THERMAL DIFFUSION STRUCTURE FOR MINI FUEL CELLS | 201821731007.0 | China | Granted | ||||
12. | AN ACTIVE CONTROL POWER GENERATOR | 200610029937.7 | China | Granted | ||||
13. | A REAR OVERTURNING SUPPORT SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR HYDROGEN GENERATOR | 201821917777.4 | China | Granted | ||||
14. | AN EASY MAINTENANCE OUTER CASING FOR HYDROGEN GENERATOR | 201821960993.7 | China | Granted | ||||
15. | A HYDROGEN STORAGE ALLOY CANISTER | 201821721709.0 | China | Granted | ||||
16. | A HYDROGEN STORAGE CANISTER | 201821721710.3 | China | Granted | ||||
17. | A WALL MOUNTED ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR HYDROGEN GENERATOR | 201821867907.8 | China | Granted | ||||
18. | A SIDE RETRACTABLE PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL TOY CAR | 201821870883.1 | China | Granted | ||||
19. | FUEL CELL THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM | 202011149770.4 | China | Pending | ||||
20. | A VEHICLE FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 202011151421.6 | China | Pending | ||||
21. | A FUEL CELL ENGINE | 202011151360.3 | China | Pending |
D-1
Exhibit 10.15
Principles
The Horizon Fuel Cell group of
companies (Horizon) and HYZON Motors Inc. (HYZON) hereby outline the arrangements under which fuel cell stacks and systems will be supplied to HYZON by Horizon entities.
The following principles of cooperation provide the foundation for commercial contracting that will follow the Framework Supply Agreement terms stated on the following pages:
Horizon is an established company manufacturing fuel cells of various sizes and power capacities, with a strong focus on automotive fuel cell systems.
HYZON is a majority-owned subsidiary of Horizon at the time of establishing this agreement, but the Horizon ownership of HYZON is not intended to shape the nature of this
agreement, which describes commercial arrangements intended to function on an arms length basis.
The formal contract to be established is intended to protect
both parties interests in developing the market for automotive fuel cells developed by the two Parties, and in the early stages of HYZON operations, it is expected that Horizon will supply fuel cells and integrated systems, and certain related
services, to enable HYZON to validate the technology in their target markets.
In the longer term, there may be cases where HYZON chooses to purchase fuel cells,
systems or sub-assemblies from Horizon under terms to be agreed, regard less of HYZON ability to manufacture similar systems.
The Parties acknowledge that HYZON plan to manufacture their own fuel cells in the future, focused on mobility applications, and separate agreements govern
ownership of and access to relevant intellectual property and access to markets.
The Parties agree to act in good faith collaborating to optimize supply chains and
supply arrangements on parts and components within the fuel cell systems or the broader vehicle electric drive systems.
Fundamental Terms of Supply Cooperation:
1) Horizon agrees to supply to HYZON to the best of its ability at all times;
2) Horizon agrees to treat HYZON as preferred export customer for Horizon China-based manufacturing capabilities;
3) HYZON to enjoy competitive prices and commercial terms for comparable products and materials;
4) HYZON to uphold reasonable commercial payment arrangements, and be held to account for such;
5) Horizon to report monthly production capacity to HYZON, who in return must report monthly sales forecasts for equipment to be purchased from Horizon;
6) The Parties will exchange information in good faith on lead times for materials, parts and components, and establish a suitable set of production lead-times by product type and
specification;
7) The Parties will specifically seek out opportunities to optimise the supply of equipment and materials within systems manufactured by Horizon,
and also within parts and sub-assemblies that may be procured by Horizon on behalf of HYZON;
8) At all times, the
commercial arrangements between the Parties should represent highly competitive performance and price characteristics by market standards, and if HYZON is disadvantaged in the market conducting business on the terms herein, Horizon agrees to revisit
the agreement in good faith to seek outcomes consistent with the intent of the Parties.
Framework Supply Contract Template
The following Framework Supply Contract is provided as a commercial contracting template for the supply of goods from Horizon to HYZON and HYZONs regional subsidiary
companies. As appropriate order specific contracts can be prepared from this template with product specification and order pricing specified on an order by order basis.
1
This Framework Supply Contract Template is agreed on 7th January 2021
Between Jiangsu Horizon New Energy Technologies Co. Ltd. of Rm 302-309, 3F, Building A. Huada Road, New Environmentally Materials Industrial
Park, Jingang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu, China (Seller)
and Hyzon Motors Inc of 10 Carriage Street, Building C, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 USA (Buyer)
1. Definitions and interpretation
1.1 In this Contract, unless and to the
extent the context otherwise requires or indicates:
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday the Jurisdiction.
Confidential Information means all information which is confidential in nature and is disclosed by the Seller to the Buyer at any time in connection with the Contract, and includes
the Design Documents.
Consequential Loss includes loss of revenue, loss of profit, loss of use, loss of business opportunity or contract, loss of goodwill,
business interruption, and any indirect or consequential loss however caused or arising, whether under contract (including under an indemnity), in tort (including negligence), under statute (to the extent permitted by law), in equity or otherwise
and even if that loss was in the contemplation of the Parties at the time of entering into the Contract.
Contract means this contract between the Seller and the
Buyer constituted by:
(a) these terms; and
(b) the Schedules.
Date for Delivery means the date or dates specified in Item 3 on or by which The Seller must deliver Goods to the Delivery Location.
Date of Delivery means the date on which the Seller delivers to the Buyer the last of the Goods to be supplied under the Contract.
Delivery Location means the location specified in Item 4 to which the Seller must deliver the Goods.
Design Documents means the drawings, specifications, detailed engineering documentation, plans and like created by the Seller for the Goods.
Goods means the goods to be supplied by the Seller under the Contract, as more particularly described in Item 1 and Schedule 3.
Government Authority means any national, state, local, regional, territorial or municipal government, ministry, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
instrumentality, executive, legislative, judicial or administrative body, having jurisdiction over the Parties or the Goods.
Insolvency Event means, in respect of
a Party, that the Party becomes insolvent, commits an act of bankruptcy or, being a company, a liquidator, provisional liquidator, receiver, receiver and manager, administrator or official manager is appointed in respect of the Party, a mortgagee
goes into possession of the Partys assets or business, an application is made to appoint a liquidator or to have the company wound up, the Party is made subject to the supervision of a court or enters into a scheme of arrangement with its
creditors, or if anything analogous occurs in respect of the Party.
2
Intellectual Property Right means any invention, patent, design (whether registered or not), trademark, trade name, copyright, trade
secret, know-how, proprietary information or other protected right. All Intellectual Property Rights between the Parties to be agreed under a separate contract.
Item means an item in the Contract Particulars.
Jurisdiction means the jurisdiction specified
in Item 5.
