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): October 21, 2020

 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39644   83-2867266
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)     Identification No.)

 

 

 

102 East Main Street, Second Story

Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(713) 446-6259

(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 communications 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 registered   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one warrant   RICE U   The New York Stock Exchange
Class A Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share   RICE   The New York Stock Exchange
Warrants, exercisable for one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   RICE WS   The New York Stock Exchange

 

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.  ☐

  

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

On October 26, 2020, simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of Rice Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and pursuant to separate Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights Agreements, dated September 21, 2020, by and among the Company and Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) and each of Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) and Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC (“Atlas Point”), the Company completed the private sale of an aggregate of 6,771,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor and Atlas Point, generating gross proceeds of $6,771,000. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase for $11.50 one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) or, in certain circumstances, one Class A unit of Opco, together with a corresponding share of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001. The issuance of the Private Placement Warrants was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

 

On October 21, 2020, Kathryn Jackson, Joseph Malchow and James Torgerson were appointed as members of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Board has determined that Dr. Jackson, Mr. Malchow and Mr. Torgerson are “independent directors” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange listing standards and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) rules and will serve on the audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees with Mr. Torgerson serving as chair of the audit committee, Mr. Malchow serving as chair of the compensation committee and Dr. Jackson serving as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of Dr. Jackson, Mr. Malchow and Mr. Torgerson received 30,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock from Sponsor in October 2020.

 

On October 21, 2020, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with Daniel Joseph Rice, IV, J. Kyle Derham, James Wilmot Rogers, Kathryn Jackson, Joseph Malchow and James Torgerson that require the Company to indemnify each of them to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the indemnification agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.8 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

 

The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) was approved on October 21, 2020. A description of the Certificate is contained in the section of the prospectus, dated October 21, 2020, forming a part of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-249340) (the “Registration Statement”) and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on October 23, 2020 (the “Prospectus”), entitled “Description of Securities” and is incorporated herein by reference. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On October 21, 2020, the Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission, and the Company subsequently filed the Prospectus on October 23, 2020. On October 26, 2020, the Company completed its IPO of 23,725,000 units (the “Units”), including 2,225,000 Units that were issued pursuant to the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. The Units were issued pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, on the one hand, and Barclays Capital Inc., on the other hand, as representative of the several underwriters named therein. Each Unit had an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company (each such whole warrant, a “Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share.

 

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Of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, $237,276,000, including $7,610,750 of deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, has been deposited into a U.S. based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to pay franchise and income tax obligations of either the Company or Opco, the proceeds from the IPO and the portion of proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of (a) the completion of the Company’s initial business combination (including the release of funds to pay any amounts due to any public stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights in connection therewith), (b) the redemption of any shares issued in the IPO and properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s Certificate that would affect the substance or timing of the obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class A units of Opco if the Company has not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, and (c) the redemption of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class A units of Opco if the Company does not complete its business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law.

 

In connection with the IPO, the Company also entered into the following agreements, forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:

 

A Warrant Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.

 

  A Letter Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, among the Company, its officers and directors, Atlas Point  and the Sponsor.

 

  An Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee.

 

  A Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, among the Company, the Sponsor, Atlas Point and certain other security holders named therein.

 

  An Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and the Sponsor.

 

  An Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Opco, dated October 21, 2020, by and among Opco and the members thereto.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibits
1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2020, by and between the Company and Barclays Capital Inc. as representative of the several underwriters named therein.
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated October 21, 2020, of the Company.
     
4.1   Warrant Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.
     
10.1   Letter Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, among the Company, its officers and directors, Atlas Point and the Sponsor.
     
10.2   Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee.
     
10.3   Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, among the Company, the Sponsor, Atlas Point and certain other security holders named therein.
     
10.4   Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and the Sponsor.
     
10.5   Private Placement Warrants and Warrants Rights Purchase Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and the Sponsor.
     
10.6   Private Placement Warrants and Warrants Rights Purchase Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, between the Company, Opco and Atlas Point.
     
10.7   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Opco, dated October 21, 2020, by and among Opco and the members thereto.
     
10.8   Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated October 21, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-249340), filed on October 15, 2020).

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  RICE Acquisition Corp.
     
Date: October 27, 2020 By: /s/ James Wilmot Rogers
  Name:   James Wilmot Rogers
  Title: Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary

 

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

21,500,000 Units

 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

 

($10.00 per Unit)

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

October 21, 2020

 

Barclays Capital Inc.
As the Representative of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I attached hereto,

 

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell 21,500,000 units (the “Firm Units”), each unit consisting of one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”). In addition, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, the Company proposes to grant to the underwriters named in Schedule I (the “Underwriters”) attached to this agreement (this “Agreement”) an option to purchase from the Company up to 3,225,000 units on the terms set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement (the “Additional Units”). The Firm Units and the Additional Units, if purchased, are hereinafter collectively called the “Units.” This Agreement is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Units from the Company by the Underwriters.

 

The shares of Common Stock and Warrants (as defined below) included in the Units will not trade separately until the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus (unless Barclays Capital Inc. informs the Company of their decision to allow earlier separate trading), subject to (a) the Company’s preparation of an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering (as defined below), (b) the filing of such audited balance sheet with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on a Form 8-K or similar form by the Company that includes such audited balance sheet and (c) the Company having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share during the period commencing on the later of 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (as defined below) or 12 months from the date of the initial public offering contemplated by this Agreement (the “Offering”) and terminating on the five-year anniversary of the date of the completion of such initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), a fractional warrant may not be exercised, so that only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a holder thereof. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” (as described more fully in the Registration Statement (as defined below)) shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

 

 

 

 

All references to (a) “Subsidiaries” of the Company shall be understood to refer to subsidiaries of the Company, including Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Opco”) and properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be understood to refer to properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including Opco. All references to “Company Parties” refer to the Company together with Opco.

 

The Company Parties have entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, effective as of October 21, 2020, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”), as trustee, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement (the “Trust Agreement”), pursuant to which the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) and certain proceeds of the Offering will be deposited and held in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company Parties, the Underwriters and the holders of the Firm Units and the Additional Units, if and when issued.

 

The Company Parties have entered into a Warrant Agreement, effective as of October 21, 2020, with respect to the Warrants with CST, as warrant agent, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which CST will act as warrant agent in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants.

 

The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of September 10, 2020, with Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement (the “Securities Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor received (i) 5,750,000 shares of Class B common stock of the Company (“Class B Common Stock”) and 5,750,000 Class B Units of Opco (the “Class B Opco Units”), of which 90,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and 90,000 Class B Opco Units were forfeited and subsequently issued to independent director nominees of the Company (the “Founder Shares”) and (ii) 2,500 shares of Common Stock and 100 Class A Units of Opco (the “Class A Opco Units”) (together with a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock) (collectively, the “Sponsor Shares”). Each of the Company and Opco subsequently declared a dividend and distribution on the Class B Common Stock and Class B Opco Units, respectively, which was waived by the independent director nominees of the Company, such that after such dividend and distribution, the Sponsor held 6,091,250 Founder Shares (up to 806,250 of which are subject to forfeiture, depending on the extent to which Over-Allotment Option is exercise). The Founder Shares are substantially similar to the Common Stock included in the Units except as described in the Prospectus (as defined below).

 

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The Company and Opco have entered into Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights Purchase Agreements, dated as of October 21, 2020, with the Sponsor and Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC (“Atlas Point”), respectively, in substantially the forms filed as Exhibit 10.6 and 10.7, respectively, to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,693,400 warrants (or up to 6,273,900 warrants if the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below) is exercised in full) and Atlas Point agreed to purchase an aggregate of 632,600 warrants (or up to 697,100 warrants if the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below) is exercised in full), each such warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock or, in certain circumstances, one Class A Unit of Opco at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “Private Placement Warrants” and, together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”). The Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Public Warrants except as described in the Prospectus, Warrant Purchase Agreements and Warrant Agreement.

 

The Company has entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2020, with the Atlas Point, which is filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Atlas Point agreed to purchase an aggregate of up to $75,000,000 of, at the Company’s sole option, (i) a number of forward purchase units (the “Forward Purchase Units”), consisting of shares of Common Stock (the “Forward Purchase Shares”) and Warrants (the “Forward Purchase Warrants”), for $10.00 per unit or (ii) a number of Forward Purchase Shares for $9.67 per share (together with the Forward Purchase Units, the “Forward Purchase Securities”). Upon the completion of the Offering Sponsor will forfeit 309,063 Founder Shares and transfer an equivalent amount of Class B Common Stock to Atlas Point Fund, and Opco will issue an equivalent amount of Class B Units to Atlas Point Fund.

 

The Company has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2020, with the Sponsor and the other parties thereto, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has granted certain registration rights in respect of the Founder Shares, Sponsor Shares, the Forward Purchase Securities, the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exchange of Class A Opco Units or the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares.

 

The Company has entered into an agreement, dated October 21, 2020, with the Sponsor, Atlas Point, Opco and each of the Company’s officers, directors and security holders prior to the Offering, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Letter Agreement”).

 

The Company and Opco have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2020, with the Sponsor, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will pay to the Sponsor an aggregate monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services.

 

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1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company Parties. Each Company Party, jointly and severally, represents, warrants and agrees that:

 

(a) Registration statements on Form S-1 (File Nos. 333-249340 and 333-249593) relating to the Units (i) has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) has become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Company to you as the representatives of the Underwriters (the “Representatives”). As used in this Agreement:

 

(A) “Applicable Time” means 5:30 P.M. (New York City time) on October 21, 2020;

 

(B) “Effective Date” means the date and time at which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto, if any, was declared effective by the Commission in accordance with the rules and regulations under the Securities Act;

 

(C) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;

 

(D) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule II hereto;

 

(E) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Units, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;

 

(F) “Registration Statement” means such registration statement, as amended as of the Effective Date, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, all exhibits to such registration statement and including the information deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of such registration statement as of the Effective Date;

 

(G) “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act; and

 

(H) “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act prior to or on the date hereof. Any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include any abbreviated registration statement to register additional Units under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”). The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

 

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(b) From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and will be an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

(c) The Company (i) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of Barclays Capital Inc. with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or with institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule IV hereto.

 

(d) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) as of the date hereof and (iii) on the applicable Delivery Date (as defined below), the Company was, is and will be an “Ineligible Issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

(e) The Company has prepared and filed, in accordance with Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, a registration statement (as amended, the “Exchange Act Registration Statement”) on Form 8-A (File No. 001-39644) under the Exchange Act to register, under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, the classes of securities consisting of the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants. The Exchange Act Registration Statement has become effective as provided in Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

(f) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the applicable Delivery Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(g) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

 

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(h) The Prospectus will not, as of its date or as of the applicable Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

 

(i) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

 

(j) The road show materials listed in Schedule III hereto, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not, as of the Applicable Time, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from such road show materials listed in Schedule III hereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).

 

(k) No Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, as of the Applicable Time, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication listed on Schedule IV hereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e); and the Company has filed publicly on EDGAR at least 15 calendar days prior to any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), any confidentially submitted registration statement and registration statement amendments relating to the offer and sale of the Units. Each Written Testing-the-Waters Communications did not, as of the Applicable Time, and at all times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Units will not, include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

 

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(l) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any “Free Writing Prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

(m) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been duly organized, are validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of their respective jurisdiction of organization and are duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which their ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties, business or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged. Other than Opco, the Company has no subsidiaries and does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity.

 

(n) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth under the heading “Capitalization” in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as of the date or dates set forth therein, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and not in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, conform to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.

 

(o) The Units have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights.

 

(p) The shares of Common Stock included in the Units and the Forward Purchase Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein and the Forward Purchase Agreement, as applicable, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights. The Forward Purchase Shares have been reserved for issuance.

 

(q) The Public Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants, when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment for the Units by the Underwriters as provided herein and for the Forward Purchase Units by Atlas Point as provided in the Forward Purchase Agreement, will be duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

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(r) The Private Placement Warrants, when delivered upon the consummation of the Offering, will be duly executed, authenticated and issued, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(s) The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise thereof and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Agreement, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders of such Common Stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; such Common Stock is not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of such Common Stock (other than such execution, countersignature and delivery at the time of issuance) has been duly and validly taken.

 

(t) The Class B Common Stock comprising the Founder Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(u) The Class A Opco Units have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid (to the extent of the limited liability company agreement of Opco (“Opco LLC Agreement”)) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”)).

 

(v) The Class B Opco Units have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid (to the extent of the Opco LLC Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by the Delaware LLC Act).

 

(w) The capital stock of the Company, including the Units, conforms in all material respects to each description thereof, if any, contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the certificates for the Units are in due and proper form.

 

(x) The Company Parties have all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Letter Agreement, the Opco LLC Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement.

 

(y) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company Parties, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company Parties, enforceable against each of the Company Parties in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

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(z) The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company Parties, and is a valid and binding agreement of each of the Company Parties, enforceable against each of the Company Parties in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(aa) The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company Parties and is a valid and binding agreement of each of the Company Parties, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(bb) The Securities Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(cc) The Warrant Purchase Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, and are valid and binding agreements of the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(dd) The Forward Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(ee) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer and director, respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer and director, respectively, enforceable against the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer director, respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

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(ff) The Letter Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, enforceable against the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(gg) The Administrative Services Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, Opco and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company, Opco and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(hh) The Opco LLC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Opco, and is a valid and binding agreement of Opco, enforceable against Opco in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(ii) The issue and sale of the Units, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Opco LLC Agreement, the Letter Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of any of the Company Parties, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which a Company Party is a party or by which any of the Company Parties is bound or to which any of the property or assets of any of the Company Parties are subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or Opco LLC Agreement (or similar organizational documents) of the Company Parties; or (iii) result in any violation of any law, statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Company Parties or any of their properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), conflicts or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(jj) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Company Parties or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Units, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Letter Agreement, the Opco LLC Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for the registration of the Units under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws and/or the bylaws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and sale of the Units by the Underwriters.

 

(kk) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

 

(ll) WithumSmith+Brown, PC, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company Parties, whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section 7(f) hereof, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(mm) The Company maintains internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for the Company’s assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. As of the date of the most recent balance sheet of each of the Company Parties reviewed or audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company (the “Audit Committee”), there were no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls.

 

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(nn) (i) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company, including its principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

 

(oo) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company reviewed or audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC and the Audit Committee, (i) the Company has not been advised of or become aware of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls, or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company; and (ii) there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

(pp) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company Parties and any of the Company Parties’ directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

 

(qq) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Company Parties have not (i) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree (whether domestic or foreign), (ii) issued or granted any securities, (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (v) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock, and since such date, there has not been any change in the capital stock, long-term debt, total assets or total current liabilities of the Company Parties or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company Parties taken as a whole, in each case except as could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(rr) The Company Parties do not own any property (real or personal, excluding for purposes of this Section 1(rr), the matters covered by Section 1(tt); the property described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being available for use by the Company Parties is available for use thereby under a valid and enforceable agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

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(ss) The Company Parties have, and are operating in compliance with, such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own their properties and conduct their business in the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company Parties have fulfilled and performed all of their respective obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company Parties have not received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

 

(tt) The Company Parties own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, inventions, domain names, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses and have no reason to believe that the conduct of their respective businesses will conflict with, and have not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others.

 

(uu) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which any of the Company Parties is a party or of which any property or assets of any of the Company Parties is the subject that could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to any of the Company Parties’ knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

 

(vv) There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described and filed as required. The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents described and filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all material respects. The Company Parties do not have knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance as contemplated by the terms thereof.

 

(ww) Other than directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, the Company Parties do not maintain any insurance covering its operations, personnel and businesses; such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is in full force and effect on the date hereof and will be in full force and effect at the time of purchase and each additional time of purchase, if any; the Company Parties do not have reason to believe that they will not be able to (i) renew any such insurance as and when such insurance expires or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions.

 

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(xx) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus which is not so described.

 

(yy) No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of any of the Company Parties exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(zz) Each of the Company Parties (i) is not in violation of its charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is not in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, (iii) is not in violation of any law, statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or its own privacy policies or (iv) has not failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(aaa) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (i) there are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against any of the Company Parties under any applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any national, state, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety (to the extent such health and safety relates to exposure to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants), the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (ii) none of the Company Parties is aware of any non-compliance with Environmental Laws, including any liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company Parties, and (iii) none of the Company Parties anticipate material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.

 

(bbb) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company Parties have (i) filed all U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax returns required to be filed by each through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and (ii) have paid all taxes due and payable by each except for any such tax that is currently being contested in good faith.

 

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(ccc) The statistical and market-related data included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and the consolidated financial statements of the Company Parties included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable in all material respects.

 

(ddd) None of the Company Parties are, and as of the applicable Delivery Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of them will be, (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, or (ii) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).

 

(eee) The statements set forth in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Our Structure,” “Description of Securities,” “Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419,” “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Principal Stockholders” and “Underwriting,” insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

 

(fff) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between any Company Party and any person granting such person the right to require any Company Party to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require any Company Party to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by any Company Party under the Securities Act.

 

(ggg) None of the Company Parties has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the Offering pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

 

(hhh) The Company Parties and their respective affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to constitute, or that has constituted, or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Units.

 

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(iii) The Units have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

 

(jjj) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Units, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the Offering other than any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

(kkk) None of the Company Parties is in violation of or has received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the denial of credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the violation of any of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(lll) None of the Company Parties, any of the Company Parties’ affiliates, any director, officer, nor, to the knowledge of any of the Company Parties, after reasonable inquiry, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Company Parties, has in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, any of the Company Parties: (i) made any unlawful contribution, gift, or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect bribe, kickback, rebate, payoff, influence payment, or otherwise unlawfully provided anything of value, to any “foreign official” (as defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (collectively, the “FCPA”)) or domestic government official; or (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, as amended (the “Bribery Act 2010”), or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery statute or regulation. The Company and Parties and, to the knowledge of the Company Parties, the Company Parties’ affiliates, have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA, Bribery Act 2010 and all other applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery statutes or regulations, and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

(mmm) The operations of the Company Parties are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, that have been issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator or non-governmental authority involving any of the Company Parties with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

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(nnn) The Company Parties, any of the Company Parties’ affiliates, any director, officer, nor, to the knowledge of any of the Company Parties, after reasonable inquiry, agent, employee or affiliate of any of the Company Parties is: (i) currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”); or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Crimea); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing or facilitating the activities of any person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such financing or facilitation and currently is the subject or target of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction whether as an underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. The Company Parties have not knowingly engaged in for the past five years, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction, is or was the subject or target of Sanctions

 

(ooo) The Company Parties acknowledge that, in accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company Parties, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

(ppp) All information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by the Sponsor and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees and provided to the Underwriters is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information that would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

(qqq) Prior to the date hereof, the Company has not selected any potential Business Combination target and has not, nor, to its knowledge, has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential Business Combination target.

 

(rrr) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company to, or to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable) and immediately following the Effective Date the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, the officers or directors of the Company, in their capacities as such, will be in compliance with, the phase-in provisions of the rules and regulations of the NYSE and all other provisions of the NYSE corporate governance requirements set forth in the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

 

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(sss) The issuance and sale of the Units as contemplated hereby will not cause any holder of any shares of capital stock, securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock or options, warrants or other rights to purchase capital stock or any other securities of the Company to have any right to acquire any shares of preferred stock of any Company Party.

 

(ttt) Except pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Registration Statement.

 

(uuu) To the Company Parties’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and the Company Parties have taken all technical and organizational measures necessary to protect information technology and Personal Data (as defined below) used in connection with, the operation of the business of any of the Company Parties as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company Parties have implemented and maintained reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including “personal data” as defined by the EU General Data Protection Regulations (“GDPR”) (EU 2016 679) and any personal, personally identifiable, household, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, except to the extent that a failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to any IT System or Personal Data used in connection with the operation of the Company Parties’ businesses. The Company Parties are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

(vvv) The Company Parties are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with all applicable data privacy and security laws, statutes, judgements, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or any other governmental or regulatory authority and all applicable laws regarding the collection, use, transfer, export, storage, protection, disposal or disclosure by the Company Parties of Personal Data collected from or provided by third parties. (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). The Company Parties each have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to (i) ensure compliance with its privacy policies, all third-party obligations and industry standards regarding Personal Data ; and (ii) reasonably protect the security and confidentiality of all Personal Data (collectively, the “Policies”). At all times since inception, the Company has provided notice of its privacy policy on its websites, which provides accurate and sufficient notice of Company's then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter and such privacy policies do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices. None of such disclosures made or contained in the privacy policies have been inaccurate, misleading, deceptive or in violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies in any material respect. To the knowledge of the Company, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any other agreement referred to in this Agreement will not result in a breach of violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies. The Company Parties have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws and is unaware of any other facts that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably indicate non-compliance with any Privacy Laws or Policies. To the Company Parties’ knowledge, there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or threatened alleging non-compliance with Privacy Laws or Policies.

 

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(www) No forward looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(xxx) To the Company’s knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of FINRA and (ii) the Company or any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% or greater security holders or any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the 180th day immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement was initially filed with the Commission, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(yyy) The Company has no debt securities or preferred stock that is rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is defined by the Commission in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act).

 

(zzz) None of the Company Parties are party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the Offering shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

 

2. Purchase of the Units by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell 21,500,000 Firm Units to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of Firm Units set forth opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto. The respective purchase obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Firm Units shall be rounded among the Underwriters to avoid fractional units, as the Representatives may determine.

 

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In addition, the Company grants to the Underwriters the option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase up to 3,225,000 Additional Units. Such Over-Allotment Option is exercisable in the event that the Underwriters sell more units than the number Firm Units in the Offering and as set forth in Section 4 hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Units (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Units to be sold on such Delivery Date as the number of Firm Units set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Units.

 

The purchase price payable by the Underwriters for both the Firm Units and any Additional Units is $9.80 per Unit (the “Purchase Price”); provided, that any Firm Units or Additional Units sold by the Underwriters to accounts introduced to the Underwriters by the Rice Investment Group (the “RIG Units”) shall be sold at a purchase price of $10.00 per RIG Unit, and such RIG Units shall be allocated among the Underwriters by multiplying the number of RIG Units by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the total number of Firm Units (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions).

 

The Company is not obligated to deliver any of the Firm Units or Additional Units to be delivered on the applicable Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Units to be purchased on such Delivery Date as provided herein.

 

In addition to the discount from the public offering price represented by the Purchase Price set forth above, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Underwriters a deferred discount of $0.35 per Unit (including both Firm Units and Additional Units, but not including the RIG Units) purchased hereunder (the “Deferred Discount”), subject to Section 5(mm) herein. The Underwriters hereby agree that if no Business Combination is consummated within the time period provided in the Trust Agreement and the funds held under the Trust Agreement are distributed to the holders of the Common Stock included in the Units sold pursuant to this Agreement (the “Public Stockholders”), (a) the Underwriters will forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount and (b) the trustee under the Trust Agreement is authorized to distribute the Deferred Discount to the Public Stockholders on a pro rata basis.

 

3. Offering of Units by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Firm Units, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Units for sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.

 

4. Delivery of and Payment for the Units. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units (including the Deferred Discount) shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Company. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the “Initial Delivery Date.” Delivery of the Firm Units shall be made to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the aggregate purchase price of the Firm Units being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Firm Units through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

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The Over-Allotment Option will expire 45 days after the date of this Agreement and may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice being given to the Company by the Representatives; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day, the Over-Allotment Option will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Units as to which the Over-Allotment Option is being exercised, the names in which the Additional Units are to be registered, the denominations in which the Additional Units are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by the Representatives, when the Additional Units are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the Initial Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the Over-Allotment Option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the Over-Allotment Option shall have been exercised. Each date and time the Additional Units are delivered is sometimes referred to as an “Additional Unit Delivery Date,” and the Initial Delivery Date and any Additional Unit Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a “Delivery Date.”

 

Delivery of the Additional Units by the Company and payment for the Additional Units (including the Deferred Discount) by the several Underwriters through the Representatives shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Company. On each Additional Unit Delivery Date, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Additional Units, to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Additional Units being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Additional Units through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

5. Further Agreements of the Company and the Underwriters. The Company agrees:

 

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Exchange Act Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose, or any notice from the Commission objecting to the use of the form of Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Exchange Act Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal.

 

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(b) To furnish promptly to the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.

 

(c) To deliver promptly to the Representatives such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (i) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement and the computation of per share earnings) and (ii) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the Offering or any other securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Representatives and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

(d) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company or the Representatives, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission.

 

(e) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the Representatives to the filing.

 

(f) Not to make any offer relating to the Units that constitutes or would constitute a Free Writing Prospectus or a portion thereof required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act.

 

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(g) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it being understood that the Company shall have until at least 410 days or, if the fourth quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective Date is the last fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter), to make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to deliver to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Company (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

 

(h) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of Canada and such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units; provided, that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject.