Party means the Buyer or the Seller as the context requires, and Parties means both of them. Price means the amount specified in or to be calculated in
accordance with the Pricing Schedule. Pricing Schedule means the pricing schedule set out in Schedule 2.
Service Location means the location specified in Item 8.
Warranty Period means the period of 1 year commencing from the Date of Delivery of the Goods (or such other period specified in Item 6).
1.2 In the Contract, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) references to:
(i)
persons include companies, associations, firms, authorities and bodies corporate;
(ii) any legislation includes subordinate legislation under it and includes that
legislation and subordinate legislation as amended from time to time;
(b) to the extent any of the documents constituting the Contract are written (in whole or in
part) in a language other than English and there is any inconsistency between the words in English and the words in the other language, the words in English prevails;
(c) the singular includes the plural and the other way around;
(d) headings do not affect the
meaning of the Contract;
(e) if a word or phrase is defined, any variation of that word or phrase has the same meaning to the extent possible;
(f) if anything to be done under the Contract falls on a day which is not a Business Day, then it must be done on the next Business Day;
(g) no provision of the Contract must be construed adversely to a party solely on the ground that the party was responsible for the preparation of the Contract or that provision;
and
(h) where examples of a general term are given (whether or not using words such as
includes or including), the use of the examples does not limit what else may be included.
1.3 If either Party discovers any ambiguity, inconsistency, error or discrepancy in any document constituting the Contract, the Seller will direct the interpretation which the
Parties must follow.
2. Supply of Goods
2.1 The Seller must supply the Goods
in accordance with the terms of the Contract.
2.2 The Buyer must pay the Seller the Price in consideration for the Seller supplying the Goods in accordance with
the Contract.
3. Standard of performance
3.1 The Seller warrants that the
Goods:
(a) are free from manufacturing defects;
(b) will perform as
stipulated in Schedule 3 if installed, maintained and operated in accordance with
supplied operation and maintenance instructions; and
(c) when delivered to the Delivery Location will be of merchantable quality and, unless otherwise specified in the Contract, new.
3
4. Delivery
4.1 The Seller must deliver the Goods
to the Delivery Location by the Date for Delivery.
4.2 The Seller reserves the right to make deliveries of the Goods by instalments, in which case clause 6 applies
to each instalment as if it was the subject of a separate contract.
5. Title and risk
5.1 The Seller is responsible for the care of the Goods up to the time of delivery of the Goods to the Delivery Location.
5.2 Risk in the Goods:
(a) remains with the Seller until delivery to the Delivery Location;
and
(b) passes to the Buyer upon delivery, at which time the Buyer assumes all risk of loss and damage to the Goods, including any loss or damage suffered in the
course of unloading the Goods.
5.3 Title to any and all Goods supplied by the Seller will remain with the Seller, and no legal or equitable interest or property in
the Goods whatsoever will pass to the Buyer, until the Buyer has paid the full Price for the Goods.
5.4 Title to the Goods will remain with the Seller in
accordance with clause 5.3 even if the Buyer has possession of the Goods.
5.5 Until title in the Goods passes to the Buyer, the Buyer must: (a) refrain from
encumbering the Goods;
(b) store, mark and keep appropriate records for the Goods so that they can at all times be identified and distinguished as the property of
the Seller, and in particular must refrain from mixing the Goods with any Goods owned by the Buyer or any other person;
(c) not dispose of the Goods; and
(d) allow the Seller full and free access to the Buyers premises where the Goods are located to retake possession of such Goods if the Buyer is in any way in
breach of the Contract.
5.6 The Buyer indemnifies the Seller against any claim, action, damage, loss, liability, cost, expense or payment which the Seller suffers,
incurs or is liable for in respect of the Sellers exercise of its rights under clause 5.5(d).
6. Price and Payment
6.1 The Buyer will pay the Seller the Price in accordance with the Pricing Schedule.
6.2 The
Seller is entitled to issue invoices progressively at the times and for the amounts specified in the Payment Schedule.
6.3 Unless otherwise agreed in writing by
the Seller, the Buyer must pay all invoices within 30 days after the date the Seller issues the invoice.
6.4 Time for payment is of the essence of the Contract.
6.5 If the Buyer does not pay an invoice by the date due: (a) interest will accrue on the unpaid amount:
(i) from the date on which payment was due until the date on which the invoice is paid in full;
(ii) at the rate of 10% per annum;
(iii) on a daily basis, and be payable on
demand; and
(b) in addition to any other rights it may have, the Seller may suspend delivery of all Goods until payment is made.
4
7. Warranty Period
7.1 Subject to clause 7.2, the
Seller is responsible during the Warranty Period to repair or replace any Goods which do not comply with clause 3.1 (a) or clause 3. 1(b) .
7.2 The Seller is not
responsible for:
(a) any defect in the Goods to the extent that the defect was caused or contributed to by:
(i) failure to operate or maintain the Goods in accordance with the operating and maintenance instructions provided by the Seller, or as otherwise notified in writing from time to
time;
(ii) fair wear and tear;
(b) system faults, failure or damage to the
Goods caused or contributed to by:
(i) operator error;
(ii) third party
equipment connected to the Goods or operating in the vicinity of the Goods; or
(iii) changes to the operating environment specified in the Contract in which the
Buyer operates or uses the Goods;
(iv) unauthorised changes or modifications to the Goods or adaptations of the Goods; (v) repairs or attempts to repair the
Goods by untrained or unauthorised personnel; (vi) act of God, storm, fire, wind, flood or water inundation or from an external source;
(vii) weathering,
bleaching, fading, discolouration of coated surfaces due to exposure to weather, acid, salt or chemicals; and
(c) consumable and maintenance items, including air
and fuel filters, fuses, fans, pumps and sacrificial fuel lines.
7.3 The Buyer may give notice to the Seller at the address specified in Item 7 if at any time
prior to the expiry of the Warranty Period the Buyer identifies any defect in the Goods.
7.4 The Buyer must provide the Seller with any information and supporting
documentation reasonably required by the Seller to enable the Seller to assess the claim.
7.5 The Seller will assess the warranty claim upon receipt of the
information and documentation provided pursuant to clause 7.4, and if the Seller is satisfied (acting reasonably) that the Goods in question do not comply with clause 3.1 (a) or clause 3.1 (b) the Seller will:
(a) in its absolute discretion either repair or replace the Goods; and
(b) subject to clause
7.6, meet the costs of and incidental to repairing or replacing the Goods (including any packing, freight, disassembly and reassembly costs).
7.6 Unless otherwise
agreed with the Seller, the Buyer must return the Goods to the Service Location, at the Buyers cost, to enable the Seller to repair or replace the Goods in accordance with this clause.
8. Confidentiality
8.1 The Buyer:
(a) may use Confidential Information only for the purposes of the Contract; and
(b) must keep
confidential, and ensure that its personnel keep confidential, all Confidential Information unless the Confidential Information:
(i) was in the possession of the
Buyer prior to the date of the Contract;
(ii) becomes generally available to the public or is in the public domain other than by the fault of the Buyer;
(iii) is required to be produced by any Legislation or order of a court; or
(iv) was obtained from a third party.
5
9. Approvals
9.1 The Buyer must obtain all
approvals, authorities, licences and permits which are required from any Government Authority for the lawful use of the Goods.
9.2 The Seller must, where required
by the Buyer, provide reasonable and necessary assistance to the Buyer in order to assist the Buyer to apply for and obtain any approvals for which the Buyer is responsible.
10. Customs clearance and import duty
10.1 The Party specified in Item 9 is responsible for
all customs, import and export clearances in respect of the Goods, and must comply with all applicable Legislation in relation to international trade.
10.2 The
Price does not include any import duties or other charges levied as a result of the importation of the Goods.
10.3 The Buyer is responsible to pay all import
duties or other charges levied as a result of the importation of the Goods.
11. Termination
11.1 If a Party considers that the other Party (Defaulting Party) is in breach of this Contract, the Party may give the Defaulting Party a notice of default specifying the breach
and the date by which the breach must be remedied (which must be a period of at least seven days from the date of the notice).
11.2 If the Defaulting Party fails
to remedy the default within the date specified in the notice of default, the Party may terminate this Contract by giving notice to the Defaulting Party.
11 .3 To
the extent permitted by law, a Party may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving notice to the other Party if an Insolvency Event exists in relation to the other Party.
11.4 Termination of the Contract does not affect:
(a) any rights of the parties which may have
accrued before the termination;
(b) the rights and obligations of the parties under any clause of the Contract which expressly or by implication are intended to
continue after the termination; and
(c) any other rights, powers or remedies provided by law.
11.5 The Seller is entitled to be paid for all Goods delivered prior to the date of termination of the Contract.
12. Dispute resolution
12.1 If a dispute arises out of or in connection with this Contract,
then a party may give a notice of dispute to the other party.
12.2 The parties must confer in an endeavour to settle the dispute.
12.3 If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within 30 days of the receipt of the notice of dispute (or such longer period agreed in writing between the Parties) then:
(a) either party may refer the dispute to be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with, and subject to, the Resolution Institute Arbitration Rules in
force at that time;
(b) the arbitral tribunal will consist of one arbitrator;
(c) if within 14 days after the dispute is referred to arbitration the parties have not agreed upon an arbitrator, the arbitrator is to be nominated by the Chair
of the Resolution Institute; and
(d) the seat of the arbitration will be the place nominated in Item 11 , and the language in the arbitration will be English.
6
12.4 Notwithstanding the existence of a dispute, the parties must continue to perform their obligations under this Contract.
12.5 Nothing in this clause 12, prevents a party from seeking urgent relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.
13. Governing law
13.1 The law of the Jurisdiction applies to the Contract, and the parties
submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts in the Jurisdiction.
14. Notices
14.1 A notice, demand, consent, approval or communication under the Contract must be: (a) in writing; (b) signed by a person duly authorised by the sender; and
(c) hand delivered, sent by prepaid post or electronic mail to the recipients address for notices specified in Item 10 or the last notified address of the
recipient.
14.2 A notice, demand, consent, approval or communication given under the Contract is, unless the contrary is proven, deemed given:
(a) if delivered by hand, upon delivery to the addressee;
(b) if sent by post, on the third
(or seventh if posted from and/or to a place outside Australia) Business Day after the day of posting; or
(c) if sent by email:
(i) before 5:00pm on a Business Day, on that day; or
(ii) at or after 5:00pm on a Business
Day, or at any time on a day that is not a Business Day, on the first Business Day after the day it is sent,
provided that the sender of the email does not receive
a delivery failure notification nor an automated rejection of receipt notice from the intended recipient of the email.
15. Liability
15.1 Neither Party is liable to the other for Consequential Loss suffered by the other Party arising out of or in connection with the Goods or the Contract.
15.2 The aggregate liability of the Seller arising out of or in connection with the Contract, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), under statute (to the extent
permitted by law) or in equity, is the amount specified in Item 12.
15.3 The Buyer is liable for all costs incurred by the Seller, and will indemnify the Seller
against any loss, liability, charge, expense, outgoing or payment which the Seller suffers, incurs or is liable for arising out of in respect of any breach of the Contract by the Buyer.
16. General
16.1 Any part of the Contract which is unenforceable may be severed from the
Contract and the remaining provisions of the Contract will continue in force.
16.2 None of the terms of the Contract may be varied, waived, discharged or released,
except with the prior written consent by the Seller.
16.3 A failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege by any party will not operate
as a waiver of that right, power or privilege.
16.4 The rights and obligations contained in clauses 3 (Standard of performance), 5 (Title and risk), 8
(Confidentiality), 11 (Termination), 12 (Dispute Resolution) and 15 (Liability) survive termination of the Contract.
7
Signed as an agreement:
Signed for and on behalf
of the Seller
(Horizon) by its duly authorised
representative:
Signature of Director
name
Signed for and on behalf of the Buyer
(HVZON) by its duly authorized
representative:
Signature of Director
Craig M. Knight
Name CEO
8
SCHEDULE 1 CONTRACT PARTICULARS
Item 1 Goods
Description of Goods
See Specifications Schedule 3
Item 2 Price Price ex
taxes and charges.
See Pricing Schedule 2
Item 3 Date for Delivery From the
date the Buyer receives payment of the first payment (deposit).
Item 4 Delivery Location FOB lncoterms 2020 ex works Shanghai, China
Item 5 Jurisdiction Singapore
Item 6 Warranty Period 1 year from the Date of Delivery, or as
specified per order
Item 7 Address for Warranty Rm 302-309, 3F, Building A. Huada Road, New claims Environmentally
Materials Industrial Park, Jingang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu, China
Attention: Jack Zhang Item 8 Service Location Shanghai, China Item 9 Customs and import
Responsibility of the Buyer. Item 10 Service of Notices The Seller:
Address: Rm 302-309, 3F, Building A. Huada Road, New
Environmentally Materials Industrial Park, Jingang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu, China
Email: jack.zhang@horizonfuelcell.com
The Buyer:
Address: 10 Carriage Street, Building C, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472, USA
Email: craig.knight@hyzonmotors.com
Item 11 Seat of the arbitration Singapore.
Item 12 Limit of liability 100% of the Price.
9
SCHEDULE 2 PRICING SCHEDULE
Prices are quoted in
USD, excluding all local or international taxes, duties and transportation charges, delivered as ex works Shanghai, China.