 

(i) Beginning on the date hereof and ending on, and including, the date that is 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., not to (x) (i) issue, sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to, any Unit, share of Common Stock, share of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, Warrant or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the foregoing, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase, the foregoing, (ii) file, confidentially submit or cause to become effective a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of any Unit or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Units, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase, the foregoing, (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Units, shares of Common Stock, share of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, Warrants or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the foregoing, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase, the foregoing, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such security or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (iv) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii), except, in each case, that the Company may (A) issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants, (B) issue and sell the Additional Units on exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, (C) register with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the resale of the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares), (D) issue securities in connection with a Business Combination and (E) issue and sell the Forward Purchase Securities or (y) release the Sponsor or any officer, director or director nominee from the 180-day lock-up contained in the Letter Agreement or amend such lock-up provision.

 

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(j) At least one business day prior to the time of purchase, if the Sponsor shall have caused the purchase price for the Private Placement Warrants to be wired to the Company, the Company shall direct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to deposit such funds into the Trust Account and to hold such funds in escrow therein.

 

(k) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units and the Private Placement Warrants received by it substantially in accordance with the description as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(l) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

 

(m) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing pay the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

 

(n) The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the offering or sale of the Units or any other securities relating thereto is not required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period.

 

(o) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives of (A) any distribution by the Company of Written Testing-the-Waters Communications and (B) any request by the Commission for information concerning the Written Testing-the-Waters Communications.

 

(p) The Company and its affiliates will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that reasonably would be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the Offering.

 

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(q) The Company will do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by it prior to each Delivery Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder to purchase the Units.

 

(r) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act, except, in the case of the Units, after the completion of a Business Combination; the Company will not deregister the Units, Common Stock or Warrants under the Exchange Act (except, in the case of the Units, after the completion of a Business Combination) without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc; “Liquidation” means the distributions of the Trust Account to the Public Stockholders in connection with the redemption of shares of Common Stock held by the Public Stockholders pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended, if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination.

 

(s) The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the time of purchase (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering at the time of purchase; as soon as the Audited Balance Sheet becomes available, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four business days after the time of purchase, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet; additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four business days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall disclose the Company’s sale of the Additional Units and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom.

 

(t) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the Common Stock and Warrants cease to be publicly traded, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters of the year prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the mailing, if any, of quarterly financial information to stockholders.

 

(u) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs, the Company shall, to the extent such information or documents are not otherwise publicly available, upon written request from any Representative, furnish to the Representatives copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of securities, and promptly furnish to the Representatives: (i) a copy of such registration statements, financial statements and periodic and special reports as the Company shall be required to file with the Commission and from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any such class of its securities; and (ii) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as any Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request, all subject to the execution of a satisfactory confidentiality agreement.

 

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(v) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the Common Stock and Warrants cease to be publicly traded, the Company shall retain a warrant agent.

 

(w) In no event will the amounts payable by the Company Parties for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services exceed $10,000 per month in the aggregate until the earlier of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or the Liquidation occurs.

 

(x) The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors unless it obtains an opinion from a qualified independent accounting firm or an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view; other than as set forth in this subsection, the Company Parties shall not pay the Sponsor or its affiliates or any of the Company’s executive officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company Parties prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination; provided, however, that such officers, directors and affiliates (i) may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them related to identifying, investigating and consummating a Business Combination to the extent that such expenses do not exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the Trust Account; (ii) may be repaid for loans as described in the Registration Statement; and (iii) may be paid $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement.

 

(y) For a period of 90 days following the Effective Date, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services, or has provided or will provide any investment banking, financial, advisory and/or consulting services to the Company, the Company agrees that it shall promptly provide to FINRA (via a FINRA submission), the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a notification prior to entering into the agreement or transaction relating to a potential Business Combination containing: (i) the identity of the person or entity providing any such services; (ii) complete details of all such services and copies of all agreements governing such services prior to entering into the agreement or transaction; and (iii) justification as to why the value received by any person or entity for such services is not underwriting compensation for the Offering; the Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer materials or proxy statement, as applicable, which the Company may file in connection with the Business Combination for purposes of offering redemption of shares held by its stockholders or for soliciting stockholder approval, as applicable.

 

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(z) The Company shall advise FINRA, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters if the Company is aware that any 5% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a member of FINRA participating in the distribution of the Company’s securities.

 

(aa) The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants required to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; the Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act; furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

(bb) During the period prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation, the Company may instruct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to release from the Trust Account, solely from interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, the amounts necessary to pay taxes; otherwise, all funds held in the Trust Account (including any interest income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable)) will remain in the Trust Account until the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation; provided, however, that in the event of the Liquidation, up to $100,000 of interest income may be released to the Company if the proceeds of the Offering held outside of the Trust Account are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing the Company’s plan of dissolution.

 

(cc) The Company will reserve and keep available the maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities that are issuable upon settlement of the Forward Purchase Shares and the exercise of any of the Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants outstanding from time to time.

 

(dd) Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination or the Liquidation, the Company Parties shall not issue any shares of Common Stock, Warrants or any options or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or any shares of preferred stock, in each case, that participate in any manner in the Trust Account or that vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination, except as described in the Prospectus.

 

(ee) The Company’s independent directors will review on a quarterly basis all payments made to the Sponsor, to the Company’s officers or directors, or to the Company’s or any of such other persons’ respective affiliates.

 

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(ff) The Company agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Securities Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.

 

(gg) To the extent required by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(hh) As soon as legally required to do so, the Company and its directors and officers, in their capacities as such, shall take all actions necessary to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications, and to comply with the rules and regulations of the NYSE;

 

(ii) The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended, or its Bylaws, as may be amended.

 

(jj) The Company will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than its independent auditors), prospective target businesses, lenders or other entities with which it does business enter into agreements waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Public Stockholders.

 

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(kk) The Company may consummate the initial Business Combination and conduct redemptions of shares of Common Stock for cash upon consummation of such Business Combination without a stockholder vote pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission; such tender offer documents will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each stockholder of the Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination to redeem the shares of Common Stock held by such stockholder for an amount of cash per share equal to (i) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (A) the net proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and (B) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to pay taxes, divided by (ii) the total number of shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Offering (the “Public Shares”) then outstanding; if, however, the Company elects not to file such tender offer documents, a stockholder vote is required by law in connection with the initial Business Combination, or the Company decides to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will submit such Business Combination to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Business Combination Vote”); with respect to the initial Business Combination Vote, if any, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s directors and officers party to the Letter Agreement has agreed to vote all of their respective Founder Shares and any other shares of Common Stock purchased during or after the Offering in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination; if the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer to each Public Stockholder holding shares of Common Stock the right to have its shares of Common Stock redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission at a per share redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to (i) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (A) the net proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and (B) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to pay taxes, divided by (ii) the total number of Public Shares and Class A Opco Units (other than those held by the Company) then outstanding; if the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company may proceed with such Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares voted by the stockholders at a duly-held stockholders meeting are voted to approve such Business Combination; if, after seeking and receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem shares of Common Stock, at the Redemption Price, from those Public Stockholders who affirmatively requested such redemption; only Public Stockholders holding shares of Common Stock who properly exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Business Combination, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Business Combination, and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection therewith; in the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination by 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (including interest not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, and less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares and Class A Opco Units (other than those held by the Company), which redemption will completely extinguish the Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law; only Public Stockholders holding shares of Common Stock included in the Units shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other shares of capital stock of the Company; the Company will not propose any amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, as described in Section 9.2(d) of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, unless the Company offers the right to redeem the Public Shares in connection with such amendment.

 

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(ll) In the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (“Business Combination Announcement”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing with the Commission announcing the consummation of the Business Combination that indicates that the Underwriters were the underwriters in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Representatives with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Representatives with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon, subject to the agreement of the Underwriters to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with each such Underwriter’s standard policies regarding confidential information.

 

(mm) Upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Company will pay to the Underwriters the Deferred Discount pro rata based on the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter on Schedule I attached hereto; payment of the Deferred Discount will be made out of the proceeds of the Offering held in the Trust Account; the Underwriters shall have no claim to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account representing the Deferred Discount; if the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Deferred Discount will not be paid to the Underwriters and will, instead, be included in the Liquidation distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account made to the Public Stockholders; in connection with any such Liquidation, the Underwriters forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount.

 

(nn) For so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the Common Stock.

 

(oo) Intentionally Omitted.

 

(pp) To use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the Common Stock and Public Warrants cease to be publicly traded, maintain the listing of the Units, Common Stock and Public Warrants on the NYSE.

 

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6. Expenses. The Company (and Opco, where applicable) agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all expenses, costs, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units, including any stamp duties or other taxes payable in connection with the original issuance of the Units, and the preparation and printing of certificates for the Units; (b) the preparation, printing and filing of the Exchange Act Registration Statement and under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any “road show” presentations, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication and any amendment or supplement thereto, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among Underwriters and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units; (e) any required review by FINRA of the terms of sale of the Units (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount that is not greater than $25,000); (f) the listing of the Units on the NYSE; (g) the qualification of the Units under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(h)) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); (h) the preparation, printing and distribution of one or more versions of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada, including in the form of a Canadian “wrapper” (including related fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriters); (i) the preparation and printing of the investor presentations or any “road show” or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show; and (j) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 6 and in Section 11, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Units which they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Units made by the Underwriters.

 

7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

 

(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 5(a). No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with. If the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement. The Exchange Act Registration Statement shall have been filed and shall have become effective under the Exchange Act.

 

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(b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Units, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(d) Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

(e) The Representatives shall have received from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Units and the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(f) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from WithumSmith+Brown, PC a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

 

(g) With respect to the letter of WithumSmith+Brown, PC referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “initial letter”), the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter (the “bring-down letter”) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.

 

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(h) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer as to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement:

 

(i) That the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of such Delivery Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date;

 

(ii) That no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened;

 

(iii) That they have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion, (A) (1) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date and (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and (B) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that has not been so set forth; and

 

(iv) To the effect of Section 7(i) (provided that no representation with respect to the judgment of the Representatives need be made).

 

(i) (i) none of the Company Parties has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, or (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capital stock, long-term debt, total assets or total current liabilities of any of the Company Parties or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company Parties taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, individually or in the aggregate, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

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(j) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) (A) trading in securities generally on any securities exchange that has registered with the Commission under Section 6 of the Exchange Act (including the NYSE, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Capital Market), or (B) trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) or any other calamity or crisis either within or outside the United States, as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

(k) The NYSE shall have approved the Units for listing subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

 

(l) The Company (and Opco, where applicable) shall have furnished to the Representatives at the time of purchase executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Administrative Services Agreement and the Letter Agreement.

 

(m) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting, or other arrangements of the transactions, contemplated hereby.

 

(n) On or prior to each Delivery Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

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All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

 

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) The Company Parties hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Units), to which that Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any “Issuer Information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) of the Company, which Issuer Information is required to be, or is, filed with the Commission, (C) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company Parties in connection with the marketing of the Offering, including any “road show” and any Testing-the-Waters Communication (“Marketing Materials”), or (D) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by any of the Company Parties (or based upon any written information furnished by any of the Company Parties for use therein) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Units under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Information which is required to be, or is, filed with the Commission, any Marketing Materials or any Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company Parties shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Information which is required to be, or is, filed with the Commission, any Marketing Materials or any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company Parties through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company Parties may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.

 

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(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company Parties, its directors (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of any of the Company Parties), officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which any of the Company Parties or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials or Blue Sky Application or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials or Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to any of the Company Parties through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to any of the Company Parties or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.

 

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(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) by such failure and, provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 8 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (x) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party, or (y) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(a) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified party’s entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement.

 

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(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by any of the Company Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the Offering, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of any of the Company Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by any of the Company Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the Offering (before deducting expenses) received by any of the Company Parties, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Units purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Each of the Company Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the Offering exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

(e) The Underwriters severally confirm and each of the Company Parties acknowledges and agrees that the statements regarding delivery of Units by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page of, and the concession and reallowance figures and the first paragraph relating to stabilization by the Underwriters appearing under the caption “Underwriting” in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials.

 

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9. Defaulting Underwriters.

 

(a) If, on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in its obligations to purchase the Units that it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Units by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Units on such terms. In the event that within the respective prescribed periods, the non-defaulting Underwriters notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Units, or the Company notifies the non-defaulting Underwriters that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Units, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone such Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any such other document or arrangement that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter,” unless the context requires otherwise, includes any party not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Units that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

 

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in Section 9(a), the total number of Units that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the total number of Units, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Units of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; provided that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the total number of Units that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of Section 2.

 

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in Section 9(a), the total number of Units that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the total number of Units, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in Section 9(b), then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Sections 6 and 11 and except that the provisions of Section 8 shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

 

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

 

10. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to and received by the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(i) and 7(j) shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

 

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11. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If (a) the Company shall fail to tender the Units for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason, or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Units, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of those expenses.

 

12. Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the Offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

13. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that in connection with the Offering, sale of the Units or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (a) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Company, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Units, and such relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Company shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company hereby waives any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the Offering.

 

14. Notices, etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

 

(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: (646) 834-8133), with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 8(c), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019; and

 

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(b) if to the Company Parties, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV.

 

Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by the Representatives. A party may change its address for the purpose of receiving all statements, requests, notices and agreements by delivery of written notice of such address change in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.

 

15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and (b) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in Section 8(b) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

 

16. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Units and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.

 

17. Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Affiliate”. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, and (b) “affiliate” has the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of any other law than the laws of the State of New York (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).

 

19. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

21. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

22. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

For purposes of this Section 22, the following terms shall have the following meaning: (2) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (x) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (y) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (z) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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  Very truly yours,
   
  COMPANY PARTIES:
   
  Rice Acquisition Corp.
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted:

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

For themselves and as Representatives
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto

 

By Barclays Capital Inc.

 

By: /s/ Victoria Hale  
  Authorized Representative  

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters   Number of Firm Units  
Barclays Capital Inc.     20,210,000  
AmeriVet Securities Inc.     645,000  
Academy Securities Inc.     645,000  
Total     21,500,000  

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

ORALLY CONVEYED PRICING INFORMATION

 

1. Public offering price per unit: $10.00

 

2. Number of units offered: 21,500,000

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE III

 

ROAD SHOW MATERIALS

 

Investor Presentation dated October 2020

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE IV

 

WRITTEN TESTING-THE-WATERS COMMUNICATIONS

 

Investor Presentation dated October 2020

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

 

October 21, 2020

 

Rice Acquisition Corp., 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 “Rice Acquisition Corp.”. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 1, 2020 (the “Original Certificate”).

 

2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Original 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 Corporation’s stockholders in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

3. The text of the Original Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Article I
NAME

 

The name of the corporation is Rice Acquisition Corp. (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. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Corporation and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”).

 

Article III
REGISTERED AGENT

 

The street address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, and the name of the Corporation’s 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 271,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 270,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), including (i) 250,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. Subject to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, 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) Except as otherwise required by law or this 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 stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

 

(b) (i) Shares of Class A Common Stock shall be issuable, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) dated as of October 21, 2020, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “LLC Agreement”), upon the redemption or exchange of Class A Units of Opco pursuant to the Redemption Right or Call Right (as each such term is defined in the Opco LLC Agreement). The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the redemption or exchange of the outstanding Class A Units of Opco for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon any such redemption or exchange pursuant to the LLC Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such redemption or exchange of Class A Units of Opco pursuant to the LLC Agreement by delivering to Opco or the holder of Class A Units of Opco, as applicable, in lieu of newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock, cash in the amount permitted by and provided in the LLC Agreement or shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued upon any such exchange shall, upon issuance in accordance with the LLC Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In connection with any such exchange or redemption of Class A Units of Opco pursuant to the LLC Agreement, an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be forfeited by the holder of such Class A Units of Opco and cancelled. \

 

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(ii) To the extent the number of Class A Units of Opco into which the Class B Units of Opco will convert pursuant to the LLC Agreement is adjusted (whether through an adjustment to the conversion ratio of such Class B Units or to the number of Class B Units of Opco outstanding), the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock will be adjusted through a stock split or stock dividend so that the total number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock corresponds to the total number of Class A Units of Opco outstanding (other than those held by the Corporation and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) plus the total number of Class A Units of Opco into which the Class B Units of Opco are entitled to convert pursuant to the LLC Agreement.

 

(c) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the 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, and no holder of any series of Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled to any voting powers in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including a Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this 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 the Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

 

(d) Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, the holders of the Class A 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. Dividends and other distributions shall not be declared or paid on the Class B common stock unless the dividend consists of shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

(e) Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, 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 the Class A 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 the Class A Common Stock held by them. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

 

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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 Amended and Restated Certificate or the 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 Amended and Restated Certificate, and the Bylaws.

 

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 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 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 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 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. Subject to Section 9.8 hereof, 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 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 director’s 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 director’s 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 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 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.

 

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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 Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board then in office, 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 Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”), 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, other than with respect to Class B Common Stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.

 

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.

 

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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 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 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 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.

 

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Article IX
BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE

 

Section 9.1 General.

 

(a) The provisions of this Article IX shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article IX shall be effective prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

 

(a) Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 6, 2020, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), shall be contributed to Opco in exchange for Class A Units and warrants of Opco and deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) and holders of Class A Units of Opco pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay franchise and income taxes, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of shares (and corresponding redemption of units of Opco held by the Corporation) in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7) or (iii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) and Class A Units of Opco if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering and shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) prior to the Offering (collectively, the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are affiliates of the Sponsor) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.

 

Section 9.2 Redemption Rights.

 

(a) Prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) hereof (the “Redemption Price”); provided, however, that the Corporation shall not redeem or repurchase Offering Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporation’s failure to have net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) in excess of $5 million or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.

 

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(b) If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and filing proxy materials with the SEC, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Tender Offer Rules”) which it shall commence prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Proxy Solicitation Rules”), even if such information is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 9.2(b). In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of Class A Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares and Class A Units of Opco (other than those held by the Corporation and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries). If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares exercising their Redemption Rights shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (b) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares and Class A Units of Opco (other than those held by the Corporation and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries).

 

(c) If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 20% of the Offering Shares.

 

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(d) In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares and Class A Units of Opco (other than those held by the Corporation and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries), which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

 

(e) If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial Business Combination and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.

 

(f) If the Corporation conducts a tender offer pursuant to Section 9.2(b), the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.

 

(g) In the event that any shares of Class A Common stock are redeemed in exchange for any amounts in the Trust Account pursuant to this Section 9.2 or Section 9.7, a corresponding number of Class A Units of Opco held by the Corporation shall first be redeemed in exchange for such amounts.

 

Section 9.3 Distributions from the Trust Account.

 

(a) A Public Stockholder shall be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in Sections 9.2(a), 9.2(b), 9.2(d) or 9.7 hereof. In no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions from the Trust Account, and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.

 

(b) Each Public Stockholder that does not exercise its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its consent to the release of the remaining funds in the Trust Account to Opco, and following payment to any Public Stockholders exercising their Redemption Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to Opco.

 

(c) The exercise by a Public Stockholder of the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions set forth by the Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to the proposed initial Business Combination. Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as practical after the consummation of the initial Business Combination.

 

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Section 9.4 Share Issuances. Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any initial Business Combination.

 

Section 9.5 Transactions with Affiliates. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the Sponsor, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.

 

Section 9.6 No Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into a Business Combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

 

Section 9.7 Additional Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to Section 9.2(d) that would affect the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to Opco to pay franchise and income taxes of the Company or Opco, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares and Class A Units of Opco (other than those held by the Corporation and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries). The Corporation’s ability to provide such opportunity is subject to the Redemption Limitation.

 

Section 9.8 Appointment and Removal of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate, prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to elect, remove and replace any director, and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall have no right to vote on the election, removal or replacement of any director. This Section 9.8 may only be amended by a resolution passed by a majority of holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.

 

Section 9.9 Approval of Business Combination. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate, approval of the initial Business Combination shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, which must include majority of the Corporation’s independent directors and each of the non-independent directors nominated by the Sponsor.

 

Section 9.10 Minimum Value of Target. The Corporation’s initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes and excluding the deferred underwriting discounts held in trust) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination.

 

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Article X
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

The doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation. In addition to the foregoing, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall not apply to any other corporate opportunity with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue.

 

Article XI
AMENDMENT OF 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 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 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 Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XI; provided, however, that Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as provided therein.

 

Article XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS

 

Section 12.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (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 of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in which case, any such claim shall be brought in any other court located in the State of Delaware possessing subject matter jurisdiction.

 

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Section 12.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 12.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

Section 12.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article XII 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, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XII 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. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

 

Article XIII
APPLICATION OF DGCL SECTION 203

 

Section 13.1 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

Section 13.2 Limitation on 203 Business Combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any 203 Business Combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(a) prior to such time, the Board approved either the 203 Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

(b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Corporation’s voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

 

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(c) at or subsequent to that time, the 203 Business Combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Section 13.3 Certain Definitions. Solely for purposes of this Article XIII, references to:

 

(a) “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(b) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(c) “203 Business Combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 13.2 is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation

 

(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all stockholders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all stockholders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); or

 

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(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder.

 

(d) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XIII, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(e) “Exempted Person” means the Sponsor and its affiliates, any of their direct or indirect transferees of at least 20% of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock and any “group” of which any such person is a part under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act.

 

(f) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) any Exempted Person, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the twenty percent (20%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that with respect to clause (b) such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

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(g) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

(i) beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(ii) has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock

 

(h) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(i) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(j) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Rice Acquisition Corp. has caused this 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.

 

  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 

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 Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.,

 

RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC

 

and

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

Dated as of October 21, 2020

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 21, 2020, is by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Opco” and, together with the Company, the “SPAC Parties”) 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 October 21, 2020, the Company entered into those certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreements with Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), on the one hand, and Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC (“Atlas Point Fund”), on the other hand, pursuant to which the Sponsor will purchase an aggregate of 5,693,400 warrants of the Company (or 6,273,900 warrants of the Company if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in connection with the Offering (as defined below) is exercised in full), and Atlas Point Fund will purchase an aggregate of 632,600 warrants of the Company (or 697,100 warrants of the Company if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in connection with the Offering (as defined below) is exercised in full), simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable) bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Private Placement Warrants”) and, in each case, a non-exclusive right to exercise a corresponding number of Opco warrants initially issued to Company (such warrants, the “Opco Warrants”), for an aggregate purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant and such rights in the Opco Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, on September 30, 2020, the Company entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) with Atlas Point Fund pursuant to which if the Company elects, in its sole and absolute discretion, the Company may offer Atlas Point Fund the opportunity to purchase a certain amount of forward purchase units, consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock (as defined below) and one-third of one warrant, bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Forward Purchase Warrants”), for $10.00 per unit, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing the of the SPAC Parties’ Initial Business Combination (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance the SPAC Parties’ transaction costs in connection with an intended Initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may loan to the Company funds, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 1,500,000 Private Placement Warrants and rights in a corresponding number of Opco warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one share of Class A Common Stock (as defined below) and one-half of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 12,362,500 warrants of the Company (including up to 1,612,500 warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option) to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants, the “Company Warrants,” and together with the Opco Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one whole share of Class A Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Each whole Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase, subject to the limitations described herein, one whole share of Class A Common Stock for $11.50, subject to adjustment as described herein; and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Company shall use the proceeds of the Offering to acquire from Opco a number of additional Class A Unit of Opco (“Class A Units”) and Opco Warrants equal to the number of Class A Shares and Company Warrants, respectively, comprising the Units issued in the Offering;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Opco, dated October 21, 2020 (the “Opco LLC Agreement”), upon the exercise of any Company Warrant, the Company is obligated to exercise a corresponding Opco Warrant; and

 

WHEREAS, each whole Opco Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase, subject to the limitations described herein, one whole Class A Unit and, in the case of a holder other than the Company (or its subsidiaries), one whole share of Class B Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), for $11.50 per unit, subject to adjustment as described herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249340) (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants and the Class A Common Stock included in the Units; and

 

WHEREAS, the SPAC Parties desire the Warrant Agent to act on its behalf, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the SPAC Parties desire 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, Opco, 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 Company Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company, and the Opco Warrants, when executed on behalf of Opco, and in each case, countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company or the Opco, as applicable, 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 SPAC Parties hereby appoint the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the SPAC Parties 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.

 

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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 SPAC Parties. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts with the Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”). If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.

 

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 SPAC Parties 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 SPAC Parties or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the SPAC Parties nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

2.4 Detachability of Warrants. The Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of Barclays Capital Inc., representative of the several underwriters, but in no event shall the Class A Common Stock and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units in the Offering (the “Over-allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

2.5 No Fractional Warrants Other Than as Part of Units. The SPAC Parties shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of Units, each of which is comprised of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-half of one Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.