May be provided by Horizon from time to
time, and is valid if mutually agreed between the parties.
Payment terms
Two
payment milestones are agreed:
1) Payment of 50% deposit to be invoiced upon receipt of a Purchase Order; and
2) Payment of 50% balance on proof of shipment.
10
SCHEDULE 3 SPECIFICATIONS
Product specifications
included on an order by order basis.
11
Exhibit 16.1
WithumSmith+Brown, PC
New York, New York
July 22, 2021
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549
United States of America
Commissioners:
We have read the statements of Hyzon Motors Inc. (formally known as Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation) included under Item 4.01 (a) of its Form 8-K dated July 22, 2021. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm under Item 4.01 (a), in which we were informed of our dismissal following completion of the review of Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporations financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, which consists only of the accounts of the pre-Business Combination special purpose acquisition company.
We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
Exhibit 21.1
HYZON MOTORS INC.
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
(As of July 22, 2021)
Entity |
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization |
|
Hyzon Automobile Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. | China | |
Hyzon Motors Australia PTY LTD | Australia | |
Hyzon Motors Europe B.V. | Netherlands | |
Hyzon Motors PTE. LTD. | Singapore | |
Hyzon Motors USA Inc. | Delaware | |
Hyzon Zero Carbon Inc. | Delaware | |
Hyzon Motors Innovation GmbH | Germany |
Exhibit 99.1
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Introduction
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of DCRB present the combination of the financial information of Hyzon and DCRB, adjusted to give effect to the business combination and consummation of the PIPE Financing (collectively, the Transactions). The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. In May 2020, the SEC adopted Release No. 33-10786 Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses. Release No. 33-10786 was effective on January 1, 2021; therefore, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information herein is presented in accordance therewith.
DCRB is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on September 7, 2017. DCRB was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. As of March 31, 2021, there was approximately $225.7 million held in the Trust Account.
Hyzon is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and was incorporated in the State of Delaware on January 21, 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Horizon, a Singapore-based fuel cell company. Horizon is a privately-held fuel cell technology company focused on developing and manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell stacks and systems for a variety of mobility and non-mobility applications, including for vehicles, backup power generation, and educational programs. Horizon has operations primarily in China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the Czech Republic.
To our knowledge and as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, the following persons are the direct beneficial owners of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Horizon stock: George Gu, Hyzons Executive Chairman (17.56%), P.N. Generations LLP (10.65%), Liu Chengang (8.14%), DPCV1 Limited (7.49%) and Taras Wankewycz (6.78%), and Craig Knight, the Chief Executive Officer of Hyzon, is the direct beneficial owner of approximately 2.2% shares of Horizon stock, in each case, based on 682,810 shares of stock outstanding as of the date hereof.
Hyzon was formed to focus on accelerating the energy transition through the manufacturing and supply of hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles across the North American, European, and Australasian regions. Since its inception, Hyzon has devoted substantially all of its efforts in building the infrastructure to support the future production of hydrogen fuel cell trucks and buses and supply of hydrogen fuel cell systems for mobility applications, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital. Hyzon has not yet generated any revenue. Hyzons rights in intellectual property relating to its core fuel cell technology is subject to the Horizon IP Agreement between Hyzon and JS Horizon, which is part of the Horizon group of companies, described further in the section titled Intellectual Property.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 combines the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of Hyzon with the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of DCRB on a pro forma basis as if the Transactions had been consummated on March 31, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 combines the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of Hyzon for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of DCRB for the three months ended March 31, 2021, giving effect to the Transactions as if they had been consummated on January 21, 2020 (inception). The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 combines the historical audited statement of operations of Hyzon for the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, with the historical audited consolidated statement of operations of DCRB for the year ended December 31, 2020, as restated, giving effect to the Transactions as if they had been consummated on January 21, 2020.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not necessarily reflect what the post-combination companys financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also may not be useful
in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the post-combination company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
This information should be read together with DCRBs and Hyzons financial statements and related notes, the sections titled Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of DCRB, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Hyzon, and other financial information included elsewhere in the proxy statement, which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects actual redemption of 2,089,323 shares of DCRBs Class A common stock at $10.00 per share. The business combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Hyzon has been determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:
|
The former owners of Hyzon will hold a majority in the post-combination company; |
|
Hyzon and its former owners will have the ability to appoint a majority of the board of directors of the post-combination company; |
|
Hyzons existing management will comprise the management of the post-combination company; |
|
The operations of the post-combination company will represent the operations of Hyzon; and |
|
The post-combination company will assume Hyzons name and headquarters. |
Hyzon has also been determined to be the predecessor entity to the post-combination company based on the same considerations listed above. Under this method of accounting, DCRB will be treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the business combination will be treated as the equivalent of Hyzon issuing stock for the net assets of DCRB, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of DCRB will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the reverse recapitalization will be those of Hyzon.
Description of the Transactions
On February 8, 2021, DCRB, Hyzon and Merger Sub entered into the Business Combination Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Hyzon, with Hyzon surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of DCRB. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of DCRB, Merger Sub, Hyzon or the holders of any of Hyzons securities:
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each share of Hyzon Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including shares of Hyzon Common Stock resulting from the conversion of the Ascent Options, but excluding any shares of Hyzon Common Stock resulting from the conversion of Hyzon Convertible Notes described above) were canceled and converted into the right to receive (a) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio and (b) the contingent right to receive the Earnout Shares, in each case without interest. Each share of Hyzon Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time resulting from the conversion of Hyzon Convertible Notes were canceled and converted into the right to receive one share of Class A Common Stock and the contingent right to receive the Earnout Shares; |
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each share of Hyzon Common Stock held in the treasury of Hyzon will be canceled without any conversion thereof and no payment or distribution will be made with respect thereto; |
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each share of Merger Sub Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time were converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Surviving Corporation; |
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each Hyzon Warrant, to the extent then outstanding and unexercised, were automatically, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, converted into new warrants; |
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each Hyzon Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into (A) an option to purchase a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of shares of Hyzon Common Stock subject to such Hyzon Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (i) the exercise price per share of such Hyzon Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (ii) the Exchange Ratio and (B) the contingent right to receive the Earnout Shares. Except as specifically provided in the Business Combination Agreement, following the Effective Time, each Exchanged Option will continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and exercisability terms) as were applicable to the corresponding former Hyzon Option immediately prior to the Effective Time; and |
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Each Hyzon RSU, whether vested or not vested, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into (a) a restricted stock unit denominated in shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Hyzon Common Stock subject to such Hyzon RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange Ratio and (b) the contingent right to receive Earnout Shares. |
Pursuant to the terms of the Charter, each share of Class B Common Stock outstanding prior to the Effective Time will convert into one share of Class A Common Stock at the Closing. All of the shares of Class B Common Stock converted into shares of Class A Common Stock will no longer be outstanding and will cease to exist, and each holder of such Class B Common Stock will thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities.