 

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2.6 Private Placement Warrants; Opco Warrants and Warrant Rights; Forward Purchase Warrants.

 

2.6.1 Private Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund, or any of their respective Permitted Transferees (as defined below), the Private Placement Warrants: (i) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) hereof, (ii) will terminate as of the close of the first transaction or series of transactions (whether through a merger, equity exchange or purchase, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction) resulting in a business combination involving the SPAC Parties and one or more operating businesses (the “Initial Business Combination”) if any holder, other than the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), of the Class A Units of Opco associated with such Opco Warrant Rights continues to hold any Class A Units of Opco (or of any successor to Opco) immediately after the close of the Initial Business Combination, in which case the associated Opco Warrant Rights will not terminate, (iii) may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an Initial Business Combination, and (iv) shall not be redeemable by the Company for cash pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof; provided, however, that in the case of (iii), the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund or any of their respective Permitted Transferees and issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or upon exchange of any Class A Units of Opco issued upon exercise of any warrants of Opco may be transferred by the holders thereof:

 

(a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any member(s) of the Sponsor or their affiliates, or any affiliates of the Sponsor;

 

(b) in the case of Atlas Point Fund or any of their Permitted Transferees, to the Company, Sponsor or any affiliates of Atlas Point Fund;

 

(c) in the case of an individual, by gift to members of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization;

 

(d) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person;

 

(e) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;

 

(f) by virtue of the laws of the state of Delaware or the Sponsor’s operating agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor or Atlas Point Fund’s operating agreement upon dissolution of Atlas Point Fund;

 

(g) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Placement Warrants were originally purchased;

 

(h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of the Company’s Initial Business Combination; or

 

(i) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the Company’s Initial Business Combination; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (f), these transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) must enter into a written agreement with the SPAC Parties agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.

 

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2.6.2 Opco Warrants and Warrant Rights.

 

(a) Prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, the Company may transfer to the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund, or any of their respective Permitted Transferees a non-exclusive right to exercise an Opco Warrant (“Opco Warrant Rights”). The holders of such Opco Warrant Rights shall be designated on Exhibit C, as amended from time to time. The Opco Warrant Rights shall entitle the holder thereof to exercise the underlying Opco Warrant subject to the terms hereof, and upon such exercise, the Company (or its transferees of the underlying Opco Warrant) shall no longer have the right to exercise such Opco Warrant.

 

(b) The Opco Warrant Rights in respect of any Opco Warrant (i) will become exclusive to the holder thereof, and the rights of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) to the underlying Opco Warrant will terminate, as of the close of the Initial Business Combination, if any holder, other than the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), of the Units of Opco associated with such Opco Warrant Rights continues to hold any such Units of Opco (or of any successor to Opco) immediately after the close of the Initial Business Combination, (ii) will terminate with respect to the holder of such Opco Warrant Rights, and the rights of the Company to the underlying Opco Warrant will become exclusive to the Company, as of the close of the Initial Business Combination if Section 2.6.2(i) hereof does not apply to such Opco Warrant Rights, in which case the associated Private Placement Warrants will not terminate, and (iii) may not be transferred, assigned or sold; provided, however, that in the case of (iii), the Opco Warrant Rights, any underlying Opco Warrants, and any Class A Units and shares of Class B Common Stock held by the holder of such Opco Warrant Rights immediately after the Offering or any of its Permitted Transferees and issued upon exercise of the Opco Warrant Rights may be transferred by the holders thereof to (x) any person listed in Section 2.6.1(a)-(h) or (y) to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; provided, however, any Permitted Transferees must enter into a written agreement with the SPAC Parties agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.

 

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, given that a holder of both a Private Placement Warrant and an associated Opco Warrant Right may not exercise such rights until after the Initial Business Combination pursuant to Section 3.2, and one of either the Private Placement Warrant or the associated Opco Warrant Right will terminate upon the Initial Business Combination pursuant to Section 2.6.1 or this Section 2.6.2, respectively, such holder shall only be able to exercise either the Private Placement Warrant or the Opco Warrant Right, but not both. All provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted consistent with this Section 2.6.2(c).

 

(d) To the extent appropriate as determined in the good faith of the Company and Opco, where the provisions after Section 2 of this Agreement refer to Warrants, Company Warrants, Private Placement Warrants, Class A Stock, or the Company or associated terms, such provisions shall apply in a similar manner to the Opco Warrants, Class A Units of Opco (and associated Class B Common Stock) and Opco or associated terms.

 

2.6.3 Certain Actions by the Company. Upon the exercise of any Company Warrant, the Company shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Opco LLC Agreement, exercise a corresponding Opco Warrant on the same terms on which such Opco Warrant was exercised. Upon the exercise of any Opco Warrants (other than by the Company or any of its subsidiaries), the Company shall issue to Opco, for delivery to the person exercising such Opco Warrants, a number of shares of Class B Common Stock, equal to the number of Class A Units issued upon the exercise of such Opco Warrants.

 

2.6.4 Forward Purchase Warrants. The Forward Purchase Warrants shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants.

 

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, (a) in the case of a Company Warrant, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Class A Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, and (b) in the case of an Opco Warrant, to purchase from Opco the number of Class A Units (and in the case of a holder other than the Company or its subsidiaries, a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock) stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per unit (and corresponding share, as applicable), in each case, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company (or any wholly owned subsidiary) assigns a non-exclusive Opco Warrant Right in respect of an Opco Warrant to any other person pursuant to this Agreement, Opco shall only be required to issue one (1) Class A Units in respect of such Opco Warrant and associated Opco Warrant Right, either to the Company (or its wholly owned subsidiary) or to the holder of the Opco Warrant Right, respectively. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share at which shares of Class A 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 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.

 

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3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the SPAC Parties complete an Initial Business Combination and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (x) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the SPAC Parties complete an Initial Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company, or (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants or the Opco Warrants, the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.3 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below with respect to an effective registration statement. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) or the Alternative Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant in the event of a redemption) 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.

 

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 by paying in full the Warrant Price for each full share of Class A Common Stock or Class A Unit (and corresponding share of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, 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 share of Class A Common Stock or Class A Unit (and corresponding share of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, and the issuance of such Class A Common Stock or Class A Unit (and corresponding share of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, as follows:

 

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the Warrant Agent;

 

(b) in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company's board of directors (the “Board”) has elected to require all holders of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b) by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) 0.361. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.4, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average trading price of the Class A 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 Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof;

 

(c) with respect to any Private Placement Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant is held by the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund, or their respective Permitted Transferees, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c), by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average trading price of the Class A Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or

 

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(d) as provided in Section 7.4 hereof.

 

3.3.2 Issuance of Shares of Class A 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 book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full shares of Class A 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, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company's satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such Unit. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant exercise. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants to settle the Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Class A Common Stock, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

3.3.3 Valid Issuance. All shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued and, solely with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3.3.4 Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Class A Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Class A Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares of Class A Common Stock at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system 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 holder’s 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 person's affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s 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 Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of the Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock on account of such shares of Class A Common Stock (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Class A Common Stock in connection with a proposed Initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A Common Stock if the Company does not complete the Company’s Initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or (e) in connection with the redemption of the Class A Common Stock upon the Company’s failure to complete the Company’s Initial Business Combination (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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.10 (being 1% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering).

 

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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 Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

4.3 Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of shares of Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter. If, in connection with the closing of the Initial Business Combination, the Company issues additional shares of Class A Common Stock or securities of the Company which are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, equity securities of the Company, including any securities issued by the Company which are pledged to secure any obligation of any holder to purchase equity securities of the Company, at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A Common Stock, not including securities issued pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board (and in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company issued prior to the Offering and held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the Newly Issued Price.

 

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4.4 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than a change under subsections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the Company as provided for in the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Company if a proposed Initial Business Combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval) 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 Class A 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 for Class A Common Stock prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Class A 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 Class A 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 event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant for Class A Common Stock 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 Class A Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Class A 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 Class A Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Class A Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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.

 

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4.6 No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

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 Class A 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, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants or 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 effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment. 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 (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants), 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, except as part of the Units.

 

5.4 Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

 

5.5 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.

 

5.6 Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Public Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Public Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Public Warrants on and after the Detachment Date.

 

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6. Redemption.

 

6.1 Redemption of Public Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants When Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00. Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, 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 Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, as described in Section 6.3 below, at the price of $0.01 per Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, as applicable, (the “Redemption Price”), provided that the last sales price of the Class A Common Stock reported has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), for any twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below) or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1.

 

6.2 Redemption of Warrants When Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00. Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, 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 Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a price of $0.10 per Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant (the “Alternative Redemption Price”), provided that the last sales price of the Class A Common Stock reported has been at least $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 and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below). During the 30-day Redemption Period in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, Registered Holders of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, may elect to exercise their Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and receive, in lieu of the Alternative Redemption Price, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock determined by reference to the table below, based on the Redemption Date (calculated for purposes of the table as the period to expiration of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable) 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 volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2 is sent to the Registered Holders.

 

Redemption Date   Fair Market Value of Class A Common Stock  
(period to expiration of warrants)   $10.00     $11.00     $12.00     $13.00     $14.00     $15.00     $16.00     $17.00     $18.00  
57 months     0.257       0.277       0.294       0.310       0.324       0.337       0.348       0.358       0.361  
54 months     0.252       0.272       0.291       0.307       0.322       0.335       0.347       0.357       0.361  
51 months     0.246       0.268       0.287       0.304       0.320       0.333       0.346       0.357       0.361  
48 months     0.241       0.263       0.283       0.301       0.317       0.332       0.344       0.356       0.361  
45 months     0.235       0.258       0.279       0.298       0.315       0.330       0.343       0.356       0.361  
42 months     0.228       0.252       0.274       0.294       0.312       0.328       0.342       0.355       0.361  
39 months     0.221       0.246       0.269       0.290       0.309       0.325       0.340       0.354       0.361  
36 months     0.213       0.239       0.263       0.285       0.305       0.323       0.339       0.353       0.361  
33 months     0.205       0.232       0.257       0.280       0.301       0.320       0.337       0.352       0.361  
30 months     0.196       0.224       0.250       0.274       0.297       0.316       0.335       0.351       0.361  
27 months     0.185       0.214       0.242       0.268       0.291       0.313       0.332       0.350       0.361  
24 months     0.173       0.204       0.233       0.260       0.285       0.308       0.329       0.348       0.361  
21 months     0.161       0.193       0.223       0.252       0.279       0.304       0.326       0.347       0.361  
18 months     0.146       0.179       0.211       0.242       0.271       0.298       0.322       0.345       0.361  
15 months     0.130       0.164       0.197       0.230       0.262       0.291       0.317       0.342       0.361  
12 months     0.111       0.146       0.181       0.216       0.250       0.282       0.312       0.339       0.361  
9 months     0.090       0.125       0.162       0.199       0.237       0.272       0.305       0.336       0.361  
6 months     0.065       0.099       0.137       0.178       0.219       0.259       0.296       0.331       0.361  
3 months     0.034       0.065       0.104       0.150       0.197       0.243       0.286       0.326       0.361  
0 months                 0.042       0.115       0.179       0.233       0.281       0.323       0.361  

 

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If the exact Redemption Fair Market Value and Redemption Date (as defined below) are between two values in the table above or the Redemption Date is between two redemption dates in the table above, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued for each Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, as applicable, exercised in a Make-Whole Exercise will 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 above shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, as applicable, 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 Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, as applicable, as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table above shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant. In no event shall the number of shares issued in connection with a Make-Whole Exercise exceed 0.361 shares of Class A Common Stock per Public Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, as applicable (subject to adjustment).

 

6.3 Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, pursuant to Section 6.1 or 6.2, 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 Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, 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 Public Warrant at which any Public Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2.

 

6.4 Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Public Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) or Section 6.2 of this Agreement) 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. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, to exercise their Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1, the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof) in such case. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Public Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as applicable, the applicable Redemption Price.

 

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6.5 Effect of Private Placement Warrants.

 

6.5.1 The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor, Atlas Point or their respective Permitted Transferees. However, once such Private Placement Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees under Section 2.6), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants to exercise the Private Placement Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.4. Private Placement Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement.

 

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 a stockholder 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 stockholders 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 Class A Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Company's Option.

 

7.4.1 Registration of the Class A 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 shares of Class A 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. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the 60th Business Day following the closing of the Initial Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 61st Business Day after the closing of the Initial Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) or another exemption) for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) 0.361. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of cashless exercise is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of any doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.

 

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7.4.2 Cashless Exercise at Company's Option. If the Class A 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 Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) as described in subsection 7.4.1 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under the blue sky laws of the state of residence of the exercising Public 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 issuance or delivery of shares of Class A 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 Class A 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 Company's 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 Class A Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

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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.

 

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 Agent's 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 Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Class A Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and, solely with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock, 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, as applicable, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Class A Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.

 

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, Opco 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.

 

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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 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:

 

Rice Acquisition Corp.

102 East Main Street, Second Story

Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106

Attention: Secretary

 

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

 

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 submit 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.

 

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 holder’s 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.

 

17

 

 

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 that adversely affect the interests of the Registered Holders of Public Warrants shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants and all other modifications or amendments to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 50% of the then outstanding Private Placement 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.

 

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 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

Exhibit B Legend — Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants

 

18

 

 

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

 

  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER &
  TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
   
  By: /s/ Erika Young
  Name: Erika Young
  Title: Vice President

 

[Warrant Agreement Signature Page]

 

 

 

 

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

 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

CUSIP [_______]

 

Warrant Certificate

 

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 Rice Acquisition Corp., 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 Class A Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable by certified or official bank check payable to the Company (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) 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 Class A Common Stock. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price is equal to $11.50 per share of Class A Common Stock. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

A-1 

 

 

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.

 

  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER
  & TRUST COMPANY as Warrant Agent
   
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:                 

 

A-2 

 

 

[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 Class A Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October 21, 2020 (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, respectively) 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.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Class A Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A 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.

 

A-3 

 

 

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 Class A Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the order of the Company in the amount of $           in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of           , whose address is            and that such shares of Class A Common Stock be delivered to            whose address is           . If said number of shares of Class A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Class A 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 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.

 

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 Class A 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 (as such term is defined in the Warrant Agreement) may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock. If said number of shares of Class A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Class A 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 Class A 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]

 

A-4 

 

 

 Date:           , 20

   
  (Signature)
   
   
   
   
  (Address)
   
   
  (Tax Identification Number)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

 

A-5 

 

 

Exhibit B

LEGEND

 

“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. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG RICE ACQUISITION CORP. (THE “COMPANY”), RICE ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.

 

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”

 

B-1 

 

 

Exhibit C

 

Holders

 

Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC

 

Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC

 

 

 C-1

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

October 21, 2020

 

Rice Acquisition Corp.

 

102 East Main Street, Second Story

Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106

 

Re: Initial Public Offering

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Barclays Capital Inc., as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 24,725,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 3,225,000 units which may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units shall be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249340) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Company shall apply to have the Units listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Atlas Point Fund”), and each of the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each an “Insider” and, collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

 

1. The Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall vote all Founder Shares, Sponsor Shares and any shares acquired by it, him or her in the Public Offering or the secondary public market in favor of such proposed Business Combination and not redeem any such shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such stockholder approval.

 

2. The Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Class A Common Stock and the Class A Units of Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to Opco to pay franchise and income taxes of Opco or the Company (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders or unitholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and the Insiders agree to not propose any amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Opco to pay franchise and income taxes of Opco or the Company, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

 

 

 

 

The Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider acknowledges that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company or Opco as a result of any liquidation of the Company or Opco with respect to the Founder Shares. The Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any Founder Shares, Sponsor Shares or shares of Class A Common Stock held by it, him or her, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase shares of the Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco and in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation in a manner that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering (although the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Sponsor Shares and shares of Class A Common Stock purchased in or after the Public Offering it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering or such later date as may be specified in an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation).

 

3. During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the undersigned shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, any Units, shares of Class A Common Stock, Founder Shares, Sponsor Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco owned by him, her or it; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to transfers to the Sponsor by Atlas Point Fund or the Insiders or any forfeiture of the foregoing securities by Atlas Point Fund as required by the Forward Purchase Agreement, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Class A Common Stock, Founder Shares, Sponsor Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco owned by him, her or it, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the forgoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Units that the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.

 

4. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any officer, member or manager of the Sponsor) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and Opco against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company or Opco may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party (other than the Company’s independent public accountants) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or Opco or (ii) a prospective target business with which the Company or Opco has entered into a letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company and Opco by the Sponsor shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services rendered (other than the Company’s independent public accountants) or products sold to the Company or Opco or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per share of the Offering Shares and (ii) the actual amount per share of the Offering Shares held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Opco to pay franchise and income taxes of the Company or Opco, less franchise and income taxes payable by the Company or Opco, except as to any claims by a third party or Target that executed an agreement waiving claims against and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account whether or not such agreement is enforceable. In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Sponsor shall not be responsible for any liability as a result of any such third party claims. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, such indemnification of the Company or Opco by the Sponsor shall not apply as to any claims under the Company’s obligation to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.

 

2

 

 

5. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 3,225,000 Units (as described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees, upon the expiration or waiver of such option, to forfeit, for cancellation at no cost, a number of Founder Shares equal to 806,250 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,225,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,225,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20.0% of the Company’s total outstanding equity after the Public Offering (excluding the Sponsor Shares and any shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrants). The Sponsor further agrees that to the extent that (a) the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased and (b) an adjustment to the number of Founder Shares has been effected by way of a stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, contribution back to capital or otherwise, in each case in connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 3,225,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15% of the number of the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 806,250 in the formula set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor would have to collectively return to the Company and Opco, as applicable, in order for all holders of Founder Shares to hold an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s total outstanding equity after the Public Offering (excluding the Sponsor Shares and any shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrants).

 

6. (a)  Messrs. Rice and Derham agree not to become an officer or director of any other blank check company until the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with respect to a Business Combination or the Company has failed to complete a Business Combination within 24 months after the closing of the Public Offering.

 

(b) Each of the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) each of the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or Insider of his, her or its obligations under paragraphs 6(a), 7(a) and 7(b), (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

7. (a)  Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider agrees not to transfer, assign or sell any Founder Shares or Sponsor Shares held by it, him or her until one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier if, subsequent to a Business Combination, (i) the last sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-up”).

 

(b) Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider agrees not to transfer, assign or sell any Private Placement Warrants, or Class A Common Stock or Class A Units, if applicable, of Opco underlying such warrants held by it, him or her, until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination.

 

3

 

 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 7(a) and (b), transfers of the Founder Shares, Sponsor Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco, if applicable, issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and that are held by the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees, as applicable, (that have complied with any applicable requirements of this paragraph 7(c)) are permitted (a) in the case of the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees, to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, the Sponsor, any members of the Sponsor or their affiliates, any affiliates of the Sponsor; (b) in the case of Atlas Point Fund or any of its permitted transferees, to the Company, the Sponsor or any affiliates of Atlas Point Fund; (c) in the case of an individual, by gift to members of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (d) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (e) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (f) by virtue of the laws of the state of Delaware, the Sponsor’s operating agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor or Atlas Point Fund’s operating agreement upon dissolution of Atlas Point Fund; (g) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of a Business Combination; or (i) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (g), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions.

 

8. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company that is included in the Prospectus is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to such Insider’s background. Each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. Each Insider represents and warrants that: such Insider is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; such Insider has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and such Insider is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding; and none of the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund or any such Insider has ever been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked.

 

9. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, none of the Sponsor or Atlas Point Fund, any affiliate of the Sponsor or Atlas Point Fund, or any director or officer of the Company, shall receive any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such persons may receive the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan of up to $300,000 made to Opco by the Sponsor, pursuant to a Promissory Note dated September 1, 2020; payment of an aggregate of $10,000 per month, to the Sponsor, for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 21, 2020; reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating, negotiating and consummating an initial Business Combination; and repayment of loans, if any, and on such terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, provided, that, if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.

 

10. The Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it, he or she is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement, and each Insider hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or director of the Company, as applicable.

 

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11. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants to purchase 6,326,000 shares of Class A Common Stock or, in certain circumstances, Class A Units of Opco (with a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock” and together with Class A Common Stock, “Common Stock”)) (or 6,971,000 shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (with a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock) if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full), that the Sponsor and Atlas Point Fund have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $632,600 (or approximately $697,100 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full), or $1.00 per warrant, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (iv) “Public Stockholders” shall mean the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and the holders of Class A Units of Opco (other than the Company); (v) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor and Atlas Point Fund shall be deposited; (vi) “Founder Shares” shall mean the Class B Units of Opco initially issued in a private placement to the Sponsor prior to the Public Offering (or the Class A Units of Opco into which such Class B Units will convert) and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock; (vii) “Sponsor Shares” shall mean the 100 Class A Units of Opco, and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock, and the 2,500 shares of Class A Common Stock purchased by Sponsor in a private placement prior to the Public Offering; and (viii) “Warrants” shall refer to the Public Warrants and the Priavte Placement Warrants, collectively.

 

12. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

13. No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor, Atlas Point Fund, each Insider and each of their respective successors, heirs and assigns.

 

14. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with 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 parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

15. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.

 

16. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by March 30, 2021, provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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  Sincerely,
     
  RICE ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
    /s/ Kathryn Jackson
    Dr. Kathryn Jackson
     
    /s/ Joseph Malchow
    Joseph Malchow
     
    /s/ James Torgerson
    James Torgerson
     
    /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
     
    /s/ J. Kyle Derham
    J. Kyle Derham
     
    /s/ James Wilmot Rogers
    James Wilmot Rogers
     
  ATLAS POINT ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Adam Karpf
  Name: Adam Karpf
  Title: Managing Director and Portfolio Manager

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:  
     
RICE ACQUISITION CORP.  
     
By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV  
Name:  Daniel Joseph Rice, IV  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of October 21, 2020, by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Opco” and together with the Company, the “SPAC Parties”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249340) (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock” and, the holders of Common Stock sold as part of the Units, the “Public Stockholders”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Offering, the Company issued an additional 2,500 shares of Common Stock to Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), and Opco issued 100 Class A Units (“Class A Units”) to Sponsor;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Barclays Capital Inc. as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, $221,326,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $254,221,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the SPAC Parties and the holders of Common Stock and Class A Units, as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the holders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Holders,” and the Holders, the Company and Opco will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $7,525,000 or $8,653,750 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that may be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and

 

WHEREAS, the SPAC Parties and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.

 

 

 

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) in the United States, maintained by the Trustee and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the SPAC Parties;

 

(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the SPAC Parties, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the SPAC Parties; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the SPAC Parties’ instructions hereunder and the trustee may earn bank credits or other considerations;

 

(d) Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

 

(e) Promptly notify the SPAC Parties of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the SPAC Parties;

 

(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the SPAC Parties (or their authorized agents) in connection with the SPAC Parties’ preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;

 

(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the SPAC Parties to do so;

 

(h) Render to the SPAC Parties monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

 

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the SPAC Parties (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of each of the SPAC Parties, by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors (the “Board”) or other authorized officer, as applicable, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to Opco to pay franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to Opco to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) 24 months after the closing of the Offering and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to Opco to pay franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to Opco to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Holders of record as of such date;

 

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(j) Upon joint written request from the SPAC Parties, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to Opco the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the SPAC Parties to cover any income or franchise tax obligation owed by the SPAC Parties as a result of assets of the SPAC Parties or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to Opco by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and Opco shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the SPAC Parties in writing to make such distribution; provided, further, that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the SPAC Parties to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the franchise tax bill from the State of Delaware and a written statement from the principal financial officer of each of the SPAC Parties setting forth the actual amount payable. The written request of the SPAC Parties referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that Opco is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;

 

(k) Upon joint written request from the SPAC Parties, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute on behalf of the SPAC Parties the amount requested by the SPAC Parties to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public Stockholders properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares of Common Stock if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The written request of the SPAC Parties referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the SPAC Parties are entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and

 

(l) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) above.

 

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2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company and Opco. Each of the Company and Opco, jointly and severally, hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairperson of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Secretary on behalf of the Company, in its individual capacity and in its capacity as managing member of Opco. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that such SPAC Party shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;

 

(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the SPAC Parties in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the SPAC Parties with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the SPAC Parties, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company and Opco may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to Opco pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(k) hereof. Opco shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. Neither SPAC Party shall be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c), Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;

 

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such stockholders regarding such Business Combination;

 

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(e) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;

 

(f) Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement; and

 

(g) Within five (5) business days after the Representative exercises the over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment option expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing (with a copy to the Representative) of the total amount of the Deferred Discount.

 

3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;

 

(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;

 

(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the SPAC Parties given as provided herein to do so and Opco shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;

 

(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

 

(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company or Opco to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company or Opco shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

 

(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

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(g) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;

 

(h) Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(i) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the SPAC Parties documenting the taxes payable by the SPAC Parties, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;

 

(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the SPAC Parties, including, but not limited to, income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or

 

(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof.