The aggregate consideration for the business combination will be approximately $2 billion (subject to adjustment pending determination of final transaction costs) payable in the form of shares of the Class A Common Stock, as well as options and warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock.
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on February 8, 2021, DCRB entered into separate Subscription Agreements with the Subscribers, pursuant to which the Subscribers agreed to purchase, and DCRB agreed to sell to the Subscribers, an aggregate of 35,500,000 PIPE Shares (excluding the Conversion Shares) for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $355,000,000, in a private placement. The closing of the sale of the PIPE Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreements is contingent upon, among other customary closing conditions, the concurrent consummation of the business combination.
The following represents the aggregate merger consideration:
(in thousands) |
Purchase
price |
Shares
Issued |
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Share Consideration to Hyzon at Closing(a)(b)(c) |
$ | 1,853,679 | 185,368 | |||||
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(a) |
The value of common stock issued to Hyzon included in the consideration is reflected at $10.00 per share. The number of shares excludes 21,887,041 options, warrants and RSUs that do not represent legally outstanding shares of the post-combination company at Closing. |
(b) |
Amount excludes the issuance of 23,250,000 Earnout Shares to certain Eligible Hyzon Equityholders as a result of the post-combination company satisfying certain performance conditions described below within the Earnout Period. |
(c) |
Amount includes the Conversion Shares. |
In addition to the 185,367,904 shares issued at Closing, during the Earnout Period, DCRB will issue to eligible holders of securities of Hyzon the Earnout Shares, in three tranches of 9,000,000, 9,000,000 and 5,250,000 Earnout Shares, respectively, upon the post-combination company achieving $18, $20 or $35 as its last reported sales price per share for any 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period within the Earnout Period; provided, that in no event will the issuance of the 5,250,000 Earnout Shares occur prior to the one year anniversary of the Closing Date. The Earnout Shares will be issued to all (i) Historical Rollover Stockholders and (ii) holders of Hyzon Options and Hyzon RSUs, in each case other than certain persons who received their Company Common Stock or Hyzon Options in relation to their role as consultants to Hyzon. Such consultants will beneficially own less than 0.2% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock following the Closing Date. Of the aggregate 23,250,000 Earnout Shares, approximately 20,806,466 are issuable to holders of Hyzon Common Stock.
At the Closing, these Earnout Shares are not expected to be indexed to the post-combination companys stock pursuant to ASC Subtopic 815-40. As a result, such Earnout Shares are classified as liabilities in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet at their estimated fair value. Please refer to pro forma adjustment (K) within the Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information below for additional information. The remaining approximately 2,443,534 Earnout Shares are issuable to holders of unvested Hyzon Options and Hyzon RSUs and consequently represent stock-based compensation under ASC Topic 718. Please refer to pro forma adjustment (EE) within the Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information below for additional information.
The following summarizes the unaudited pro forma common stock shares outstanding:
in thousands |
Shares | % | ||||||
DCRB Public Stockholders |
20,483 | 8.29 | % | |||||
DCRB Founders |
5,643 | 2.28 | % | |||||
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Total DCRB |
26,126 | 10.57 | % | |||||
Hyzon(a) |
180,346 | 73.03 | % | |||||
Hyzon Convertible Note holders(b) |
5,022 | 2.03 | % | |||||
PIPE Shares(c) |
35,500 | 14.37 | % | |||||
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Total Shares at Closing |
246,994 | 100.00 | % | |||||
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(a) |
Amount excludes 21,887,041 options, warrants and RSUs, as well as 23,250,000 Earnout Shares that will not represent legally outstanding shares at Closing, and is otherwise based on the assumptions set forth under Certain Defined Terms, including in respect of the Ascent Options, Remaining LTIP Shares, and the Exchange Ratio. |
(b) |
Represents shares issued to the holders of the Hyzon Convertible Notes upon close of the PIPE Financing, which triggers conversion of the Hyzon Convertible Notes. See adjustment (I). |
(c) |
Excludes the Conversion Shares. |
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 and unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 are based on the historical financial statements of DCRB and Hyzon. The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based on information currently available, and assumptions and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments and are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions used to present the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF MARCH 31, 2021
(in thousands)
As of
31-Mar-21 |
||||||||||||||||||||
DCRB
(Historical) (US GAAP) |
Hyzon
(Historical) (US GAAP) |
Combined |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Pro Forma
Combined |
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ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | | 47,773 | $ | 47,773 | $ | 204,837 | (A) | $ | 557,636 | ||||||||||
(7,900 | )(B) | |||||||||||||||||||
(22,171 | )(B) | |||||||||||||||||||
(14,200 | )(B)(C) | |||||||||||||||||||
355,000 | (C) | |||||||||||||||||||
(5,703 | )(B) | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash held in trust account |
225,731 | 225,731 | (204,837 | )(A) | | |||||||||||||||
(20,894 | )(A) | |||||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
917 | 8,647 | 9,564 | 9,564 | ||||||||||||||||
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|
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|
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Total current assets |
$ | 226,648 | $ | 56,420 | $ | 283,068 | $ | 284,132 | $ | 567,199 | ||||||||||
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Property and equipmentnet |
4,313 | 4,313 | 4,313 | |||||||||||||||||
Right-Of-use assets |
1,507 | 1,507 | 1,507 | |||||||||||||||||
Deferred transaction costs |
3,465 | 3,465 | (3,465 | )(B) | | |||||||||||||||
Other assets |
736 | 736 | 736 | |||||||||||||||||
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|
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Total assets |
$ | 226,648 | $ | 66,441 | $ | 293,089 | $ | 280,667 | $ | 573,755 | ||||||||||
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
591 | 591 | 591 | |||||||||||||||||
Accrued professional fees and other current liabilities |
3,544 | 3,622 | 7,166 | (3,544 | )(B) | 3,622 | ||||||||||||||
Related party payables |
1,984 | 11,371 | 13,355 | (1,984 | )(B) | 11,371 | ||||||||||||||
Current portion of operating lease liability |
434 | 434 | 434 | |||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
175 | 175 | (175 | )(B) | | |||||||||||||||
Deferred revenue |
2,905 | 2,905 | 2,905 | |||||||||||||||||
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Total current liabilities |
5,703 | 18,923 | 24,626 | (5,703 | ) | 18,923 | ||||||||||||||
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Lease liability, net of current portion |
1,257 | 1,257 | 1,257 | |||||||||||||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
7,900 | 7,900 | (7,900 | )(B) | | |||||||||||||||
Convertible debt, net |
49,441 | 49,441 | 559 | (I) | | |||||||||||||||
(50,000 | )(I) | | ||||||||||||||||||
Earnout liability |
179,137 | (K) | 179,137 | |||||||||||||||||
Warrant liabilities |
33,939 | 33,939 | (21,105 | )(H) | 12,834 | |||||||||||||||
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Total liabilities |
$ | 47,542 | $ | 69,621 | $ | 117,163 | $ | 94,987 | $ | 212,150 | ||||||||||
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Commitments and Contingences |
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Common stock subject to possible redemption |
174,106 | 174,106 | (153,211 | )(D) | | |||||||||||||||
(20,894 | )(A) | |||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders Equity |
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Common Stock |
94 | 94 | (94 | )(E) | | |||||||||||||||
Class A Common Stock |
1 | 1 | 2 | (D) | 25 | |||||||||||||||
18 | (E) | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | (C) | |||||||||||||||||||
1 | (I) | |||||||||||||||||||
1 | (F) | |||||||||||||||||||
Class B Common Stock |
1 | 1 | (1 | )(F) | (0 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid in capital |
27,953 | 19,522 | 47,475 | 153,210 | (D) | 412,876 | ||||||||||||||
354,996 | (C) | |||||||||||||||||||
76 | (E) | |||||||||||||||||||
(22,954 | )(G) | |||||||||||||||||||
(14,200 | )(B)(C) | |||||||||||||||||||
(3,465 | )(B) | |||||||||||||||||||
(10,868 | )(B) | |||||||||||||||||||
21,105 | (H) | |||||||||||||||||||
16,638 | (J) | |||||||||||||||||||
50,000 | (I) | |||||||||||||||||||
(179,137 | )(K) | |||||||||||||||||||
Retained earnings (deficit) |
(22,954 | ) | (22,418 | ) | (45,372 | ) | (11,303 | )(B) | (50,918 | ) | ||||||||||
22,954 | (G) | |||||||||||||||||||
(16,638 | )(J) | |||||||||||||||||||
(559 | )(I) | |||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive gain |
(54 | ) | (54 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Non-Controlling Interest |
(324 | ) | (324 | ) | (324 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Total Stockholders Equity |
$ | 5,000 | $ | (3,180 | ) | $ | 1,820 | $ | 185,680 | $ | 361,605 | |||||||||
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Total Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders Equity |
$ | 226,648 | $ | 66,441 | $ | 293,089 | $ | 280,667 | $ | 573,755 | ||||||||||
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
For the
Period Ended December 31, 2020 |
For the Period
Ended 31-Dec-20 |
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DCRB (Historical,
As Restated) (US GAAP) |
Hyzon
(Historical) (US GAAP) |
Combined |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Pro Forma
Combined |
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Revenue |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Cost of sales |
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Gross Margin |
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Operating costs |
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Research and development |
| 1,446 | 1,446 | 212 | (EE) | 1,658 | ||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative |
5,480 | 12,785 | 18,265 | 11,303 | (CC) | 46,849 | ||||||||||||||
(24 | )(DD) | |||||||||||||||||||
17,306 | (EE) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
5,480 | 14,231 | 19,711 | 28,797 | 48,508 | |||||||||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(5,480 | ) | (14,231 | ) | (19,711 | ) | (28,797 | ) | (48,508 | ) | ||||||||||
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Expensed offering costs |
(655 | ) | (655 | ) | (655 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest (expense) |
| (37 | ) | (37 | ) | (559 | )(GG) | (596 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss on consolidation of variable interest entity |
| (100 | ) | (100 | ) | (100 | ) | |||||||||||||
Foreign currency loss, net |
(8 | ) | (8 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest Income |
3 | | 3 | (3 | )(BB) | | ||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
(15,491 | ) | (15,491 | ) | 9,368 | (FF) | (6,123 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Income (loss) before income taxes |
(21,623 | ) | (14,376 | ) | (35,999 | ) | (19,991 | ) | (55,990 | ) | ||||||||||
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Provision for income taxes |
| | | | (AA) | | ||||||||||||||
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Net Income (loss) |
$ | (21,623 | ) | $ | (14,376 | ) | $ | (35,999 | ) | $ | (19,991 | ) | $ | (55,990 | ) | |||||
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Net Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest |
$ | (105 | ) | $ | (105 | ) | $ | | $ | (105 | ) | |||||||||
Net Income (loss) attributable to Hyzon Motors, Inc |
$ | (14,271 | ) | $ | (35,894 | ) | $ | (19,991 | ) | $ | (55,885 | ) | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share |
$ | (4.22 | ) | $ | (0.17 | ) | $ | (0.23 | ) | |||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
5,123,002 | 86,145,594 | 246,994,208 |
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
DCRB
(Historical) (US GAAP) |
Hyzon
(Historical) (US GAAP) |
Combined |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Pro Forma
Combined |
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Revenue |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Cost of sales |
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Gross Margin |
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Operating costs |
| | | |||||||||||||||||
Research and development |
627 | 627 | 3 | (EE) | 630 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative |
776 | 3,146 | 3,922 | (30 | )(DD) | 4,109 | ||||||||||||||
217 | (EE) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
776 | 3,773 | 4,549 | 190 | 4,739 | |||||||||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(776 | ) | (3,773 | ) | (4,549 | ) | (190 | ) | (4,739 | ) | ||||||||||
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Interest (expense) |
| (4,590 | ) | (4,590 | ) | (4,590 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss on consolidation of variable interest entity |
| | | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency loss, net |
(28 | ) | (28 | ) | (28 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
(339 | ) | (339 | ) | 339 | (FF) | 0 | |||||||||||||
Interest Income |
3 | 2 | 5 | (5 | )(BB) | | ||||||||||||||
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Income (loss) before income taxes |
(1,111 | ) | (8,389 | ) | (9,500 | ) | 143 | (9,357 | ) | |||||||||||
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Provision for income taxes |
| | | | (AA) | | ||||||||||||||
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Net Income (loss) |
$ | (1,111 | ) | $ | (8,389 | ) | $ | (9,500 | ) | $ | 143 | $ | (9,357 | ) | ||||||
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Net Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest |
$ | (242 | ) | $ | (242 | ) | $ | | $ | (242 | ) | |||||||||
Net Income (loss) attributable to Hyzon Motors, Inc |
$ | (8,147 | ) | $ | (9,258 | ) | $ | 143 | $ | (9,115 | ) | |||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share |
$ | (0.20 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
5,643,125 | 93,793,115 | 246,994,208 |
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1. Basis of Presentation
The business combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, DCRB will be treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the business combination will be treated as the equivalent of Hyzon issuing stock for the net assets of DCRB, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of DCRB will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 assumes that the Transactions occurred on March 31, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 present pro forma effect to the Transactions as if they had been completed on January 21, 2020.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:
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DCRBs unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 and the related notes which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached; and |
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Hyzons unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 and the related notes which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:
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DCRBs unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the related notes which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached; and |
|
Hyzons unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the related notes which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:
|
DCRBs audited consolidated statement of operations for the period ended December 31, 2020, as restated, and the related notes which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached; and |
|
Hyzons audited consolidated statement of operations for the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 and the related notes which are incorporated by reference into the Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached. |
Management has made significant estimates and assumptions in its determination of the unaudited pro forma adjustments. As the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared based on these preliminary estimates, the final amounts recorded may differ materially from the information presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings, or cost savings that may be associated with the business combination.