 

4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the SPAC Parties under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the SPAC Parties and their assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

 

5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the SPAC Parties that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the SPAC Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the SPAC Parties notify the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the SPAC Parties do not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or

 

(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof (which section may not be amended under any circumstances) and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).

 

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6. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) The Company, Opco and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company, Opco and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the SPAC Parties, including account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.

 

(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with 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. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has properly elected to redeem his, her or its shares of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to this Agreement that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its shares of Common Stock and Class A Units if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

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(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by facsimile or email transmission:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com
Email: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

 

if to the Company or Opco, to:

Rice Acquisition Corp.
102 East Main Street, Second Story
Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106
Attn: J. Kyle Derham
Email: kyle@riceinvestmentgroup.com

 

in each case, with copies to:

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77002
Attn: Ramey Layne
Email: rlayne@velaw.com

 

and

Barclays Capital Inc.
745 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attn: Emily Markham
Email: Emily.Markham@barclays.com

 

and

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Christian Nagler, Esq.
Email: cnagler@kirkland.com

 

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(f) Each of the Company, Opco and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.

 

(g) Each of the Company, Opco and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

(h) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

9

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Francis Wolf
  Name: Francis Wolf
  Title: Vice President
     
  COMPANY:
   
  Rice Acquisition Corp.
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  OPCO:
   
  Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]

 

10

 

 

Schedule A

 

Fee Item

  Time and method of payment   Amount  
Initial set-up fee.   Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer.   $ 4,500.00  
Trustee administration fee   Payable annually.  First year fee payable at initial closing of Offering by wire transfer; thereafter, payable by wire transfer or check.   $ 12,500.00  
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k)   Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Opco under Section 1   $ 250.00  
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Sections 1(i) and 1(k)   Billed to Opco upon delivery of service pursuant to Sections 1(i) and 1(k)     Prevailing rates  

 

11

 

 

Exhibit A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account—Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement by and among Rice Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of October 21, 2020 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with _______________ (the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about _______________, 20___. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and to transfer the proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the SPAC Parties shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution, Opco will not earn any interest or dividends.

 

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the SPAC Parties (the “Notification”) and (ii) the SPAC Parties shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) written instruction signed by the SPAC Parties with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the SPAC Parties in writing of the same and the SPAC Parties shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to Opco. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

A-1

 

 

In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the SPAC Parties, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such written instructions as soon thereafter as possible.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  Rice Acquisition Corp.
     
  By:  
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
     
  By:  
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Barclays Capital Inc.

 

A-2

 

 

Exhibit B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account — Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement by and among Rice Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of October 21, 2020 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination with a Target Business within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Holders. The SPAC Parties have selected J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Holders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Opco. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

B-1

 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  Rice Acquisition Corp.
     
  By:  
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
     
  By:  
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Barclays Capital Inc.

 

B-2

 

 

Exhibit C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account — Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement by and among Rice Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of October 21, 2020 (the “Trust Agreement”), the SPAC Parties hereby request that you deliver to Opco $_______________ of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

Opco needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to Opco’s operating account at:

 

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

[Signature page follows]

 

C-1

 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  Rice Acquisition Corp.
     
  By:  
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
     
  By:  
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Barclays Capital Inc.

 

C-2

 

 

Exhibit D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account — Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement by and among Rice Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of October 21, 2020 (the “Trust Agreement”), the SPAC Parties hereby request that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders of the Company $_______________ of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The SPAC Parties need such funds to pay the Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that affects the substance or timing of the SPAC Parties’ obligation to redeem 100% of the Common Stock and Class A Units if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the redeeming Public Stockholders in accordance with your customary procedures.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

D-1

 

 

   
  Very truly yours,
   
  Rice Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:  
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
   
  By:  
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Barclays Capital Inc.

 

 

D-2

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 21, 2020, is made and entered into by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Rice Energy Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Atlas Point”), and the undersigned parties listed under Holder on the signature page 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, the Sponsor, Atlas Point, Dr. Kathryn Jackson, Joseph Malchow and James Torgerson own an aggregate of 6,181,250 Class B Units (“Class B Units”) of Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) and a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”);

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor also owns (i) 2,500 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) 100 Class A Units of Opco (“Class A Units”) and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock (collectively, the “Sponsor Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Class B Units will automatically convert into Class A Units at the time of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below) on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Opco, dated October 21, 2020;

 

WHEREAS, following the initial Business Combination, the Holders will have the right to exchange their Class A Units (and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock) for shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis;

 

WHEREAS, on September 30, 2020, the Company, the Sponsor and Atlas Point entered into that certain Forward Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which Atlas Point agreed to purchase up to an aggregate maximum amount of $75,000,000 of either, at the election of the Company, (i) a number of units (the “Forward Purchase Units”), consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Forward Purchase Shares”) and one-half of one warrant (the “Forward Purchase Warrants”), for $10.00 per unit or (ii) a number of Forward Purchase Shares for $9.67 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination;

 

WHEREAS, on October 21, 2020, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 5,693,400 warrants (or 6,273,900 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (the “Sponsor Private Placement Warrants”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering;

 

WHEREAS, on October 21, 2020, the Company and Atlas Point entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which Atlas Point agreed to purchase 632,600 warrants (or 697,100 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (the “Atlas Point Private Placement Warrants” and, together with the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants, the “Private Placement Warrants”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this 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:

 

Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Atlas Point” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Atlas Point Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Combination” shall mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.

 

Class A Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Class B Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Class B Units” 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.

 

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement.

 

Demanding Holder” shall mean, (i) for purposes of a Demand Registration, any Holder or group of Holders, that together holds Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $25 million, at the time of the written demand, and (ii) for purposes of an Underwritten Demand, 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.

 

2

 

 

Form S-3” shall mean Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement that may be available at such time.

 

Forward Purchase Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Forward Purchase Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Forward Purchase Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Founder Share Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earliest of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) the date on which the closing price of the shares of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

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.

 

Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of October 21, 2020, by and among the Company, Opco, Atlas Point and the officers and directors of the Company.

 

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

 

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.

 

Opco” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Permitted Transferees” means a person or entity to whom a Holder is permitted to transfer Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.

 

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Private Placement Warrants and Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants, until thirty (30) days after the completion of a Business Combination.

 

Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4 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.

 

3

 

 

Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exchange of Class A Units (and the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock), (b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants or, if applicable, upon exchange of Class A Units issued upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (c) the Forward Purchase Shares or the Forward Purchase Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Forward Purchase Warrants), (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, (e) any outstanding share of Common Stock, including Common Stock comprising the Sponsor Shares, or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement and (f) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share 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 Security, 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 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 Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or Underwritten Demand to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration or Underwritten Offering.

 

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

 

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3 of this Agreement.

 

4

 

 

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

 

Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Sponsor Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Sponsor Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

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

 

Underwritten Demand” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3 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.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS

 

2.1. Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.3 of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, any Demanding Holder may make a written demand for Registration of all of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities and the Company shall file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days following the receipt of such written demand, a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities (a “Demand Registration”). Such written demand will specify the intended methods of distribution. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by, or become effective pursuant to rules promulgated by, the Commission 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 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by, or become effective pursuant to rules promulgated by, the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto. The Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently terminated. Subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company shall effect any Demand Registration on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (x) as shall be selected by the Company and (y) as shall permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in the Demand Registration. If at any time a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 2.1.1 of this Agreement is effective and a Holder provides written notice to the Company that it intends to effect an offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement, the Company will amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such offering to take place in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

5

 

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.3 of this Agreement, any Demanding Holder may make a written demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 2.1.1 of this Agreement (an “Underwritten Demand”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s 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 Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within two (2) days (one (1) day if such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) 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 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Demanding Holders initiating the Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 and is not obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering.

 

2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a 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.

 

2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. The Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement shall have the right to withdraw from such Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.

 

2.2. Piggyback Registration.

 

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2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, 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 Company’s 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 best 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. 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 Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or Underwritten Offering (A) first, the 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; (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 the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

 

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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 a Demand Registration or an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration or 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.

 

ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1. General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and to the extent applicable:

 

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

 

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3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the 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 reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8 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 Commission’s 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, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement;

 

3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and cause the Company’s 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;

 

3.1.11 obtain a comfort letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

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3.1.12 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;

 

3.1.13 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;

 

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

 

3.1.15 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

 

3.1.16 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.

 

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

 

3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration or Underwritten Offering at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentences in this Section 3.4, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notices referred to in this Section 3.4, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.

 

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.

 

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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 untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person specifically for use therein.

 

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 untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, 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 person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim 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.

 

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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 party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of 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 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, to: 102 East Main Street, Second Story, Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106, or by email at: kyle@riceinvestmentgroup.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.

 

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5.2.3 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 of this Agreement.

 

5.2.4 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in 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.

 

5.2.5 Prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee and in accordance with the requirements of Section 5.2.4

 

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.

 

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 Holder of Registrable Securities, 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:
   
  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.,
  a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
       
  HOLDERS:
   
  RICE ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Name:   Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
       
  ATLAS POINT ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, LLC
       
  By: /s/ Adam Karpf
    Name: Adam Karpf
    Title: Managing Director and Portfolio Manager

 

  /s/ Kathryn Jackson
  Kathryn Jackson
   
  /s/ Joseph Malchow
  Joseph Malchow
   
  /s/ James Torgerson
  James Torgerson

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC

102 East Main Street, Second Story

Carnegie, PA 15106

 

October 21, 2020

 

Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC

102 East Main Street, Second Story

Carnegie, PA 15106

 

Re: Administrative Services Agreement

 

Gentlemen:

 

This letter agreement by and between Rice Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Opco”) and Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC (“Sponsor”), dated as of the date hereof, will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the date the securities of the Company are first listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Listing Date”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration Statement”) and continuing until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”):

 

(i) Sponsor shall make available to the Company, at 102 East Main Street, Second Story, Carnegie, PA 15106 (or any successor location of Sponsor), certain office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services as may be reasonably required by the Company and Opco. In exchange therefor, the Company shall cause Opco to pay Sponsor the sum of $10,000 per month on the Listing Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date; and

 

(ii) Sponsor hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title, interest, causes of action and claims of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to, and any and all right to seek payment of any amounts due to it out of, the trust account established for the benefit of the public stockholders of the Company and the holders of Class A Units (other than the Company) of Opco and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering will be deposited (the “Trust Account”), and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement, which Claim would reduce, encumber or otherwise adversely affect the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, and further agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction of any Claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

 

No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.

 

This letter agreement, the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
       
  RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
       
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Name:   Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

AGREED TO ACCEPTED BY:  
   
RICE ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC  
   
By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV  
  Name:   Daniel Joseph Rice, IV  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS AND WARRANT RIGHTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS AND WARRANT RIGHTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of October 21, 2020 (as it may from time to time be amended, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Opco” and, together with the Company, each a “SPAC Party,” and collectively the “SPAC Parties”) and Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser” and together with the SPAC Parties, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”) as set forth in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), File Number 333-249340 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,693,400 warrants (or up to 6,273,900 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”) and Warrant Rights (as defined below) with respect to an equal number of Opco Warrants (as defined below), with each whole Private Placement Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below) the Company will hold warrants of Opco (“Opco Warrants”), each of which entitles the holder to acquire one Class A Unit of Opco (and a corresponding share of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company (“Class B Common Stock”)), and the Company will have the right to transfer to any person certain non-exclusive rights in the Opco Warrants as described in the Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Rights”).

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.

 

A. Authorization of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights. The SPAC Parties have duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights to the Purchaser.

 

B. Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights.

 

(i) On the date that is one business day prior to the date of the consummation of the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Parties (the “Initial Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, 5,693,400 Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights with respect to an equal number of Opco Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant and Warrant Right, for an aggregate purchase price of $5,693,400 (the “Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to Opco (which Opco will receive on behalf of the Company and in consideration for the issuance by Opco to the Company of an equal number of Opco Warrants). On the Initial Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Purchase Price, the SPAC Parties shall, at their option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights purchased on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

(ii) On the date that is one business day prior to the date of the consummation of the closing of the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Parties (each such date, an “Over-allotment Closing Date”, and each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the Initial Closing Date being sometimes referred to herein as a “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to 580,500 Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights with respect to an equal number of Opco Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant and Warrant Right, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $580,500 (if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “Over-allotment Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the Over-allotment Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to Opco (which Opco will receive on behalf of the Company and in consideration for the issuance by Opco to the Company of an equal number of Opco Warrants). On the Over-allotment Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment Purchase Price, the SPAC Parties shall, at their option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights purchased on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

 

 

 

C. Terms of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights.

 

(i) Each Private Placement Warrant and Warrant Right shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

(ii) At the time of the closing of the Public Offering, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants and, if applicable, the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of the Class A Units of Opco (and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) underlying the Warrant Rights.

 

Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the SPAC Parties. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights, each SPAC Party, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

A. Organization and Corporate Power. Each SPAC Party is, as applicable, a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of such SPAC Party. Each SPAC Party possesses all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants and the Warrant Rights have been duly authorized by the SPAC Parties as of the Closing Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each SPAC Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the SPAC Parties, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of the Closing Date, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii) The execution and delivery by the SPAC Parties of this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants, and the Warrant Rights, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants and the Warrant Rights, the issuance of the shares of Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or Warrant Rights, as applicable, and the fulfillment of and compliance with the respective terms hereof and thereof by the SPAC Parties, as applicable, do not and will not as of the Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the any SPAC Party’s capital stock, membership interests or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to any organizational document of the SPAC Parties (including any certificate of incorporation, bylaws or limited liability company agreement), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which a SPAC Party is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which any SPAC Party is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

 

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C. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants, Warrant Rights and the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (and the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants or Warrant Rights, as applicable, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder, the Warrant Agreement, the governing documents of the Company and Opco, as applicable, and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.

 

D. Governmental Consents. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the SPAC Parties of this Agreement or the consummation by the SPAC Parties of any other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the SPAC Parties to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the SPAC Parties (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

A. Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.

 

C. Investment Representations.

 

(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or Warrant Rights, the shares of Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (and the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.

 

(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

(iii) The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the SPAC Parties are relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.

 

(iv) The Purchaser did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(v) The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the SPAC Parties and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the SPAC Parties. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.

 

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(vi) The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

(vii) The Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder; and (c) Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act will not be available for resale transactions of Securities prior to a Business Combination and may not be available for resale transactions of Securities after a Business Combination.

 

(viii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knows of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the SPAC Parties, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Securities.

 

Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the SPAC Parties contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B. Performance. Each SPAC Party shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.

 

C. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D. Warrant Agreement. The SPAC Parties shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.

 

Section 5. Conditions of the SPAC Parties’ Obligations. The obligations of the SPAC Parties to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B. Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.

 

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C. Consents. The SPAC Parties shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors or Managing Member, as applicable, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder and Warrant Rights.

 

D. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

E. Warrant Agreement. The SPAC Parties shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the SPAC Parties.

 

Section 6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after December 31, 2020 upon the election by the SPAC Parties, collectively, or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.

 

Section 7. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date.

 

Section 8. Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.

 

Section 9. Miscellaneous.

 

A. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation, one or more of its members).

 

B. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

C. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

D. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

E. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

F. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  SPAC PARTIES
     
  COMPANY:
     
  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name:  Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  OPCO:
     
  RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  PURCHASER:
     
  RICE ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement]

 

 

6

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS AND WARRANT RIGHTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS AND WARRANT RIGHTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of October 21, 2020 (as it may from time to time be amended, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Opco” and, together with the Company, each a “SPAC Party,” and collectively the “SPAC Parties”) and Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser” and together with the SPAC Parties, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”) as set forth in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), File Number 333-249340 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 632,600 warrants (or up to 697,100 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”) and Warrant Rights (as defined below) with respect to an equal number of Opco Warrants (as defined below), with each whole Private Placement Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below) the Company will hold warrants of Opco (“Opco Warrants”), each of which entitles the holder to acquire one Class A Unit of Opco (and a corresponding share of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company (“Class B Common Stock”)), and the Company will have the right to transfer to any person certain non-exclusive rights in the Opco Warrants as described in the Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Rights”).

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.

 

A. Authorization of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights. The SPAC Parties have duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights to the Purchaser.

 

B. Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights.

 

(i) On the date that is one business day prior to the date of the consummation of the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Parties (the “Initial Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, 632,600 Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights with respect to an equal number of Opco Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant and Warrant Right, for an aggregate purchase price of $632,600 (the “Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to Opco (which Opco will receive on behalf of the Company and in consideration for the issuance by Opco to the Company of an equal number of Opco Warrants). On the Initial Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Purchase Price, the SPAC Parties shall, at their option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights purchased on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

 

 

 

(ii) On the date that is one business day prior to the date of the consummation of the closing of the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Parties (each such date, an “Over-allotment Closing Date”, and each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the Initial Closing Date being sometimes referred to herein as a “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to 64,500 Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights with respect to an equal number of Opco Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant and Warrant Right, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $64,500 (if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “Over-allotment Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the Over-allotment Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to Opco (which Opco will receive on behalf of the Company and in consideration for the issuance by Opco to the Company of an equal number of Opco Warrants). On the Over-allotment Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment Purchase Price, the SPAC Parties shall, at their option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights purchased on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

C. Terms of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights.

 

(i) Each Private Placement Warrant and Warrant Right shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

(ii) At the time of the closing of the Public Offering, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants and, if applicable, the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of the Class A Units of Opco (and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) underlying the Warrant Rights.

 

Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the SPAC Parties. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights, each SPAC Party, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

A. Organization and Corporate Power. Each SPAC Party is, as applicable, a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of such SPAC Party. Each SPAC Party possesses all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants and the Warrant Rights have been duly authorized by the SPAC Parties as of the Closing Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each SPAC Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the SPAC Parties, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of the Closing Date, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii) The execution and delivery by the SPAC Parties of this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants, and the Warrant Rights, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants and the Warrant Rights, the issuance of the shares of Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or Warrant Rights, as applicable, and the fulfillment of and compliance with the respective terms hereof and thereof by the SPAC Parties, as applicable, do not and will not as of the Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the any SPAC Party’s capital stock, membership interests or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to any organizational document of the SPAC Parties (including any certificate of incorporation, bylaws or limited liability company agreement), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which a SPAC Party is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which any SPAC Party is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

 

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C. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants, Warrant Rights and the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (and the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants or Warrant Rights, as applicable, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder, the Warrant Agreement, the governing documents of the Company and Opco, as applicable, and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.

 

D. Governmental Consents. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the SPAC Parties of this Agreement or the consummation by the SPAC Parties of any other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the SPAC Parties to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the SPAC Parties (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

A. Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.

 

C. Investment Representations.

 

(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or Warrant Rights, the shares of Common Stock or Class A Units of Opco (and the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock), as applicable, issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.

 

(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

(iii) The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the SPAC Parties are relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.

 

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(iv) The Purchaser did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(v) The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the SPAC Parties and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the SPAC Parties. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.

 

(vi) The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

(vii) The Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder; and (c) Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act will not be available for resale transactions of Securities prior to a Business Combination and may not be available for resale transactions of Securities after a Business Combination.

 

(viii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knows of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the SPAC Parties, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Securities.

 

Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants and Warrant Rights are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the SPAC Parties contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B. Performance. Each SPAC Party shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.

 

C. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D. Warrant Agreement. The SPAC Parties shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.

 

Section 5. Conditions of the SPAC Parties’ Obligations. The obligations of the SPAC Parties to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

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B. Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.

 

C. Consents. The SPAC Parties shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors or Managing Member, as applicable, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder and Warrant Rights.

 

D. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

E. Warrant Agreement. The SPAC Parties shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the SPAC Parties.

 

Section 6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after December 31, 2020 upon the election by the SPAC Parties, collectively, or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.

 

Section 7. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date.

 

Section 8. Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.

 

Section 9. Miscellaneous.

 

A. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation, one or more of its members).

 

B. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

C. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

D. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

E. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

F. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  SPAC PARTIES
     
  COMPANY:
     
  RICE ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV 
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV 
  Title: Chief Executive Officer 
     
  OPCO:
     
  RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV 
  Name: Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer 
     
  PURCHASER:
     
  ATLAS POINT ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Adam Karpf 
  Name: Adam Karpf
  Title: Managing Director and Portfolio Manager 

 

[Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement]

 

 

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Exhibit 10.7

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 21, 2020

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, AND HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I Definitions 2
     
Section 1.1 Definitions 2
Section 1.2 Interpretive Provisions 15
     
Article II ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 15
     
Section 2.1 Formation 15
Section 2.2 Filing 15
Section 2.3 Name 16
Section 2.4 Registered Office; Registered Agent 16
Section 2.5 Principal Place of Business 16
Section 2.6 Purpose; Powers 16
Section 2.7 Term 16
Section 2.8 Intent 16
     
Article III [Reserved] 16
   
Article IV OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS 16
     
Section 4.1 Authorized Units; General Provisions With Respect to Units 16
Section 4.2 Class B Units 20
Section 4.3 Voting Rights 23
Section 4.4 Capital Contributions; Unit Ownership 23
Section 4.5 Capital Accounts 24
Section 4.6 Other Matters 24
Section 4.7 Redemption of Class A Units 25
     
Article V ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES 32
     
Section 5.1 Profits and Losses 32
Section 5.2 Special Allocations 33
Section 5.3 Allocations for Tax Purposes in General 38
Section 5.4 Other Allocation Rules 38
     
Article VI DISTRIBUTIONS 39
     
Section 6.1 Distributions 39
Section 6.2 Tax-Related Distributions 40
Section 6.3 Distribution Upon Withdrawal 40
Section 6.4 Issuance of Additional Equity Securities 40
     
Article VII MANAGEMENT 40
     
Section 7.1 The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties 40
Section 7.2 Officers 41
Section 7.3 Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others 42
Section 7.4 Indemnification 43

 

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Section 7.5 Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements 43
Section 7.6 Resignation or Termination of Managing Member 44
Section 7.7 No Inconsistent Obligations 44
Section 7.8 Reclassification Events of PubCo 44
Section 7.9 Certain Costs and Expenses 44
     
Article VIII ROLE OF MEMBERS 45
     
Section 8.1 Rights or Powers 45
Section 8.2 Voting 46
Section 8.3 Various Capacities 46
Section 8.4 Investment Opportunities 46
     
Article IX TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS 47
     
Section 9.1 Restrictions on Transfer 47
Section 9.2 Notice of Transfer 48
Section 9.3 Transferee Members 49
Section 9.4 Legend 49
     
Article X ACCOUNTING; Certain Tax Matters 50
     
Section 10.1 Books of Account 50
Section 10.2 Tax Elections 50
Section 10.3 Tax Returns; Information 50
Section 10.4 Company Representative 54
Section 10.5 Withholding Tax Payments and Obligations 51
     
Article XI DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION 53
     
Section 11.1 Liquidating Events 53
Section 11.2 Bankruptcy 54
Section 11.3 Procedure 54
Section 11.4 Rights of Members 55
Section 11.5 Notices of Dissolution 56
Section 11.6 Reasonable Time for Winding Up 56
Section 11.7 No Deficit Restoration 56
     
Article XII GENERAL 57
     
Section 12.1 Amendments; Waivers 57
Section 12.2 Further Assurances 58
Section 12.3 Successors and Assigns 58
Section 12.4 Certain Representations by Members 58
Section 12.5 Entire Agreement 59
Section 12.6 Rights of Members Independent 59
Section 12.7 Governing Law 59
Section 12.8 Jurisdiction and Venue 59
Section 12.9 Headings 59
Section 12.10 Counterparts 59
Section 12.11 Notices 60
Section 12.12 Representation By Counsel; Interpretation 60
Section 12.13 Severability 60
Section 12.14 Expenses 60
Section 12.15 Waiver of Jury Trial 60
Section 12.16 No Third Party Beneficiaries 60

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC

 

This Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of October 21, 2020, by and among Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Rice Sponsor”), and each other Person who is or at any time becomes a Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Act or who acquires a Company Warrant (as defined herein). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the adoption of this Agreement, the Company was governed by the Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2020 (the “Existing LLC Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, it is contemplated that PubCo will, subject to the approval of its board of directors, issue up to 24,725,000 PubCo Units, comprised of an aggregate of 24,725,000 Class A Shares and 12,362,500 PubCo Warrants, to the public for cash in the initial underwritten public offering of PubCo Units (the “IPO”);

 

WHEREAS, if the IPO is consummated, PubCo will contribute all of the net proceeds received by it from the IPO to the Company in exchange for a number of additional Class A Units and Company Warrants equal to the number of Class A Shares and PubCo Warrants, respectively, comprising the PubCo Units issued in the IPO;

 

WHEREAS, each Class A Unit (other than any Class A Unit held by the PubCo Holdings Group) may be redeemed, at the election of the holder of such Class A Unit (together with the surrender and delivery by such holder of one Class B Share), for one Class A Share in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Members of the Company desire that PubCo continue as the sole managing member of the Company (in its capacity as managing member as well as in any other capacity, the “Managing Member”);

 

WHEREAS, the Members of the Company desire to amend and restate the Existing LLC Agreement and adopt this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement shall supersede the Existing LLC Agreement in its entirety as of the date hereof.

 

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NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Existing LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I

Definitions

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

 

Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq., as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Action” means any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity.

 

Adjusted Basis” has the meaning given such term in Section 1011 of the Code.

 

Adjusted Capital Account” means, with respect to any Member, (a) the Capital Account balance of such Member, plus (ii) such Member’s share of Member Minimum Gain or Company Minimum Gain (after reduction to reflect the items described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6)).

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Member the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year or other taxable period, after crediting such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account for any amount such Member is obligated to restore under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c). This definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

Adjusted Conversion Ratio” means that ratio having:

 

(a) a numerator equal to the sum of (i) a number of units equal to 25% of all Class A Shares issued or deemed issued in connection with the closing of the Initial Business Combination (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any Equity-Linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the closing of the Initial Business Combination), but excluding (x) any such Class A Shares or Equity-Linked Securities with respect to which the holders of Class B Units have waived their rights pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(ii), (y) any Equity Securities issued or issuable to any seller in the Initial Business Combination, and (z) for the avoidance of doubt, any Class A Shares or Equity-Linked Securities outstanding as of the close of the IPO, plus (ii) the number of Class B Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Initial Business Combination (and, for the avoidance of doubt, prior to any conversion of Class B Units pursuant to Section 4.2(c)); and

 

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(b) a denominator equal to the number of Class B Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Initial Business Combination (and, for the avoidance of doubt, prior to any conversion of Class B Units pursuant to Section 4.2(c)).

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. For these purposes, “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, (a) no Member shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (b) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed an Affiliate of any Member.

 

Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

beneficially own” and “beneficial owner” shall be as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Block Redemption Date” is defined in Section 4.7(b)(ii).

 

Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to be closed.

 

Business Opportunities Exempt Party” is defined in Section 8.4.

 

Call Right” is defined in Section 4.7(f).

 

Capital Account” means, with respect to any Member, the Capital Account maintained for such Member in accordance with Section 4.5.

 

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of cash and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property (other than cash) contributed to the Company by such Member. Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Member will include any Capital Contributions made by a predecessor holder of such Member’s Units to the extent that such Capital Contribution was made in respect of Units Transferred to such Member.

 

Cash Election” means an election by the Company to redeem Class A Units or Company Warrants for cash pursuant to Section 4.7(e)(ii) or an election by PubCo (or such designated member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group) to purchase Class A Units or Company Warrants for cash pursuant to an exercise of its Call Right set forth in Section 4.7(f).

 

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Cash Election Amount” means with respect to a particular Redemption of Class A Shares or Company Warrants, as applicable, for which a Cash Election has been made, (a) other than in the case of clause (b), if the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, trade on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, an amount of cash equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, that would have been received in such Redemption if a Cash Election had not been made and (ii) the average of the volume-weighted closing price for a Class A Share or PubCo Warrant, as applicable, on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, trade, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the 5 consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the Redemption Notice Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable; (b) if the Cash Election is made in respect of a Redemption Notice issued by a Redeeming Holder in connection with a Registered Offering, an amount of cash equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, that would have been received in such Redemption if a Cash Election had not been made and (ii) the price per Class A Share or PubCo Warrant, as applicable, sold to the public in such Registered Offering (reduced by the amount of any Discount associated with such Class A Share or PubCo Warrant, as applicable); and (c) if the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, no longer trade on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, an amount of cash equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, that would have been received in such Redemption if a Cash Election had not been made and (ii) the Fair Market Value of one Class A Share or PubCo Warrant, as applicable.

 

Chief Executive Officer” means the person appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company by the Managing Member pursuant to Section 7.2(a).

 

Class A Capital Account” means, with respect to any Member holding Class A Units, (a) the total number of Class A Units held by such Member, multiplied by (b) the Class A Per Unit Balance.

 

Class A Per Unit Balance” means, as of any relevant date, the quotient of (a) PubCo’s Adjusted Capital Account balance, to the extent attributable to such PubCo’s ownership of Class A Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after all allocations have been tentatively made pursuant to Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, based on an interim closing of the books pursuant to Section 706 of the Code as of such date, divided by (b) the total number of Class A Units held by PubCo on such date.

 

Class A Shares” means, as applicable, (a) the Class A Common Stock of PubCo, par value $0.0001 per share, or (b) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person or cash or other property that become payable in consideration for the Class A Shares or into which the Class A Shares are exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

 

Class A Units” means the Class A Units of the Company issued hereunder and shall also include any Equity Security of the Company issued in respect of or in exchange for Class A Units, whether by way of dividend or other distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, rollup transaction, consolidation, conversion or reorganization.

 

Class B Automatic Conversion Date” means (a) the closing date of an Initial Business Combination and (b) any date after the closing of an Initial Business Combination (i) on which there is a Redemption, primary offering of PubCo Equity Securities, exercise of Company Warrants, or other issuance or redemption of Units or (ii) which is otherwise designated as such by the Managing Member.

 

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Class B Capital Account” means, as of any relevant date, with respect to any Member holding Class B Units, (a) such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account minus (b) such Member’s Class A Capital Account (if any), in each case, computed on a hypothetical basis after all allocations have been tentatively made pursuant to Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, based on an interim closing of the books pursuant to Section 706 of the Code as of such date.

 

Class B Conversion Date” means any Class B Automatic Conversion Date and any other date on which Class B Units are converted into Class A Units in accordance with Section 4.2(c).

 

Class B Shares” means, as applicable, (a) the Class B common stock of PubCo, par value $0.0001 per share, or (b) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person or cash or other property that become payable in consideration for the Class B Shares or into which the Class B Shares are exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

 

Class B Fungibility Target Balance” means, as of any relevant date, with respect to any Member holding Class B Units, the product of (a) the Class A Per Unit Balance, multiplied by (b) the number of Class B Units held by such Member.

 

Class B Units” means the Class B Units of the Company issued hereunder and shall also include any Equity Security of the Company issued in respect of or in exchange for Class B Units, whether by way of dividend or other distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, rollup transaction, consolidation, conversion or reorganization.

 

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Common Stock” means the Class A Shares and the Class B Shares.

 

Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Level Taxes” means any federal, state or local taxes, additions to tax, penalties and interest payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of any examination of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ affairs by any federal, state or local tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings under the Partnership Tax Audit Rules.

 

Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning of “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d). It is further understood that Company Minimum Gain shall be determined in a manner consistent with the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2), including the requirement that if the adjusted Gross Asset Value of property subject to one or more Nonrecourse Liabilities differs from its adjusted tax basis, Company Minimum Gain shall be determined with reference to such Gross Asset Value.

 

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Company Representative” has the meaning assigned to the term “partnership representative” (including any “designated individual,” if applicable) in Section 6223 of the Code and any Treasury Regulations or other administrative or judicial pronouncements promulgated thereunder, as appointed pursuant to Section 10.4.

 

Company Warrants” means the warrants issued by the Company and exercisable for Class A Units.

 

Company Warrantholder” means any holder of Company Warrants.

 

Contract” means any written agreement, contract, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, obligation, promise or undertaking.

 

control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee, personal representative or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee, personal representative or executor, by contract or otherwise.

 

Covered Audit Adjustment” means an adjustment to any partnership-related item (within the meaning of Section 6241(2)(B) of the Code) to the extent such adjustment results in an “imputed underpayment” as described in Section 6225(b) of the Code or any analogous provision of state or local Law.

 

Covered Person” is defined in Section 7.4.

 

Debt Securities” means, with respect to PubCo, any and all debt instruments or debt securities that are not convertible or exchangeable into Equity Securities of PubCo.

 

Depreciation” means, for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, except that (a) with respect to any such property the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial method” pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with respect to any other such property the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period bears to such beginning Adjusted Basis; provided, however, that if the Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period is zero, Depreciation with respect to such asset shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the Managing Member.

 

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Designated Holder” means any holder of Units or Company Warrants (a) that has elected to be treated as a Designated Holder by providing written notice to the Company not less than 10 Business Days prior to the relevant date on which an automatic redemption occurs pursuant to Section 4.7(i) or (b) that has not provided the Company with a valid IRS Form W-9 or that the Company otherwise has reason to know is not (or is a disregarded subsidiary of a Person that is not) a “United States person” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Designated Holder Redemption” is defined in Section 4.7(i).

 

Designated Holder Redemption Date” is defined in Section 4.7(i).

 

Designated Holder Redemption Notice” is defined in Section 4.7(i).

 

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Discount” is defined in Section 4.7(e)(ii).

 

Effective Time” means 12:01 a.m. Central Daylight Time on the date of the initial closing of the IPO.

 

Equalization Date” means the date on which all Class B Units have been converted into Class A Units pursuant to Section 4.2(c).

 

Equity Securities” means (a) with respect to a partnership, limited liability company or similar Person, any and all units, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options or other equivalents of, or other ownership interests in, any such Person as well as debt or equity instruments convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into any such units, interests, rights or other ownership interests and (b) with respect to a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participation or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, including all common stock and preferred stock, or warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing, including any debt instrument convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing.

 

Equity-Linked Securities” means any Equity Securities of PubCo, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries which are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, any other Equity Securities of PubCo, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries, including Class A Units and any Equity Securities issued by PubCo, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries which are pledged to secure any obligation of any holder to purchase from PubCo, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries any Equity Securities of such entities.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Excess Tax Amount” is defined in Section 10.5(c).

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Existing LLC Agreement” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

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Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of any property as determined in Good Faith by the Managing Member after taking into account such factors as the Managing Member shall deem appropriate.

 

Federal Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company, which shall end on December 31 of each calendar year unless, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, another fiscal year is required. The Company shall have the same fiscal year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for accounting purposes.

 

Fungible Class B Units” means, for any Member holding Class B Units, as of any relevant date, a number of such Class B Units equal to the quotient, rounded down to the nearest whole unit, of (a) such Member’s Class B Capital Account, divided by (b) the Class A Per Unit Balance; provided that, solely in the case of a conversion pursuant to Section 4.2(c) using the Adjusted Conversion Ratio, the number of Fungible Class B Units for purposes of such conversion shall be determined by further dividing the foregoing amount by the Adjusted Conversion Ratio; provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the number of Fungible Class B Units shall never exceed the total number of Class B Units held by such Member.

 

GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles at the time.

 

Good Faith” means a Person having acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and the PubCo Holdings Group and, with respect to a criminal proceeding, having had no reasonable cause to believe such Person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Governmental Entity” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local, foreign or other government, governmental, stock exchange, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body.

 

Gross Asset Value” means, with respect to any asset, the asset’s Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

(a) the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such asset as of the date of such contribution;

 

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(b) the Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross Fair Market Values as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an interest (or additional interest) in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution to the Company or in exchange for the performance of more than a de minimis amount of services to or for the benefit of the Company; (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets as consideration for an interest in the Company; (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)(1), (iv) the acquisition of an interest in the Company by any new or existing Member upon the exercise of a Company Warrant or other noncompensatory option in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s) or in connection with a Redemption; or (v) any other event to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be permitted and necessary or appropriate to properly reflect Gross Asset Values in accordance with the standards set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) above shall not be made if the Managing Member reasonably determines that such adjustments are not necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company. If any Company Warrants or other noncompensatory options are outstanding upon the occurrence of an event described in this paragraph (b)(i) through (b)(v), the Company shall adjust the Gross Asset Values of its properties to properly reflect any change in the Fair Market Value of such Company Warrants or other noncompensatory options in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2);

 

(c) the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of such distribution;

 

(d) the Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the Adjusted Basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) (including any such adjustments pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (f) in the definition of “Profits” or “Losses” below or Section 5.2(h); provided, however, that the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subsection to the extent the Managing Member determines in Good Faith that an adjustment pursuant to clause (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (d); and

 

(e) if the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clauses (a), (b) or (d) of this definition of Gross Asset Value, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits, Losses and other items allocated pursuant to Article V.

 

Indebtedness” means (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money (including capitalized lease obligations, sale-leaseback transactions or other similar transactions, however evidenced), (b) any other indebtedness that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, draft or similar instrument, (c) notes payable and (d) lines of credit and any other agreements relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit.

 

Initial Business Combination” means the first transaction or series of transactions (whether through a merger, equity exchange or purchase, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction) resulting in a business combination involving PubCo, the Company and one or more operating businesses.

 

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Interest” means the entire interest of a Member in the Company, including the Units and all of such Member’s rights, powers and privileges under this Agreement and the Act.

 

Investment Company Act” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

IPO” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Law” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, requirement or rule of law (including common law).

 

Legal Action” is defined in Section 12.8.

 

Liability” means any liability or obligation, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to become due, regardless of when asserted.

 

Liquidating Event” is defined in Section 11.1.

 

Managing Member” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Member” means any Person that executes this Agreement as a Member and any other Person admitted to the Company as an additional or substituted Member, in each case, that has not made a disposition of such Person’s entire Interest.

 

Member Minimum Gain” has the meaning ascribed to “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). It is further understood that the determination of Member Minimum Gain and the net increase or decrease in Member Minimum Gain shall be made in the same manner as required for such determination of Company Minimum Gain under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(g)(3).

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse debt” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

NCO Target Balance” means (a) with respect to a Class A Unit received upon the exercise of a Company Warrant, the Class A Per Unit Balance and (b) with respect to any interest in the Company received upon the exercise of any other noncompensatory option, such other amount determined in the Managing Member’s reasonable discretion that reflects the economic intent of such interest in the Company.

 

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Non-Fungible Class B Units” means, for any holder of Class B Units as of any relevant date, the number of any such Class B Units outstanding in excess of the number of such Class B Units that are Fungible Class B Units.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1).

 

Nonrecourse Liability” is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).

 

Officer” means each Person appointed as an officer of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2.

 

Partnership Tax Audit Rules” means Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code, together with any final or temporary Treasury Regulations, Revenue Rulings and case law interpreting Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code (and any analogous provision of state or local tax Law).

 

Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

Plan Asset Regulations” means the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

Proceeding” is defined in Section 7.4.

 

Profits” or “Losses” means, for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such year or period, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be separately stated pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):

 

(a) any income or gain of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax or otherwise described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) of the Code and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

(b) any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

 

(c) in the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset Value of the Company asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of the Company asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall, except to the extent allocated pursuant to Section 5.2, be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

 

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(d) gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company assets with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be computed with reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

 

(e) in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation;

 

(f) to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Account balances as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and

 

(g) any items of income, gain, loss or deduction that are specifically allocated pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses for any taxable year, but such items available to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.2 will be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in clauses (a) through (f) above.

 

Property” means all real and personal property owned by the Company from time to time, including both tangible and intangible property.

 

PubCo” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

PubCo Holdings Group” means PubCo and each other Subsidiary of PubCo (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries).

 

PubCo Shares” means all classes and series of common stock of PubCo, including the Class A Shares and the Class B Shares.

 

PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities” means any U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax obligations (including any Company Level Taxes for which the PubCo Holdings Group is liable hereunder) owed by the PubCo Holdings Group (other than any franchise taxes and any obligations to remit any taxes withheld from payments to third parties).

 

Pubco Units” means the units, each consisting of one Class A Share and one-half of one PubCo Warrant, issued in PubCo’s IPO.

 

PubCo Warrants” means the warrants issued by PubCo and exercisable for Class A Shares.

 

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Quarterly Redemption Date” means a date within each fiscal quarter specified by PubCo from time to time, which will generally be set so that the corresponding Redemption Notice Date falls within a window after PubCo’s earnings announcement for the prior fiscal quarter or in connection with a Registered Offering.

 

Reclassification Event” means any of the following: (a) any reclassification or recapitalization of PubCo Shares (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 4.1(e)), (b) any merger, consolidation or other combination involving PubCo, or (c) any sale, conveyance, lease or other disposal of all or substantially all the properties and assets of PubCo to any other Person, in each of clauses (a), (b) or (c), as a result of which holders of PubCo Shares shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property for their PubCo Shares.

 

Redeeming Holder” is defined in Section 4.7(a).

 

Redemption” means any redemption of Class A Units or Company Warrants pursuant to Section 4.7.

 

Redemption Contingency” is defined in Section 4.7(c)(iii).

 

Redemption Date” means a Quarterly Redemption Date, a Special Redemption Date, or a Block Redemption Date.

 

Redemption Notice” is defined in Section 4.7(b).

 

Redemption Notice Date” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the date that is 10 Business Days before such Redemption Date (or such other date specified by PubCo that is not later than 10 Business Days before such Redemption Date); provided that if such date falls on a weekend or holiday, the Redemption Notice Date shall be on the preceding Business Day.

 

Redemption Right” is defined in Section 4.7(a).

 

Registered Offering” means any secondary securities offering (which may include a “bought deal” or “overnight” offering), and any primary securities offering for which piggyback rights are offered, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, by and among PubCo and the Members, to be entered into concurrently with the closing of the IPO.

 

Regulatory Allocations” is defined in Section 5.2(i).

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

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Special Redemption Date” means a date specified by PubCo in addition to or in lieu of the Quarterly Redemption Date during the same fiscal quarter. PubCo must specify a Special Redemption Date effective with any Registered Offering.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person with respect to which such specified Person (a) has, directly or indirectly, the power, through the ownership of securities or otherwise, to elect a majority of directors or similar managing body or (b) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of such Person’s Equity Securities.

 

Tax Contribution Obligation” is defined in Section 10.5(c).

 

Tax Offset” is defined in Section 10.5(c).

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

Transfer” means, when used as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), transfer, sale, pledge or hypothecation or other disposition and, when used as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), to transfer, sell, pledge or hypothecate or otherwise dispose of. The terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Treasury Regulations” means pronouncements, as amended from time to time, or their successor pronouncements, that clarify, interpret and apply the provisions of the Code, and that are designated as “Treasury Regulations” by the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Trust Account” means the trust account established for the benefit of the public shareholders of PubCo and the holders (other than the PubCo Holdings Group) of Class A Units of the Company pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

 

Trust Agreement” means the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated October 21, 2020, by and among Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, PubCo and the Company.

 

Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of Delaware.

 

Units” means the Class A Units and the Class B Units issued hereunder.

 

Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2020, by and among PubCo, the Company, and a warrant agent, as may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

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Winding-Up Member” is defined in Section 11.3(a).

 

Section 1.2 Interpretive Provisions. For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) the terms defined in Section 1.1 are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;

 

(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under GAAP;

 

(c) all references to currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein shall mean United States (U.S.) dollars and all payments hereunder shall be made in United States dollars;

 

(d) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

 

(e) whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(f) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(g) pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms; and

 

(h) 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.

 

Article II

ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

 

Section 2.1 Formation. The Company has been formed as a limited liability company subject to the provisions of the Act upon the terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2 Filing. The Company’s Certificate of Formation has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act. The Members shall execute such further documents (including amendments to such Certificate of Formation) and take such further action as is appropriate to comply with the requirements of Law for the formation or operation of a limited liability company in Delaware and in all states and counties where the Company may conduct its business.

 

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Section 2.3 Name. The name of the Company is “Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC” and all business of the Company shall be conducted in such name or, in the discretion of the Managing Member, under any other name.

 

Section 2.4 Registered Office; Registered Agent. The location of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, or at such other place as the Managing Member from time to time may select. The name and address for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware are The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, or such other qualified Person as the Managing Member may designate from time to time and its business address.

 

Section 2.5 Principal Place of Business. The principal place of business of the Company shall be located in such place as is determined by the Managing Member from time to time.

 

Section 2.6 Purpose; Powers. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act. The Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all actions and engage in any and all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to the accomplishment of the foregoing purpose.

 

Section 2.7 Term. The term of the Company commenced on the date of filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act and shall continue indefinitely. The Company may be dissolved and its affairs wound up only in accordance with Article XI.

 

Section 2.8 Intent. It is the intent of the Members that the Company be operated in a manner consistent with its treatment as a “partnership” for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. It is also the intent of the Members that the Company not be operated or treated as a “partnership” for purposes of Section 303 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. Neither the Company nor any Member shall take any action inconsistent with the express intent of the parties hereto as set forth in this Section 2.8.

 

Article III

[Reserved]

 

Article IV

OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

 

Section 4.1 Authorized Units; General Provisions With Respect to Units.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall be authorized to issue from time to time such number of Units and such other Equity Securities as the Managing Member shall determine in accordance with Section 4.4. Each authorized Unit may be issued pursuant to such agreements as the Managing Member shall approve, including pursuant to options and warrants. The Company may reissue any Units that have been repurchased or acquired by the Company.

 

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(b) The Units shall be initially divided into two (2) classes of Units referred to as “Class A Units” and “Class B Units.” The number and class of Units issued to each Member shall be set forth opposite such Member’s name on Exhibit A. Each outstanding Unit shall be identical except as otherwise provided hereunder.

 

(c) Initially, none of the Units will be represented by certificates. If the Managing Member determines that it is in the interest of the Company to issue certificates representing the Units, certificates will be issued and the Units will be represented by those certificates, and this Agreement shall be amended as necessary or desirable to reflect the issuance of certificated Units for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code. Nothing contained in this Section 4.1(c) shall be deemed to authorize or permit any Member to Transfer its Units except as otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

 

(d) The Members as of the date hereof are set forth on Exhibit B. The total number of Units issued and outstanding and held by each Member as of the date hereof is set forth in the books and records of the Company. The Company shall update such books and records from time to time to reflect any Transfers of Interests, the issuance of additional Units or Equity Securities and, subject to Section 12.1(a), subdivisions or combinations of Units made in compliance with
Section 4.1(f), in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e) If, at any time after the Effective Time, PubCo issues a Class A Share or any other Equity Security of PubCo (other than Class B Shares), (i) one or more member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group shall concurrently contribute to the Company the net proceeds (in cash or other property, as the case may be), if any, received by PubCo for such Class A Share or other Equity Security and (ii) the Company shall concurrently issue to such member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group, in accordance with the contributions made by each such member pursuant to clause (i), one Class A Unit (if PubCo issues a Class A Share), or such other Equity Security of the Company (if PubCo issues Equity Securities other than Class A Shares) corresponding to the Equity Securities issued by PubCo, and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation, but taking into account differences as a result of any tax or other liabilities borne by PubCo) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo to be issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(i) If PubCo issues any Class A Shares in order to acquire or fund the acquisition from a Member (other than any member of the PubCo Holdings Group) of a number of Units (and Class B Shares) equal to the number of Class A Shares so issued, then the Company shall not issue any new Units in connection therewith and, where such Class A Shares have been issued for cash to fund such an acquisition by any member of the PubCo Holdings Group pursuant to a Cash Election, the PubCo Holdings Group shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company, and such net proceeds shall instead be transferred by such member of the PubCo Holdings Group to such Member as consideration for such acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, if PubCo issues any Class A Shares or other Equity Security for cash to be used to fund the acquisition by any member of the PubCo Holdings Group of any Person or the assets of any Person, then PubCo shall not be required to transfer such cash proceeds to the Company but instead such member of the PubCo Holdings Group shall be required to contribute such Person or the assets and liabilities of such Person to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(ii) This Section 4.1(e) shall not apply to the issuance and distribution to holders of PubCo Shares of rights to purchase Equity Securities of PubCo under a “poison pill” or similar shareholders rights plan (and upon any redemption of Class A Units for Class A Shares, such Class A Shares will be issued together with a corresponding right under such plan), or to the issuance under PubCo’s employee benefit plans of any warrants, options, other rights to acquire Equity Securities of PubCo or rights or property that may be converted into or settled in Equity Securities of PubCo, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of Equity Securities of PubCo in connection with the exercise or settlement of such rights, warrants, options or other rights or property.

 

(iii) Except pursuant to Section 4.7, (x) the Company may not issue any additional Units to any member of the PubCo Holdings Group unless substantially simultaneously therewith a member of the PubCo Holdings Group issues or transfers an equal number of newly-issued Class A Shares of PubCo to another Person (other than another member of the PubCo Holdings Group), and (y) the Company may not issue any other Equity Securities of the Company to any member of the PubCo Holdings Group unless substantially simultaneously a member of the PubCo Holdings Group issues or transfers, to another Person (other than another member of the PubCo Holdings Group), an equal number of newly-issued shares of a new class or series of Equity Securities of PubCo with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation, but taking into account differences as a result of any tax or other liabilities borne by PubCo) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Company.

 

(iv) If at any time any member of the PubCo Holdings Group issues Debt Securities (other than to another member of the PubCo Holdings Group), such member of the PubCo Holdings Group shall transfer to the Company (in a manner to be determined by the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion) the proceeds received by such member of the PubCo Holdings Group in exchange for such Debt Securities in a manner that directly or indirectly burdens the Company with the repayment of the Debt Securities.