The unaudited pro forma adjustments reflecting the consummation of the Transactions are based on certain currently available information and certain assumptions and methodologies that DCRB believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the unaudited pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. DCRB believes that these assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Transactions based on information available to management at this time and that the unaudited pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations and financial position would have been had the Transactions taken place on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the post-combination company. They should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto of DCRB and Hyzon.
2. Accounting Policies
Upon completion of the Transactions, management will perform a comprehensive review of DCRBs and Hyzons accounting policies. As a result of the review, management may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which, when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the post-combination company. Based on its initial review, management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.
3. Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Transactions and has been prepared for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses. Release No. 33-10786 replaces the existing pro forma adjustment criteria with simplified requirements to depict the accounting for the transaction (Transaction Accounting Adjustments) and present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (Managements Adjustments). The Company has elected not to present Managements Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. DCRB and Hyzon have not had any historical relationship unrelated to the Transactions. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined provision for income taxes does not necessarily reflect the amounts that would have resulted had the post-combination company filed consolidated income tax returns during the periods presented.
The unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations are based upon the number of the post-combination companys shares outstanding, assuming the Transactions occurred on January 21, 2020.
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
The adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 are as follows:
(A) |
Reflects the reclassification of $204.8 million of cash held in the Trust Account that becomes available at the Closing. Furthermore, $20.9 million in cash was paid to redeeming shareholders for the 2,089,323 shares of DCRB Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share that were redeemed at a per share redemption price of $10.00. |
(B) |
Reflects the settlement of $53.4 million of transaction costs at the Closing in connection with the business combination. Of the total, $22.1 million relates to advisory, bankers, legal and other fees to be incurred, $11.3 million of which is adjusted against retained earnings (see adjustment CC to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020) while the remaining $10.8 million is considered direct and incremental to the Transactions and consequently adjusted against additional paid in capital; $7.9 million relates to deferred underwriting fees payable; $14.2 million relates to PIPE fees adjusted against additional paid in capital; and $5.7 million relates to existing DCRB accrued expenses and liabilities to be paid out of transaction proceeds. In addition, Hyzon reclassified $3.5 million of previously deferred transaction costs related to advisory and legal fees incurred prior to the Closing to additional paid in capital. |
(C) |
Reflects the proceeds of $355 million from the issuance of 35.5 million shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the PIPE Financing (excluding the Conversion Shares) based on commitments received which will be offset by the PIPE fee of 4% of gross proceeds or $14.2 million in adjustment (B). The net amount has been allocated to Class A Common Stock and additional paid-in capital using a par value of $0.0001 per share. |
(D) |
Reflects the reclassification of $153.2 million of Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemption that were ultimately not redeemed to permanent equity at $0.0001 par value. |
(E) |
Reflects the recapitalization of Hyzons equity and issuance of approximately 180.3 million shares of Class A Common Stock at $0.0001 par value as consideration for the reverse recapitalization. Note this amount excludes 5.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Hyzon Convertible Notes referenced in adjustment (I). |
(F) |
Reflects the reclassification of the Founder Shares from Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock at the Closing. |
(G) |
Reflects the reclassification of DCRBs historical retained earnings to additional paid in capital as part of the reverse recapitalization. |
(H) |
Reflects the reclassification of the approximately 11.3 million Public Warrants from liability to equity upon the Closing. Hyzon has preliminarily evaluated the accounting for DCRBs Public and Private Placement Warrants for the post-combination company under ASC Topic 480 and ASC Topic 815. It currently expects the Public Warrants to qualify as equity instruments under both ASC Subtopic 815-40 after considering among other factors that after the business combination, the post-combination company will have a single-class equity structure. Separately, Hyzon expects the Private Placement Warrants will continue to be accounted for as a liability under ASC Subtopic 815-40. |
(I) |
Reflects the conversion of Hyzons outstanding Hyzon Convertible Notes into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to such Hyzon Convertible Notes automatic conversion feature. The adjustment includes a charge to retained earnings of $0.6 million representing the final fair value adjustment on the bifurcated automatic conversion feature and write off of unamortized debt issuance costs (refer to adjustment (GG)). |
(J) |
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of the incremental compensation provided to holders of vested Hyzon Options and Hyzon RSUs (collectively, the Vested Equity Awards) who are granted the contingent right to receive approximately 1.9 million Earnout Shares pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. There are no future service requirements related to such Earnout Shares; however, these Earnout Shares represent compensation under ASC Topic 718. Refer to Note 5 Earnout Shares for additional information. |
(K) |
Reflects recognition of the approximately 20.8 million Earnout Shares issuable to holders of Hyzon Common Stock which are not expected to be indexed to the post-combination companys stock pursuant to ASC Subtopic 815-40 as of the Closing. Therefore, such amount is classified as a liability in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and recognized at its preliminary estimated fair value. After the Closing, the earnout liability will be remeasured to its fair value at the end of each reporting period and subsequent changes in the fair value will be recognized in the post-combination companys statement of operations within other income/expense. Refer to Note 5 Earnout Shares for additional information. |
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
The adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(AA) |
Reflects the income tax effect of unaudited pro forma adjustments using the estimated effective tax rate of 0%. In its historical periods, Hyzon concluded that it is more likely than not that it will not recognize the benefits of federal and state net deferred tax assets and as a result established a valuation allowance. For pro forma purposes, it is assumed that this conclusion will continue at the Closing and as such, a 0% effective tax rate is reflected. |
(BB) |
Reflects the elimination of interest income and unrealized gain earned on the Trust Account. |
(CC) |
Reflects estimated transaction costs that are not considered direct and incremental to the Transactions (see adjustment (B) above). These costs are reflected as if incurred on January 21, 2020 (inception), the date the Transactions were completed for purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations. This is a non-recurring item. |
(DD) |
Reflects elimination of fees incurred by DCRB under an administrative support agreement with an affiliate of the Sponsor that will cease to be paid upon completion of the business combination. |
(EE) |
In addition to the 1.9 million Earnout Shares issuable to holders of Vested Equity Awards discussed in adjustment (J), approximately 0.5 million Earnout Shares are issuable to holders of unvested Hyzon Options and Hyzon RSUs (collectively, the Unvested Equity Awards, and together with the Vested Equity Awards the Underlying Equity Awards). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Earnout Shares received by holders of Unvested Equity Awards will be held back by the post-combination company and released within 30 days after vesting of the underlying Unvested Equity Award. Forfeiture of the underlying Unvested Equity Award results in forfeiture of the right to receive the associated Earnout Shares. Management determined the Earnout Shares issuable to holders of both Unvested Equity Awards and Vested Equity Awards represent stock compensation under ASC Topic 718 as they are issued in proportion to the Underlying Equity Awards, which themselves represent stock compensation under ASC Topic 718. In the case of Earnout Shares issuable to holders of Unvested Equity Awards, recipients are required to provide services to the post-combination company in order to vest in such Earnout Shares. Both the grant and service inception dates are assumed to be the date of the Closing, which for purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations is January 21, 2020 (inception). Additionally, the awards are assumed to be equity classified. |
The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares issuable to holders of Vested Equity Awards is reflected as a one-time compensation charge at the Closing as such holders right to these Earnout Shares is not contingent upon provision of future service. The one-time compensation charge associated with the Earnout Shares underlying the Vested Equity Awards is a non-recurring item. Due to the post-combination service required by holders of Unvested Equity Awards, the preliminary estimated fair value of the associated Earnout Shares is recognized assuming a weighted average service period of approximately five years. On a pro forma basis, as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, there was approximately $3.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the Earnout Shares associated with Unvested Equity Awards. The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares issuable to holders of Vested Equity Awards was determined to be approximately $16.6 million. The adjustment includes approximately $0.2 million and $0.9 million of amortization associated with Earnout Shares issuable to holders of Unvested Equity Awards for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, respectively. Refer to Note 5 Earnout Shares for additional information.
(FF) |
Reflects the elimination of the change in fair value of the derivative warrant liability for the approximately 11.3 million Public Warrants due to the reclassification from liability to equity upon the Closing. Refer to adjustment (H). |
(GG) |
Reflects (1) the final fair value adjustment to the carrying amount of the bifurcated automatic conversion feature and (2) the write-off of remaining unamortized debt issuance costs, each in relation to conversion of the Hyzon Convertible Notes that occurs upon Closing assuming such conversion occurred on January 21, 2020 (inception), the date the Transactions were completed for purposes of the unaudited condensed combined statements of operations. This is a non-recurring item. |
4. Loss per Share
As the Transactions have been reflected as if they occurred on January 21, 2020, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share assumes the shares issuable in connection with the Transactions had been outstanding as of such date. Pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the period from January 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 are calculated as follows:
(in thousands, except share and per share data) |
Three Months
Ended March 31, 2021 |
Period Ended
December 31, 2020 |
||||||
Pro forma net loss |
(9,115 | ) | (55,885 | ) | ||||
Pro forma weighted average shares outstandingbasic and diluted(1) |
246,994 | 246,994 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma net loss per sharebasic and diluted |
(0.04 | ) | (0.23 | ) | ||||
Pro forma weighted average shares outstandingbasic and diluted |
||||||||
DCRB Public Stockholders |
20,483 | 20,483 | ||||||
DCRB Founders |
5,643 | 5,643 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total DCRB |
26,126 | 26,126 | ||||||
Hyzon(2) |
180,346 | 180,346 | ||||||
Hyzon Convertible Note holders(3) |
5,022 | 5,022 | ||||||
PIPE Shares(4) |
35,500 | 35,500 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma weighted average shares outstandingbasic and diluted |
246,994 | 246,994 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
For the purposes of applying the if converted method for calculating diluted earnings per share, it was assumed that all public warrants, private placement warrants, unvested Hyzon RSUs and Hyzon Options are exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock. However, since this results in anti-dilution, the effect of such exchange was not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share. Shares underlying these instruments are as follows: (a) 19.3 million shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants, Private Placement Warrants and warrants anticipated to be issued in connection with the conversion of certain loans that may be made to DCRB prior to the Closing and (b) approximately 21.9 million shares of Class A Common Stock expected to be issued in exchange for unexercised Hyzon Options and Hyzon Warrants, and unvested Hyzon RSUs. |
(2) |
Excludes approximately 23.3 million Earnout Shares that are not legally outstanding at Closing. |
(3) |
Represents shares issued to holders of the Hyzon Convertible Notes upon close of the PIPE Financing, which triggers conversion of the Hyzon Convertible Notes. See adjustment (I). |
(4) |
Excludes the Conversion Shares. |
5. Earnout Shares
The Earnout Shares, other than those associated with Underlying Equity Awards, are expected to be accounted for as liabilities that are earned upon achieving the Triggering Events (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), which include events that are not indexed to the post-combination companys common stock. The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares, other than those associated with the Underlying Equity Awards, is approximately $179.2 million; the preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares associated with the Underlying Equity Awards is approximately $20.9 million.
The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares was determined using a simplified Monte Carlo simulation valuation model using a distribution of potential outcomes on a daily basis over the five-year Earnout Period. The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earnout Shares was determined using the most reliable information available. Assumptions used in the preliminary valuation, were as follows:
Current stock price: the current stock price was set at $10 per share, the assumed value per share of post-combination company common stock used elsewhere in this Form 8-K to which this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is attached.
Expected term: the expected term is the five-year term of the Earnout Period.
Expected volatility: the volatility rate was determined using an average of historical volatilities over the expected term of selected industry peers deemed comparable to Hyzon.
Expected dividend yield: the expected dividend yield is zero as it is not expected the post-combination company will declare dividends on common stock during the expected term.
The classification of the Earnout Shares is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period. In periods where the Earnout Shares remain liability classified, the post-combination company will re-measure them at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model with changes in fair value reflected on the statement of operations at each reporting period. The following table summarizes the total potential statement of operations impact over the five-year Earnout Period assuming the following scenarios:
Earnout scenario |
Total potential Statement of Operations Loss /
(Gain) from change in Earnout fair value over the five-year Earnout Period |
|
None of the earnout tranches are triggered1 |
$(179.1) million | |
Only the $18 earnout tranche is triggered2 |
$ (34.2) million | |
Both of the $18 and $20 earnout tranches are triggered3 |
$ 126.9 million | |
All of the $18, $20 and $35 earnout tranches are triggered |
$(291.4) million |
1 |
Assumes the reversal of the entire initial liability recorded associated with the Earnout Shares |
2 |
Assumes the recognition of additional expense related to the increase in fair value related to the $18 earnout tranche, net of the reversal of the initial liability recorded associated with the $20 earnout tranche and the $35 earnout tranche |
3 |
Assumes the recognition of additional expense related to the increase in fair value related to the $18 earnout tranche net of the $20 earnout tranche, and the reversal of the initial liability recorded associated with the $35 earnout tranche |