 

(v) In the event any Pubco Warrant or other Equity Security outstanding at PubCo is exercised or otherwise converted and, as a result, any Class A Shares or other Equity Securities of PubCo are issued, (a) the corresponding Company Warrant or other Equity Security outstanding at the Company shall be similarly exercised or otherwise converted, as applicable, and an equivalent number of Class A Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be issued to the PubCo Holdings Group as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 4.1(e), and (b) the PubCo Holdings Group shall concurrently contribute to the Company the net proceeds received by the PubCo Holdings Group from any such exercise.

 

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(vi) No member of the PubCo Holdings Group may redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (other than from another member of the PubCo Holdings Group) (a) any Class A Shares (including upon forfeiture of any unvested Class A Shares) unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the PubCo Holdings Group an equal number of Class A Units for the same price per security or (b) any other Equity Securities of PubCo (other than Class B Shares), unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the PubCo Holdings Group an equal number of Equity Securities of the Company of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation, but taking into account differences as a result of any tax or other liabilities borne by PubCo) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo for the same price per security. The Company may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (x) except pursuant to Section 4.7, any Class A Units from the PubCo Holdings Group unless substantially simultaneously the PubCo Holdings Group redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires an equal number of Class A Shares for the same price per security from holders thereof, or (y) any other Equity Securities of the Company from the PubCo Holdings Group unless substantially simultaneously the PubCo Holdings Group redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires for the same price per security an equal number of Equity Securities of PubCo of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distribution upon liquidation, but taking into account differences as a result of any tax or other liabilities borne by PubCo) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any consideration payable by the PubCo Holdings Group in connection with the redemption or repurchase of any Class A Shares or other Equity Securities of the PubCo Holdings Group consists (in whole or in part) of Class A Shares or such other Equity Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant), then the redemption or repurchase of the corresponding Class A Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be effectuated in an equivalent manner.

 

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(f) The Company shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Units unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding PubCo Shares, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities. Unless in connection with any action taken pursuant to Section 4.1(h), PubCo shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding PubCo Shares unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Units, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.

 

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (including Section 4.1(e)), the Company may redeem Class A Units from the PubCo Holdings Group for cash to fund any acquisition by the PubCo Holdings Group of another Person, provided that promptly after such redemption and acquisition the PubCo Holdings Group contributes or causes to be contributed, directly or indirectly, such Person or the assets and liabilities of such Person to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange for a number of Class A Units equal to the number of Class A Units so redeemed.

 

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (including Section 4.1(e)), if the PubCo Holdings Group acquires or holds any material amount of cash in excess of any monetary obligations it reasonably anticipates (including as a result of the receipt of distributions pursuant to Section 6.2 for any period in excess of the PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities for such period), PubCo may, in its sole discretion, use such excess cash amount in such manner, and make such adjustments to or take such other actions with respect to the capitalization of PubCo and the Company, as PubCo (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) in Good Faith determines to be fair and reasonable to the holders of PubCo Shares and to the Members and to preserve the intended economic effect of this Section 4.1, Section 4.7 and the other provisions hereof.

 

Section 4.2 Class B Units.

 

(a) Profits Interest Treatment. It is intended that (and all provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted consistent with the intent that) for U.S. federal (and conforming state and local) income tax purposes: (i) the Class B Units (and any Class A Units into which such Class B Units convert pursuant to Section 4.2(c)) constitute “profits interests” issued to the holders thereof for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company in their capacity as partners of the Company within the meaning of IRS Revenue Procedure 93-27; (ii) consistent with IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-43, the Company and holders of any Class B Units will treat such holders as the owners of a partnership interest in the Company from the date of the grant of the Class B Units (including that such holders will take into account their distributive share of Company income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit associated with such Class B Units and that neither the Company nor any Member will deduct any amount as wages, compensation or otherwise for the fair market value of any Class B Unit at the time of grant of such Class B Unit or upon such Class B Unit becoming substantially vested); and (iii) the Class B Units have an initial capital account of zero dollars. Each Member who acquires Class B Units that are subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code shall make a timely election under Code Section 83(b) with respect to such Class B Units.

 

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(b) Anti-Dilution.

 

(i) In the event that Class A Shares or Equity-Linked Securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with the closing of the Initial Business Combination (other than any such Class A Shares or Equity Linked Securities that are excluded from clause (a)(i) of the definition of “Adjusted Conversion Ratio”):

 

(A) the number of Class A Units received by each holder of Fungible Class B Units upon their conversion into Class A Units in connection with the Initial Business Combination pursuant to Section 4.2(c) shall equal the product of (x) the number of such Fungible Class B Units to be so converted multiplied by (y) the Adjusted Conversion Ratio; and

 

(B) to the extent any Class B Units remain outstanding following such conversion, the Company shall divide such remaining outstanding Class B Units such that each holder of Class B Units holds, after such division, a number of Class B Units equal to the product of (x) the number of Class B Units held by such holder immediately prior to such division multiplied by (y) the Adjusted Conversion Ratio.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions of Section 4.2(b) may be waived in whole or in part as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-Linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Units then outstanding.

 

(iii) The Adjusted Conversion Ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding Class A Units or Class A Shares into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the date hereof without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding Class B Units.

 

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(iv) The Members and the Company agree to treat any division of Class B Units as disregarded for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes.

 

(c) Conversion into Class A Units.

 

(i) On each Class B Automatic Conversion Date, any Fungible Class B Units shall be converted into an equal number of Class A Units, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2(b)(i)(A).

 

(ii) After an Initial Business Combination, each Member holding Class B Units shall be entitled to cause the Company to convert all or a portion of such Member’s Class B Units into an equal number of Class A Units (the “Class B Conversion Right”), subject to the provisions of this Section 4.2(c)(ii). Upon the exercise by any Member of the Class B Conversion Right, all Fungible Class B Units held by all Members shall be so converted. A Member may exercise the Class B Conversion right to the extent that (A) such conversion is in connection with a valid exercise of a Redemption Right and (B) on or prior to the relevant Redemption Date, the Class B Units to be converted are Fungible Class B Units (taking into account, for such purpose, any allocations that may be made with respect to such Member pursuant to Section 5.2(l)). In order to exercise its Class B Conversion Right, a Member shall provide written notice to the Company and PubCo, in a reasonable form as the Company may provide from time to time, as a part of such Member’s Redemption Notice for the Class A Units received upon the conversion of such Class B Units. Upon the request of such Member, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide an estimate of the amount of any allocations that the Company expects may be made with respect to such Member pursuant to Section 5.2(l) as a result of the exercise of the Class B Conversion Right. A Redemption Notice for a number of Class A Units in excess of the number of Class A Units then held by a Member shall be deemed to be an exercise of the Class B Conversion Right to the extent of such excess number of units. In addition to the terms and requirements set forth in Section 4.7, such Redemption Notice will, with respect to such Class B Units, be contingent on the Managing Member’s determination that such Class B Units meet the requirements of this Section 4.2(c)(ii).

 

(iii) Any conversion of Class B Units pursuant to this Section 4.2(c) shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable Class B Conversion Date, as of which time the Member holding any converted Class B Units shall be credited on the books and records of the Company with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Class A Units issuable upon such conversion.

 

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(iv) The Members and the Company agree to treat the conversion of Class B Units into Class A Units (for the avoidance of doubt, not including any allocations that may be made pursuant to Section 5.2(l)) as disregarded for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes.

 

Section 4.3 Voting Rights. No Member has any voting right except with respect to those matters specifically reserved for a Member vote under the Act and for matters expressly requiring the approval of Members under this Agreement. Except as otherwise required by the Act, each Unit will entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters to be voted on by the Members. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the holders of Units having voting rights will vote together as a single class on all matters to be approved by the Members.

 

Section 4.4 Capital Contributions; Unit Ownership.

 

(a) Capital Contributions. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.1(e) with respect to the obligations of the PubCo Holdings Group, no Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions.

 

(b) Issuance of Additional Units or Interests. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have the right to authorize and cause the Company to issue on such terms (including price) as may be determined by the Managing Member, subject to the limitations of Section 4.1, (i) additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company (including creating preferred interests or other classes or series of interests having such rights, preferences and privileges as determined by the Managing Member, which rights, preferences and privileges may be senior to the Units), and (ii) obligations, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable for Units or other Equity Securities in the Company; provided that, at any time following the date hereof, in each case the Company shall not issue Equity Securities in the Company to any Person unless such Person shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement and all other documents, agreements or instruments deemed necessary or desirable in the discretion of the Managing Member. Upon such issuance and execution, such Person shall be admitted as a Member of the Company. In that event, the Managing Member shall update the Company’s books and records to reflect such additional issuances. Subject to Section 12.1, the Managing Member is hereby authorized to amend this Agreement to set forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company, or such other amendments that the Managing Member determines to be otherwise necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company pursuant to this Section 4.4(b); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall have the right to amend this Agreement as set forth in this sentence without the approval of any other Person (including any Member) and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 12.1(ii), (iii) or (iv)) if such amendment is necessary, and then only to the extent necessary, in order to consummate any offering of PubCo Shares or other Equity Securities of PubCo provided that the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of any such additional Units or other Equity Securities of the Company as set forth in such amendment are substantially similar to those applicable to such PubCo Shares or other Equity Securities of PubCo.

 

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Section 4.5 Capital Accounts.

 

(a) A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and, to the extent consistent with such regulations, the other provisions of this Agreement. Each Member’s Capital Account shall be (a) increased by (i) allocations to such Member of Profits pursuant to Section 5.1 and any other items of income or gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the amount of cash or the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities assumed by the Company and any Liabilities to which the asset is subject) contributed to the Company by such Member, and (iii) any other increases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and (b) decreased by (i) allocations to such Member of Losses pursuant to Section 5.1 and any other items of deduction or loss allocated to such Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.2, (ii) the amount of any cash or the Gross Asset Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities assumed by the Member and any Liabilities to which the asset is subject) distributed to such Member, and (iii) any other decreases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).

 

(b) A Member that has more than one class or series of Units shall have a single Capital Account that reflects all such Units; provided, however, that the Capital Accounts shall be maintained in such manner as will facilitate a determination of the portion of each Capital Account attributable to each class or series of Units, including for purposes of determining any Member’s Class B Capital Account and the Class A Per Unit Balance.

 

(c) In the event of a Transfer of Units made in accordance with this Agreement (including a deemed Transfer for U.S. federal income tax purposes as described in Section 4.7(e)(iv)) the Capital Account of the Transferor that is attributable to the Transferred Units shall carry over to the Transferee Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l).

 

Section 4.6 Other Matters.

 

(a) No Member shall demand or receive a return on or of its Capital Contributions or withdraw from the Company without the consent of the Managing Member. Under circumstances requiring a return of any Capital Contributions, no Member has the right to receive property other than cash.

 

(b) No Member shall receive any interest, salary, compensation, draw or reimbursement with respect to its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account, or for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or otherwise in its capacity as a Member, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.9 or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(c) The Liability of each Member shall be limited as set forth in the Act and other applicable Law and, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by Law, no Member (or any of its Affiliates) shall be personally liable, whether to the Company, any of the other Members, the creditors of the Company or any other third party, for any debt or Liability of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

 

(d) Except as otherwise required by the Act, a Member shall not be required to restore a deficit balance in such Member’s Capital Account, to lend any funds to the Company or, except as otherwise set forth herein, to make any additional contributions or payments to the Company.

 

(e) The Company shall not be obligated to repay any Capital Contributions of any Member.

 

Section 4.7 Redemption of Class A Units and Company Warrants.

 

(a) Redemptions Generally. Each Member and each Company Warrantholder, other than the PubCo Holdings Group (a “Redeeming Holder”) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem all or a portion of (i) such Member’s Class A Units in exchange for an equal number of Class A Shares or (ii) such Company Warrantholder’s Company Warrants in exchange for an equal number of PubCo Warrants, or in each case, at the Company’s election under certain circumstances, cash in accordance with Section 4.7(e)(ii) (referred to herein as the “Redemption Right”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 4.7 and subject to PubCo’s (or such designated member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group’s) Call Right as set forth in Section 4.7(f). Upon the Redemption of any Class A Units, an equal number of Class B Shares held by the Redeeming Holder shall be cancelled.

 

(b) Permitted Redemptions; Limitations.

 

(i) Quarterly and Special Redemptions. Each Redeeming Holder may effect Redemptions on each Quarterly Redemption Date and/or any Special Redemption Date designated by the Managing Member; provided that, with respect to a Redemption of Class A Units, absent the prior written consent of the Managing Member to the contrary, on each Quarterly Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, a Redeeming Holder shall only be permitted to redeem less than all of its Class A Units if (A) after such Redemption it would continue to hold at least 50,000 Units and (B) it redeems not less than 50,000 Class A Units in such Redemption.

 

(ii) Block Redemptions. Each Redeeming Holder may effect Redemptions on any date designated by such Redeeming Holder in a timely Redemption Notice (a “Block Redemption Date”); provided that, with respect to a Redemption of Class A Units, absent the prior written consent of the Managing Member to the contrary, on each Block Redemption Date a Redeeming Holder shall not be permitted to redeem less than 500,000 Class A Units.

 

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(iii) Additional Limitations. Each Member’s and Company Warrantholder’s Redemption Right shall be subject to the following additional limitations and qualifications:

 

(A) Any Redemption of Class A Units or Company Warrants issued after the date hereof (other than in connection with any recapitalization), including such Class A Units issued to Members as of the date hereof, may be limited in accordance with the terms of any agreements or instruments entered into in connection with such issuance, as deemed necessary or desirable in the discretion of the Managing Member.

 

(B) The Managing Member may impose additional limitations and restrictions on Redemptions (including limiting Redemptions or creating priority procedures for Redemptions), to the extent it determines, in Good Faith, such limitations and restrictions to be necessary or appropriate to avoid undue risk that the Company may be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code. Furthermore, the Managing Member may require any Member or Company Warrantholder to redeem all of their Class A Units and/or Company Warrants to the extent it determines, in Good Faith, that such Redemption is necessary or appropriate to avoid undue risk that the Company may be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code. Upon delivery of any notice by the Managing Member to such Member or Company Warrantholder requiring such Redemption, such Member or Company Warrantholder shall exchange, subject to exercise by PubCo (or such designated member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group) of the Call Right pursuant to Section 4.7(f), all of their Class A Units and/or Company Warrants effective as of the date specified in such notice (and such date shall be deemed to be a Redemption Date for purposes of this Agreement) in accordance with this Section 4.7 and otherwise in accordance with the requirements set forth in such notice.

 

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(c) Notice Requirements for Redeeming Holders. In order to exercise its Redemption Right, each Redeeming Holder shall provide written notice in a reasonable form as the Company may provide from time to time (the “Redemption Notice”) to the Company and PubCo, on or before the applicable Redemption Notice Date, stating:

 

(i) the number of Class A Units (which may include Class A Units to be received upon the Redeeming Holder’s simultaneous exercise of its Class B Conversion Right or upon the Redeeming Holder’s exercise of its Company Warrants) and/or Company Warrants that the Redeeming Holder elects to have the Company redeem in accordance with Section 4.7(b)(i) or (b)(ii);

 

(ii) if the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants to be received are to be issued other than in the name of the Redeeming Holder, the name(s) of the Person(s) in whose name or on whose order the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants are to be issued;

 

(iii) whether the Redemption is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the closing of a Registered Offering of the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants for which the Class A Units or Company Warrants will be redeemed or the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event to which PubCo is a party in which the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable for or convertible into cash or other securities or property (such contingency, a “Redemption Contingency”);

 

(iv) pursuant to which section of this Agreement the Redemption Right is being exercised; and

 

(v) in the case of a Block Redemption, the intended Block Redemption Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice by any Member pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to demand or participate in any Registered Offering shall be deemed to constitute a Redemption Notice for the related Special Redemption Date.

 

(d) Revocation; Redemption Contingencies. A Redeeming Holder may not revoke or rescind a Redemption Notice after the applicable Redemption Notice Date. Any Redemption Notice delivered for a Redemption on a Quarterly Redemption Date may not be contingent. Any Redemption Notice delivered for a Redemption on a Special Redemption Date or Block Redemption Date may be subject to a Redemption Contingency.

 

(e) Procedure; Cash Election.

 

(i) On any Redemption Date for which any Redeeming Holder has delivered a Redemption Notice with respect to Class A Units or Company Warrants, unless the Company elects to pay cash in accordance with Section 4.7(e)(ii) or a member of the PubCo Holdings Group exercises its Call Right pursuant to Section 4.7(f), on such Redemption Date: (x) such number of Class A Units shall be redeemed for an equal number of Class A Shares and an equal number of Class B Shares shall be surrendered by such Redeeming Holder and cancelled and (y) such number of Company Warrants shall be redeemed for an equal number of PubCo Warrants.

 

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(ii) The Company shall be entitled to elect to settle any Redemption by delivering to the Redeeming Holder, in lieu of the applicable number of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants that would be received in such Redemption, an amount of cash equal to the Cash Election Amount for such Redemption.

 

(iii) Unless a member of the PubCo Holdings Group has elected its Call Right pursuant to Section 4.7(f) with respect to any Redemption, on the relevant Redemption Date and immediately prior to such Redemption, (i) PubCo (or such other member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group) shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Holder is entitled to receive under Section 4.7(e)(i) (including in the event the Company exercises its right to deliver the Cash Election Amount pursuant to Section 4.7(e)(ii)) and the Company shall issue to PubCo (or such other member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group) a number of Class A Units or Company Warrants, as applicable, or, pursuant to Section 4.1(e), other Equity Securities of the Company as consideration for such contribution, (ii) the Company shall (A) cancel the redeemed Class A Units or Company Warrants, as applicable, and (B) transfer to the Redeeming Holder the consideration the Redeeming Holder is entitled to receive under Section 4.7(e)(i) (including in the event the Company exercises its right to deliver the Cash Election Amount pursuant to Section 4.7(e)(ii)), and (iii) PubCo shall cancel the surrendered Class B Shares, as applicable. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company makes a Cash Election that is funded with proceeds from a primary offering of PubCo Equity Securities, the PubCo Holdings Group shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in cash equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any deferred discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions payable in connection with or as a result of such Registered Offering)) (such difference, the “Discount”) from the sale by PubCo of a number of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, equal to the number of Class A Units or Company Warrants, as applicable, to be redeemed with such cash or from the sale of other PubCo Equity Securities used to fund the Cash Election Amount; provided that PubCo’s Capital Account (or the Capital Account(s) of the other member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group, as applicable) shall be increased by the amount of such Discount in accordance with Section 7.9; provided further, that the contribution of such net proceeds shall in no event affect the Redeeming Holder’s right to receive the Cash Election Amount.

 

(iv) Each Redemption shall be deemed to have been effected on the applicable Redemption Date. Any Redeeming Holder redeeming Class A Units or Company Warrants in accordance with this Agreement may request that the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, to be issued upon such Redemption be issued in a name other than such Redeeming Holder. Any Person or Persons in whose name or names any Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, are issuable on any Redemption Date shall be deemed to have become, on such Redemption Date, the holder or holders of record of such shares or warrants.

 

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(v) PubCo shall at all times keep available, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption, out of its authorized but unissued Class A Shares, such number of Class A Shares that shall be issuable upon the Redemption of all outstanding Class A Units (other than those Class A Units held by any member of the PubCo Holdings Group); provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude PubCo from satisfying its obligations with respect to a Redemption by delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Election or Class A Shares that are held in the treasury of PubCo. PubCo covenants that all Class A Shares that shall be issued upon a Redemption shall, upon issuance thereof, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In addition, for so long as the Class A Shares are listed on a National Securities Exchange, PubCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Class A Shares issued upon a Redemption to be listed on such National Securities Exchange at the time of such issuance.

 

(f) Call Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.7, a Redeeming Holder shall be deemed to have offered to sell its Class A Units and/or Company Warrants as described in any Redemption Notice to each member of the PubCo Holdings Group, and PubCo (or such other member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group designated by PubCo) may, in its sole discretion, in accordance with this Section 4.7(f), elect to purchase directly and acquire such Class A Units and/or Company Warrants on the Redemption Date by paying to the Redeeming Holder that number of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, the Redeeming Holder would otherwise receive pursuant to Section 4.7(e) or, if PubCo (or such designated member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group ) makes a Cash Election, the Cash Election Amount for such Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants (the “Call Right”), whereupon PubCo (or such designated member(s) of the PubCo Holdings Group) shall acquire the Class A Units and/or Company Warrants offered for redemption by the Redeeming Holder and shall become the owner thereof.

 

(g) Tax Matters.

 

(i) For U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) tax purposes, each of the Redeeming Holder, the Company and PubCo (and any other member of the PubCo Holding Group), as the case may be, agree to treat each Redemption and, in the event PubCo (or another member of the PubCo Holdings Group) exercises its Call Right, each transaction between the Redeeming Holder and PubCo (or such other member of the PubCo Holdings Group), as a sale of such Redeeming Holder’s Class A Units (together with the same number Class B Shares) or Company Warrants, as applicable, to PubCo (or such other member of the PubCo Holdings Group) in exchange for Class A Shares, PubCo Warrants or cash, as applicable.

 

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(ii) The issuance of Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants upon a Redemption shall be made without charge to the Redeeming Holder for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance, except that if any such Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants are to be issued in a name other than that of the Redeeming Holder, then the Person or Persons in whose names such shares are to be issued shall pay to PubCo the amount of any tax payable in respect of any Transfer involved in such issuance or establish to the satisfaction of PubCo that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(iii) Each of the Company and PubCo shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable or otherwise deliverable upon a Redemption (and the Redeeming Holder agrees to indemnify the Company and PubCo with respect to) such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld therefrom under the Code or any provision of applicable Law, and to the extent deduction and withholding is required, such deduction and withholding may be taken in Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants. Prior to making such deduction or withholding, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to give written notice to the Redeeming Holder and reasonably cooperate with such Redeeming Holder to reduce or avoid any such withholding. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the relevant governmental authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Redeeming Holder, and, if withholding is taken in Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, the relevant withholding party shall be treated as having sold such Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, on behalf of such Redeeming Holder for an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value thereof at the time of such deemed sale and paid such cash proceeds to the appropriate governmental authority.

 

(h) If (i) there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction pursuant to which the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property (other than as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 4.1(f)), or (ii) except in connection with actions taken with respect to the capitalization of PubCo or the Company pursuant to Section 4.1(h), PubCo, by dividend or otherwise, distributes to all holders of the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants evidences of its indebtedness or assets, including securities (including Class A Shares and any rights, options or warrants to all holders of the Class A Shares to subscribe for or to purchase or to otherwise acquire Class A Shares, or other securities or rights convertible into, redeemable for or exercisable for Class A Shares) but excluding (A) any cash dividend or distribution, (B) any such distribution of indebtedness or assets received by PubCo, in either case (A) or (B) received by PubCo from the Company in respect of the Class A Units or Company Warrants, and (C) any exercise or redemption of PubCo Warrants pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreement, then upon any subsequent Redemption, in addition to the Class A Shares, PubCo Warrants or the Cash Election Amount, as applicable, each Redeeming Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Redeeming Holder would have received if such Redemption had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, other similar transaction, dividend or other distribution, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, or any dividend or distribution (other than an excluded dividend or distribution, as described above in clauses (A), (B) or (C)), this Section 4.7 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property.

 

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(i) Automatic Redemption of Designated Holders.  Immediately prior to an Initial Business Combination (or, in the case of a proposed business combination involving U.S. real property interests, immediately prior to signing any definitive agreement in respect of such a business combination), all Units and Company Warrants (solely to the extent not terminated or to be terminated with respect to such Designated Holder in connection with the Initial Business Combination pursuant to Section 2.6.2 of the Warrant Agreement) held by any Designated Holders shall automatically (i) in the case of any Class B Units, be converted into Class A Units in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2(c) and (ii) following any such conversion, be redeemed for Class A Shares (together with the cancellation of a corresponding number of Class B Shares) or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 4.7 (such conversion and Redemption, a “Designated Holder Redemption”). The Company shall deliver written notice to any such Designated Holder of an intended Designated Holder Redemption pursuant to this Section 4.7(i) (a “Designated Holder Redemption Notice”) as soon as reasonably practicable following the date upon which such Designated Holder Redemption is effected (such date, the “Designated Holder Redemption Date”), indicating in such notice the number of Class A Shares and/or PubCo Warrants issued to such Designated Holder in the Designated Holder Redemption; provided, however, that such Designated Holder Redemption Notice shall only be provided to a Designated Holder after the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that providing such notice would not impart material non-public information with respect to PubCo to the Designated Holder. From and after the Designated Holder Redemption Date, (x) the Units, Class B Shares and/or Company Warrants subject to such Designated Holder Redemption shall be deemed to be transferred to PubCo on the Designated Holder Redemption Date and (y) such Designated Holder shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Units, Class B Shares and/or Company Warrants subject to such Designated Holder Redemption (other than the right to receive Class A Shares or PubCo Warrants, as applicable, pursuant to such Designated Holder Redemption). The Designated Holders shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Managing Member to effect such Designated Holder Redemption, including taking any action and delivering any document required to effect a Designated Holder Redemption.

 

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(j) No Redemption shall impair the right of the Redeeming Holder to receive any distributions payable on the Class A Units redeemed pursuant to such Redemption in respect of a record date that occurs prior to the Redemption Date for such Redemption. For the avoidance of doubt, no Redeeming Holder, or a Person designated by a Redeeming Holder to receive Class A Shares, shall be entitled to receive, with respect to such record date, distributions or dividends both on Class A Units redeemed by the Company from such Redeeming Holder and on Class A Shares received by such Redeeming Holder, or other Person so designated, if applicable, in such Redemption.

 

Article V

ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES

 

Section 5.1 Profits and Losses.

 

(a) Pre-Equalization. For any Fiscal Year or other allocation period ending on or prior to the Equalization Date, except as set forth in Section 5.2 or Section 5.4, Profit and Loss of the Company for such Fiscal Year or other allocation period shall be allocated to the Members as follows:

 

(i) prior to an Initial Business Combination, to the Class A Members pro rata in accordance with the number of Class A Units held by each such Member; and

 

(ii) after an Initial Business Combination, to all of the Members, pro rata in accordance with the number of Units held by each such Member.

 

(b) Post-Equalization. For any Fiscal Year or other allocation period beginning after the Equalization Date, subject to Section 5.4, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be necessary and appropriate to achieve the resulting Capital Account balances described below, any allocable items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit includable in the computation of Profits and Losses) for each Fiscal Year or other allocation period shall be allocated among the Members during such Fiscal Year or other allocation period in a manner such that, after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 5.2 and all distributions through the end of such Fiscal Year or other allocation period, the Capital Account balance of each Member, immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal to (i) the amount such Member would receive pursuant to Section 11.3(c) if all assets of the Company on hand at the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period were sold for cash equal to their Gross Asset Values, all liabilities of the Company were satisfied in cash in accordance with their terms (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Gross Asset Value of the assets securing such liability), and all remaining or resulting cash was distributed, in accordance with Section 11.3(c), to the Members immediately after making such allocation, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets, and the amount any such Member is treated as obligated to contribute to the Company, computed immediately after the hypothetical sale of assets.

 

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Section 5.2 Special Allocations.

 

(a) Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be specially allocated to the Members on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member as of the last day of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period. The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall equal the excess, if any, of the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain during that Fiscal Year or other taxable period over the aggregate amount of any distributions during that Fiscal Year or other taxable period of proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability that are allocable to an increase in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

(b) Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Member bears the economic risk of loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt, the Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated among the Members according to the ratio in which they bear the economic risk of loss. This Section 5.2(b) is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year or other taxable period (or if there was a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain for a prior Fiscal Year or other taxable period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 5.2(c)), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during such year (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2)). This section is intended to constitute a minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except Section 5.2(c), if there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year or other taxable period (or if there was a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain for a prior Fiscal Year or other taxable period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 5.2(d)), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4)). This section is intended to constitute a partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(b), no Losses or other items of loss or expense shall be allocated to any Member to the extent that such allocation would cause such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increase any existing Adjusted Capital Account Deficit) at the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period. All Losses and other items of loss and expense in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 5.2(e) shall be allocated to the Members who do not have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in proportion to their relative positive Capital Accounts (as adjusted pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit”) but only to the extent that such Losses and other items of loss and expense do not cause any such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.

 

(f) Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 5.2(c) and Section 5.2(d), in the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustment, allocation or distribution described in paragraph (4), (5) or (6) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), items of income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of income, including gross income, and gain for the Fiscal Year or other taxable period) shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate any Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of that Member as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2(f) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.2(f) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.2(f) is intended to constitute a qualified income offset under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(g) If any Member has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Fiscal Year or other taxable period, that Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2(g) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been made as if Section 5.2(f) and this Section 5.2(g) were not in this Agreement.

 

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(h) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 734(b) (including any such adjustments pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to any Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s Interest, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such item of gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) if such section applies or to the Member to whom such distribution was made if Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.

 

(i) The allocations set forth in Sections 5.2(a) through 5.2(h) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the Regulatory Allocations (and anticipated future Regulatory Allocations) shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocation of other items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member should be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred. This Section 5.2(i) is intended to minimize to the extent possible and to the extent necessary any economic distortions that may result from application of the Regulatory Allocations and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(j) Items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit resulting from a Covered Audit Adjustment shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules.

 

(k) For any Fiscal Year in which distributions are actually made to holders of Class B Units if necessary, after all other allocations have been tentatively made pursuant to Section 5.1 and this Section 5.2, to cause the Capital Accounts relating to any Class B Units to be equal (immediately before such distributions and so as to avoid negative Capital Accounts) to the amounts distributed to the holders of the Class B Units, the Managing Member, in its discretion, may allocate appropriate items of gross income that are accrued and realized following the issuance of the relevant Class B Units to the holders of such Class B Units. If there are insufficient items of gross income to be allocated to the holders of the Class B Units, then such distributions shall, to the extent of such excess, be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code.

 

(l) Special Fungibility Allocations.

 

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.1, but subject to and after taking into account any allocations or other adjustments pursuant to Section 5.2(m), if any Non-Fungible Class B Units are outstanding at the time of any adjustment to the Gross Asset Values of Company assets pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and clause (b) of the definition of “Gross Asset Value”:

 

(A) any items of gain included in clause (c) of the definition of “Profits” or “Losses” realized in connection with such adjustment shall first be allocated to the Members holding Class B Units, pro rata in accordance with the number of Non-Fungible Class B Units held by each such Member or as otherwise reasonably determined by the Managing Member, until each Member’s Class B Capital Account equals its Class B Fungibility Target Balance; and

 

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(B) any items of loss included in clause (c) of the definition of “Profits” or “Losses” realized in connection with such adjustment shall first be allocated to the Members, pro rata in accordance with the number of Class A Units and Fungible Class B Units held by each such Member until each Member’s Class B Capital Account equals its Class B Fungibility Target Balance.

 

(ii) For any Fiscal Year in which any Member elects, pursuant to Section 4.2(c), to convert a number of Class B Units that, but for this Section 5.2(l)(ii), would be in excess of such Member’s Fungible Class B Units, after all other allocations have been tentatively made pursuant to Section 5.1 and this Section 5.2 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, allocations pursuant to Section 5.2(l)(i) in connection with such conversion), based on an interim closing of the books pursuant to Section 706 of the Code as of the applicable Class B Conversion Date, the Managing Member shall, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent required to cause such Member to have a number of Fungible Class B Units equal to the number of Class B Units to be so converted, allocate to such Member appropriate items of gross income. In the event that the Company has insufficient items of gross income to make allocations to all Members making such election, the available items of gross income shall be allocated to such Members as reasonably determined by the Managing Member; provided that in the case of a Designated Holder Redemption, any excess amount required to cause the Class B Units held by any Designated Holder to be Fungible Class B Units shall be allocated to such Designated Holder and treated as a “guaranteed payment” within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code.

 

(iii) The Members agree that the intent of this Section 5.2(l) is to cause, to the greatest extent possible, the Capital Account balance associated with each Class B Unit equivalent to the Capital Account balance associated with each Class A Unit (and, to the greatest extent possible, for such equivalency to be achieved through allocations of book gains and losses). The Managing Member shall be permitted to interpret or amend this Section 5.2(l) as necessary and consistent with such intention and to make allocations in any manner as reasonably necessary to implement such intent.

 

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(m) Special Allocations Regarding Company Warrants and Other Noncompensatory Options. Upon an exercise of a Company Warrant or other noncompensatory option to acquire a Class A Unit or other interest in the Company:

 

(i) An adjustment shall be made to the Gross Asset Value of Company assets in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(1) and clause (b) of the definition of “Gross Asset Value” as of immediately after the exercise of such option.

 

(ii) The Capital Account of the holder of the Class A Unit (or other interest in the Company) acquired upon the exercise of such option will be credited with the amount paid for the option and the exercise price of the option in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(b) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)(4) and Section 4.5(a)(ii).

 

(iii) To the extent that, after crediting such holder’s Capital Account in accordance with Section 5.2(m)(ii), such holder’s Capital Account balance, to the extent attributable to such Class A Unit (or other interest in the Company) received upon the exercise of such option, is not equal to the NCO Target Balance, (A) such holder shall be allocated any unrealized income, gain or loss in Company assets (that has not been reflected in the Members’ Capital Accounts previously) to the extent necessary to cause such holder’s Capital Account balance, to the extent attributable to such Class A Unit (or other interest in the Company) received upon the exercise of such option, to equal the NCO Target Balance, and (B) thereafter, any remaining amounts of such unrealized income, gain or loss shall be allocated in accordance with the other provisions of Section 5.1 and this Section 5.2, in each case, accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(2).

 

(iv) If after making the foregoing allocations, such holder’s Capital Account balance, to the extent attributable to such Class A Unit (or other interest in the Company) received upon the exercise of such option, is still not equal to the NCO Target Balance, the Members’ Capital Accounts shall be reallocated to the extent to the extent necessary to cause such holder’s Capital Account balance, to the extent attributable to such Class A Unit (or other interest in the Company) received upon the exercise of such option, to equal the NCO Target Balance, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any such reallocation shall be made, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the intentions of Section 5.2(l) of causing the Capital Account balance associated with each Class B Unit to be (and remain) equivalent to the Capital Account balance associated with each Class A Unit, as determined by the Managing Member.

 

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Section 5.3 Allocations for Tax Purposes in General.

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.3, each item of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as such item is allocated under Sections 5.1 and 5.2.

 

(b) In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including the Treasury Regulations applying the principles of Code Section 704(c) to changes in Gross Asset Values), items of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any Company property having a Gross Asset Value that differs from such property’s adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis shall, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Members to account for any such difference using such method or methods as determined by the Managing Member to be appropriate and in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

(c) Any (i) recapture of depreciation or any other item of deduction shall be allocated, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1254-5, to the Members who received the benefit of such deductions, and (ii) recapture of grants or credits shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with applicable law.

 

(d) Tax credits of the Company shall be allocated among the Members as provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and 1.704-1(b)(4)(viii).

 

(e) Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.3 are solely for purposes of U.S. federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect or in any way be taken into account in computing any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

(f) If, as a result of an exercise of a noncompensatory option to acquire an interest in the Company (including any Company Warrant), a Capital Account reallocation is required under Section 5.2(m)(iv) or Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), the Company shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

Section 5.4 Other Allocation Rules.

 

(a) The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article V and the economic impact of the allocations on the amounts receivable by them under this Agreement. The Members hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article V in reporting their share of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.

 

(b) The provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance for each Member of a Capital Account as provided by Section 4.5 and the allocations set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 are intended to comply with the Treasury Regulations and to reflect the intended economic entitlement of the Members. If the Managing Member determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of the provisions in Section 4.5, 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 would result in non-compliance with the Treasury Regulations or would be inconsistent with the intended economic entitlement of the Members, the Managing Member is authorized to make any appropriate adjustments to such provisions.

 

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(c) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to an interest in the Company that may have been Transferred shall be allocated between the Transferor and the Transferee in accordance with a method determined by the Managing Member and permissible under Code Section 706 and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

 

(d) The Members’ proportionate shares of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), shall be allocated to the Members on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member.

 

(e) The Managing Member shall amend this Article V from time to time to reflect the allocation of Profit and Loss in connection with priority distributions on any preferred units or other Equity Securities that may be issued by the Company (other than Common Units).

 

(f) The Managing Member may amend or interpret the provisions of this Article V as, in the Managing Member’s reasonable discretion, may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the applicable Treasury Regulations or other legal requirements and to properly reflect the economic intent of this Agreement.

 

Article VI

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 6.1 Distributions.

 

(a) To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, and except as otherwise provided in Section 6.2 and Section 11.3, distributions to Members may be declared by the Managing Member out of funds legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such distributions) as the Managing Member shall determine using such record date as the Managing Member may designate. Any such distribution shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Units held by each such Member. For the avoidance of doubt, repurchases or Redemptions made in accordance with Section 4.1(e)(vi), Section 4.7 or payments made in accordance with Sections 7.4 or 7.9 need not be on a pro rata basis. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.1, the Managing Member shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the distribution and the payment date thereof.

 

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(b) Successors. For purposes of determining the amount of distributions, each Member shall be treated as having made the Capital Contributions and as having received the distributions made to or received by its predecessors in respect of any of such Member’s Units.

 

(c) Distributions In-Kind. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any distributions may be made in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind, as determined by the Managing Member. In the event of any distribution of (i) property in kind or (ii) both cash and property in kind, each Member shall be distributed its proportionate share of any such cash so distributed and its proportionate share of any such property so distributed in kind (based on the Fair Market Value of such property).

 

Section 6.2 Tax-Related Distributions. The Company shall, subject to any restrictions contained in any agreement to which the Company is bound, make distributions out of legally available funds, at such times and in such amounts as the Managing Member reasonably determines to be necessary to cause a distribution to the PubCo Holdings Group, in the aggregate, sufficient to enable the PubCo Holdings Group to timely satisfy any PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities, as follows:

 

(a) prior to an Initial Business Combination, to the Class A Members pro rata in accordance with the number of Class A Units held by each such Member; and

 

(b) after an Initial Business Combination, to all of the Members, pro rata in accordance with the number of Units held by each such Member.

 

Section 6.3 Distribution Upon Withdrawal. No withdrawing Member shall be entitled to receive any distribution or the value of such Member’s Interest as a result of withdrawal from the Company prior to the liquidation of the Company, except as specifically provided in this Agreement.

 

Section 6.4 Issuance of Additional Equity Securities. This Article VI shall be subject to and, to the extent necessary, amended to reflect the issuance by the Company of any additional Equity Securities.

 

Article VII

MANAGEMENT

 

Section 7.1 The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties.

 

(a) PubCo shall be the sole Managing Member of the Company. Except as otherwise required by Law, (i) the Managing Member shall have full and complete charge of all affairs of the Company, (ii) the management and control of the Company’s business activities and operations shall rest exclusively with the Managing Member, and the Managing Member shall make all decisions regarding the business, activities and operations of the Company (including the incurrence of costs and expenses) in its sole discretion without the consent of any other Member and (iii) the Members other than the Managing Member (in their capacity as such) shall not participate in the control, management, direction or operation of the activities or affairs of the Company and shall have no power to act for or bind the Company.

 

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(b) In connection with the performance of its duties as the Managing Member of the Company, except as otherwise set forth herein, the Managing Member acknowledges that it will owe to the Members the same fiduciary duties as it would owe to the stockholders of a Delaware corporation if it were a member of the board of directors of such a corporation and the Members were stockholders of such corporation. The Members acknowledge that the Managing Member will take action through its board of directors, and that the members of the Managing Member’s board of directors will owe comparable fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Managing Member.

 

Section 7.2 Officers.

 

(a) The Managing Member may appoint, employ or otherwise contract with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Company or the performance of services for or on behalf of the Company, and the Managing Member may delegate to any such Persons such authority to act on behalf of the Company as the Managing Member may from time to time deem appropriate.

 

(b) Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the general and active management of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will see that all orders of the Managing Member are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer will report to the Managing Member and have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president and chief executive officer of a corporation organized under the DGCL, subject to the terms of this Agreement, and will have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Managing Member or this Agreement. The Chief Executive Officer will have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Company, except where required or permitted by Law to be otherwise signed and executed, and except where the signing and execution thereof will be expressly delegated by the Managing Member to some other Officer or agent of the Company.

 

(c) Except as set forth herein, the Managing Member may appoint Officers at any time, and the Officers may include a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, one or more assistant secretaries, a chief financial officer, a general counsel, a treasurer, one or more assistant treasurers, a chief operating officer, an executive chairman, and any other officers that the Managing Member deems appropriate. Except as set forth herein, the Officers will serve at the pleasure of the Managing Member, subject to all rights, if any, of such Officer under any contract of employment. Any individual may hold any number of offices, and an Officer may, but need not, be a Member of the Company. The Officers will exercise such powers and perform such duties as specified in this Agreement or as determined from time to time by the Managing Member.

 

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(d) Subject to this Agreement and to the rights, if any, of an Officer under a contract of employment, any Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Managing Member. Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Managing Member. Any resignation will take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation will not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the Officer is a party. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause will be filled in the manner prescribed in this Agreement for regular appointments to that office.

 

(e) The Officers, in the performance of their duties as such, shall owe to the Company and the Members duties of loyalty and due care of the type owed by the officers of a corporation to such corporation and its shareholders under the DGCL.

 

Section 7.3 Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others. In exercising their authority and performing their duties under this Agreement, the Officers shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements of the following Persons or groups unless they have actual knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted:

 

(a) one or more employees or other agents of the Company or subordinates whom the Officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; and

 

(b) any attorney, public accountant or other Person as to matters which the Officer reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence.

 

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Section 7.4 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended (provided, that no such amendment shall limit a Covered Person’s rights to indemnification hereunder with respect to any actions or events occurring prior to such amendment except to the extent required by a non-waivable and non-modifiable provision of applicable Law), any person who was or is 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, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a Manager (as defined in the Existing LLC Agreement) entitled to indemnification under the Existing LLC Agreement, a Member, an Officer, the Managing Member or the Company Representative or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another limited liability company or of a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (a “Covered Person”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a member, director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a member, director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such Proceeding, unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of such act or omission, and taking into account the acknowledgements and agreements set forth in this Agreement, (x) such Covered Person engaged in a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing or a bad faith violation of this Agreement or (y) such Covered Person would not be so entitled to be indemnified and held harmless if the Company were a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware that indemnified and held harmless its directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL as in effect on the date of this Agreement (but including any expansion of rights to indemnification thereunder from and after the date of this Agreement). The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable Law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended (provided, that no such amendment shall limit a Covered Person’s rights to indemnification hereunder with respect to any actions or events occurring prior to such amendment except to the extent required by a non-waivable and non-modifiable provision of applicable Law), pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.4 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Section 7.4 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a member, director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.4, except for Proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Company shall indemnify and advance expenses to a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Managing Member.

 

Section 7.5 Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, the Company (with the approval of the Managing Member) may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any Person who is or was a Member, employee or agent of the Company, or at the request of the Company is or was serving as a manager, director, officer, employee or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any Liability asserted against such Person and Liability and expenses incurred by such Person in such Person’s capacity as such, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company has the authority to indemnify such Person against such Liability and expenses.

 

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Section 7.6 Resignation or Termination of Managing Member. PubCo shall not, by any means, resign as, cease to be or be replaced as Managing Member except in compliance with this Section 7.6. No termination or replacement of PubCo as Managing Member shall be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of PubCo, its successor (if applicable) and any new Managing Member and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect. No appointment of a Person other than PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) as Managing Member shall be effective unless PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable) provide all other Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such other Members against PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable), to cause (a) PubCo to comply with all PubCo’s obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 4.7) other than those that must necessarily be taken in its capacity as Managing Member and (b) the new Managing Member to comply with all the Managing Member’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 7.7 No Inconsistent Obligations. The Managing Member represents that it does not have any contracts, other agreements, duties or obligations that are inconsistent with its duties and obligations (whether or not in its capacity as Managing Member) under this Agreement and covenants that, except as permitted by Section 7.1, it will not enter into any contracts or other agreements or undertake or acquire any other duties or obligations that are inconsistent with such duties and obligations.

 

Section 7.8 Reclassification Events of PubCo. If a Reclassification Event occurs, the Managing Member or its successor, as the case may be, shall, as and to the extent necessary, amend this Agreement in compliance with Section 12.1, and enter into any necessary supplementary or additional agreements, to ensure that following the effective date of the Reclassification Event: (i) the Redemption Rights of holders of Class A Units set forth in Section 4.7 provide that each Class A Unit (together with the surrender and delivery of one Class B Share) is redeemable for the same amount and same type of property, securities or cash (or combination thereof) that one Class A Share becomes exchangeable for or converted into as a result of the Reclassification Event and (ii) PubCo or the successor to PubCo, as applicable, is obligated to deliver such property, securities or cash upon such Redemption. PubCo shall not consummate or agree to consummate any Reclassification Event unless the successor Person, if any, becomes obligated to comply with the obligations of PubCo (in whatever capacity) under this Agreement.

 

Section 7.9 Certain Costs and Expenses. The Company shall (a) pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals and the compensation of all personnel providing services to the Company and its Subsidiaries) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company and (b) in the Good Faith discretion of the Managing Member, reimburse the Managing Member for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by it in connection with serving as the Managing Member. To the extent that the Managing Member determines in its Good Faith discretion that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Managing Member that are conducted through the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member or any other member of the PubCo Holdings Group), the Managing Member may cause the Company to pay or bear all expenses of the PubCo Holdings Group, including, without limitation, franchise taxes, costs of securities offerings not borne directly by Members, board of directors compensation and meeting costs, costs of periodic reports to stockholders of PubCo, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs; provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of any member of the PubCo Holdings Group (but the Company shall be entitled to make distributions in respect of these obligations pursuant to Article VI). In the event that (i) Class A Shares or other Equity Securities of PubCo were sold to underwriters in any public offering (including the IPO) after the Effective Time, in each case, at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such Class A Shares or other Equity Securities of PubCo are sold to the public in such public offering after taking into account any Discounts and (ii) the proceeds from such public offering are used to fund the Cash Election Amount for any redeemed Units or otherwise contributed to the Company, the Company shall reimburse the applicable member of the PubCo Holdings Group for such Discount by treating such Discount as an additional Capital Contribution made by such member of the PubCo Holdings Group to the Company, issuing Units in respect of such deemed Capital Contribution in accordance with Section 4.7(e)(ii), and increasing the Capital Account of such member of the PubCo Holdings Group by the amount of such Discount. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments made to or on behalf of any member of the PubCo Holdings Group pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall not be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 6.1(a) but shall instead be treated as an expense of the Company.

 

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Article VIII

ROLE OF MEMBERS

 

Section 8.1 Rights or Powers.

 

(a) Other than the Managing Member, the Members, acting in their capacity as Members, shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of the Company or its business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members have all the rights and powers specifically set forth in this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in the Act. A Member, any Affiliate thereof or an employee, stockholder, agent, director or officer of a Member or any Affiliate thereof, may also be an employee or be retained as an agent of the Company. The existence of these relationships and acting in such capacities will not result in the Member (other than the Managing Member) being deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Company or otherwise affect the limited liability of the Member. Except as specifically provided herein, a Member (other than the Managing Member) shall not, in its capacity as a Member, take part in the operation, management or control of the Company’s business, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company.

 

(b) The Company shall promptly (but in any event within three business days) notify the Members in writing if, to the Company’s knowledge, for any reason, it would be an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), as amended, but for the exceptions provided in Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) thereunder.

 

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Section 8.2 Voting.

 

(a) Meetings of the Members may be called upon the written request of Members holding at least 50% of the outstanding Units. Such request shall state the location of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting. Written notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Members not less than two Business Days and not more than 30 days prior to the date of such meeting. Members may vote in person, by proxy or by telephone at any meeting of the Members and may waive advance notice of such meeting. Whenever the vote or consent of Members is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or consent may be given at a meeting of the Members or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this Section 8.2. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the Members holding a majority of the outstanding Units shall constitute the act of the Members.

 

(b) Each Member may authorize any Person or Persons to act for it by proxy on all matters in which such Member is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by such Member or its attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Member executing it.

 

(c) Each meeting of Members shall be conducted by an Officer designated by the Managing Member or such other individual Person as the Managing Member deems appropriate.

 

(d) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members may be taken without a meeting if the requisite Members whose approval is necessary consent thereto in writing.

 

Section 8.3 Various Capacities. The Members acknowledge and agree that the Members or their Affiliates will from time to time act in various capacities, including as a Member and as the Company Representative.

 

Section 8.4 Investment Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Member (other than Members who are officers or employees of the Company, PubCo or any of their respective Subsidiaries), any of their respective Affiliates (other than the Company, the Managing Member or any of their respective Subsidiaries), or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, shareholders, members, managers and partners (each, a “Business Opportunities Exempt Party”). The Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any Business Opportunities Exempt Party.  No Business Opportunities Exempt Party who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Company.  No amendment or repeal of this Section 8.4 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Business Opportunities Exempt Party for or with respect to any opportunities of which any such Business Opportunities Exempt Party becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal.  Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any Units shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 8.4.  Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Section 8.4, nor the adoption of any provision of this Agreement inconsistent with this Section 8.4, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Section 8.4 in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Section 8.4, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

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Article IX

TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

 

Section 9.1 Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.7 and Section 9.1(c), no Member shall Transfer all or any portion of its Interest without the Managing Member’s prior written consent, which consent shall be granted or withheld in the Managing Member’s sole discretion. If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9.1(a), all or any portion of a Member’s Interests are Transferred in violation of this Section 9.1(a), involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, then without limiting any other rights and remedies available to the other parties under this Agreement or otherwise, the Transferee of such Interest (or portion thereof) shall not be admitted to the Company as a Member or be entitled to any rights as a Member hereunder, and the Transferor will continue to be bound by all obligations hereunder, unless and until the Managing Member consents in writing to such admission, which consent shall be granted or withheld in the Managing Member’s sole discretion. Any attempted or purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Interests in violation of this Section 9.1(a) shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions on Transfer contained in this Article IX shall not apply to the Transfer of any capital stock of PubCo; provided that no Class B Shares may be Transferred unless a corresponding number of Units are Transferred therewith in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(b) In addition to any other restrictions on Transfer herein contained, including the provisions of this Article IX, in no event may any Transfer or assignment of Interests by any Member be made (i) to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own Interests; (ii) if such Transfer (A) would be considered to be effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1, (B) would result in the Company having more than 100 partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), or (C) would cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or a successor provision or to be classified as a corporation pursuant to the Code or successor of the Code; (iii) if such Transfer would cause the Company to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code); (iv) if such Transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, cause any portion of the assets of the Company to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise cause the Company to be subject to regulation under ERISA; (v) if such Transfer requires the registration of such Interests or any Equity Securities issued upon any exchange of such Interests, pursuant to any applicable U.S. federal or state securities Laws; or (vi) if such Transfer subjects the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, each as amended (or any succeeding law). Any attempted or purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Interests in violation of this Section 9.1(b) shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding any of the provisions in Section 9.1(a), but subject to all other provisions in this Article IX, Rice Sponsor may Transfer all or a portion of its Units to any of its members as of the date hereof without the consent of any other Member or Person.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to Section 9.1(b), the parties hereto agree that the Managing Member shall not unreasonably withhold consent to any Transfer of Units (i) by will or intestacy; (ii) as a bona fide gift or gifts; (iii) to any trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the holder or the immediate family of such holder; (iv) to any immediate family member or other dependent of the holder; (v) as a distribution to limited partners, members or stockholders of the holder; (vi) to the holder’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the holder; (vii) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi); or (viii) pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency.

 

Section 9.2 Notice of Transfer.

 

(a) Other than in connection with Transfers made pursuant to Section 4.7, each Member shall, after complying with the provisions of this Agreement, but in any event no later than three Business Days following any Transfer of Interests, give written notice to the Company of such Transfer. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the Transfer.

 

(b) A Member making a Transfer (including a deemed Transfer for U.S. federal income tax purposes as described in Section 4.7(e)(iv)) permitted by this Agreement shall, unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member, (i) have delivered to the Company an affidavit of non-foreign status with respect to such Transferor that satisfies the requirements of Section 1446(f)(2) of the Code or other documentation establishing a valid exemption from withholding pursuant to Section 1446(f) of the Code or (ii) contemporaneously with the Transfer, properly withhold and remit to the Internal Revenue Service the amount of tax required to be withheld upon the Transfer by Section 1446(f) of the Code (and provide evidence to the Company of such withholding and remittance promptly thereafter).

 

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Section 9.3 Transferee Members. A Transferee of Interests pursuant to this Article IX shall have the right to become a Member only if (a) the requirements of this Article IX are met, (b) such Transferee executes an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement and assuming all of the Transferor’s then existing and future Liabilities arising under or relating to this Agreement, (c) such Transferee represents that the Transfer was made in accordance with all applicable securities Laws, (d) the Transferor or Transferee shall have reimbursed the Company for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) of any Transfer or proposed Transfer of a Member’s Interest, whether or not consummated and (e) if such Transferee or his or her spouse is a resident of a community property jurisdiction, then such Transferee’s spouse shall also execute an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement to the extent of his or her community property or quasi-community property interest, if any, in such Member’s Interest. Unless agreed to in writing by the Managing Member, the admission of a Member shall not result in the release of the Transferor from any Liability that the Transferor may have to each remaining Member or to the Company under this Agreement or any other Contract between the Managing Member, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and such Transferor or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand. Written notice of the admission of a Member shall be sent promptly by the Company to each remaining Member.

 

Section 9.4 Legend. Each certificate representing a Unit, if any, will be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.

 

THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT.

 

THE TRANSFER AND VOTING OF THESE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC (THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES) AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED AND/OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND NO TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES WILL BE VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES.”

 

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Article X

ACCOUNTING; Certain Tax Matters

 

Section 10.1 Books of Account. The Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain true books and records of account in which full and correct entries shall be made of all its business transactions pursuant to a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and shall set aside on its books all such proper accruals and reserves as shall be required under GAAP.

 

Section 10.2 Tax Elections.

 

(a) The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code for the first taxable year for which the Company (or such eligible Subsidiary) is permitted to make such election and shall not thereafter revoke such election. In addition, the Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate forms or tax returns, if permitted under the Code or applicable law:

 

(i) to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s Fiscal Year;

 

(ii) to adopt the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(iii) to elect to amortize the organizational expenses of the Company as permitted by Section 709(b) of the Code; and

 

(iv) except as otherwise provided herein, any other election the Managing Member may in Good Faith deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.

 

(b) Upon request of the Managing Member, each Member shall cooperate in Good Faith with the Company in connection with the Company’s efforts to make any election pursuant to this Section 10.2.

 

Section 10.3 Tax Returns; Information. The Managing Member shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all income and other tax and informational returns of the Company. The Managing Member shall furnish to each Member a copy of each approved return and statement, together with any schedules (including Schedule K-1), or other information that a Member may require and reasonably request in connection with such Member’s own tax affairs, as soon as practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year. The Members agree to (a) take all actions reasonably requested by the Company or the Company Representative to comply with the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, including where applicable, filing amended returns as provided in Sections 6225 or 6226 of the Code and providing confirmation thereof to the Company Representative and (b) furnish to the Company (i) all reasonably requested certificates or statements relating to the tax matters of the Company (including without limitation an affidavit of non-foreign status pursuant to Section 1446(f)(2) of the Code), and (ii) all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is reasonably necessary to enable the Company’s tax returns to be prepared and timely filed.

 

Section 10.4 Company Representative. The Managing Member is specially authorized and appointed to act as the Company Representative and in any similar capacity under state or local Law. The Company and the Members (including any Member designated as the Company Representative prior to the date hereof) shall cooperate fully with each other and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Managing Member (or any other Person subsequently designated) to become the Company Representative with respect to any taxable period of the Company with respect to which the statute of limitations has not yet expired, including (as applicable) by filing certifications pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.6231(a)(7)-1(d). In acting as the Company Representative, the Managing Member is hereby authorized to take such actions and to execute and file all statements and forms on behalf of the Company that are permitted or required by the Partnership Tax Audit Rules (including a “push-out” election under Section 6226 of the Code or any analogous election under state or local tax law) or in connection with any other tax proceeding. The Company Representative may retain, at the Company’s expense, such outside counsel, accountants and other professional consultants as it may reasonably deem necessary in the course of fulfilling its obligations as Company Representative.

 

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Section 10.5 Withholding Tax Payments and Obligations.

 

(a) Withholding Tax Payments. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold from distributions, allocations or portions thereof if it is required to do so by any applicable Law, and each Member hereby authorizes the Company and its Subsidiaries to withhold or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Member, any amount of U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. taxes that the Managing Member determines, in Good Faith, that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b) Other Tax Payments. To the extent that any tax is paid by (or withheld from amounts payable to) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Managing Member determines, in Good Faith, that such tax (including any Company Level Tax) relates to one or more specific Members, such tax shall be treated as an amount of tax withheld or paid with respect to such Member pursuant to this Section 10.5. Any determinations made by the Managing Member pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall be binding on the Members.

 

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(c) Tax Contribution and Indemnity Obligation. Any amounts withheld or paid with respect to a Member pursuant to Section 10.5(a) or (b) shall be offset against any distributions to which such Member is entitled concurrently with such withholding or payment (a “Tax Offset”); provided that the amount of any distribution subject to a Tax Offset shall be treated as having been distributed to such Member pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 11.3(c)(iii) at the time such Tax Offset is made. To the extent that (i) there is a payment of Company Level Taxes relating to a Member or (ii) the amount of such Tax Offset exceeds the distributions to which such Member is entitled during the same Fiscal Year as such withholding or payment (“Excess Tax Amount”), the amount of such (i) Company Level Taxes or (ii) Excess Tax Amount, as applicable, shall, upon notification to such Member by the Managing Member, give rise to an obligation of such Member to make a capital contribution to the Company (a “Tax Contribution Obligation”), which Tax Contribution Obligation shall be immediately due and payable. In the event a Member defaults with respect to its obligation under the prior sentence, the Company shall be entitled to offset the amount of a Member’s Tax Contribution Obligation against distributions to which such Member would otherwise be subsequently entitled until the full amount of such Tax Contribution Obligation has been contributed to the Company or has been recovered through offset against distributions, and any such offset shall not reduce such Member’s Capital Account. Any contribution by a Member with respect to a Tax Contribution Obligation shall increase such Member’s Capital Account but shall not reduce the amount (if any) that a Member is otherwise obligated to contribute to the Company. Each Member hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Company a security interest in such Member’s Units to secure such Member’s obligation to pay the Company any amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 10.5. Each Member shall take such actions as the Company may reasonably request in order to perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder. Each Member hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the other Members, the Company Representative and the Managing Member from and against any liability (including any liability for Company Level Taxes) with respect to income attributable to or distributions or other payments to such Member.

 

(d) Continued Obligations of Former Members. Any Person who ceases to be a Member shall be deemed to be a Member solely for purposes of this Section 10.5, and the obligations of a Member pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall survive until 60 days after the closing of the applicable statute of limitations on assessment with respect to the taxes withheld or paid by the Company or a Subsidiary that relate to the period during which such Person was actually a Member; provided, however, that if the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that seeking indemnification for Company Level Taxes from a former Member is not practicable, or that seeking such indemnification has failed, then, in either case, the Managing Member may, in its sole discretion, (A) recover any liability for Company Level Taxes from the Transferee that acquired directly or indirectly the applicable interest in the Company from such former Member (unless such Transferee is a member of the PubCo Holdings Group) or (B) treat such liability for Company Level Taxes as a Company expense.

 

(e) Managing Member Discretion Regarding Recovery of Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member may choose not to recover an amount of Company Level Taxes or other taxes withheld or paid with respect to a Member under this Section 10.5 to the extent that there are no distributions to which such Member is entitled that may be offset by such amounts, if the Managing Member determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such a decision would be in the best interests of the Members (e.g., where the cost of recovering the amount of taxes withheld or paid with respect to such Member is not justified in light of the amount that may be recovered from such Member).

 

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Article XI

DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 11.1 Liquidating Events. The Company shall dissolve and commence winding up and liquidating upon the first to occur of the following (each, a “Liquidating Event”):

 

(a) The sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

(b) The failure of PubCo to complete an Initial Business Combination within the period contemplated by Section 9.2(d) of PubCo’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; and

 

(c) The determination of (i) the Managing Member, (ii) if at such time the Members (other than any member of the PubCo Holdings Group) beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than 2.5% of the then-outstanding Units, the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding Units held by Members other than the PubCo Holdings Group and (iii) to the extent that more than 1% of the then-outstanding Units are Non-Fungible Class B Units, the Members holding such Non-Fungible Class B Units, to dissolve, wind up and liquidate the Company; provided that no such Liquidating Event shall be consummated until at least 5 Business Days after written notice is provided to the Members that such determination has been made in accordance with the foregoing, and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Member, including any Member not consenting to such determination, shall have the right to file a Redemption Notice prior to the consummation of such Liquidating Event.

 

The Members hereby agree that the Company shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event and that no Member shall seek a dissolution of the Company, under Section 18-802 of the Act or otherwise, other than based on the matters set forth in clauses (a) and (c) above. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Company has dissolved prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Members hereby agree to continue the business of the Company without a winding up or liquidation. In the event of a dissolution pursuant to Section 11.1(c), the relative economic rights of each class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 11.3 in connection with such dissolution, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties to such dissolution and subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, unless, with respect to any class of Units, holders of a majority of the Units of such class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above.

 

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Section 11.2 Bankruptcy. For purposes of this Agreement, the “bankruptcy” of a Member shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any Governmental Entity shall take possession of any substantial part of the property of that Member or shall assume control over the affairs or operations thereof, or a receiver or trustee shall be appointed, or a writ, order, attachment or garnishment shall be issued with respect to any substantial part thereof, and such possession, assumption of control, appointment, writ or order shall continue for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) a Member shall admit in writing of its inability to pay its debts when due, or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or apply for or consent to the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar officer or for all or any substantial part of its property; or shall institute (by petition, application, answer, consent or otherwise) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debts, dissolution, liquidation or similar proceeding under the Laws of any jurisdiction; or (c) a receiver, trustee or similar officer shall be appointed for such Member or with respect to all or any substantial part of its property without the application or consent of that Member, and such appointment shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive days or any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangements, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar proceedings shall be instituted (by petition, application or otherwise) against that Member and shall remain undismissed for a period of 90 consecutive days.

 

Section 11.3 Procedure.

 

(a) In the event of the dissolution of the Company for any reason, the Members shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and to liquidate the Company’s investments; provided that if a Member is in bankruptcy or dissolved, another Member, who shall be the Managing Member (“Winding-Up Member”) shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and, subject to Section 11.4(a), such Winding-Up Member shall have full right and unlimited discretion to determine in Good Faith the time, manner and terms of any sale or sales of the Property or other assets pursuant to such liquidation, having due regard to the activity and condition of the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions. The Members shall continue to share profits, losses and distributions during the period of liquidation in the same manner and proportion as though the Company had not dissolved. The Company shall engage in no further business except as may be necessary, in the reasonable discretion of the Managing Member or the Winding-Up Member, as applicable, to preserve the value of the Company’s assets during the period of dissolution and liquidation.

 

(b) In the event that holders of Class A Shares are entitled to have their Class A Shares redeemed by PubCo in exchange for any amounts in the Trust Account in accordance with Section 9.2 or Section 9.7 of PubCo’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall use funds available pursuant to the Trust Agreement in order to redeem an equivalent number of Class A Units from PubCo prior to such redemption of any Class A Shares; provided, further, funds from the Trust Account may only be used to redeem Class A Units owned by Rice Sponsor in the event of a liquidation of PubCo in accordance with its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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(c) Following the payment of all expenses of liquidation and the allocation of all Profits and Losses as provided in Article V, the proceeds of the liquidation and any other funds of the Company shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

 

(i) First, to the payment and discharge of all of the Company’s debts and Liabilities to creditors (whether third parties or Members), in the order of priority as provided by Law, except any obligations to the Members in respect of their Capital Accounts;

 

(ii) Second, to set up such cash reserves that the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary for contingent or unforeseen Liabilities or future payments described in Section 11.3(c)(i) (which reserves when they become unnecessary shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of clause (iii) below); and

 

(iii) Third, the balance to the Members, as follows:

 

(A) prior to the Equalization Date, in accordance with their respective positive Capital Account balances, as determined after making all adjustments thereto in accordance with Section 5.1 and Section 5.2 resulting from the Company’s operations and from all sales or dispositions of all or any part of the Company’s assets; or

 

(B) after the Equalization Date, pro rata in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member.

 

(d) No Member shall have any right to demand or receive property other than cash upon dissolution and termination of the Company.

 

(e) Upon the completion of the liquidation of the Company and the distribution of all Company funds, the Company shall terminate and the Managing Member or the Winding-Up Member, as the case may be, shall have the authority to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of the Company, as well as any and all other documents required to effectuate the dissolution and termination of the Company.

 

Section 11.4 Rights of Members.

 

(a) Each Member irrevocably waives any right that it may have to maintain an action for partition with respect to the property of the Company.

 

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for the return of its Capital Contributions and (ii) no Member shall have priority over any other Member as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions or allocations.

 

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Section 11.5 Notices of Dissolution. In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for the provisions of Section 11.1, result in a dissolution of the Company, the Company shall, within 30 days thereafter, (a) provide written notice thereof to each of the Members and to all other parties with whom the Company regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the Managing Member), and (b) comply, in a timely manner, with all filing and notice requirements under the Act or any other applicable Law.

 

Section 11.6 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets in order to minimize any losses that might otherwise result from such winding up.

 

Section 11.7 No Deficit Restoration. No Member shall be personally liable for a deficit Capital Account balance of that Member, it being expressly understood that the distribution of liquidation proceeds shall be made solely from existing Company assets.

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Article XII

GENERAL

 

Section 12.1 Amendments; Waivers.

 

(a) The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, modified or amended (including by means of merger, consolidation or other business combination to which the Company is a party) with the approval of (y) the Managing Member and (z) if at such time the Members (other than the PubCo Holdings Group) beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than 2.5% of the then-outstanding Units, the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding Units held by Members other than the PubCo Holdings Group; provided that no waiver, modification or amendment shall be effective until at least 5 Business Days after written notice is provided to the Members that the requisite consent has been obtained for such waiver, modification or amendment, and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Member, including any Member not providing written consent, shall have the right to file a Redemption Notice prior to the effectiveness of such waiver, modification or amendment; provided, further, that no amendment to this Agreement may:

 

(i) modify the limited liability of any Member, or increase the liabilities or obligations of any Member, in each case, without the consent of each such affected Member;

 

(ii) materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any Interests in a manner that is different or prejudicial (or would have a different or prejudicial effect) relative to any other Interests, without the approval of a majority in interest of the Members holding the Interests affected in such a different or prejudicial manner;

 

(iii) materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of either the Class A Units or the Class B Units in a manner that is different or prejudicial (or that would have a different or prejudicial effect) relative to the other class of Units, without the approval of the Members holding such class of Units that are affected in a different or prejudicial manner;

 

(iv) alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any Member that are expressly for the benefit of such Member, without the approval of such member; or

 

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(v) modify the requirement that a majority of the directors of PubCo who are independent within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Shares are listed) and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Act and do not hold any Class A Units that are subject to the applicable Redemption must approve a Cash Election pursuant to Section 4.7(e)(ii) without the approval of a majority of the directors of PubCo who are independent within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Shares are listed) and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Act.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), the Managing Member, acting alone, may amend this Agreement, including Exhibit B, (i) to reflect the admission of new Members, as provided by the terms of this Agreement, (ii) to the minimum extent necessary to comply with or administer in an equitable manner the Partnership Tax Audit Rules in any manner determined by the Managing Member, and (iii) as necessary to avoid the Company being classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code.

 

(c) No waiver of any provision or default under, nor consent to any exception to, the terms of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound and then only to the specific purpose, extent and instance so provided.

 

Section 12.2 Further Assurances. Each party agrees that it will from time to time, upon the reasonable request of another party, execute such documents and instruments and take such further action as may be required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.3 Successors and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns, but shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors and assigns of any Member only to the extent that they are permitted successors and assigns pursuant to the terms hereof. No party may assign its rights hereunder except as herein expressly permitted.

 

Section 12.4 Certain Representations by Members. Each Member, by executing this Agreement and becoming a Member, whether by making a Capital Contribution, by admission in connection with a permitted Transfer or otherwise, represents and warrants to the Company and the Managing Member, as of the date of its admission as a Member, that such Member (or, if such Member is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Member’s regarded owner for such purposes) is either: (i) not a partnership, grantor trust or Subchapter S corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (e.g., an individual or Subchapter C corporation), or (ii) is a partnership, grantor trust or Subchapter S corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but (A) permitting the Company to satisfy the 100-partner limitation set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii) is not a principal purpose of any beneficial owner of such Member in investing in the Company through such Member, (B) such Member was formed for business purposes prior to or in connection with the investment by such Member in the Company or for estate planning purposes, and (C) no beneficial owner of such Member has a redemption or similar right with respect to such Member that is intended to correlate to such Member’s right to Redemption pursuant to Section 4.7.

 

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Section 12.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules hereto and all other agreements referenced therein and herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in connection with the subject matter hereof except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

 

Section 12.6 Rights of Members Independent. The rights available to the Members under this Agreement and at Law shall be deemed to be several and not dependent on each other and each such right accordingly shall be construed as complete in itself and not by reference to any other such right. Any one or more and/or any combination of such rights may be exercised by a Member and/or the Company from time to time and no such exercise shall exhaust the rights or preclude another Member from exercising any one or more of such rights or combination thereof from time to time thereafter or simultaneously.

 

Section 12.7 Governing Law. This Agreement, the legal relations between the parties and any Action, whether contractual or non-contractual, instituted by any party with respect to matters arising under or growing out of or in connection with or in respect of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed in such state and without regard to conflicts of law doctrines.

 

Section 12.8 Jurisdiction and Venue. The parties hereto hereby agree and consent to be subject to the jurisdiction of any federal court of the District of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery over any action, suit or proceeding (a “Legal Action”) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. The parties hereto irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such Legal Action. Each of the parties hereto further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such Legal Action by the mailing of copies thereof by registered mail, postage prepaid, to such party at its address set forth in this Agreement, such service of process to be effective upon acknowledgment of receipt of such registered mail. Nothing in this Section 12.8 shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 12.9 Headings. The descriptive headings of the Articles, Sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.10 Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment hereto or any other agreement (or document) delivered pursuant hereto may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts any may delivered by email or other electronic means. All of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement (or other document) and shall become effective (unless otherwise provided therein) when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party.

 

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Section 12.11 Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder must be given in writing and (a) delivered in person, (b) transmitted by facsimile, by telecommunications mechanism or electronically or (c) mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, receipt requested as follows:

 

If to the Company or the Managing Member, addressed to it at:

 

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC
102 East Main Street, Second Story

Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106

Attention:

Email:

 

With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002

Attention:

Email:

or to such other address or to such other Person as either party shall have last designated by such notice to the other parties. Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by telecommunication or electronically, when transmitted to the applicable number or email address so specified in (or pursuant to) this Section 12.11 and an appropriate answerback is received or, if transmitted after 4:00 p.m. local time on a Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent or at any time on a day that is not a Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent, then on the immediately following Business Day, (ii) if given by mail, on the first Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent following the date three days after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any other means, on the Business Day when actually received at such address or, if not received on a Business Day, on the Business Day immediately following such actual receipt.

 

Section 12.12 Representation By Counsel; Interpretation. The parties acknowledge that each party to this Agreement has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of Law, or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived.

 

Section 12.13 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any Governmental Entity, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by Law shall remain in full force and effect, provided that the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for all parties remain valid, binding and enforceable.

 

Section 12.14 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each party shall bear its own expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 12.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE MEMBERS, THE MANAGING MEMBER AND ANY INDEMNITEES SEEKING REMEDIES HEREUNDER HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED ON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE.

 

Section 12.16 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in Section 7.4, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under this Agreement or otherwise create any third party beneficiary hereto.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  RICE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name:  Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGING MEMBER:

     
 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name:  Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC

 

 

 

 

 

PUBCO:

     
 

RICE ACQUISITION CORP.

     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name:  Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC

 

 

 

 

  MEMBERS:
   
  /s/ Kathryn Jackson
  Kathryn Jackson
   
  /s/ Joseph Malchow
  Joseph Malchow
   
  /s/ James Torgerson
  James Torgerson

 

  RICE ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
     
  By: /s/ Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Name:  Daniel Joseph Rice, IV
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Name   Class A Units Held     Class B Units Held     Company Warrants Held[1]
Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC     100       5,782,187    

 

(plus Opco Warrant Rights with respect to 6,093,900 Company Warrants)

                     
Kathryn Jackson           30,000    
                     
Joseph Malchow           30,000    
                     
James Torgerson           30,000    
                     
Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC           309,063    

 
(plus Opco Warrant Rights with respect to 677,100 Company Warrants)

                     
Rice Acquisition Corp.     23,725,000          

18,633,500

 

(subject to Opco Warrant Rights with respect to 6,771,000 such Company Warrants)

 

 

 

1 Pursuant to those certain Private Placement Warrants and Warrants Rights Purchase Agreements, dated October 21, 2020, and the Warrant Agreement, Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC and Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC hold Opco Warrant Rights (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) with respect to 6,093,900 and 677,100 Company Warrants, respectively, held by Rice Acquisition Corp. Such Opco Warrant Rights may be exercised in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Exhibit A to

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Members:

 

Rice Acquisition Sponsor LLC

Kathryn Jackson

Joseph Malchow

James Torgerson

Atlas Point Energy Infrastructure Fund, LLC

Rice Acquisition Corp.

 

Exhibit B to

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of

Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC