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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): March 25, 2024

 

 

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Province of Ontario, Canada   001-40733   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

207 Queens Quay West, Suite 590, Toronto, ON M5J IA7, Canada

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(877) 542-9253

(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 filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common shares, without par value   LICY   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 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 12, 2024 (the “Initial 8-K”), on March 11, 2024, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with Glencore Ltd. (“Glencore Intermediate”), and Glencore Canada Corporation (“Glencore”, and together with Glencore Intermediate, the “Glencore Parties”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell a senior secured convertible note (the “Senior Secured Convertible Note”) in an aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 (the “Transaction”), in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Note Purchase Agreement was amended and restated on March 25, 2024 (the “Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement”) in order to provide for potential partial transfers of the Senior Secured Convertible Note.

The closing of the Transaction occurred on March 25, 2024 and the following documents related to the issuance of the Senior Secured Convertible Note were entered into on such date:

 

   

Senior Secured Convertible Note by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.;

 

   

Note Guaranty by and among Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp., Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent;

 

   

U.S. Pledge and Security Agreement by and among Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent;

 

   

U.S. Stock Pledge Agreement by and between Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent;

 

   

Canadian General Security Agreement by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent; and

 

   

Canadian Pledge Agreement by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent.

In connection with the closing of the Transaction, on March 25, 2024, Glencore and the Company entered into (i) an amended and restated registration rights agreement substantially on the same terms as the existing Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Glencore Intermediate, dated as of May 31, 2022 (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”) and (ii) an amendment and restatement of the terms of the unsecured convertible note issued by the Company to Glencore Intermediate on May 31, 2022, including additional unsecured convertible notes issued in satisfaction of the interest due and paid in kind on such unsecured convertible note (the “Existing Glencore Convertible Note”), in two tranches (and such resulting two tranches of the amended and restated unsecured convertible note, the “A&R Glencore Convertible Notes”).

In addition, on March 25, 2024, the Glencore Parties, Glencore plc and the Company entered into a side letter agreement (the “Side Letter”). As previously disclosed, the Side Letter grants Glencore certain board and nomination rights, and sets forth Glencore’s commitment to certain standstill provisions. The Side Letter also terminates the Amended and Restated Standstill Agreement, dated May 31, 2022, among the Company, Glencore Intermediate and Glencore plc.

Further, the Glencore Parties and the Company entered into a side letter agreement on March 25, 2024 with respect to certain tax indemnification matters (the “Indemnification Side Letter”). Under the Indemnification Side Letter, the Glencore Parties and the Company agree to certain procedural and interpretive matters with respect to the provision in the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement concerning the indemnification of the Company by each holder of the Senior Secured Convertible Note and the A&R Glencore Convertible Notes who is not a resident of Canada under the Income Tax Act (Canada) with respect to any tax liabilities payable by the Company in connection with the conversion or redemption of the Senior Secured Convertible Note and the A&R Glencore Convertible Notes, as applicable.

The Company and certain of its affiliates (Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc. and Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc.), Traxys North America LLC and Glencore Intermediate also entered into a North America Black Mass and Refined Products Allocation Agreement dated March 25, 2024 (the “Allocation Agreement”).

On March 25, 2024, the Company and Wood River Capital, LLC (“Koch”) entered into an Amendment No. 3 (the “Koch Note Amendment No. 3”) to the existing Convertible Note dated as of September 29, 2021, issued to Koch and as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Koch Note”) pursuant to which the Koch Note was amended to include penalty interest upon an event of default consistent with the penalty interest provision of the Senior Secured Convertible Note and to remove the floor and ceiling from the definition of SOFR in the Koch Note.


The information disclosed in Item 1.01 of the Initial 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

The foregoing descriptions of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Senior Secured Convertible Note, the Note Guaranty, the U.S. Pledge and Security Agreement, the U.S. Stock Pledge Agreement, the Canadian General Security Agreement, the Canadian Pledge Agreement, the A&R Glencore Convertible Notes, the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, the Side Letter, the Indemnification Side Letter, the Allocation Agreement and the Koch Note Amendment No. 3 are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Senior Secured Convertible Note, the Note Guaranty, the U.S. Pledge and Security Agreement, the U.S. Stock Pledge Agreement, the Canadian General Security Agreement, the Canadian Pledge Agreement, the A&R Glencore Convertible Notes, the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, the Side Letter, the Allocation Agreement and Koch Note Amendment No. 3, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.8, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.9, 10.7 and 4.5 hereto, respectively, and are in each case incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On March 25, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Transaction. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”) and is incorporated by reference herein.

The information under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act.

The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Report.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

 4.1    Senior Secured Convertible Note dated March 25, 2024
 4.2    Note Guaranty dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp., Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent
 4.3    Amended and Restated Convertible Note No. 1 dated March 25, 2024
 4.4    Amended and Restated Convertible Note No. 2 dated March 25, 2024
 4.5    Amendment No. 3 to Convertible Note dated March 25, 2024 by and between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. and Wood River Capital, LLC
10.1†    U.S. Pledge and Security Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent
10.2†    U.S. Stock Pledge Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and between Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent
10.3†    Canadian General Security Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent
10.4†    Canadian Pledge Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent


10.5    Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. and Glencore Ltd.
10.6    Side Letter dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Glencore Ltd., Glencore Canada Corporation and Glencore plc
10.7††    North America Black Mass and Refined Products Allocation Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. and certain of its affiliates, Traxys North America LLC and Glencore Ltd.
10.8†   

Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp, Glencore Ltd., Glencore Canada Corporation and Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent

10.9    Indemnification Side Letter dated March 25, 2024 by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Glencore Ltd. and Glencore Canada Corporation
99.1    Press Release of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. dated March 25, 2024
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL).

 

Schedules to this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Registration S-K. The Company hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted schedules to the SEC upon request.

††

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K, portions of this exhibit have been omitted because the Company customarily and actually treats the omitted portions as private or confidential, and such portions are not material and would likely cause it competitive harm if publicly disclosed. The Company will supplementally provide an unredacted copy of this exhibit to the SEC or its staff upon request.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name:   Ajay Kochhar
Title:   Co-Founder, President & CEO and Director

Date: March 25, 2024

EX-4.1 2 d797686dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE MAY OCCUR ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION S, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE ARE FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN SECTION 14 HEREOF AND IN SECTION 5(d) OF THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH.

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS FOUR MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE ISSUANCE DATE.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY SHALL NOT SELL, ASSIGN OR TRANSFER THIS SECURITY TO ANY PERSON THAT IS NOT A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT AND ANY PURPORTED ASSIGNMENT TO SUCH A PERSON WILL BE NULL AND VOID AB INITIO AND UNENFORCEABLE AND THE ISSUER WILL NOT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO ANY SUCH PERSON (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, INTEREST OR OTHER AMOUNT AND TO ISSUE ANY SHARE OR OTHER SECURITY); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A SALE, ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER TO A PERMITTED INDEMNIFYING TRANSFEREE (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT) SHALL BE PERMITTED. A NOTEHOLDER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT THAT SUBSEQUENTLY CEASES TO BE A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE DEFINITION OF PERMITTED INDEMNIFYING TRANSFEREE.


LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.

SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

 

Issuance Date: March 25, 2024    Original Principal Amount: $75,000,000.00

(the “Issuance Date”)

  

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Issuer”), hereby promises to pay to the order of Glencore Canada Corporation, having an office at 100, King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3, Canada with company number 1947729, or its permitted assigns (in its capacity as the sole holder of this Note (as defined below) on the Issuance Date, the “Initial Noteholder” and together with each other Person that becomes a holder of a note issued pursuant to the term of this Note and Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement, other than any such Person that ceases to be a holder of such other note in accordance with the terms of this Note and Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement, collectively, the “Noteholder”) the amount set forth above as the Original Principal Amount (as increased or reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to PIK Amounts, redemption, conversion or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Senior Secured Convertible Note, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate on each Interest Date until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or upon acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Senior Secured Convertible Note (including each of the Annexes attached hereto and any convertible note issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof in accordance with Section 14, this “Note”) is issued pursuant to that certain amended and restated note purchase agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) dated as of March 25, 2024 between the Issuer, the Initial Noteholder and each other Noteholder from time to time party thereto, is guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Issuer pursuant to the Note Guaranty (the “Note Guaranty”) dated as of March 25, 2024, executed by the Collateral Agent and each Note Party (as defined therein) from time to time party hereto, and secured pursuant to the Collateral Documents (as defined below). Certain capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein (including in Section 27 or Annex A (the “Definitions Annex”)) shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

1.

Payments Of Principal. On the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall pay to the Noteholder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, together with all accrued and unpaid Interest (if any) on such Principal on the Maturity Date.

 

2.

Interest; Interest Rate.

 

  (a)

Interest on this Note shall (i) commence accruing on the Issuance Date, (ii) be computed on the basis of actual number of days in a 360-day year, and (iii) be payable in cash or, at the election of the Issuer, capitalized (in accordance with Section 2(b) below) on the Interest Date with respect to each Interest Period in accordance with the terms of this Note (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any period during which Interest ceases to accrue pursuant to the terms of this Note or the Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement). All such Interest shall accrue at the Interest Rate; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Interest shall accrue, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, at a rate equal to the applicable Interest Rate plus 1.00% per annum (which additional 1.00% per annum shall be payable in cash) (the “Default Rate”) until the relevant Event of Default shall have been cured or waived in accordance with the terms of this Note. In the case of

 

2


  a conversion in accordance with Section 5, a redemption in accordance with Section 6 or any required payment upon a Change of Control Transaction or Event of Default, in each case, prior to the payment of Interest on an Interest Date, accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note as of the date of any such event shall be payable by way of inclusion of such Interest in the Conversion Amount, the Redemption Price, or the Forced Redemption Price, as applicable, on the applicable date of conversion or Redemption Date.

 

  (b)

Subject to Applicable Law, at any time Interest is due and payable hereunder, such Interest shall be paid in cash, or, at the option of the Issuer with no less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice to the Noteholder prior to the applicable Interest Date (such written notice, a “PIK Notice”), may be capitalized by adding such amounts to the aggregate outstanding principal balance of this Note then outstanding on the applicable Interest Date (each such capitalized amount a “PIK Amount”). In the absence of a PIK Notice being delivered to the Noteholder at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Noteholder may reasonably agree) prior to the applicable Interest Date, Interest shall be paid in cash for the applicable Interest Period. In the event that a PIK Notice is delivered by the Issuer and Interest is capitalized, the Issuer shall update the Register to reflect the increased Principal amount that arises as a result of such capitalization of Interest.

 

  (c)

For purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), whenever any Interest under this Note is calculated using a rate based on a year of 360 days the rate determined pursuant to such calculation, when expressed as an annual rate, is equivalent to (i) the applicable rate based on a year of 360 days (ii) multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the period for which such Interest is payable (or compounded) ends, and (iii) divided by 360. The principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any Interest calculation under this Note and the rates of Interest stipulated in this Note are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

  (d)

If any provision of this Note or of any of the other Transaction Documents would obligate the Issuer to make any payment of Interest or any other amount payable to the Noteholder in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by Applicable Law or would result in a receipt by the Noteholder of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)) then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by Applicable Law or so result in a receipt by the Noteholder of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to the Noteholder under the applicable Transaction Document, and thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the Noteholder which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada).

 

3.

Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note shall be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any payment under this Note, then (i) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax and/or Other Tax, the amount payable by the Issuer shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3) the Noteholder receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (ii) the Issuer shall make such deductions and (iii) the Issuer shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with Applicable Law and file all required forms in respect thereof and, at the same time, provide copies of such remittance and filing to the Noteholder.

 

3


4.

Purpose. The Issuer shall use the proceeds of this Note (i) for general corporate purposes (including working capital and operating expenses) of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, (ii) to advance the construction of the Facility and (iii) to pay fees, premiums, expenses and other transaction costs payable or otherwise borne by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions (including the entry into this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the performance of their respective obligations thereunder).

 

5.

Conversion Of Note. This Note shall be convertible at the option of the Noteholder on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 5 and subject to Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (a)

Noteholder Conversion Right. The Noteholder shall be entitled at its option at any time and from time to time (other than at such time as any conversion rights of such Noteholder shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement)) to convert all or a portion of the Conversion Amount into that number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares equal to the Conversion Amount divided by the Conversion Price. To convert any Conversion Amount into Common Shares on any Trading Day (the date of such conversion, a “Conversion Date”), the Noteholder shall deliver, for receipt by no earlier than 4:00 p.m. New York time, and no later than 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Conversion Date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Noteholder Conversion Notice”) to the Issuer, which Noteholder Conversion Notice shall set forth (i) the Conversion Amount, (ii) the calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest included in the Conversion Amount as of the Conversion Date, and (iii) the calculation of the number of Common Shares required to be delivered in respect of such Noteholder Conversion Notice.

 

  (b)

Mechanics of Conversion.

 

  (i)

Satisfaction of Conversion. Any conversion in accordance with this Section 5 shall be deemed satisfied upon delivery of the appropriate number of Common Shares to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after the Conversion Date. For greater certainty, the Conversion Date does not count as a Trading Day. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Shares issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Shares on the Conversion Date.

 

  (ii)

Return of Note. Following a conversion of this Note in accordance with this Section 5, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after such conversion and at its own expense, surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b). If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion and the outstanding Principal is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Issuer shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Noteholder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not converted.

 

4


  (iii)

The Issuer shall not issue any fraction of a Common Share upon any conversion. If the conversion would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Common Share, the Issuer shall round such fraction of a Common Shares down to the nearest whole share.

 

  (c)

Antitrust and Foreign Investment Laws. The Issuer shall only issue Common Shares upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note to the extent the issuance of such Common Shares would not exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Issuer may issue without violating the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) or any antitrust laws of other jurisdictions or any foreign investment laws applicable in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon conversion of this Note, except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that (i) the Noteholder (and, if applicable, the Issuer) obtains the necessary regulatory approvals as required by any applicable antitrust laws or foreign investment laws or (ii) the Noteholder (and, if applicable, the Issuer) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Noteholder (or, in the case of the Issuer, counsel to the Issuer) that such approval(s) are not required. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer’s non-compliance with the limitations contained in this Section 5(c) shall not constitute an Event of Default or breach of this Note by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall not have any liability under this Note or otherwise resulting therefrom, but in the event that conversion of this Note requires any filing or approval under the HSR Act or any applicable antitrust laws of any other jurisdiction or any foreign investment laws the Noteholder and, if applicable, the Issuer shall endeavor to make such filings and obtain such approvals in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, Section 5(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

6.

Redemptions by the Issuer. This Note may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer and must be redeemed in certain circumstances on a mandatory basis on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6 and all such optional and mandatory redemptions shall be subject to Section 5(d)(x) (including the adjustment to the applicable Optional Redemption Amount, Optional Redemption Price, ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount and/or ECF Mandatory Redemption Price that, in each case, occurs as a result of the pro rata application of redemptions and repurchases contemplated by clause (E) thereof) and Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (a)

Optional Redemption Right. The Issuer shall be entitled to redeem (an “Optional Redemption”) at any time and from time to time all or any portion of the outstanding Principal (the “Optional Redemption Amount”) on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Section 6 for a cash price equal to the Optional Redemption Price; provided that any Optional Redemption with respect to the Noteholder shall be suspended, and the Issuer shall have no obligation to consummate any such Optional Redemption with respect to the Noteholder, at any time following delivery of a Redemption Notice, if the Noteholder’s entitlement to redemption shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement).

 

  (b)

ECF Mandatory Redemption.

 

  (i)

Commencing with the delivery to the Noteholder of the financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (but excluding any period during which any entitlement to redemption of the Noteholder shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement), the Issuer shall redeem (the “ECF Mandatory Redemption”) the outstanding Principal of this Note for cash in an

 

5


  amount (such amount, the “ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount”) equal to the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, if any, for applicable Excess Cash Flow Period then ended at a price equal to (x) the applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption Price minus (y) at the option of the Issuer, the amount of Scheduled Expenditures applied during such fiscal year of the Issuer or after such fiscal year but prior to the applicable Redemption Date (or planned, budgeted or contractually committed during such fiscal year, or after such fiscal year but prior to the applicable Redemption Date, to be applied during the immediately succeeding fiscal year of the Issuer), excluding any such Scheduled Expenditures made during such fiscal year that reduced the ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount in the prior fiscal year, and, in each case of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), only to the extent that such amounts were not financed with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness;

 

  (ii)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding clause (i):

 

  (1)

following the occurrence of the First Modification Date and the Second Modification Date, as applicable, the ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount shall be applied on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of this Note and each then applicable Secured A&R Notes at such time) across the aggregate outstanding Principal of this Note and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Secured A&R Notes then outstanding;

 

  (2)

following the Project Financing Closing Date, the ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount shall be reduced, on a dollar for dollar basis, by, the amount of Cash of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer comprising the U.S. Project Finance Group that is not permitted by the Project Loan Documentation to be distributed or otherwise transferred by such Persons to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that are not part of the U.S. Project Finance Group;

 

  (3)

following the Project Financing Closing Date, the Issuer shall not be required to prepay any amount that would otherwise be required to be paid pursuant to this Section 6(b) to the extent that the relevant Excess Cash Flow is generated by any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Canadian Subsidiary (any such Person, a “Specified Subsidiary”) for so long as the repatriation and/or other transfer to the Issuer of any such amount would be, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, prohibited, restricted or delayed (solely to the extent of such prohibition, restriction or delay) under any Applicable Law (including for the avoidance of doubt Applicable Laws relating to financial assistance, corporate benefit, thin capitalization, capital maintenance and similar legal principles, restrictions on upstreaming and/or cross-streaming of Cash intra-group and Applicable Law relating to the fiduciary and/or statutory duties of the directors (or equivalent Persons) of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries) or would conflict with the fiduciary and/or statutory duties of such Specified Subsidiary’s directors (or equivalent Persons), or result in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any officer, director, employee, manager, member of management or consultant of such Specified Subsidiary (it being agreed

 

6


  that, solely within 365 days following the end of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period, the Issuer shall take commercially reasonable actions required by Applicable Law to permit such repatriation and/or other transfer) (it being understood that if the repatriation and/or other transfer of the relevant affected Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the Applicable Law and, to the extent applicable, would no longer conflict with the fiduciary and/or statutory duties of such director, or result in, or be reasonably expected to result in, a material risk of personal or criminal liability for the Persons described above, in either case, within 365 days following the end of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period, the relevant Specified Subsidiary will promptly repatriate and/or transfer the relevant Excess Cash Flow, and the repatriated or transferred Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional Taxes payable or reserved against such Excess Cash Flow as a result thereof) to the redemption of the Note pursuant to this Section 6(b) to the extent required herein (without regard to this clause (3))); and

 

  (4)

if the Issuer determines in good faith that the repatriation (or other intercompany distribution or transfer) to the Issuer, directly or indirectly, from a Specified Subsidiary as a distribution or dividend (or other intercompany transfer) of any amount required to mandatorily redeem the Note pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) above would result in a material and adverse tax liability (including any withholding tax) being incurred by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (such amount, a “Restricted Amount”), the applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount shall be reduced by the Restricted Amount; provided that to the extent that the repatriation (or other intercompany distribution or transfer) of the relevant Excess Cash Flow, directly or indirectly, from the relevant Specified Subsidiary would no longer have a material and adverse tax consequence within the 365-day period following the end of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period, an amount equal to the Excess Cash Flow, to the extent available and not previously applied pursuant to this clause (4), shall be promptly applied to the redemption of the Note pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) as otherwise required above;

 

  provided, further, in the event that amounts are being withheld based on the foregoing clauses (3) and (4), the Issuer shall provide written notice to the Noteholder of the amounts being so withheld.

 

  (c)

Mechanics of Redemption.

 

  (i)

Redemption Notice.

 

  (1)

To exercise its right to make any Optional Redemption pursuant to Section 6(a), the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder not less than five (5) Business Days but no more than fifty (50) Business Days prior to a Redemption Date a copy of an executed notice of redemption in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (when used in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6, the “Redemption Notice”), which Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Optional Redemption Price, (ii) the applicable

 

7


  Optional Redemption Amount and (iii) a calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest included in the Optional Redemption Price, in each case as of the Redemption Date; provided that the Redemption Notice may provide that the Optional Redemption is conditioned on the occurrence of another event as may be described in such Redemption Notice.

 

  (2)

To make an ECF Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 6(b), the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder not more than five (5) Business Days after the date the applicable annual consolidated financial statements of the Issuer are required to be delivered to the Noteholder pursuant to Section 1(c) of Annex A-1 with respect to the relevant Excess Cash Flow Period, a copy of an executed Redemption Notice, which Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, (ii) the applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount and (iii) a calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest included in the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, in each case as of the Redemption Date and after giving effect to any reductions in the ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount required to be applied to the Principal as provide in Section 6(b) above.

 

  (ii)

Satisfaction of Redemption. Any redemption on a Redemption Date in accordance with this Section 6 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Optional Redemption Price or the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, as applicable, in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the proposed Redemption Date set forth in the Redemption Notice (in the case of an Optional Redemption) and by the end of the fifth (5th) Business Day following delivery of the Redemption Notice (in the case of an ECF Mandatory Redemption).

 

  (iii)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 6, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)). If this Note is physically surrendered pursuant to an Optional Redemption or an ECF Mandatory Redemption and the outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Optional Redemption Amount or ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount being redeemed, then the Issuer shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Noteholder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not redeemed.

 

  (iv)

Conversion Prior to Redemption. The Noteholder may convert this Note at its option pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof at any time after receipt of a Redemption Notice and prior to payment of the Optional Redemption Price or the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, as applicable. If any Optional Redemption is conditioned on the occurrence of another event, the Redemption Notice relating to such Optional Redemption shall provide that the Issuer will notify the Noteholder when such event has occurred, and the Noteholder shall have at least five (5) Business days after receipt of such notice to exercise its option to convert this Note pursuant to Section 5(a).

 

8


  (d)

Warrants in respect of Redemptions. Provided the Noteholder has not elected to convert this Note in whole into Common Shares in accordance with Section 6(c)(iv) following receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Issuer shall issue to the Noteholder, on the applicable Redemption Date, a number of share warrants of the Issuer (the “Redemption Warrants”) entitling the Noteholder to acquire a number of Common Shares equal to the Optional Redemption Amount or ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount, as applicable, divided by the then applicable Conversion Price and expiring on March 25, 2030. The initial exercise price of such Redemption Warrants will be equal to the applicable Conversion Price as of the applicable Redemption Date. The form of Warrant certificate for such Redemption Warrants is attached hereto as Exhibit III.

 

7.

Rights Upon Event of Default.

 

  (a)

Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

  (i)

default in any payment of interest on this Note when due and payable that has continued for a period of thirty (30) days;

 

  (ii)

default in the payment of Principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, within five (5) Business Days of becoming due and payable on the Maturity Date, a Redemption Date or upon declaration of acceleration hereunder;

 

  (iii)

failure by the Issuer to comply with its obligation to (A) convert this Note in accordance with the terms hereof upon exercise by the Noteholder of its conversion right in accordance with the terms hereof or (B) issue Redemption Warrants in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that, in each case, such failure continues for a period of five (5) Business Days after the date such conversion or issuance was required to occur;

 

  (iv)

failure by the Issuer to comply with Section 10 of Annex A-2;

 

  (v)

failure by the Issuer for thirty (30) days after written notice from the Required Noteholders has been received by the Issuer to comply with any of its other agreements contained in this Note (including the Annexes hereto), the Note Purchase Agreement or the other Transaction Documents;

 

  (vi)

any (A) “Event of Default” (howsoever defined) under the Existing Convertible Debt or (B) default by the Issuer or any Subsidiary with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness for money borrowed of $100,000,000 or more (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of the Issuer or such subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, (1) resulting in such Indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity date or (2) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such debt when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase or redemption or upon declaration of acceleration, and in the cases of clauses (1) and (2), such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such failure to pay or default shall not have been cured or waived, or such Indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days after written notice of such default to the Issuer by the Required Noteholders;

 

9


  (vii)

failure by the Issuer or any other Note Party to pay any final, non-appealable judgments, individually or in the aggregate, of an amount (net of amounts covered by insurance or bonded) in excess of $150,000,000, and such judgment or judgments have not been satisfied, stayed, paid, discharged, vacated, bonded, annulled or rescinded for a period of thirty (30) days after the judgment becomes final;

 

  (viii)

commencement by a Note Party or a Significant Subsidiary of a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to such Note Party or a Significant Subsidiary or their respective debts under any Debtor Relief Law or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of such Note Party or a Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of their respective property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

  (ix)

an involuntary case or other proceeding having been commenced against a Note Party or a Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to such Note Party or a Significant Subsidiary or their respective debts under any Debtor Relief Law or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of such Note Party or a Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of their respective property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;

 

  (x)

the Common Shares cease to be listed on an Eligible Market; or

 

  (xi)

at any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) any Note Guaranty for any reason, other than the occurrence of the Reference Date, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or shall be declared, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be null and void or any Note Guarantor shall repudiate in writing its obligations thereunder (in each case, other than (x) as a result of the discharge of such Note Guarantor in accordance with the terms thereof, (y) as a result of any act or omission by the Collateral Agent, a Noteholder or any other Secured Party, and/or (z) in any bona fide, good faith dispute as to the scope of Collateral or whether any Note Guaranty or Lien has been or is required to be released), (ii) this Note or any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect or shall be declared, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be null and void or any Lien on any material portion of the Collateral created under the Collateral Document ceases to be perfected (other than solely by reason of (1) such perfection not being required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, the Collateral Documents, this Note or otherwise, (2) the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of any Collateral actually delivered to it or the failure of the Collateral Agent to file UCC, PPSA or similar financing statements, amendments or continuation statements, (3) a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or any other Transaction Document, (4) the occurrence of the Reference Date or any other termination of such Collateral Document in accordance with the terms thereof) or (iii) any Note Party shall contest in writing, the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Finance Document (or any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents on

 

10


  any portion of the Collateral or any Note Guaranty) or deny in writing that it has any further liability (other than by reason of the occurrence of the Reference Date or any other termination of any other Finance Document in accordance with the terms thereof), under any Finance Document to which it is a party; provided, that it is understood and agreed that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, in no event shall the subordination or release of any Obligation under the Note Guaranty or any Lien on any asset or property granted pursuant to any Collateral Document in connection with the consummation of any Project Financing and/or the entry into any Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement or any other matter or transaction contemplated by Section 12 of the Note Purchase Agreement give rise to a default or Event of Default under this Section 7(a)(xi) or any other provision of this Note or any other Transaction Document.

 

  (b)

Notice of Default; Accelerated Redemption Right. Within three (3) Business Days of any Responsible Officer of the Issuer obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of a Default with respect to this Note the Issuer shall deliver written notice thereof (a “Default Notice”) to the Noteholder that includes (i) a reasonable description of the applicable Default, (ii) a certification as to whether, in the opinion of the Issuer, such Default is capable of being cured and, if applicable, a reasonable description of any existing plans of the Issuer to cure such Default and (iii) a certification as to the date the Default occurred and, if cured on or prior to the date of such Default Notice, the applicable Event of Default Right Expiration Date (as defined below). At any time after the earlier of (A) receipt by the Required Noteholders of a Default Notice and the subsequent occurrence of an Event of Default and (B) the Required Noteholder becoming aware of an Event of Default and ending (such ending date, the “Event of Default Right Expiration Date”) on the twentieth (20th) Trading Day after the later of (x) the date such Default is cured and (y) the Required Noteholders’ receipt of a Default Notice and the subsequent occurrence of an Event of Default, the Required Noteholders may require the Issuer to redeem (unless such Event of Default has been cured on or prior to the Event of Default Right Expiration Date) all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Issuer, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Required Noteholders are electing to require the Issuer to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be redeemed by the Issuer for a cash purchase price “equal to the Forced Redemption Price. Any redemption upon an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 7(b) shall not constitute an election of remedies by the Noteholder, and all other rights and remedies of the Noteholder shall be preserved.

 

  (c)

Satisfaction of Accelerated Redemption. The Issuer’s obligation to redeem in accordance with this Section 7 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Forced Redemption Price in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the fifth Trading Day after the Event of Default Redemption Notice is given. For greater certainty, the day that the Event of Default Redemption Notice is given does not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (d)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 7, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Forced Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)). If this Note is physically surrendered pursuant to the foregoing sentence and the outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Note being redeemed, then the Issuer shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Noteholder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not redeemed.

 

11


  (e)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that upon an Event of Default the Issuer does not redeem the Note in accordance with this Section 7, the Collateral Agent (on the Noteholder’s behalf) may, by written notice, exercise any and all rights and remedies provided to the Collateral Agent under any of the Transaction Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

 

  (f)

In addition to the foregoing:

 

  (i)

Automatic Acceleration. If a Bankruptcy Event of Default occurs, then the Principal of, and all accrued and unpaid interest and Make-Whole Amount on, this Note will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any Person.

 

  (ii)

Optional Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than a Bankruptcy Event of Default) occurs and is continuing, then the Required Noteholders may, by notice to the Issuer, declare the Principal, and all accrued and unpaid Interest on, this Note to become due and payable immediately.

 

  (iii)

Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, the Required Noteholders, by notice to the Issuer, may rescind any acceleration of this Note and its consequences if (A) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (B) all existing Events of Default (except the non-payment of Principal of, or Interest on, this Note that has become due solely because of such acceleration) have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

  (g)

The Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party, expressly agrees and acknowledges (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that the Make-Whole Amount payable in connection with any automatic acceleration of the Principal of this Note or any Forced Redemption Price in connection with a COC Mandatory Redemption or an Accelerated Redemption set forth in Section 7(b) (collectively, the “Premium”) (w) shall constitute reasonable and proportionate compensation for any lost profits or damages of the Noteholders caused by such events, (x) is the product of an arm’s length transaction resulting from good faith negotiations between sophisticated parties having received independent legal advice, (y) is payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment of the Premium is made and (z) shall be payable by the Issuer or the Note Guarantors (as applicable) to the Noteholder as and to the extent provided in this Note, notwithstanding any automatic acceleration hereunder following a Bankruptcy Event of Default. The Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party, hereby expressly agrees (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that with respect to the Premium payable under the terms of this Note (i) payment of the Premium hereunder constitutes liquidated damages, is not a penalty, punishment, “unmatured interest” as that term is used in section 502(b) of the Bankruptcy Code (or otherwise) or an otherwise unenforceable or invalid obligation, and is a material inducement to each Noteholder, (ii) the actual amount of damages to the Noteholder or profits lost by the Noteholder as a result of the events

 

12


  requiring payment of the Premium hereunder would be impracticable and extremely difficult to ascertain, (iii) the amount of the Premium payable hereunder is provided by mutual agreement of the Issuer and the Noteholder, as a reasonable estimation and calculation of the damages that the Noteholder would incur upon the occurrence of events requiring payment of the Premium hereunder, and the Premium payable hereunder is reasonable in light of the circumstances, (iv) there has been a course of conduct between the Noteholder and the Note Parties giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Premium and (v) the Note Parties shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Premium shall be fully earned, and automatically and immediately due and payable, on the date on which such Premium is required to be made pursuant to the terms of this Note and shall constitute part of the Obligations secured by the Collateral as of such date. The Premium shall also be automatically and immediately due and payable if the Obligations are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other similar means, or if the Obligations are reinstated pursuant to section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code or similar provisions under Debtor Relief Laws. The obligation to pay the Premium will not be subject to counterclaim or setoff for, or otherwise be affected by, any claim or dispute any Note Party may have (other than a claim of payment). In the event that the Premium is determined not to be due and payable by order of any court of competent jurisdiction, including by operation of Debtor Relief Laws, despite becoming due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Note, such Premium shall nonetheless constitute Obligations under the Note Documents for all purposes hereunder and thereunder. The Noteholder has agreed to hold this Note in reliance of each such agreement and acknowledgement by the Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party. THE ISSUER, FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF ON ANY OTHER NOTE PARTY, EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH EVENT SET FORTH IN THIS NOTE.

 

  (h)

Allocation of Proceeds. All proceeds of Collateral received by the Noteholder or any Secured Party shall be applied in accordance with Section 9(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

8.

Rights Upon Change of Control Transaction.

 

  (a)

CoC Mandatory Redemption. Upon the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction, the Issuer shall redeem all, but not less than all, of this Note remaining outstanding and unconverted at such time for a cash purchase price equal to the Forced Redemption Price (a “CoC Mandatory Redemption”).

 

  (b)

Mechanics of Redemption.

 

  (i)

Redemption Notice. Upon a redemption by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 8, the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder, a copy of an executed notice of redemption in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (when used in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 8, the “CoC Redemption Notice”) to the Noteholder, which CoC Redemption Notice shall, for greater certainty, set forth (i) the Forced Redemption Price and (ii) calculations of the accrued and unpaid Interest and Make-Whole Amount included in the Forced Redemption Price, in each case as of the Redemption Date.

 

13


  (ii)

Satisfaction of Redemption. Any redemption on a Redemption Date in accordance with this Section 8 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Forced Redemption Price in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after the CoC Redemption Notice is given. For greater certainty, the day that the CoC Redemption Notice is given does not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (iii)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 8, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Forced Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)).

 

  (iv)

Conversion Prior to Redemption. The Noteholder may convert this Note at its option pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof at any time after receipt of a CoC Redemption Notice and prior to payment of the Forced Redemption Price.

 

9.

Adjustments.

 

  (a)

If and whenever, at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall: (i) subdivide or re-divide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common Shares; (ii) reduce, reverse-split, combine or consolidate the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares; (iii) issue options, rights, warrants or similar securities to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares; or (iv) issue Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution; the number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of this Note on the date of the subdivision, re-division, reduction, reverse-split, combination or consolidation or on the record date for the issue of options, rights, warrants or similar securities or on the record date for the issue of Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution, as the case may be, shall be adjusted so that the Noteholder shall be entitled to receive the kind and number of Common Shares or other securities of the Issuer which it would have owned or been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described in this Section 9(a) had this Note been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 9(a) shall become effective immediately after the effective time of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.

 

  (b)

If and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, there is a reclassification of the Common Shares or a capital reorganization of the Issuer other than as described in Section 9(a) or a consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, binding share exchange, merger of the Issuer with or into any other Person or other entity or acquisition of the Issuer or other combination pursuant to which the Common Shares are converted into or acquired for cash, securities or other property; or a sale or conveyance of the property and assets of the Issuer as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer) or other entity or a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Issuer (in any of the foregoing cases, that is not a Change of Control Transaction), the Noteholder, if it has not exercised its right of

 

14


  conversion prior to the effective date of such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, upon the exercise of such right thereafter, shall be entitled to receive and shall accept, in lieu of the number of Common Shares then sought to be acquired by it, such amount of cash or the number of shares or other securities or property of the Issuer or of the Person or other entity resulting from such merger, amalgamation, arrangement, acquisition, combination or consolidation, or to which such sale or conveyance may be made or which holders of Common Shares receive pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, as the case may be, that the Noteholder would have been entitled to receive on such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, if, on the record date or the effective date thereof, as the case may be, the Noteholder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares sought to be acquired by it and to which it was entitled to acquire upon the exercise of its conversion right at the Conversion Price.

 

  (c)

If, and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall issue Additional Shares of Common Stock, without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the Conversion Price as of the date of issue thereof, then the Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

CP2 = CP1* (A + B) ÷ (A + C).

For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:

 

  (i)

“CP2” shall mean the Conversion Price in effect immediately after such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

  (ii)

“CP1” shall mean the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

  (iii)

“A” shall mean the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock (treating for this purpose as outstanding all Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding immediately prior to such issue or upon conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue);

 

  (iv)

“B” shall mean the number of Common Shares that would have been issued if such Additional Shares of Common Stock had been issued at a price per share equal to CP1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Issuer (as determined in good faith by the Issuer’s board of directors) in respect of such issue by CP1); and

 

  (v)

“C” shall mean the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock issued in such transaction.

 

15


  (d)

If the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Shares (other than solely pursuant to an odd-lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the 1934 Act), and the value (determined as of the Expiration Time by the Issuer’s board of directors) of the cash and other consideration paid per Common Share in such tender or exchange offer exceeds the last reported sale price per Common Share on the Trading Day immediately after the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended), then the Conversion Price will be increased based on the following formula:

CP1 = CP0 x  (OS0 x SP) 

       AC + (SP x OS1)

where:

 

  CP0

= the Conversion Price in effect immediately before the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer;

 

  CP1

= the Conversion Price in effect immediately after the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period;

 

  AC

= the aggregate value (determined as of the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires by the Issuer’s board of directors) of all cash and other consideration paid for Common Shares purchased or exchanged in such tender or exchange offer;

 

  OS0

= the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before the Expiration Time (including all Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

 

  OS1

= the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (excluding Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

 

  SP

= the average of the last reported sale prices per Common Shares over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

provided, however, that the Conversion Price will in no event be adjusted down pursuant to this Section 9(d), except to the extent provided in the immediately following paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9(d), if the Conversion Date for this Note to be converted occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Price for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date to, and including, such Conversion Date.

 

16


To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Issuer being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of Common Shares in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Price will be readjusted to the Conversion Price that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of Common Shares, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

 

  (e)

If, and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Shares entitled to receive (and subsequently make or issue), a dividend or other distribution payable in cash or other property not involving Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares (which is the subject of Section 9(a)), then and in each such event the Noteholder of this Note shall receive, and shall accept, upon the conversion of this Note into Common Shares, a dividend or other distribution of such cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such cash or other property as it would have received if this Note had been converted into Common Shares on the date of such event.

 

  (f)

On the occurrence of any reclassification of, or other change in, the outstanding Common Shares or any other event which is not a Change of Control Transaction or addressed in Section 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) or 9(e) (each, an “Unanticipated Event”), the parties will, in good faith, make such further adjustments and changes and take all necessary actions, subject to the approval of the Noteholder, so as to ensure that the Noteholder receives, upon the conversion of this Note occurring at any time after the date of the occurrence of the Unanticipated Event, such shares, securities, rights, cash or property that the Noteholder would have received if, immediately prior to the date of such Unanticipated Event, the Noteholder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares to which the Noteholder would be entitled upon the conversion of this Note into Common Shares.

 

  (g)

The adjustments provided for in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d), 9(e) and 9(f) are cumulative and will be made successively whenever an event referred to therein occurs.

 

  (h)

If at any time a question or dispute arises with respect to the adjustments provided for in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) such question or dispute will be conclusively determined by a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Issuer (who may be the auditors of the Issuer) and acceptable to the Required Noteholders. Such accountants shall have access to all necessary records of the Issuer and any such determination will be binding upon the Issuer and the Noteholder.

 

  (i)

The Issuer shall, from time to time immediately after the occurrence of any event which requires an adjustment or re-adjustment as provided in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f), deliver a certificate of the Issuer to the Noteholder specifying the nature of the event requiring the same and the amount of the necessary adjustment (or, in the case of Section 9(e), entitlement to cash or other property upon conversion) and setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based, and, if reasonably required by the Noteholder, such certificate and the amount of the adjustment specified therein shall be verified by an opinion of a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Issuer (who may be the auditors of the Issuer) and acceptable to the Noteholder.

 

17


  (j)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f), if the Noteholder would otherwise be entitled to receive, upon the exercise of its right of conversion, any property (including cash) or securities that would not constitute “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 (“Ineligible Consideration”), the Noteholder shall not be entitled to receive such Ineligible Consideration and the Issuer or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be, shall have the right (at the sole option of the Issuer or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be) to deliver to the Noteholder “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 with a market value (as conclusively determined by the board of directors of the Issuer) equal to the market value of such Ineligible Consideration.

 

10.

Covenants. From the Closing Date until the Reference Date, the Issuer hereby agrees as set forth in Annex A-1, Annex A-2 and Annex A-3.

 

11.

Multiple Noteholders. This Note shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5(d)(x) of the Note Purchase Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the modifications to the application of any Optional Redemption and ECF Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 6 of this Note contemplated thereby.

 

12.

Voting Rights. The Noteholder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by Applicable Law (including the Business Corporations Act (Ontario)).

 

13.

Amendments and Other Modifications.

 

  (a)

Except as provided in Section 13(b) below, the prior written consent of the Issuer and the Required Noteholders shall be required for any change to, or modification, waiver or amendment of, this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement or any Finance Document.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding the immediately preceding clause (a), without the consent of the Issuer and the holders of at least 75% of the aggregate principal amount owing at such time under all Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, none of this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement or any Finance Document may be changed, modified, waived or amended to:

 

  (i)

reduce the Principal of this Note or extend the stated Maturity Date of this Note;

 

  (ii)

reduce the Premium payable in the event of certain redemptions of this Note;

 

  (iii)

reduce the rate of interest (other than to waive any Default or Event of Default or obligation of the Issuer to pay interest at the Default Rate contemplated by Section 2 of this Note, which shall only require the consent of the Issuer and the Required Noteholders);

 

18


  (iv)

waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest, or additional amounts or premium, if any, on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Required Noteholders and a waiver of the payment Default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

  (v)

make this Note payable in a currency other than U.S. Dollars;

 

  (vi)

modify the definition of “Required Noteholders” to reduce the voting percentage specified therein; or

 

  (vii)

modify this clause (b) to reduce the voting percentage below the threshold set forth above in this clause (b); or

 

  (viii)

make any change in the preceding clauses of this Section 13(b).

 

  (c)

Any change, amendment, modification or waiver approved or consented to in accordance with this Section 13 shall be binding upon (i) all existing and future holders of this Note and (ii) all existing and future holders of any other notes issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

14.

Transfer; Register.

 

  (a)

The Issuer shall maintain a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the name and address of the Noteholder and the principal amount of this Note (including as the Principal may be increased as the result of capitalization of Interest in accordance with Section 2(b) of this Note) and Interest accrued and unpaid thereon (the “Registered Note”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The Issuer shall treat the Noteholder for all purposes (including the right to receive payments of Principal and Interest hereunder) as the owner hereof notwithstanding notice to the contrary, provided, however, that upon its receipt of a Noteholder Joinder Agreement pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, Section 5(d)(viii) of the Note Purchase Agreement (and its execution thereof to the extent required pursuant to the Noteholder Joinder Agreement), the Issuer shall record the assignment, transfer or sale of the Note or applicable portion thereof in the Register and issue one or more new Registered Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Note to the designated assignee, purchaser or transferee pursuant to Section 15 of this Note; provided, however, that the Issuer will not (and will not be required to) register assignment, transfer or sale of this Note that is not made in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom.

 

  (b)

Note Transfer Restrictions. This Note is subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Note set forth in Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement and may not be offered, sold, assigned or otherwise transferred (including through hedging or derivative transactions) unless expressly permitted pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement. Any purported transfer or assignment that is not permitted pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement will be null and void ab initio and unenforceable and the Issuer will not have any obligations to any such transferee.

 

  (c)

If the Issuer does not update the Register to record the Principal, any redemptions, repurchases or conversions of Principal, Interest capitalized and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such redemptions, repurchases, conversions, capitalizations and/or payments (as the case may be), then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such occurrence on the Business Day immediately prior to such occurrence.

 

19


15.

Reissuance Of This Note.

 

  (a)

Transfer. If this Note is to be sold, assigned and/or transferred in accordance with the terms hereof and the Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 5(d) thereof), the Noteholder shall surrender this Note to the Issuer, whereupon the Issuer will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Noteholder a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)), registered as the Noteholder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being sold, assigned and/or transferred by the Noteholder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note to the Noteholder representing the outstanding Principal being retained by the Noteholder. The Noteholder and any purchaser, transferee and/or assignee, by acceptance of this Note and/or any other note issued pursuant to this clause (a), acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this Note following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.

 

  (b)

Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Noteholder to the Issuer in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Noteholder a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.

 

  (c)

Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Noteholder at the principal office of the Issuer, for a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d) and in principal amounts of at least $5,000,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Noteholder at the time of such surrender.

 

  (d)

Issuance of New Note. Whenever the Issuer is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 15(a) or Section 15(c), the Principal designated by the Noteholder which, when added to the principal represented by the new Note issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Note), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest from the Issuance Date.

 

16.

Remedies, Characterizations, Other Obligations, Breaches And Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Noteholder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Issuer to comply with the terms of this Note. No failure on the part of the Noteholder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Noteholder of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. In addition, the exercise of any right or remedy of the Noteholder at law or equity or under this Note or any of the documents shall not be deemed to be an election of Noteholder’s rights or remedies under such documents or at law or equity. The Issuer covenants to the Noteholder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to

 

20


  payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Noteholder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Issuer (or the performance thereof). The Issuer acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Noteholder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Issuer therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Noteholder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to seek specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Issuer shall provide all information and documentation to the Noteholder that is reasonably requested by the Noteholder to enable the Noteholder to confirm the Issuer’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note.

 

17.

Payment Of Collection, Enforcement And Other Costs. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Collateral Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or the Noteholder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Issuer or other proceedings affecting the Collateral Agent’s or Noteholder’s rights, as applicable. and involving a claim under this Note, then the Issuer shall pay the costs incurred by the Collateral Agent or Noteholder, as applicable for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Issuer expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.

 

18.

Construction.

 

  (a)

Certain Rules Construction.

 

  (i)

This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Issuer and the Initial Noteholder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof.

 

  (ii)

The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note.

 

  (iii)

The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

 

  (iv)

Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein or in any Transaction Document shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or extended, replaced or refinanced (subject to any restrictions or qualifications on such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, supplements or modifications or extensions, replacements or refinancings set forth herein), (b) any reference to any Applicable Law in any Transaction Document

 

21


  shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law, (c) any reference herein or in any Transaction Document to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (d) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, when used in any Transaction Document, shall be construed to refer to such Transaction Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (e) all references herein or in any Transaction Document to Articles, Sections, clauses, paragraphs, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, clauses and paragraphs of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, such Transaction Document, (f) in the computation of periods of time in any Transaction Document from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including” and (g) the words “asset” and “property”, when used in any Transaction Document, shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including Cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

  (b)

Certain Matters in Writing. For the avoidance of doubt, when any consent, approval, agreement, acceptance, satisfaction or similar rights of the Noteholder or the Required Noteholders, as applicable, are required to be given in writing, or any matters are required to be disclosed to the Noteholder or the Required Noteholders, as applicable, in writing, such writing may be evidenced by email.

 

  (c)

Financial Terms. All financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Note shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting nature that are used herein shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence or in the definition of “Capital Lease”, only those leases (assuming for purposes hereof that such leases were in existence on the date hereof) that would constitute Capital Leases in conformity with GAAP as in effect prior to giving effect to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” and ASU No. 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842)” shall be considered Capital Leases hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, and all calculations and deliverables under this Note and/or any other Transaction Document shall be made or prepared, as applicable, in accordance therewith; provided that all financial statements required to be provided hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP without giving effect to the foregoing treatment of Capital Leases.

 

  (d)

Effectuation of Transactions. Each of the representations and warranties contained in this Note and each other Transaction Document (and all corresponding definitions) is made after giving effect to the Transactions, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

  (e)

Certain Calculations and Tests.

 

  (i)

Any calculation of accrued and unpaid interest under this Note shall exclude period(s) during which Interest has ceased to accrue pursuant to any term of this Note or the Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement).

 

22


  (ii)

The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

  (iii)

The increase in any amount secured by any Lien by virtue of the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or a dividend in the form of additional Indebtedness, amortization of original issue discount and/or any increase in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of any fluctuation in the exchange rate of any applicable currency will not be deemed to be the granting of a Lien for purposes of Annex A-2.

 

  (f)

German Terms.

 

  (i)

In this Note, where it relates to (i) a German Note Party or any other German Subsidiary, or (ii) any Collateral or other security rights or security assets governed by German law and unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to:

 

  (1)

a “custodian”, “liquidator”, “trustee”, “receiver”, “administrator” “manager”, “assignee”, “sequestrator” or “supervisor” or other similar officer includes an insolvency administrator (Insolvenzverwalter), interim insolvency administrator (vorläufiger Insolvenzverwalter) or custodian (Sachwalter) or interim custodian (vorläufiger Sachwalter);

 

  (2)

a “winding up”, “administration”, “liquidation” or “dissolution” includes insolvency proceedings (Insolvenzverfahren) and the rejection of insolvency proceedings due to lack of funds (Abweisungsbeschluss mangels Masse);

 

  (3)

a person being “insolvent” or “bankrupt” includes that person being in the state of illiquidity (Zahlungsunfähigkeit) pursuant to section 17 of the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung, “InsO”) or in the state of over-indebtedness (Überschuldung) pursuant to section 19 InsO;

 

  (4)

a “step” or “procedure” taken in connection with insolvency proceedings for an entity to which German insolvency law applies means it being subject to a filing for insolvency (Antrag auf Eröffnung eines Insolvenzverfahrens) for any of the reasons set out in sections 17 to 19 InsO;

 

  (5)

commencement of “bankruptcy” or “insolvency” includes the opening of insolvency proceedings (Eröffnung des Insolvenzverfahrens), and the rejection of insolvency proceedings due to lack of funds (Abweisung mangels Masse);

 

  (6)

seeking (other than on a solvent basis) “reorganization”, “arrangement”, “adjustment” or “composition” includes the commencement of insolvency proceedings (Eröffnung des Insolvenzverfahrens);

 

  (7)

a “moratorium” includes, without limitation, protective shield proceedings (Schutzschirmverfahren) and insolvency plan proceedings (Insolvenzplanverfahren);

 

23


  (8)

in relation to any security or other security rights, security assets or collateral governed by German law or located in Germany, “trust”, “trustee” or “on trust” shall be construed as “Treuhand”, “Treuhänder” or “treuhänderisch”;

 

  (9)

“Organizational Documents” or “by-laws” includes reference to articles of association (Satzung), partnership agreement (Gesellschaftsvertrag) and rules of procedure (Geschäftsordnung);

 

  (10)

a “director”, “officer” or “manager” of a company includes any statutory legal representative(s) (including any German law general agent (organschaftlicher Vertreter)) of a person pursuant to the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, including, but not limited to, any managing director (Geschäftsführer) or member of the board of directors (Vorstand) or an authorised representative (Prokurist);

 

  (11)

a “Lien” or “security interest” includes a mortgage (Hypothek), land charge (Grundschuld) including security purpose declarations, pledge (Pfandrecht), assignment or transfer for security purposes (Sicherungsabtretung oder -übereignung) and retention of title arrangements (verlängerter/erweiterter) Eigentumsvorbehalt); and

 

  (12)

a “Guarantee” includes any guarantee (Garantie), any indemnity, any joint and several (gesamtschuldnersich) or independent obligation (unabhängiges Schuldversprechen) within the meaning of German law.

 

  (ii)

This Note is made in the English language. For the avoidance of doubt, the English language version shall prevail over any translation of this Note. However, where a German translation of a word or phrase appears in the text of this Note, the German meaning and the underlying German law legal concept shall prevail.

 

  (iii)

With respect to a German Note Party, any other German Subsidiary and any other Note Party providing security over the Capital Stock of an entity incorporated in Germany, any representations and warranties in this Note relating to legal, valid and binding obligations, and/or enforceability of a Transaction Document, shall additionally be subject to and limited by (i) the time barring of claims under applicable German limitation laws and defenses of acquiescence, set-off or counterclaim, (ii) the principle that interest on interest, additional interest or default interest imposed pursuant to any relevant agreement may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty and thus void, (iii) the principle that a German court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by an unsuccessful litigant, (iv) the principle that the creation or purported creation of a Lien over (A) any asset not beneficially owned by the relevant charging company at the date of the relevant security document or (B) any contract or agreement which is subject to a prohibition on transfer, assignment or charging, may be void, ineffective or invalid and may give rise to a breach of the contract or agreement over which a Lien has purportedly been created, (v) the accessory nature of certain Liens governed by German law, (vi) the principle that a German court may not give effect to any parallel debt provisions, covenants to pay any collateral agent or other similar provisions, (vii) the fact that a German court may limit the concept of irrevocability by applying restrictions based on cogent reasons for the respective concerned party to withdraw from the right irrevocably granted, (viii)

 

24


  the principle that in certain circumstances pre-existing Liens purporting to secure an additional facility, further advances or any facility following a structural adjustment may be void, ineffective, invalid or unenforceable and (ix) any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations (however described) as to matters of German law in the legal opinions rendered in connection with the Transaction Documents.

 

  (g)

Swiss Terms.

 

  (i)

As used in this Note, where it relates to a Swiss Note Party, a reference:

 

  (1)

to “Organizational Documents” includes a copy of a certified excerpt from the commercial register and a copy of the certified up-to-date articles of association (evidencing, where relevant, the capacity to enter into obligations of an up- or cross-stream nature);

 

  (2)

to a “director” includes any statutory legal representative(s), any member of the management (Geschäftsführer/Direktor) or any member of the board of directors (Verwaltungsrat); or

 

  (3)

to a “receiver”, “liquidator”, “administrator” or “administrative receiver” includes any Konkursamt, (ausseramtliche) Konkursverwaltung, Sachwalter and Liquidator.

 

  (ii)

In this Note, where it relates to a Swiss Note Party, a reference to liquidation, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or any proceeding under an applicable Debtor Relief Law means that such Swiss Note Party (A) has initiated against it or (B) initiates: (1) bankruptcy proceedings (Konkursverfahren), (2) proceedings leading to a provisional or a definitive composition moratorium (provisorische oder definitive Nachlassstundung) or where a competent court closes the bankruptcy proceedings for reason of insufficiency of its funds to implement such proceedings (Einstellung des Konkursverfahrens mangels Aktiven), or (3) proceedings leading to an emergency moratorium (Notstundung). For the avoidance of doubt, if in this Note reference is made to insolvency proceedings in relation to any Swiss Note Party incorporated under the laws of Switzerland, such reference shall be limited to proceedings as set forth in this clause (ii) and, in particular, shall not include any reference to attachment proceedings.

 

19.

Failure Or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Noteholder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

20.

Dispute Resolution.

 

  (a)

Submission to Dispute Resolution.

 

  (i)

In the case of a dispute relating to a Conversion Price, the Optional Redemption Price, the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price or the Forced Redemption Price (as

 

25


  the case may be) (including a dispute relating to the determination of any of the foregoing), the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via electronic mail or otherwise (A) if by the Issuer, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Noteholder within five (5) Business Days after the Noteholder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Noteholder and the Issuer are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such Conversion Price or such Redemption Price (as the case may be), at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be), then the Issuer shall select an independent, reputable investment bank acceptable to the Noteholder, acting reasonably, to resolve such dispute and the Issuer shall promptly send written confirmation of such joint selection to the Noteholder.

 

  (ii)

The Noteholder and the Issuer shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 20 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Issuer provided notice to the Noteholder of the joint selection of such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Noteholder or the Issuer fail to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Issuer and the Noteholder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Issuer nor the Noteholder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation). Any and all communications between the Issuer, on the one hand, and the Noteholder, on the other hand, and such investment bank shall be made in writing and a copy provided simultaneously to the Issuer and the Noteholder and no meeting between such investment bank and the Issuer or the Noteholder shall take place unless the Issuer and the Noteholder (or, in each case, any designee or representative thereof) are in attendance.

 

  (iii)

The Issuer and the Noteholder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Issuer and the Noteholder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be shared equally between the Issuer and the Noteholder, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.

 

26


21.

Notices; Currency; Payments.

 

  (a)

Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Note must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt by the recipient, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt by the recipient, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

If to the Issuer:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attention: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

3 World Trade Center

175 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10007

Attention: Andrea M. Basham, Allison R. Liff

Email: Andrea.Basham@Freshfields.com

   Allison.Liff@Freshfields.com

If to the Initial Noteholder:

Glencore Canada Corporation,

100, King Street West

Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Canada

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

with a copy to:

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

SwitzerlandAttention: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

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

 

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Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attention: Heather Emmel, David Avery-Gee, Nitin Konchady, Justin Lee

Email: Heather.emmel@weil.com

David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

Nitin.Konchady@weil.com

Justin.D.Lee@weil.com

If to the Collateral Agent:

Glencore Canada Corporation,

100, King Street West

Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Canada

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

with a copy to:

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attention: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attention: Justin Lee, Heather Emmel, David Avery-Gee, Nitin Konchady

Email: Justin.D.Lee@weil.com

Heather.emmel@weil.com

David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

Nitin.Konchady@weil.com

or to such other address or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time and date or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clauses (A), (B) or (C) above, respectively.

 

  (b)

The Issuer shall provide the Noteholder with written notice (i) within three (3) Business Days of any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least ten (10) Business Days prior

 

28


  to the date on which the Issuer closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Shares, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property to holders of Common Shares or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Change of Control Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that any material non-public information in any such notice shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Noteholder.

 

  (c)

Calculation of Time. When computing any time period in this Note, the following rules shall apply:

 

  (i)

the day marking the commencement of the time period shall be excluded but the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period shall be included;

 

  (ii)

for time periods measured in Business Days, any day that is not a Business Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Business Day;

 

  (iii)

for time periods measured in Trading Days, any day that is not a Trading Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Trading Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Trading Day;

 

  (iv)

if the end date of any deadline or time period in this Note refers to a specific calendar date and that date is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next Business Day following the specific calendar date; and

 

  (v)

when used in this Note the term “month” shall mean a calendar month.

 

  (d)

Currency. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires all dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”).

 

  (e)

Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Issuer to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in U.S. Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

22.

Cancellation. After all Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest, the Make-Whole Amount, if any, and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Issuer for cancellation and shall not be reissued. In addition, any Note held by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries shall be deemed cancelled and shall not be reissued. 

 

23.

Waiver Of Notice. To the extent permitted by law, the Issuer hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

 

29


24.

Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Issuer hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Transaction Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Note and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude a Noteholder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Issuer in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Issuer’s obligations to a Noteholder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of a Noteholder. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE NOTEHOLDER AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PERSON HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE NOTEHOLDER AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS NOTE BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

 

25.

Severability. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

26.

Maximum Payments. Without limiting Section 14(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by Applicable Law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such Applicable Law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Issuer to the Noteholder and thus refunded to the Issuer.

 

30


27.

Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Note, the terms defined in the Definitions Annex shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms therein and the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

  (c)

“Additional Shares of Common Stock” shall mean all Common Shares or securities or notes convertible or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by the Issuer after the Issuance Date, other than (1) the following Common Shares and (2) Common Shares deemed issued pursuant to the following options and securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares:

 

  (i)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by way of a dividend or distribution that is covered by Section 9(a);

 

  (ii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued to employees or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, whether issued before or after the Issuance Date, pursuant to any option or incentive plan of the Issuer adopted by the board of directors of the Issuer (or any predecessor governing body); and

 

  (iii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued upon the exercise of options or warrants or Common Shares issued upon the conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares (including this Note (and any Note issued as PIK hereunder)) which are outstanding as of the date hereof, in each case provided such issuance is pursuant to the terms of such option or warrants or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares.

 

  (d)

“Adjusted EBITDA” means, with respect to the Issuer on a consolidated basis for any fiscal year, the sum of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, calculated excluding (x) the cumulative effect of changes (effected through cumulative effect adjustment or retroactive application) in, and/or any change resulting from the adoption or modification of, accounting principles or policies made in such period in accordance with GAAP which affect Consolidated Net Income, (y) the income or loss of any Person, accrued prior to the date on which such Person becomes a Subsidiary of such Person or is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person or the date that such other Person’s assets are acquired by such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person and (z) the net income for such period of any Subsidiary (other than any Note Party), to the extent the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of its net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; plus

 

31


(ii) without duplication, those amounts which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, have been excluded or deducted for or with respect to:

(a) Consolidated Net Interest Expense; plus

(b) taxes paid during such period, including income, capital, state and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to any such tax or arising from any tax examination, and including pursuant to any tax sharing arrangement or as a result of any intercompany distribution) of such Person paid during such period; plus

(c) (i) all depreciation and amortization charges, (ii) all impairment charges, and (iii) all asset write-offs and/or write-downs; plus

(d) (i) any charge incurred as a result of, pursuant to or in connection with any management equity plan, bonus or other incentive plan, profits interest plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, pension plan or other long-term or post-employment plan (including any post-employment benefit scheme which has been agreed with the relevant pension trustee), any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, any employee benefit trust, any employment benefit scheme or any similar equity plan or agreement (including (x) any deferred compensation arrangement, (y) any stock appreciation right and (z) in each case, any repricing, amendment, modification, substitution or change of any such management equity plan or any similar equity plan or agreement) and (ii) any non-cash compensation charge; plus

(e) (i) any realized or unrealized loss in respect of (A) any obligation under any hedge agreements as determined in accordance with GAAP and/or (B) any other derivative instrument pursuant to, in the case of this clause (B), Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging and/or (ii) any realized or unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction loss (including any currency re-measurement of Indebtedness, any net loss resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk resulting from any intercompany Indebtedness, any foreign currency translation or transaction or any other currency-related risk); plus

(f) unrealized losses in respect of (A) fair market value adjustments in accordance with GAAP as a result of commodities pricing adjustments in connection with revenue settlements and/or (B) derivative accounting for convertible Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries; plus

(g) any other non-cash charge; (iii) without duplication, those amounts, which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, have been included or added back for or with respect to:

minus

 

32


(a) any gain from extraordinary items and/or any unusual, non-recurring, infrequent and/or exceptional item (each as determined in good faith by the Issuer); minus

(b) (i) any realized or unrealized gain in respect of (A) any obligation under any hedge agreements as determined in accordance with GAAP and/or (B) any other derivative instrument pursuant to, in the case of this clause (B), Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging and/or (ii) any realized or unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gain (including any currency re-measurement of Indebtedness, any net gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk resulting from any intercompany Indebtedness, any foreign currency translation or transaction or any other currency-related risk); minus

(c) unrealized gains in respect of (A) fair market value adjustments in accordance with GAAP as a result of commodities pricing adjustments in connection with revenue settlements and/or (B) derivative accounting for convertible Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries; minus

(d) the amount of any cash payment made during such period in respect of any noncash accrual, reserve or other non-cash charge that is accounted for in a prior period which was added to Consolidated Net Income to determine Adjusted EBITDA for such prior period and which does not otherwise reduce Consolidated Net Income for the current period; minus

(e) any other non-cash income or non-cash gain, (provided that if any non-cash income or non-cash gain represents an accrual or deferred income in respect of potential cash items in any future period, such Person may determine not to deduct the relevant non-cash gain or income in the then-current period).

 

  (e)

“Applicable ECF Percentage” means, for each applicable fiscal year, (a) 0% if Liquidity as of the last day of such fiscal year is less than or equal to $10,000,000, (b) 50% if Liquidity as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than $10,000,000 and less than or equal to $40,000,000, (c) 60% if Liquidity as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than $40,000,000 and less than or equal to $70,000,000, (d) 70% if Liquidity as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than $70,000,000.

 

  (f)

“Applicable Law” means all laws (statutory or common), rules, ordinances, regulations, grants, concessions, franchises, licenses, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, and other governmental restrictions, including permits and other similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature, having application, directly or indirectly, to the Issuer, and includes the rules and policies of any stock exchange upon which the Issuer has securities listed or quoted.

 

33


  (g)

“Bankruptcy Event of Default” is an Event of Default under Sections 7(a)(viii) or 7(a)(ix) of this Note.

 

  (h)

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

  (i)

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate amount, without duplication, of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) that would, in accordance with GAAP, are, or are required to be included as, capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for such period.

 

  (j)

“Change of Control Transaction” means any of the following events: (i) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer, one or more employee benefit plans of the Issuer or the Initial Noteholder or any Affiliate of the Initial Noteholder (or a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of which the Initial Noteholder or any Affiliate of the Initial Noteholder may be a member), files any report with the SEC indicating that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Issuer’s then outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Issuer as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Issuer); (ii) the consummation of (A) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, taken as a whole, to any Person; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Issuer as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Issuer) are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property (other than a subdivision or combination, or solely a change in par value, of the Common Shares); provided, however, that (x) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange or combination of the Issuer pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii) and (y) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange, combination or acquisition of shares of the Issuer pursuant to which the Initial Noteholder or any Affiliate of the Initial Noteholder, immediately after such transaction, “beneficially owns” more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, will be deemed not to be a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii); or (iii) the Issuer’s shareholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer. For the purposes of this definition, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

34


  (k)

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

  (l)

[Reserved]

 

  (m)

“Common Shares” means (i) the Issuer’s common shares, (ii) any share capital into which such common shares shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common shares and (iii) for purposes of Section 9(a)(iv) only, the common shares or other securities of any of the Issuer’s subsidiaries in addition to the common shares of the Issuer.

 

  (n)

“Consolidated Net Income” means with respect to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any fiscal year, an amount equal to the sum of net income, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

  (o)

“Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, with respect to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, (a) consolidated total interest expense of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for such period (including interest expense paid to Affiliates of the Issuer), whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized, (including, without limitation (and without duplication), amortization of any debt issuance cost and/or original issue discount, any premium paid to obtain payment, financial assurance or similar bonds, any interest capitalized during construction, any non-cash interest payment, the interest component of any deferred payment obligation, the interest component of any payment under any Capital Lease (regardless of whether accounted for as interest expense under GAAP), any commission, discount and/or other fee or charge owed with respect to any letter of credit and/or bankers’ acceptance, any fee and/or expense paid to the Noteholder in connection with the Transactions, any other financing fee and any cost associated with any surety bond in connection with financing activities (whether amortized or immediately expensed)) plus (b) any net losses or obligations arising from any hedge agreements and/or other derivative financial instrument issued by such Person for the benefit of such Person or its subsidiaries, in each case determined on a consolidated basis for such period minus (c) the sum of (i) cash interest income for such period and (ii) gains for such period on hedge agreements (to the extent not included in interest income above and to the extent not deducted in the calculation of total interest expense) . For purposes of this definition, interest in respect of any Capital Lease shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease in accordance with GAAP.

 

  (p)

“Conversion Amount” means the sum of (i) the portion of the Principal to be converted with respect to which this determination is being made; and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal, if any.

 

  (q)

“Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination, $0.53 per Common Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

  (r)

“Default” means any event that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default.

 

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  (s)

“ECF Mandatory Redemption Price” means the sum of (i) the portion of the Principal required to be redeemed by the Issuer and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal, if any, up to, but excluding the Redemption Date.

 

  (t)

“Eligible Market” means the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange or the OTC US Market so long as, in the case of the OTC US Market only, the market capitalization of the Issuer is $25,000,000 or more.

 

  (u)

“Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Person for any Excess Cash Flow Period, (a) Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period, plus (b) the decrease, if any, in consolidated working capital from the first day to the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period, but excluding any such decrease in consolidated working capital arising from (i) the acquisition or Disposition of any Person by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (ii) the reclassification during such period of current assets to long term assets and current liabilities to long term liabilities, (iii) the application of purchase and/or recapitalization accounting and/or (iv) the effect of any fluctuation in the amount of accrued and contingent obligations under any hedge agreement less (c) the sum of, without duplication,

 

  (i)

all cash principal payments, repayments, prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and/or other retirements made on or with respect to the Note, the Existing Convertible Debt, any Project Financing and/or any other Indebtedness, in each case, made during such period so long as such payment, repayment, prepayment, repurchase, redemption and/or other retirement was permitted pursuant to the terms of the Note;

 

  (ii)

all Consolidated Net Interest Expense to the extent paid or payable in cash during such period;

 

  (iii)

the cash portion of Capital Expenditures made by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (to the extent such Capital Expenditures are permitted to be made under the Note) during such Excess Cash Flow Period, (A) except to the extent financed with the proceeds of long term funded Indebtedness and (B) without duplication of any amount deducted from Excess Cash Flow for a prior Excess Cash Flow Period;

 

  (iv)

all fees and expenses in respect of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries paid in cash during such period;

 

  (v)

taxes paid in cash by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries during or in respect of such period;

 

  (vi)

cash payments made in respect of the following:

 

  (1)

any Investment and/or Restricted Payment permitted under the Note and made in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period except to the extent the relevant Investment and/or Restricted Payment is financed with the proceeds of long term funded Indebtedness;

 

36


  (2)

any realized foreign currency exchange losses paid or payable in cash (including any currency re-measurement of Indebtedness, any net gain or loss resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk resulting from any intercompany Indebtedness, any foreign currency translation or transaction or any other currency-related risk);

 

  (3)

the aggregate amount of any extraordinary charges and any unusual or non-recurring charges to the extent paid in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period;

 

  (4)

any cash expense, cash charge, cash loss, cash payment and other cash items that were added back in calculating Adjusted EBITDA or excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income; and

 

  (5)

the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made in Cash by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries during the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period to the extent such expenditures were not expensed;

 

  (vii)

the increase, if any, in consolidated working capital from the first day to the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period, but excluding any such increase in consolidated working capital arising from (i) the acquisition or Disposition of any Person by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (ii) the reclassification during such period of current assets to long term assets and current liabilities to long term liabilities, (iii) the application of purchase and/or recapitalization accounting and/or acquisition method accounting and/or (iv) the effect of any fluctuation in the amount of accrued and contingent obligations under any hedge agreement;

 

  (viii)

amounts paid in Cash (except to the extent financed with long term funded Indebtedness) during such period on account of (i) items that were accounted for as non-Cash reductions of Consolidated Net Income or Adjusted EBITDA in a prior period and (ii) reserves or amounts established in purchase accounting to the extent such reserves or amounts are added back to, or not deducted from, Consolidated Net Income; and

 

  (ix)

an amount equal to the aggregate non-Cash gains or income to the extent included in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA.

 

  (v)

“Excess Cash Flow Period” means each fiscal year of the Issuer, commencing with the fiscal year of the Issuer ending on December 31, 2026.

 

  (w)

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment (or deemed payment) to a recipient:

 

  (i)

any Taxes imposed on (or measured by) such recipient’s net income or overall gross income, franchise Taxes and capital Taxes, in each case, (A) imposed as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office located in the taxing jurisdiction or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes;

 

37


  (ii)

any branch profits Taxes or any similar Tax imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (i);

 

  (iii)

any Taxes that would not have been imposed but for the recipient (A) not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Tax Act) with the Issuer, (B) being a “specified shareholder (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Tax Act) of the Issuer or not dealing at arm’s length with such a specified shareholder for purposes of the Tax Act, or (C) being a “specified entity” (as defined in subsection 18.4(1) of the Tax Act, as proposed to be amended by Bill C-59) in respect of the Issuer, including in each case where (x) the non-arm’s length relationship, (y) the recipient being a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer, or not dealing at arm’s length with a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer, or (z) the recipient being a “specified entity” in respect of the Issuer, as applicable, arises in connection with or as a result of the ownership of this Note or any Secured A&R Note;

 

  (iv)

any Taxes imposed in respect of an amount that is “participating debt interest” (as defined in subsection 212(3) of the Tax Act) arising (or deemed to arise) in respect of this Note; and

 

  (v)

any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

 

  (x)

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Note (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among governmental authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

  (y)

“First Modification Date” means the earlier of (a) the date that is one (1) month after the Project Financing Closing Date, and (b) December 31, 2024; it being understood and agreed that the Issuer will notify the Collateral Agent in writing of the occurrence of the First Modification Date (for the avoidance of doubt, failure to deliver notice shall not invalidate the occurrence of the First Modification Date).

 

  (z)

“Forced Redemption Price” means a cash purchase price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the Principal, (ii) accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note as of the Redemption Date and (iii) the Make-Whole Amount.

 

  (aa)

“German Note Party” means any Note Party incorporated under German law or having its center of main interest in Germany.

 

  (bb)

“Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note.

  (cc)

“Ineligible Consideration” has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(j).

 

  (dd)

“Interest Date” means (i) with respect to the Interest Period, the last day of the applicable Interest Period; provided that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day.

 

38


  (ee)

“Interest Period” means (i) initially, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2024 and (ii) thereafter, each period of six months commencing on January 1 and July 1 of each fiscal year.

 

  (ff)

“Interest Rate” means (i) in the case of interest that is paid in cash, Term SOFR plus five percent (5%) per annum, and (ii) in the case of interest that the Issuer has elected to be capitalized in accordance with Section 2(b), Term SOFR plus six percent (6%) per annum.

 

  (gg)

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any required redemption pursuant to delivery of an Event of Default Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 7(b), any required redemption upon the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to Section 8 or any automatic acceleration upon a Bankruptcy Event of Default pursuant to Section 7(f)(i), the sum of the undiscounted cash Interest payments that would have been payable under the Note beginning the day after such conversion or redemption through the Maturity Date but for the occurrence of such conversion or redemption.

 

  (hh)

“Maturity Date” shall mean March 25, 2029.

 

  (ii)

“Optional Redemption Price” means the sum of (i) the portion of the Principal elected by the Issuer to be redeemed and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal, if any, up to, but excluding the Redemption Date.

 

  (jj)

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Noteholder or any other recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or enforced this Note).

 

  (kk)

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes or any intangible, recording, filing or other similar Taxes arising from any payment made under this Note or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Note, but excluding (i) any Excluded Taxes and (ii) any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to a transfer of this Note or any Secured A&R Note pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

  (ll)

“PIK Amount” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2(b).

 

  (mm)

“PIK Notice” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2(b).

 

  (nn)

“Principal” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

  (oo)

“Principal Market” means The New York Stock Exchange or any Eligible Market on which the Issuer’s Common Shares are listed (and, in the case of simultaneous listings on multiple markets, the majority of the Issuer’s Common Shares trade) at the applicable time.

 

  (pp)

“Redemption Date” means any date on which the Note is redeemed or deemed to be redeemed, as applicable, pursuant to an Optional Redemption by the Issuer, an ECF Mandatory Redemption, a CoC Mandatory Redemption or redemption due to an Event of Default.

 

39


  (qq)

“Redemption Notice” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6(c)(i)(1).

 

  (rr)

“Redemption Price” means the cash purchase price for which the Note is to be redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption, an ECF Mandatory Redemption, a CoC Mandatory Redemption or redemption due to an Event of Default.

 

  (ss)

“Reference Date” means the earlier of (i) the date on which this Note has been fully converted in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

  (tt)

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the amended and restated registration rights agreement dated as of March 25, 2024 between the Issuer and the Initial Noteholder, as amended from time to time.

 

  (uu)

“Required Noteholders” means, subject, solely in the case of any amendments, modifications and/or waivers with respect to the Note Guaranty, any Collateral and/or any Collateral Document, to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement:

 

  (i)

for so long as the Initial Noteholder (together with its controlled investment Affiliates) holds more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding at such time under this Note and all other notes issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Initial Noteholder; and

 

  (ii)

from and after the date on which the Initial Noteholder (together with its controlled investment Affiliates) holds less than or equal to 50% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding at such time under this Note, holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding under this Note and all other notes issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (vv)

“Scheduled Expenditures” means, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, except to the extent financed with long term funded Indebtedness (a) the aggregate consideration (including earn-outs) required to be paid in Cash by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts, letters of intent or purchase orders entered into prior to or during such period relating to Capital Expenditures and/or Investments, in each case, permitted under the Note and/or (b) the aggregate amount otherwise committed to be made in connection with Capital Expenditures and/or Investments, in each case, permitted under the Note.

 

  (ww)

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

  (xx)

“Second Modification Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) the last day of the fiscal quarter during which the Start of Production Date occurs, (b) the last day of any fiscal quarter during which Capital Expenditures of the U.S. Project Finance Group during such fiscal quarter exceed the amount budgeted therefor in any Construction Budget then in effect by more than 110% and (c) June 1, 2026; it being understood and agreed that the Issuer will notify the Collateral Agent in writing of the occurrence of the Second Modification Date (for the avoidance of doubt, failure to deliver notice shall not invalidate the occurrence of the Second Modification Date).

 

40


  (yy)

“Secured Party” means (a) each Noteholder, (b) the Purchaser and (c) the Collateral Agent.

 

  (zz)

“Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any subsidiary of such Person that constitutes, or any group of subsidiaries of such Person that, in the aggregate, would constitute, a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the 1934 Act) of such Person.

 

  (aaa)

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

  (bbb)

“Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

  (ccc)

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any governmental authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

  (ddd)

“Term SOFR” means, for any calculation of Interest, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the interest period on the Note on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such interest period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day; provided, further, that, if Term SOFR determined as provided above shall ever be less than zero, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be zero.

 

  (eee)

“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Required Noteholders (in consultation with the Issuer) in their reasonable discretion).

 

  (fff)

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

 

  (ggg)

“Trading Day” means, as applicable, (i) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Common Shares are traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Shares, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares are then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Shares are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Shares are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Required Noteholders or (ii) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Principal Market (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.

 

41


  (hhh)

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

 

28.

[Reserved].

 

29.

[Reserved].

 

30.

Disclosure. Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Noteholder (or receipt by the Issuer from the Noteholder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Issuer has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Issuer, the Issuer shall on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Issuer believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Issuer, the Issuer so shall indicate to the Noteholder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Noteholder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Issuer immediately upon receipt of notice from the Noteholder), the Noteholder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Issuer.

 

31.

Confidentiality. The Noteholder agrees that it shall keep confidential any confidential information provided by the Issuer to the Noteholder pursuant to the Transaction Documents, unless such information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general, (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by Noteholder without use of the Issuer’s confidential information; provided, however, that the Issuer may disclose confidential information (a) to affiliates and representatives, (b) as may otherwise be required by law, regulation, rule, court order or subpoena or (c) in connection with a transfer pursuant to Section 14 of this Note or Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement; provided that the Noteholder promptly notifies the Issuer of such disclosure and takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure.

 

32.

Security; Collateral Agent. This Note is secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement, each applicable Intercreditor Agreement, and each other Finance Document. Each Noteholder, by becoming a party to the Note Purchase Agreement and accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of this Note and each of the other Finance Documents (including, without limitation, Section 5(d), Sections 9 through 13 and Section 14(g) and (h) of the Note Purchase Agreement, each of which provisions are incorporated by reference herein mutatis mutandis) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Finance Documents and into each applicable Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf as Collateral Agent, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

 

42


33.

Certain Conflicts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any Transaction Document, in the event of a conflict or inconsistency between (a) any provision of this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement and any other Finance Document or Transaction Document, the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement shall govern and control and (b) any Intercreditor Agreement and this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement and any other Finance Document or Transaction Document, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

[signature page follows]

 

43


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set forth above.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name:   Ajay Kochhar
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page – Convertible Note]


EXHIBIT I

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. HOLDER CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued to the undersigned by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Issuer”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into Common Shares, no par value per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Issuer, as of the date specified below. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Conversion:   

 

Aggregate Principal to be converted:   

 

Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be converted:   

 

AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE CONVERTED:   

 

Please confirm the following information:
Conversion Price:   

 

 

Number of Common Shares to be issued:

  

 

 

☐ Check here if the Noteholder not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S) and is not acting for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person.

 

I-1


Please issue the Common Shares into which the Note is being converted (in the form of uncertificated shares represented by an electronic position) to Noteholder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

Issue to:    Name of registered holder:
   Mailing Address:
   Email Address:
   Phone Number:

☐ Check here if requesting the shares be certificated (if permitted by law) and the delivery of a paper certificate to the following mailing address:

 

Issue a certificate in paper form and deliver the certificate to:   

 

☐ Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

 

DTC

 

Participant:

 

 

 

 

DTC

 

Number:

 

 

 

Account

 

Number:

 

 

 

Date:

 

_____________ __,

 

Name of Registered Noteholder
By:  

    

  Name:
  Title:

 

I-2


Tax

ID:

 

    

E-mail Address:
Phone Number:

 

I-3


EXHIBIT II

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. REDEMPTION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued to the undersigned by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Issuer”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby issues this redemption notice in connection with:

☐ Optional Redemption

☐ ECF Mandatory Redemption

in exchange for (as indicated below) cash as of the date specified below, and warrants to acquire Common Shares. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Redemption:  

    

Aggregate Principal to be redeemed:  

 

Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be redeemed:  

 

AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE REDEEMED:  

 

Number of Redemption Warrants to be issued:  

 

Please confirm the following information:

 

II-1


Redemption Price:  
Pay to:   Name of registered holder:
  Mailing Address:
  Email Address:
  Phone Number:
  ABA Routing Number:
  Account Number:
  Attention:

 

Tax ID:   

 

 

E-mail Address:

  
Phone Number:   

 

 

II-2


EXHIBIT III

FORM OF WARRANT

[See Exhibit III separately attached.]

 


Number: [•]

WARRANTS

THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR BELOW.

THE WARRANTS HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR BY OR ON BEHALF OF, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, A U.S. PERSON OR A PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS IS AVAILABLE. “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” ARE AS DEFINED BY REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Incorporated Under the Laws of Ontario

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [     ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder (the “Holder”) of [     ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase common shares (“Common Shares”), of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., an Ontario corporation (the “Company”).

This Warrant Certificate is issued in connection with the redemption and cancellation of the convertible note issued by the Company to Glencore Canada Corporation as of March [_], 2024 (the “Note”).

Each Warrant entitles the Holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in this Warrant Certificate, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to this Warrant Certificate, payable in lawful money of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the principal office of the Company, located at 207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590, Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7 (Attention: Ajay Kochhar; Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com), subject to the conditions set forth herein.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Common Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a Holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a Common Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Common Shares to be issued to the Holder.

The initial Exercise Price per one Common Share for any Warrant is equal to $[•]1 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in this Warrant Certificate.

 

NTD: Equal to the applicable Conversion Price as of the date of redemption of the Note.


Subject to the conditions set forth in this Warrant Certificate, 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 be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of this ____ day of      , 20    .

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

2


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

 

1.

Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

 

  1.1.

Exercise Price. Each Warrant shall entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of this Warrant Certificate, to purchase from the Company the number of Common Shares stated herein, at the price of $[•] per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 2 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 1.1. The term “Exercise Price” as used in this Warrant Certificate shall mean the price per share described in the prior sentence at which Common Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Exercise Price at any time prior to the Expiry Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen (15) Business Days (unless otherwise required by the SEC, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or Applicable Law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.

 

  1.2.

Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing on the date hereof and terminating on the earliest to occur (the “Expiry Time”) of (i) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on [•], 2030 (the “Exercise Period”) and (ii) immediately prior to the closing of a Change of Control Transaction. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiry Time shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Warrant Certificate shall cease at the Expiry Time. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiry Time; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

 

  1.3.

Exercise of Warrants.

 

  1.3.1.

Payment. Subject to the provisions of this Warrant Certificate, a Warrant may be exercised by the Holder thereof by delivering to the Company at its principal office (i) this definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Warrant represented by a book-entry position, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) on the records of the applicable Warrant Agent (the “Agent”) to an account of the Company or its agent at the Agent designated for such purposes in writing by the Company to the Holder from time to time, (ii) a subscription form (“Subscription Form”) for any Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Holder on the reverse of this definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered by the Holder in accordance with the Agent’s procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Exercise Price for each Common Share as to which

 

3


  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 Common Shares and the issuance of such Common Shares, in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Company, or by transmitting same day payable funds in the lawful money of the United States by wire to such account as the Company shall direct to the Holder. Any Warrant Certificate so surrendered shall be deemed to be surrendered only upon delivery thereof to the Company at its principal office set forth herein in the manner provided in Section 12 (or to such other address as the Company may notify the Holder).

 

  1.3.2.

Issuance of Common Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable (and in any event within 5 Business Days) after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Exercise Price, the Company shall issue to the Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Common Shares to which it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of shareholders of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant Certificate, as applicable, for the number of Common Shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised.

 

  1.3.3.

Valid Issuance. All Common Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Warrant Certificate shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  1.3.4.

Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Common Shares is issued and who is registered in the register of shareholders of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Common Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Exercise 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 register of shareholders of the Company or book-entry system of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such Common Shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

 

  1.3.5.

[Reserved].

 

  1.3.6.

Antitrust and Foreign Investment Laws. The Company shall only issue Common Shares upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Warrant Certificate to the extent the issuance of such Common Shares would not exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Company may issue without violating the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act

 

4


  of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) or any antitrust laws of other jurisdictions or any foreign investment laws applicable in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that (i) the Holder (and, if applicable, the Company) obtains the necessary regulatory approvals as required by any applicable antitrust laws or foreign investment laws or (ii) the Holder (and, if applicable, the Company) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Holder (or, in the case of the Company, counsel to the Company) that such approval(s) are not required. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s non-compliance with the limitations contained in this Section 1.3.6 shall not constitute a breach of this Warrant Certificate by the Company, and the Company shall not have any liability under this Warrant Certificate or otherwise resulting therefrom, but in the event that exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate requires any filing or approval under the HSR Act or any applicable antitrust laws of any other jurisdiction and any foreign investment laws the Holder and, if applicable, the Company shall endeavor to make such filings and obtain such approval in accordance with, and subject to the following limitations:

 

  1.3.6.1.

The Company and the Holder acknowledge that one or more filings under the HSR Act or antitrust laws of other jurisdictions and/or foreign investment laws may be necessary in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate. The Holder will promptly notify the Company if any such filing is required on the part of the Holder or the Company. The Company, the Holder and any other applicable Holder Affiliate will use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in making or causing to be made all applications and filings under the HSR Act or any antitrust laws of other jurisdictions or any foreign investment laws required in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate held by the Holder or any Holder Affiliate in a timely manner and as required by the law of the applicable jurisdiction; provided, that, notwithstanding anything in this Warrant Certificate to the contrary, the Company shall not have any responsibility or liability for failure of the Holder or any of its Affiliates to comply with any Applicable Law. For as long as this Warrant Certificate is outstanding, the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable provide (no more than four (4) times per calendar year) such information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Holder may reasonably request in order to determine what antitrust or foreign investment requirements may exist with respect to any potential exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate. Promptly upon request by the Holder, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to make all such filings and obtain all approvals and clearances as required under applicable antitrust or foreign investment laws in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares and investment in the Common Shares upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate.

 

5


  1.3.6.2.

Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant Certificate to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed that: (i) the Company shall not have any obligation to litigate or contest any administrative or judicial action or proceeding or any decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent; and (ii) the Company shall not be under any obligation to make proposals, execute or carry out agreements, enter into consent decrees or submit to orders providing for (A) the sale, divestiture, license or other disposition or holding separate (through the establishment of a trust or otherwise) of any assets or categories of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, (B) the imposition of any limitation or regulation on the ability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates to freely conduct their business or own such assets or (C) the holding separate of the Common Shares or any limitation or regulation on the ability of the Holder or any of its Affiliates to exercise full rights of ownership of the Common Shares. The Company and the Holder will cooperate, provide all necessary information, and keep each other fully apprised with respect to such filing and regulatory processes. The Holder shall be responsible for the payment of the filing fees associated with any such applications or filings.

 

2.

Adjustments.

 

  2.1.

If and whenever, at any time prior to the Expiry Time, the Company shall: (i) subdivide or re-divide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common Shares; (ii) reduce, combine or consolidate the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares; (iii) issue options, rights, warrants or similar securities to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares; or (iv) issue Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution; the number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants on the date of the subdivision, re-division, reduction, combination or consolidation or on the record date for the issue of options, rights, warrants or similar securities or on the record date for the issue of Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution, as the case may be, shall be adjusted so that the Holder shall be entitled to receive the kind and number of Common Shares or other securities of the Company which it would have owned or been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described in this Section 2.1 had the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate been exercised immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall become effective immediately after the effective time of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.

 

6


  2.2.

If and whenever at any time prior to the Expiry Time, there is a reclassification of the Common Shares or a capital reorganization of the Company other than as described in Section 2.1 or a consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, binding share exchange, merger of the Company with or into any other Person or other entity or acquisition of the Company or other combination pursuant to which the Common Shares are converted into or acquired for cash, securities or other property; or a sale or conveyance of the property and assets of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) or other entity or a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, the Holder, if it has not exercised its Warrants prior to the effective date of such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, upon the exercise of such Warrants thereafter, shall be entitled to receive and shall accept, in lieu of the number of Common Shares then sought to be acquired by it, such amount of cash or the number of shares or other securities or property of the Company or of the Person or other entity resulting from such merger, amalgamation, arrangement, acquisition, combination or consolidation, or to which such sale or conveyance may be made or which holders of Common Shares receive pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, as the case may be, that the Holder would have been entitled to receive on such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, if, on the record date or the effective date thereof, as the case may be, the Holder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares sought to be acquired by it and to which it was entitled to acquire upon the exercise of its Warrants at the Exercise Price.

 

  2.3.

If, and whenever at any time prior to the Expiry Time, the Company shall issue Additional Shares of Common Stock, without consideration or for a consideration per share less than Exercise Price as of the date of issue thereof, then the Exercise Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

EP2 = EP1* (A + B) ÷ (A + C).

For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:

“EP2” shall mean the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

7


“EP1” shall mean the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock; “A” shall mean the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock (treating for this purpose as outstanding all Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding immediately prior to such issue or upon conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue);

“B” shall mean the number of Common Shares that would have been issued if such Additional Shares of Common Stock had been issued at a price per share equal to EP1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Company (as determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors) in respect of such issue by EP1); and

“C” shall mean the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock issued in such transaction.

 

  2.4.

If the Company or any of its subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Shares (other than solely pursuant to an odd-lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the 1934 Act), and the value (determined as of the Expiration Time by the Company’s board of directors) of the cash and other consideration paid per Common Share in such tender or exchange offer exceeds the last reported sale price per Common Share on the Trading Day immediately after the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended), then the Exercise Price will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  EP0

= the Exercise Price in effect immediately before the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer;

 

  EP1

= the Exercise Price in effect immediately after the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period;

 

  AC

= the aggregate value (determined as of the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires by the Company’s board of directors) of all cash and other consideration paid for Common Shares purchased or exchanged in such tender or exchange offer;

 

  OS0

= the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before the Expiration Time (including all Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

 

8


  OS1

= the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (excluding Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

 

  SP

= the average of the last reported sale prices per Common Shares over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

provided, however, that the Exercise Price will in no event be adjusted down pursuant to this Section 2.4, except to the extent provided in the immediately following paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, if the date of exercise of the Warrants occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Exercise Price for such exercise, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date to, and including, such date of exercise. To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Company being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under Applicable Law), or any purchases or exchanges of Common Shares in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Exercise Price will be readjusted to the Exercise Price that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of Common Shares, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

 

  2.5.

If, and whenever at any time prior to the Expiry Time, the Company shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Shares entitled to receive (and subsequently make or issue), a dividend or other distribution payable in cash or other property not involving Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares (which is the subject of Section 2.1), then and in each such event the Holder of a Warrant shall receive, and shall accept, upon the exercise of a Warrant for Common Shares, a dividend or other distribution of such cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such cash or other property as it would have received if this Warrant had been exercised for Common Shares on the date of such event.

 

  2.6.

On the occurrence of any reclassification of, or other change in, the outstanding Common Shares or any other event or addressed in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 or 2.5 (each, an “Unanticipated Event”), the parties will, in good faith, make such further adjustments and changes and take all necessary actions, subject to the approval of the Holder, so as to ensure that the Holder receives, upon the exercise of a Warrant occurring at any time after the date of the occurrence of the Unanticipated Event, such shares, securities, rights, cash or property that the Holder would have received if, immediately prior to the date of such Unanticipated Event, the Holder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares to which the Holder would be entitled upon the exercise of a Warrant for Common Shares.

 

9


  2.7.

The adjustments provided for in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 are cumulative and will be made successively whenever an event referred to therein occurs.

 

  2.8.

If at any time a question or dispute arises with respect to the adjustments provided for in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 or 2.6, such question or dispute will be conclusively determined by a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Company (who may be the auditors of the Company) and acceptable to the Holder. Such accountants shall have access to all necessary records of the Company and any such determination will be binding upon the Company and the Holder.

 

  2.9.

The Company shall, from time to time immediately after the occurrence of any event which requires an adjustment or re-adjustment as provided in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 or 2.6, deliver a certificate of the Company to the Holder specifying the nature of the event requiring the same and the amount of the necessary adjustment (or, in the case of Section 2.5, entitlement to cash or other property upon conversion) and setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based, and, if reasonably required by the Holder, such certificate and the amount of the adjustment specified therein shall be verified by an opinion of a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Company (who may be the auditors of the Company) and acceptable to the Holder.

 

  2.10.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 or 2.6, if the Holder would otherwise be entitled to receive, upon the exercise of its right of conversion, any property (including cash) or securities that would not constitute “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 (“Ineligible Consideration”), the Holder shall not be entitled to receive such Ineligible Consideration and the Company or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be, shall have the right (at the sole option of the Company or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be) to deliver to the Holder “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 with a market value (as conclusively determined by the board of directors of the Company) equal to the market value of such Ineligible Consideration.

 

  2.11.

No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Certificate to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional Common Shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 2, 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 Common Shares to be issued to such holder.

 

10


  2.12.

Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 2, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Warrant Certificate; 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.

 

  2.13.

To the extent any amendment or modification is made to Section 8 of the Note, the Company shall simultaneously amend or modify this Warrant Certificate to reflect similar terms.

 

3.

Register and Transferability.

 

  3.1.

The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to maintain a register (the “Register”) for the registration in book-entry form of the original issuance of the Warrants and the registration of transfer of any Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the 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 Agent by the Company. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The Company shall treat the Holder for all purposes as the owner hereof notwithstanding notice to the contrary, however, that upon its receipt of a written request to assign, transfer or sell all or part of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate by the Holder as set forth in Section 3.2, the Company shall record the information contained therein in the Register and issue a new certificate in respect of the remaining balance of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate; provided, however, that the Company will not register any assignment, transfer or sale of any Warrants not made in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom.

 

  3.2.

The Warrants are subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Warrants set forth in Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement and may not be offered, sold, assigned or otherwise transferred (including through hedging or derivative transactions) unless expressly permitted pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  3.3.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3, following exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant Certificate to the Company unless (A) all Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate are being exercised (in which event this Warrant Certificate shall be delivered to the Company following exercise thereof as contemplated by Section 1.3) or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice requesting reissuance of this Warrant Certificate upon physical surrender of this Warrant Certificate. If the Company does not update the Register to record the exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate and the dates of such exercise and/or payments (as the case may be), then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such occurrence on the Business Day immediately prior to such occurrence.

 

11


  3.4.

The Company may appoint an Agent for the purpose of maintaining the Register, issuing the Common Shares or other securities then issuable upon the exercise of the rights under the Warrants, exchanging the Warrants, replacing the Warrants or conducting related activities.

 

4.

No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder 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 shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

5.

No Obligation to Purchase. Nothing herein contained or done pursuant hereto shall obligate the Holder to subscribe for, or the Company to issue, any shares except those shares in respect of which the Holder shall have exercised its right to purchase hereunder in the manner provided herein.

 

6.

U.S. Legend. Certificates representing Common Shares issued pursuant to the Subscription Form, and all certificates issued in exchange thereof or in substitution therefor, until such time as it is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act or applicable United States state laws and regulations, shall bear the following legend:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, (C) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTIONS FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 OR RULE 144A THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AFTER, IN THE CASE OF TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (C) OR (D), PROVIDING TO THE COMPANY A LEGAL OPINION OR OTHER EVIDENCE IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER, TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or the Company’s transfer agent may impose additional requirements for the removal of legends from securities sold in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S of the 1933 Act in the future.

 

7.

Covenants:

 

  7.1.

So long as any Warrants evidenced hereby remain outstanding, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Common Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Warrant Certificate.

 

12


  7.2.

The Company covenants and agrees that until the Expiry Time, while the Warrants (or remaining portion thereof) shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to remain listed on the Principal Market, and to maintain its status as a “reporting issuer” not in default of the requirements of the applicable securities laws in the jurisdictions in which the Company is currently a reporting issuer, provided that this covenant shall not prevent the Company from completing any transaction which would result in the Company to cease to be listed on the Principal Market or cease to be a reporting issuer, respectively, so long as the holders of the Common Shares receive securities of an entity which is listed on an Eligible Market or cash or the holders of the Common Shares have approved the transaction in accordance with the requirements of applicable corporate laws and the rules and policies of the Principal Market.

 

  7.3.

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 for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Warrant Certificate.

 

  7.4.

In the event of a Change of Control Transaction in which the consideration to be received by the Company’s shareholders consists of cash and/or marketable securities, if this Warrant Certificate is outstanding upon the consummation of such Change of Control Transaction then (a) if the Fair Market Value of one Common Share is greater than the then applicable Exercise Price, this Warrant Certificate may be exercised at the election of the Holder on a net exercise issue basis as of immediately prior to such Change of Control Transaction and (b) if the Fair Market Value of one Common Share is less than or equal to the then applicable Exercise Price, this Warrant Certificate will expire immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control Transaction.

 

  7.5.

The covenants of the Company referenced in Sections 2, 3 and 4 of Annex A-3 of the Note are incorporated herein by reference. Such covenants of the Company shall not merge in or be prejudiced by and shall survive the redemption of the Note and shall continue in full force and effect so long as the Warrants are outstanding.

 

  7.6.

Upon request of the Holder, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to issue to the Holder Book-Entry Warrants settled through the Agent in lieu of this Warrant Certificate.

 

8.

Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant Certificate (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant Certificate representing the outstanding number of Warrants.

 

13


9.

Payment of Collection, Enforcement and Other Costs. If (a) this Warrant Certificate is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Warrant Certificate or to enforce the provisions of this Warrant Certificate or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting the Holder’s rights and involving a claim under this Warrant Certificate, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements.

 

10.

Construction; Headings. This Warrant Certificate shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the initial Holder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant Certificate are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant Certificate. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Warrant Certificate instead of just the provision in which they are found. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of this Warrant Certificate.

 

11.

Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

12.

Dispute Resolution.

 

  12.1.

Submission to Dispute Resolution.

 

  12.1.1.

In the case of a dispute relating to the Exercise Price, the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via electronic mail or otherwise (A) if by the Company, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Holder within five (5) Business Days after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Holder and the Company are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such Exercise Price at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall select an independent, reputable investment bank acceptable to the Holder, acting reasonably, to resolve such dispute and the Company shall promptly send written confirmation of such joint selection to the Holder.

 

14


  12.1.2.

The Holder and the Company shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 12.1 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Company provided notice to the Holder of the joint selection of such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Holder or the Company fails to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both the Company and the Holder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Company nor the Holder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation). Any and all communications between the Company, on the one hand, and the Holder, on the other hand, and such investment bank shall be made in writing and a copy provided simultaneously to the Company and the Holder and no meeting between such investment bank and the Company or the Holder shall take place unless each of the Company and the Holder are in attendance.

 

  12.1.3.

The Company and the Holder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Company and the Holder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be shared equally between the Company and the Holder, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.

 

13.

Notices; Currency; Payments.

 

  13.1.

Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Warrant Certificate must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt by the recipient, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt by the recipient, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

 

15


If to the Company:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attention: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

3 World Trade Center

175 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10007

Attention: Andrea M. Basham

Andrea.Basham@Freshfields.com

and

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

66 Wellington St W

Suite 5300

Toronto, ON M5K 1E6

Attention: Jonathan Grant, Fraser Bourne

Email: jgrant@mccarthy.ca, fbourne@mccarthy.ca

If to the Holder:

Glencore Canada Corporation,

100, King Street West

Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Canada

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

with a copy to:

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attention: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

 

16


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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attention: Heather Emmel, David Avery-Gee, Nitin Konchady

Email: Heather.emmel@weil.com

David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

Nitin.Konchady@weil.com

or to such other address or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time and date or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

  13.2.

The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant Certificate, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) within three (3) Business Days after any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Shares, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property to holders of Common Shares or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any change of control transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that any material non-public information in any such notice shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

 

  13.3.

Calculation of Time. When computing any time period in this Warrant Certificate, the following rules shall apply:

 

  13.3.1.

the day marking the commencement of the time period shall be excluded but the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period shall be included;

 

  13.3.2.

for time periods measured in Business Days, any day that is not a Business Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Business Day;

 

  13.3.3.

for time periods measured in Trading Days, any day that is not a Trading Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Trading Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Trading Day;

 

17


  13.3.4.

if the end date of any deadline or time period in this Warrant Certificate refers to a specific calendar date and that date is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next Business Day following the specific calendar date; and

 

  13.3.5.

when used in this Warrant Certificate the term “month” shall mean a calendar month.

 

  13.4.

Currency. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires all dollar amounts referred to in this Warrant Certificate are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”).

 

  13.5.

Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made pursuant to this Warrant Certificate, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in U.S Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Warrant Certificate is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

14.

Waiver of Notice. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Warrant Certificate and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

15.

Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant Certificate shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Warrant Certificate and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude a Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to a Holder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of a Holder. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IS

 

18


  LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

 

16.

Severability. If any provision of this Warrant Certificate is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant Certificate so long as this Warrant Certificate as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

17.

Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Warrant Certificate, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

  (c)

“Additional Shares of Common Stock” shall mean all Common Shares or securities or notes convertible or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by the Company after the date of this Warrant Certificate, other than (1) the following Common Shares and (2) Common Shares deemed issued pursuant to the following options and securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares:

 

  (i)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by way of a dividend or distribution that is covered by Section 2.1;

 

19


  (ii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued to employees or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, whether issued before or after the date of this Warrant Certificate, pursuant to any option or incentive plan of the Company adopted by the board of directors of the Company (or any predecessor governing body); and

 

  (iii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued upon the exercise of options or warrants or Common Shares issued upon the conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares which are outstanding as of the date hereof, in each case provided such issuance is pursuant to the terms of such option or warrants or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares.

 

  (d)

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any Person (the “first named person”), any other Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first named person; provided that, for greater certainty, the Company is not an Affiliate of the Holder or any of its subsidiaries for the purposes of this Warrant Certificate.

 

  (e)

“Applicable Law” means all laws (statutory or common), rules, ordinances, regulations, grants, concessions, franchises, licenses, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, and other governmental restrictions, including permits and other similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature, having application, directly or indirectly, to the Company, and includes the rules and policies of any stock exchange upon which the Company has securities listed or quoted.

 

  (f)

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

  (g)

“Change of Control Transaction” means any of the following events: (i) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act), other than the Company, one or more employee benefit plans of the Company or the Holder or any Affiliate of the Holder (or a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act) of which the Holder or any Affiliate of the Holder may be a member), files any report with the SEC indicating that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s then outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held

 

20


  by the Company as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Company); (ii) the consummation of (A) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, taken as a whole, to any Person; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Company as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Company) are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property (other than a subdivision or combination, or solely a change in par value, of the Common Shares); provided, however, that (x) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange or combination of the Company pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Company’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii) and (y) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange, combination or acquisition of shares of the Company pursuant to which the Holder or any Affiliate of the Holder, immediately after such transaction, “beneficially owns” more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, will be deemed not to be a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii); (iii) the Company’s shareholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iv) the Common Shares cease to be listed on any Eligible Market. For the purposes of this definition, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act.

 

  (h)

“Common Shares” means (i) the Company’s common shares, (ii) any share capital into which such common shares shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common shares and (iii) for purposes of Section 2.1(iv) only, the common shares or other securities of any of the Company’s subsidiaries in addition to the common shares of the Company.

 

  (i)

“Eligible Market” means the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange or the OTC US Market so long as, in the case of the OTC US Market only, the market capitalization of the Company is $25,000,000 or more.

 

  (j)

“Exercise Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.2.

 

  (k)

“Exercise Price” has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.1.

 

21


  (l)

“Expiry Time” has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.2.

 

  (m)

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock, the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares for the seven (7) Trading Days immediately preceding the issue date of such Additional Shares of Common Stock.

 

  (n)

“Ineligible Consideration” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.10.

 

  (o)

“Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

  (p)

“Principal Market” means The New York Stock Exchange or any Eligible Market on which the Company’s Common Shares are listed (and, in the case of simultaneous listings on multiple markets, the majority of the Company’s Common Shares trade) at the applicable time.

 

  (q)

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the amended and restated registration rights agreement dated as of March [_], 2024 between the Company and the Holder, as amended from time to time.

 

  (r)

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

  (s)

“Subscription Form” means the subscription form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

  (t)

“Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

  (u)

“Trading Day” means, as applicable, (i) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Common Shares are traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Shares, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares are then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Shares are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Shares are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder or (ii) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Principal Market (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.

 

  (v)

“Transfer Form” means the transfer form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

22


18.

Disclosure. Upon delivery by the Company to the Holder (or receipt by the Company from the Holder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Warrant Certificate, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company, the Company shall on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Company immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder), the Holder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company.

 

19.

Absence of trading and disclosure restrictions. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holder is not a fiduciary or agent of the Company and that the Holder shall have no obligation to (a) maintain the confidentiality of any information provided by the Company or (b) refrain from trading any securities while in possession of such information in the absence of a written non-disclosure agreement signed by an officer of the Holder that explicitly provides for such confidentiality and trading restrictions. In the absence of such an executed, written non-disclosure agreement, the Company acknowledges that the Holder may freely trade in any securities issued by the Company, may possess and use any information provided by the Company in connection with such trading activity, and may disclose any such information to any third party.

 

23


Exhibit A

Subscription Form

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Warrant Certificate (the “Warrant Certificate”) to which this Subscription Form is attached.

The undersigned holder of the attached Warrant Certificate hereby subscribes for ______________ common shares (the “Shares”) of LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. (the “Company”) pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Certificate at the Exercise Price on the terms specified in the Warrant Certificate and contemporaneously with the execution and delivery hereof makes payment therefor on the terms specified in the Warrant Certificate. If any Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate are not being exercised, a new Warrant Certificate representing the unexercised Warrants will be issued and delivered with the certificate representing the Shares.

The undersigned hereby directs that the Shares be issued as follows:

 

Names(s) in Full

  

Address(es)

  

Number of Common Shares

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

Date: [    ], 20

 

[    ]
By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

24


Exhibit B

Transfer Form

 

Assignor:                         
Company:    LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. (the “Company”)
Warrant:    Warrant No. _______ to purchase common shares issued on ______________________ (the “Warrant”)

Date:

In the case of a warrant certificate that contains the U.S. restricted legend, the undersigned hereby represents, warrants and certifies that (one (only) of the following must be checked):

 

   (A) the transfer is being made only to the Company;
   (B) the transfer is being made outside the United States in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), and in compliance with any applicable local securities laws and regulations and the undersigned has furnished to the Company any other evidence in form and substance required by the Company to such effect, or
   (C) the transfer is being made in a transaction that does not require registration under the U.S. Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws or the filing of a prospectus or similar document under the securities laws of any jurisdiction of Canada, including, without limitation, the Securities Act (Ontario) and the rules and regulations made thereunder, and the undersigned has furnished to the Company an opinion of counsel of recognized standing or other evidence in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company to such effect.

Assignment. The undersigned registered holder of the Warrant (the “Assignor”) assigns and transfers to the assignee named below all of the rights of Assignor under the accompanying Warrant Certificate with respect to the number of Warrants set forth below:

Name of Assignee:                  

Address of Assignee:                 

Number of Warrants Assigned:             

and does irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________ as attorney to make such transfer on the books of LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. maintained for the purpose, with full power of substitution in the premises.


In the event of the transfer of less than the total number of Warrants represented by the accompanying Warrant Certificate, the Company is hereby instructed to deliver to or as directed by the Assignor, without charge, a new Warrant Certificate in respect of the balance of the Warrants which have not been transferred. 

 

ASSIGNOR

 

(Print name of Assignor)

 

(Signature of Assignor)

 

(Print name of signatory, if applicable)

 

(Print title of signatory, if applicable)
Address:

 

 

 

26


EXHIBIT IV

[FORM OF]

INTERCOMPANY NOTE

[   ] [ ], 20[ ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, each of the undersigned, to the extent a borrower from time to time from any other entity listed on a signature page hereto (each, in such capacity, a “Payor”), hereby promises to pay on demand to such other entity listed below (each, in such capacity, a “Payee”), in lawful money of the United States of America, or in such other currency as agreed to by such Payor and such Payee, in immediately available funds, at such location as a Payee shall from time to time designate, the unpaid principal amount of all loans and advances constituting Indebtedness made by such Payee to such Payor. Each Payor promises also to pay interest, if any, on the unpaid principal amount of all such loans and advances in like money at said location from the date of such loans and advances until paid at such rate per annum as shall be agreed upon from time to time by such Payor and such Payee.

Reference is made to that certain Note, issued by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario with offices located at 207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590, Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7 (the “Issuer”) on [•], 2024 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect on the date hereof, the “Note”) and held by the Noteholder (as defined therein). Each Payee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) may exercise all rights provided in the applicable Finance Documents with respect to this Intercompany Note. Capitalized terms used in this Intercompany Note (this “Intercompany Note”) but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Note or Note Purchase Agreement. This Intercompany Note is the Intercompany Note referred to in the Note.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Intercompany Note, each Payee understands and agrees that no Payor shall be required to make, and shall not make, any payment of principal, interest or other amounts on this Intercompany Note to the extent that such payment is prohibited by, or would give rise to a default or an event of default under, the terms of any Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) (each, a “Note Default”). The failure to make such payment because such payment would result in any Note Default shall not constitute a default hereunder.

Upon the commencement of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, winding up or other similar proceeding in connection therewith, relating to any Payor owing any amounts evidenced by this Intercompany Note to any Payee, or to any property of any such Payor, all amounts evidenced by this Intercompany Note owing by such Payor to any and all Payees shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind.

Anything in this Intercompany Note to the contrary notwithstanding, the Indebtedness evidenced by this Intercompany Note owed by any Payor that is a Note Party to any Payee that is not a Note Party shall be subordinated and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to all of the Obligations of such Payor; provided that each Payor may make payments to the applicable Payee so long as no Event of Default under and as defined in the Note shall have occurred and be continuing (such Obligations and, in each case, other indebtedness and obligations in connection with any renewal, refunding, restructuring or refinancing thereof, including interest, fees and expenses thereon accruing after the commencement of any proceeding referred to in clause (i) below, whether or not such interest, fees and expenses is an allowed claim in such proceeding, being hereinafter collectively referred to as “Senior Indebtedness”):

 

IV-1


(i) in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to any Payor (each such Payor, an “Affected Payor”) or to its property, and in the event of any proceeding for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of such Affected Payor (except as expressly permitted by the Finance Documents), whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (x) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be paid in full in the manner sufficient to cause the Maturity Date to occur before any Payee (each such Payee, an “Affected Payee”) is entitled to receive (whether directly or indirectly), or make any demand for, any payment on account of this Intercompany Note and (y) until the Maturity Date, any payment or distribution to which such Affected Payee would otherwise be entitled (other than equity or debt securities of such Affected Payor that are subordinated, to at least the same extent as this Intercompany Note, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding (such securities being hereinafter referred to as “Restructured Securities”)) shall be made to the holders of Senior Indebtedness;

(ii) (x) if any Event of Default under Sections 7(a)(i), 7(a)(ii), 7(a)(viii) and 7(a)(ix) of the Note occurs and is continuing and (y) subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent delivers notice to the Issuer instructing the Issuer that the Collateral Agent is thereby exercising its rights pursuant to this clause (ii) (provided that no such notice shall be required to be given in the case of any Event of Default arising under Sections 7(a)(viii) and 7(a)(ix) of the Note, as applicable), then, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, no payment or distribution of any kind or character shall be made by or on behalf of any Affected Payor or any other Person on its behalf, and no payment or distribution of any kind or character shall be received by or on behalf of any Affected Payee or any other Person on its behalf, with respect to this Intercompany Note until the earlier of (x) the Maturity Date and (y) such Event of Default has been cured or waived;

(iii) if any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Securities), in respect of this Intercompany Note shall (despite these subordination provisions) be received by any Affected Payee in violation of the foregoing clause (i) or (ii), such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered in accordance with the relevant Finance Documents, to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the applicable Secured Parties, subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement; and

(iv) each Affected Payee agrees to file all claims against each relevant Affected Payor in any bankruptcy or other proceeding in which the filing of claims is required by law in respect of any Senior Indebtedness and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to all of such Affected Payee’s rights thereunder. If for any reason an Affected Payee fails to file such claim at least ten (10) days prior to the last date on which such claim should be filed, such Affected Payee hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact and the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to act as attorney-in-fact in such Affected Payee’s name to file such claim or, in the Collateral Agent’s discretion, to assign such claim to and cause proof of claim to be filed in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee. In all such cases, whether in administration, bankruptcy or otherwise, the person or persons authorized to pay such claim shall pay to the Collateral Agent the full amount payable on the claim in the proceeding, and, to the full extent necessary for that purpose, each Affected Payee hereby assigns to the Collateral Agent all of such Affected Payee’s rights to any payments or distributions to which such Affected Payee otherwise would be entitled. If the amount so paid is greater than such Affected Payor’s liability hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall pay the excess amount to the party entitled thereto under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement and applicable law. In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Affected Payee hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise all of such Affected Payee’s voting rights in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding or any plan for the reorganization of each relevant Affected Payor.

Except as otherwise set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above, any Payor is permitted to pay, and any Payee is entitled to receive, any payment or prepayment of principal and interest on the Indebtedness evidenced by this Intercompany Note.

 

IV-2


To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no present or future holder of Senior Indebtedness shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced or impaired in its right to enforce the subordination of this Intercompany Note by any act or failure to act on the part of any Affected Payor or Affected Payee or by any act or failure to act on the part of such holder or any trustee or agent for such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Payor with the terms and provisions of the Intercompany Note, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. Each Affected Payee and each Affected Payor hereby agrees that the subordination of this Intercompany Note is for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties. The Collateral Agent is an obligee under this Intercompany Note to the same extent as if its name was written herein as such and the Collateral Agent may, on behalf of itself, and the applicable Secured Parties, proceed to enforce the subordination provisions herein, in each case, subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

The holders of the Senior Indebtedness may, without in any way affecting the obligations of the holder of the Intercompany Note with respect hereto, at any time or from time to time and in their absolute discretion, change the manner, place or terms of payment of, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any Senior Indebtedness or amend, modify or supplement any agreement or instrument governing or evidencing such Senior Indebtedness or any other document referred to therein, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their rights under the Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder and the release of any collateral securing such Senior Indebtedness, all without notice to or assent from any Payor or Payee.

Nothing contained in the subordination provisions set forth above is intended to or will impair, as between each Payor and each Payee, the obligations of such Payor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay to such Payee the principal of and interest on this Intercompany Note as and when due and payable in accordance with its terms, or is intended to or will affect the relative rights of such Payee and other creditors of such Payor other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

Each Payee is hereby authorized (but not required) to record all loans and advances made by it to any Payor (all of which shall be evidenced by this Intercompany Note), and all repayments or prepayments thereof, in its books and records, such books and records constituting prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information contained therein. For the avoidance of doubt, this Intercompany Note shall not in any way replace, or affect the principal amount of, any intercompany loan outstanding between any Payor and any Payee prior to the execution hereof, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, from and after the date hereof, each such intercompany loan shall be deemed to incorporate the terms set forth in this Intercompany Note to the extent applicable and shall be deemed to be evidenced by this Intercompany Note together with any documents and instruments executed prior to the date hereof in connection with such intercompany Indebtedness.

Each Payor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind in connection with this Intercompany Note. Except to the extent of any taxes required by law to be withheld, all payments under this Intercompany Note shall be made without offset, counterclaim or deduction of any kind.

This Intercompany Note shall be binding upon each Payor and its successors and assigns, and the terms and provisions of this Intercompany Note shall inure to the benefit of each Payee and their respective successors and assigns, including subsequent holders hereof.

If, at any time, all or part of any payment with respect to Senior Indebtedness theretofore made by the Payor or any other Person or entity is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the holders of the Senior Indebtedness for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Payor or such other Person or entity), the subordination provisions set forth herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, all as though such payment had not been made.

If any Payee shall acquire by indemnification, subrogation or otherwise, any lien, estate, right or other interest in any of the assets or properties of any Payor, that lien, estate, right or other interest shall be subordinate in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness and the lien of the Senior Indebtedness as provided herein, and each Payee hereby waives any and all rights it may acquire by subrogation or otherwise to any lien of the Senior Indebtedness or any portion thereof until the Maturity Date.

 

IV-3


From time to time after the date hereof, additional Subsidiaries of the Issuer may become parties hereto (as Payor and/or Payee, as the case may be) by executing a counterpart signature page hereto, which shall be automatically incorporated into this Intercompany Note (each additional Subsidiary, an “Additional Party”). Upon delivery of such counterpart signature page to the Payees, notice of which is hereby waived by the other Payors, each Additional Party shall be a Payor and/or a Payee, as the case may be, and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Party were an original signatory hereof. Each Payor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Payor or Payee hereunder. This Intercompany Note shall be fully effective as to any Payor or Payee that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Payor or Payee hereunder.

Indebtedness governed by this Intercompany Note shall be maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Payor or its designee (which shall at the Collateral Agent’s request, be the Collateral Agent acting solely for this purpose as non-fiduciary agent of the Payor) shall record the transfer of the right to payments of principal and interest on the Indebtedness governed by this Intercompany Note to holders of the Senior Indebtedness in a register (the “Register”), and no such transfer shall be effective until entered in the Register.

Any Payor shall be automatically released from this Intercompany Note in the event that such Payor ceases to be a Note Party pursuant to Section 10 of the Note Purchase Agreement. Any Payee shall be automatically released from this Intercompany Note in the event that such Payee (i) ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Issuer or (ii) becomes an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to a transaction permitted by the Note Purchase Agreement and Note.

It is understood and agreed that this Intercompany Note is only intended to govern Indebtedness evidenced by this Intercompany Note owed by any Affected Payor to any Affected Payee in reliance on Section 1(b) of Annex A-1 of the Note.

THIS INTERCOMPANY NOTE AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INTERCOMPANY NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

IV-4


[   ], as Payor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[   ], as Payee
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

 

IV-5


ANNEX A

CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

Defined Terms. As used in this Note, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

“Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with, that Person.

“Amended and Restated Existing Convertible Notes” means that certain (i) amended and restated convertible note in an aggregate principal amount of $116,551,170.40 dated as of the date hereof issued by the Issuer to Glencore Canada Corporation as holder (in such capacity as holder of the First A&R Note and the Second A&R Note, as the context requires, the “Existing GC Noteholder”) which is deemed issued in accordance with the terms of that certain note purchase agreement dated May 5, 2022 as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof (the “First A&R Note”) and (ii) amended and restated convertible note in an aggregate principal amount of $114,615,632.00 dated as of the date hereof issued by the Issuer to the Existing GC Noteholder as holder which is deemed issued in accordance with the terms of that certain note purchase agreement dated May 5, 2022 as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof (the “Second A&R Note”).

“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services: commercial credit cards, stored value cards, purchasing cards, treasury management services, netting services, overdraft protections, check drawing services, automated payment services (including depository, overdraft, controlled disbursement, ACH transactions, return items and interstate depository network services), employee credit card programs, cash pooling services and any arrangements or services similar to any of the foregoing and/or otherwise in connection with Cash management and Deposit Accounts.

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 USC § 101 et seq.), as it has been, or may be, amended, from time to time.

“Black Mass” means a powder-like substance which contains a number of valuable metals, including nickel, cobalt and lithium.

“Byproducts” means any byproduct or ancillary material produced in the course of producing the Core Products at the Facility, including (without limitation) the graphite concentrate, copper sulphide, gypsum, manganese carbonate and anhydrous sodium sulphate to be produced at the Facility.

“Canadian Guarantors” means, collectively, all present and future (direct or indirect) subsidiaries of the Issuer organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof, which as of the Closing Date consists of Li-Cycle Corp. and Li-Cycle Americas Corp.

“Canadian Note Party” means, collectively, the Issuer and the Canadian Guarantors.

“Canadian Pledge Agreement” means a pledge agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 to the Note Purchase Agreement, among the Issuer and the Canadian Guarantors as grantors, and the Collateral Agent.

“Canadian Security Agreement” means a general security agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-3 to the Note Purchase Agreement, among the Issuer and the Canadian Guarantors as grantors, and the Collateral Agent.

 

A-1


“Canadian Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is incorporated or organized under the laws of Canada, or any province or territory thereof.

“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, and subject to Section 18(c) of the Note, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease or finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of obligations attributable to any Capital Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability in accordance with GAAP.

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, securities, interests, participations, preferred equity certificates, convertible preferred equity certificates or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt any Indebtedness convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing.

“Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

“Cash” means money, currency or a credit balance in any Deposit Account, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, (a) readily marketable securities (i) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed or insured as to interest and principal by the U.S. government or (ii) issued by any agency or instrumentality of the U.S. the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S., in each case maturing within one year after such date and, in each case, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating thereto; (b) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the U.S. or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof or by any foreign government, in each case maturing within one year after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and, in each case, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating thereto; (c) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); (d) deposits, money market deposits, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances (or similar instruments) maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by any bank organized under, or authorized to operate as a bank under, the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any political subdivision thereof or any foreign bank or its branches or agencies and that has capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 and, in each case, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating thereto; (e) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000; (f) shares of any money market mutual fund that has (i) substantially all of its assets invested in the types of investments referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above, (ii) net assets of not less than $250,000,000 and (iii) a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); and (g) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that such Captive Insurance Subsidiary is not prohibited to make in accordance with applicable law. “Cash Equivalents” shall also include (x) Investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (g) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parent companies thereof) have the ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (y) other short-term Investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in Investments that are analogous to the Investments described in clauses (a) through (g) and in this clause.

 

A-2


“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

“Collateral” means any and all property of any Note Party subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien under any Collateral Document and any and all other property of any Note Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that is or becomes subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure the Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall “Collateral” include any asset that is an Excluded Asset for so long as such asset constitutes an Excluded Asset.

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning given to such term in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, subject to (x) the applicable limitations set forth in this Note and/or any other Note Document and the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement and (y) the time periods (and extensions thereof) set forth in Section 2 of Annex A-1, as applicable, the requirement that:

 

  (a)

on the Closing Date:

 

  (i)

in the case of any U.S. Subsidiary, the Collateral Agent shall have received (A) each applicable Collateral Document and the Note Guaranty, duly executed by each U.S. Subsidiary party thereto, (B) a pledge of all of the Capital Stock (together, in the case of Capital Stock that is certificated, with undated stock or similar powers for each such certificate executed in blank by a Responsible Officer of the pledgor thereof), required to be pledged by it pursuant to the U.S. Security Agreement, and (C) each Material Debt Instrument required to be pledged by it pursuant to the terms of the U.S. Security Agreement, endorsed (without recourse) in blank or accompanied by executed transfer form in blank by the pledgor thereof; and

 

  (ii)

in the case of the Issuer and any Canadian Subsidiary, the Collateral Agent shall have received (A) each applicable Collateral Document and the Note Guaranty, duly executed by the Issuer and each Canadian. Subsidiary party thereto, as applicable (B) a pledge of all of the Capital Stock (together, in the case of Capital Stock that is certificated, with undated stock or similar powers for each such certificate executed in blank by a Responsible Officer of the pledgor thereof), required to be pledged by it pursuant to the Canadian Security Agreement, and (C) each Material Debt Instrument required to be pledged by it pursuant to the terms of the Canadian Security Agreement, endorsed (without recourse) in blank or accompanied by executed transfer form in blank by the pledgor thereof;

 

  (b)

on the Post-Closing Security Date:

 

  (i)

in the case of any Swiss Subsidiary, the Collateral Agent shall have received (A) a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement and (B) such security agreement as may be required to confer on the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) security over (1) the Capital Stock of such Swiss Subsidiary (to the extent constituting Collateral) and (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) any Subsidiary of such Swiss Subsidiary which is required to be a Note Guarantor, (2) any Deposit Account maintained by such Swiss Subsidiary in Switzerland and (3) any intercompany receivable which is owed to such Swiss Subsidiary by any other Subsidiary (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be delivered within the time periods set forth in Section 2(a) of Annex A-1); and

 

A-3


  (ii)

in the case of any German Subsidiary, the Collateral Agent shall have received (A) a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement and (B) such security agreement as may be required to confer on the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) security over (1) the Capital Stock of such German Subsidiary (to the extent constituting Collateral) and (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) any Subsidiary of such German Subsidiary which is required to be a Note Guarantor, (2) any material Deposit Account maintained by such German Subsidiary in Germany and (3) any material intercompany receivable which is owed to such German Subsidiary by any other Subsidiary (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be delivered within the time periods set forth in Section 2(a) of Annex A-1); and

 

  (c)

after the Post-Closing Security Date, in the case of any Subsidiary that is required to become a Note Guarantor after the Closing Date, the Collateral Agent shall have received:

 

  (i)

in the case of any U.S. Subsidiary, (A) a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement, (B) if the respective Subsidiary required to comply with the requirements set forth in this definition pursuant to Section 2(b) of Annex A-1 owns registrations of or applications for U.S. Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights that constitute Collateral, an Intellectual Property Security Agreement, (C) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in appropriate form for filing in such jurisdictions as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, (E) an executed joinder to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement (if any) and (F) each item of Collateral that such Subsidiary is required to deliver under Section 2.01 of the U.S. Security Agreement;

 

  (ii)

in the case of any Canadian Subsidiary, (A) a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement, (B) if the respective Subsidiary required to comply with the requirements set forth in this definition pursuant to Section 2(b) of Annex A-1 owns registrations of or applications for Canadian Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights that constitute Collateral, an Intellectual Property Security Agreement, (C) PPSA financing statements in appropriate form for filing in such jurisdictions as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, (E) an executed joinder to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement (if any) and (F) each item of Collateral that such Subsidiary is required to deliver under Section 2.01 of the Canadian Security Agreement;

 

  (iii)

in the case of any Swiss Subsidiary, the documents described in clause (b)(i) above; and

 

  (iv)

in the case of any German Subsidiary, the documents described in clause (b)(ii) above.

Notwithstanding any provision of any Note Document to the contrary, if any tax or similar charge is or will be owed on the entire amount of the Obligations evidenced by any Collateral Document, then, to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, Applicable Law, the amount of such mortgage tax or similar tax or charge shall be calculated based on the lesser of (x) the amount of the Obligations allocated to the applicable asset and (y) the fair market value of the applicable asset at such time as the security interest in such asset is to be granted to the Collateral Agent, which in the case of clause (y) will result in a limitation of the Obligations secured by the applicable Collateral to such amount. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall not be required pursuant to this Note or any other Note Document to comply with a “collateral coverage”, “guarantor coverage” or similar requirement.

 

A-4


“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, (i) the U.S. Security Agreement, (ii) the U.S. Pledge Agreement, (iii) the Canadian Security Agreement, (iv) the Canadian Pledge Agreement, (v) any supplement to any of the foregoing delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and (vi) each of the other instruments and documents pursuant to which any Note Party grants (or purports to grant) a Lien on any Collateral as security for payment of the Obligations.

“Commercial Tort Claim” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 USC § 1 et seq.).

“Construction Budget” means the initial construction budget with respect to the Project that is agreed to by the Project Lender and the applicable member (or members) of the U.S. Project Finance Group pursuant to the Project Loan Documentation, including any changes, reallocations, amendments, supplements and/or other modifications thereto as may be agreed between any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group and the Project Lender pursuant to the Project Loan Documentation.

“Contractual Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

“Copyrights” means the following: (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“Core Products” means cobalt sulfate heptahydrate, nickel sulfate hexahydrate, and lithium carbonate.

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the U.S. and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Winding-up and Restructuring Act (Canada), and all other liquidation, winding-up, conservatorship, bankruptcy, general assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, plan of arrangement, proposal or similar debtor relief laws of the U.S. statutes, laws, rules and regulations of Canada or any province or territory thereof, Germany, Switzerland or any other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“Delaware Divided LLC” means any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

“Delaware LLC” means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

“Delaware LLC Division” means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

 

A-5


“Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

“Derivative Transaction” means (a) any interest-rate transaction, including any interest-rate swap, basis swap, forward rate agreement, interest rate option (including a cap, collar or floor), and any other instrument linked to interest rates that gives rise to similar credit risks (including when-issued securities and forward deposits accepted), (b) any exchange-rate transaction, including any cross-currency interest-rate swap, any forward foreign-exchange contract, any currency option, and any other instrument linked to exchange rates that gives rise to similar credit risks, (c) any equity derivative transaction, including any equity-linked swap, any equity-linked option, any forward equity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to equities that gives rise to similar credit risk and (d) any commodity (including precious metal) derivative transaction, including any commodity-linked swap, any commodity-linked option, any forward commodity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to commodities that gives rise to similar credit risks; provided, that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers or consultants of the Issuer or its subsidiaries shall be a Derivative Transaction.

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, lease, sublease, or other disposition of any property of any Person, including (a) any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division or (b) the issuance of Capital Stock by any of such Person’s Subsidiaries or the sale by such Person or its Subsidiaries of Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Finance Document, the issuance or sale by any such Person or its Subsidiaries of directors’ or similar qualifying shares or shares required by Applicable Law to be owned by a resident of the relevant jurisdiction shall not constitute a Disposition.

“Disqualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable (other than for Qualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than for Qualified Capital Stock), in whole or in part, on or prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued (it being understood that if any such redemption is in part, only such part coming into effect prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock), (b) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Capital Stock, in each case at any time on or prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued, (c) contains any mandatory repurchase obligation (other than for Qualified Capital Stock), in whole or in part, which may come into effect prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued (it being understood that if any such repurchase obligation is in part, only such part coming into effect prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock) or (d) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in Cash on or prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued; provided that any (x) Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof (or the holders of any security into or for which such Capital Stock is convertible, exchangeable or exercisable) the right to require the issuer thereof to redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of any change of control, IPO or other liquidity event or any Disposition occurring prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if the documentation governing such Capital Stock provides that the issuer thereof will not redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless either (1) the relevant redemption is permitted under the Note or (2) the Maturity Date has occurred and (y) for purposes of clause (a) through (d) above, it is understood and agreed that if any such maturity, redemption conversion, exchange, repurchase obligation or scheduled payment is in part, only such part coming into effect prior to the date that is 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date (determined at the time such Capital Stock is issued) shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

A-6


“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the U.S.

“Domain Names” means all Internet domain names and associated URL addresses.

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6 of the Note.

“Excluded Account” means any Deposit Account (a) which is an escrow, fiduciary, trust or similar account, (b) holding cash collateral for a third party (other than the Issuer or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof) subject to a Lien permitted under Section 2 of Annex A-2, (c) used by any Note Party exclusively for disbursements and/or payments of payroll in the ordinary course of business, (d) which is a zero balance account or (e) which has an average daily balance measured on a monthly basis of less than $1,000,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Deposit Accounts that are Excluded Accounts pursuant to this clause (e).

“Excluded Assets” means each of the following:

 

  (a)

any asset the grant or perfection of a security interest in which would (i) be prohibited by enforceable anti-assignment provisions set forth in any contract that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof, (ii) violate (after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, the PPSA or other Applicable Law) the terms of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of the Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof, or (iii) trigger termination of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Note pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision (to the extent such contract is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof); it being understood that the term “Excluded Asset” shall not include proceeds or receivables arising out of any contract described in this clause (a) to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed to be effective under the UCC, the PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant prohibition, violation or termination right;

 

  (b)

the Capital Stock of any Excluded Subsidiary;

 

  (c)

any intent-to-use (or similar) Trademark application prior to the filing with, and acceptance by, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of a “Statement of Use”, “Declaration of Use”, “Amendment to Allege Use” or similar filing with respect thereto, only to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use (or similar) Trademark application (or any Trademark registration resulting therefrom) under Applicable Law;

 

  (d)

any asset (including Capital Stock), the grant or perfection of a security interest in which would (i) be prohibited under Applicable Law (including rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity) (after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, the PPSA or other Applicable Law), (ii) require any governmental or regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval, license or authorization has not been obtained (it being understood and agreed that no Note Party shall have any obligation to procure any such consent, approval, license or authorization) (after giving effect to applicable anti-

 

A-7


  assignment provisions of the UCC, the PPSA or other Applicable Law); it being understood that the term “Excluded Asset” shall not include proceeds or receivables arising out of any asset described in this clause (d) to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is effective under the UCC, the PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant requirement or prohibition or (iii) be reasonably likely to result in material and adverse tax consequences to the Issuer and/or its direct or indirect equityholders (including as a result of the application of Section 956 of the Code) as determined by the Issuer in good faith;

 

  (e)

any Real Estate Asset, except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by the filing of a UCC-1 or PPSA financing statement, any leasehold interest in any other assets;

 

  (f)

any Margin Stock;

 

  (g)

[Reserved];

 

  (h)

any Commercial Tort Claim with a value (as estimated by the Issuer in good faith) of less than $5,000,000;

 

  (i)

any Excluded Account;

 

  (j)

assets subject to a purchase money security interest, Capital Lease obligations or similar arrangement, in each case, that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of the Note and to the extent the grant of security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or purchase money or similar arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or other Applicable Law; it being understood that the term “Excluded Asset” shall not include proceeds or receivables arising out of any asset described in this clause (j) to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed to be effective under the UCC or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant violation or invalidation;

 

  (k)

any Letter-of-Credit Right that does not constitute Supporting Obligations, except to the extent the security interest therein may be perfected by filing of a financing statement under the UCC or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction;

 

  (l)

motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, except to the extent the security interest therein may be perfected by filing of a financing statement under the UCC or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction;

 

  (m)

any asset of a Person acquired by Issuer or any other direct or indirect subsidiary that, at the time of the relevant acquisition, is encumbered to secure assumed Indebtedness permitted by this Note to the extent (and for so long as) the documentation governing the applicable assumed Indebtedness prohibits such asset from being pledged to secure the Obligations and the relevant prohibition was not implemented in contemplation of the applicable acquisition;

 

  (n)

any asset with respect to which the Required Noteholders and the Issuer have reasonably determined that the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence (including any effect on the ability of the relevant Note Party to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course of business and including the cost of flood insurance (if necessary) or mortgage, stamp, intangible or other taxes or expenses) of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein outweighs, or is excessive in light of, the practical benefit of a security interest to the Noteholder afforded thereby (and the

 

A-8


  Noteholder acknowledges that the Collateral that may be provided by any Note Party may be limited to minimize stamp duty, notarization, registration or other applicable fees, taxes and duties where the benefit to the Noteholder of increasing the secured amount is disproportionate to the level of such fees, taxes and duties);

 

  (o)

any governmental licenses or state, provincial or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization would be prohibited or restricted thereby, after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction, other than any proceeds or receivable thereof to the extent the assignment of the same is effective under the UCC or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction notwithstanding such consent or restriction;

 

  (p)

any asset which is designated as an “Excluded Asset” under and pursuant to any Collateral Document; and/or

 

  (q)

from and after the closing of any Project Financing, (i) the applicable Project Loan Collateral (unless and to the extent a Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement shall have been entered into by and among the applicable Project Lender, the Collateral Agent and the Issuer) and (ii) the Project Loan Documents and any interest of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries therein or the rights and remedies of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder.

For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the time any Excluded Asset no longer satisfies the criteria to constitute an Excluded Asset, such asset shall, from and after such time, automatically constitute Collateral.

“Excluded Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer:

 

  (a)

that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; provided, that no such Subsidiary will be released from its Note Guaranty except as permitted pursuant to Section 28 of the Note Purchase Agreement or as the Required Noteholders otherwise agree;

 

  (b)

that is prohibited or restricted from providing a Note Guaranty by (A) any Applicable Law or (B) any Contractual Obligation that exists on the Closing Date or at the time such subsidiary becomes a subsidiary (which Contractual Obligation was not entered into in contemplation of the acquisition of such subsidiary (including pursuant to assumed Indebtedness)), (ii) that would require a governmental (including regulatory) or third party consent, approval, license or authorization (including any regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization) to provide a Note Guaranty (including under any financial assistance, corporate benefit, thin capitalization, capital maintenance, liquidity maintenance or similar legal principles) (in each case, on the Closing Date or at the time of the acquisition of such subsidiary), unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained (it being understood and agreed that none of the Issuer and/or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries shall have any obligation to obtain (or seek to obtain) any such consent, approval, license or authorization) or (iii) with respect to which the provision of a Note Guaranty would be reasonably likely to result in material and adverse Tax consequences to the Issuer and/or its direct or indirect equityholders as determined by the Issuer in good faith;

 

  (c)

that is a not-for-profit subsidiary;

 

  (d)

that is subject to regulation as an insurance company;

 

A-9


  (e)

that is a special purpose entity used for any permitted securitization or receivables facility or financing;

 

  (f)

not organized under the laws of a Note Guarantor Jurisdiction;

 

  (g)

that is a FSHCO;

 

  (h)

that is acquired by the Issuer or any subsidiary that, at the time of the relevant acquisition, is an obligor in respect of assumed Indebtedness permitted by Section 1 of Annex A-2 to the extent (and for so long as) the documentation governing the applicable assumed Indebtedness prohibits such subsidiary from providing a Note Guaranty (which prohibition was not implemented in contemplation of such subsidiary becoming a subsidiary in order to avoid the requirement of providing a Note Guaranty);

 

  (i)

with respect to which the burden or cost of providing a Note Guaranty outweighs, or would be excessive in light of, the practical benefits afforded thereby, as reasonably determined by the Issuer and the Required Noteholders; and

 

  (j)

where the provision by such subsidiary of a Note Guaranty would conflict with the fiduciary duties of such subsidiary’s directors or result in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material risk of personal or criminal liability for such subsidiary or any of its officers or directors or to the extent it is not within the legal capacity of such subsidiary to provide a Note Guaranty (whether as a result of financial assistance, corporate benefit, thin capitalization, capital maintenance, liquidity maintenance or similar rules or otherwise).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) none of the proposed Note Parties constitutes an Excluded Subsidiary on the Closing Date and (ii) in the event that any Note Guarantor is released from its obligations under the Finance Documents in accordance with Section 10 of the Note Purchase Agreement, from and after such release, such Note Guarantor shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary for all purposes of the Transaction Documents for so long as the applicable Project Financing remains outstanding.

“Existing Convertible Debt” means the indebtedness incurred by the Issuer pursuant to (i) that certain unsecured convertible note issued by the Issuer to Wood River Capital, LLC in accordance with the terms of a note purchase agreement dated September 29, 2021 and any additional indebtedness issued pursuant to Section 2 of such unsecured convertible note and (ii) the Amended and Restated Existing Convertible Notes.

“Facility” means that certain hydrometallurgical refinery facilities in Rochester, New York.

“Finance Documents” means the Note, the Note Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement (if any).

“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Issuer ending December 31 of each calendar year.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any existing or future direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a U.S. Subsidiary.

“FSHCO” means (i) any direct or indirect U.S. Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock and/or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and (ii) any direct or indirect U.S.

 

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Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock and/or Indebtedness of one or more Persons of the type described in the immediately preceding clause (i).

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. in effect and applicable to the accounting period in respect of which reference to GAAP is made.

“German Guarantors” means, collectively, all present and future (direct or indirect) subsidiaries of the Issuer organized under the laws of Germany, which consists, as of the Closing Date, of Li-Cycle Germany GmbH.

“Germany Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is incorporated or organized under the laws of Germany.

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “Guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the Guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person (the “Primary Obligor”) in any manner and including any obligation of the Guarantor (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the Primary Obligor so as to enable the Primary Obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or monetary obligation, (e) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (f) secured by any Lien on any assets of such Guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or monetary other obligation is assumed by such Guarantor (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition, Disposition or other transaction permitted under the Note (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

“Immediate Family Member” means, with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, former domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and/or daughter-in-law (including any adoptive relationship), any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals, such individual’s estate (or an executor or administrator acting on its behalf), heirs or legatees or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

“Indebtedness” as applied to any Person means, without duplication,

(i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

(ii) any obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (iii) the face amount of obligations, contingent or otherwise, under acceptance, letters of credit or similar facilities (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

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(iv) all net obligations in respect of Derivative Transactions that will be payable upon termination thereof;

(v) the deferred purchase price of property or services that in accordance with GAAP would be included as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (excluding (i) any earn-out obligation or purchase price adjustment until such obligation (A) becomes a liability on the statement of financial position or balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP and (B) has not been paid within 30 days after becoming due and payable, (ii) any such obligations incurred under ERISA, and (iii) liabilities associated with customer prepayments and deposits) which purchase price is (A) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (B) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument);

(vi) the portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases to the extent recorded as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(vii) any Guarantee of any of the foregoing;

(viii) all indebtedness of any other Person secured by any Lien on any property owned by such Person whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person; and

(ix) obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person;

provided, that (A) Indebtedness shall not include (i) trade payables and other ordinary course payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred or prepaid revenue, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) amounts payable by and between the Issuer and any of its Subsidiaries in connection with retail clawback or other regulatory transition issues, (v) any indebtedness defeased by such Person or by any Subsidiary of such Person and (vi) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (B) the amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (viii) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the term “Indebtedness” shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, (x) the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose hereunder as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness (it being understood that any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness hereunder but for the application of this proviso shall not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness hereunder) and (y) the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Agreement as a result of accounting for any embedded derivative created by the terms of such Indebtedness (it being understood that any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Agreement but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness under this Agreement).

“Initial Noteholder” means Glencore Canada Corporation.

 

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“Intellectual Property” means collectively, all rights of the Issuer in, to and under IP rights, including Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Domain Names, Licenses and Software.

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the U.S. Security Agreement.

“Intercompany Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit IV attached hereto.

“Intercreditor Agreement” means (i) any Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) with respect to the Secured A&R Notes, a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) with respect to any other Indebtedness, any intercreditor or subordination agreement or arrangement (which may take the form of a “waterfall” or similar provision), as applicable, the terms of which are reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Required Noteholders.

“Investment” means (a) any purchase or other acquisition for consideration by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of any of the Capital Stock of any other Person, (b) the acquisition for consideration by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries by purchase or otherwise (other than any purchase or other acquisition of inventory, materials, supplies and/or equipment in the ordinary course of business) of all or a substantial portion of the business, property or fixed assets of any other Person or any division or line of business or other business unit of any other Person and (c) any loan, advance (other than any advance to any current or former employee, officer, director, member of management, manager, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to any other Person (in each case, excluding any intercompany loan, advance or Indebtedness owed by any Note Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party so long as such loan, advance or Indebtedness is unsecured and subordinated to the Obligations and evidenced by the Intercompany Note). The amount of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment, plus the cost of any addition thereto that otherwise constitutes an Investment, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect thereto, but giving effect to any repayments of principal in the case of any Investment in the form of a loan and any return of capital or return on Investment in the case of any equity Investment (whether as a distribution, dividend, redemption or sale but not in excess of the amount of the relevant initial Investment). It is understood and agreed that the term “Investment” shall exclude intercompany advances arising from ordinary course cash management, tax and accounting operations.

“IP Separation Transaction” means (a) any Disposition (other than non-exclusive licenses) by any Note Party of any Material Intellectual Property to any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party and/or (b) any Investment by any Note Party in the form of a contribution of Material Intellectual Property to any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party.

“Legal Reservations” means the application of the relevant Debtor Relief Laws, general principles of equity and/or principles of good faith and fair dealing.

“Letter-of-Credit Right” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

“Licenses” means, with respect to any Issuer, all of such Issuer’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all licensing agreements or similar arrangements, whether as licensor or licensee, (1) Patents, (2) Copyrights, (3) Trademarks, (4) Trade Secrets or (5) Software, (b) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future breaches thereof, and (c) all rights to sue for past, present, and future breaches thereof.

 

A-13


“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing), in each case, in the nature of security; provided that in no event shall an operating lease in and of itself be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Note or the other Transaction Documents, cash of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries that is restricted in favor of a Project Lender shall be deemed to be unrestricted cash for all purposes of this Note and the other Transaction Documents.

“Liquidity Covenant Test Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10(a) of Annex A-2.

“Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

“Material Debt Instrument” means any physical instrument evidencing any Indebtedness for borrowed money owing from any Person other than any Note Party in excess of $5,000,000 which is required to be pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Canadian Security Agreement or U.S. Security Agreement, as applicable.

“Material Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by any Note Party that is, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, material to the operation of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

“Note Guarantor” means (i) on the Closing Date, Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp., Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., and Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc., (ii) on and from the Post-Closing Security Date, Li-Cycle Europe AG and Li-Cycle Germany GmbH, and (iii) thereafter, each subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) of the Issuer which is organized under the laws of any Note Guarantor Jurisdiction that becomes a guarantor of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Note, in each case, until such time as the relevant subsidiary is released from its obligations under the Note Guaranty in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof.

“Note Guarantor Jurisdiction” means (i) Canada or any province or territory thereof, (ii) the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) Switzerland, and (iv) Germany.

“Note Guaranty” means the Note Guaranty, substantially in the form of Exhibit F to the Note Purchase Agreement, executed by each Note Party thereto and the Collateral Agent, as supplemented in accordance with the terms of Section 2 of Annex A-1.

“Note Parties” means the Issuer and each Note Guarantor.

“Noteholder” has the meaning given to such term in first paragraph of this Note.

“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Note, premium, penalties, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses (including fees and expenses accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), reimbursements, indemnities and all other advances to, debts, liabilities and obligations of any Note Party to the Noteholder, the Collateral Agent or any indemnified party arising under the Finance Documents in respect of any Note, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute, contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising.

 

A-14


“Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation, amalgamation or organization and its by-laws, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate or declaration of limited partnership and its partnership agreement, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization or certificate of formation, and its operating agreement, and (e) with respect to any other form of entity, such other organizational documents required by local Applicable Law or customary under such jurisdiction to document the formation and governance principles of such type of entity. In the event that any term or condition of the Note or any other Note Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar federal, provincial or other governmental official, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official.

“Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor or subordination agreement or arrangement governing among other things the relative rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral (or applicable portion thereof) of the Secured Parties and the holders of other Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral (or a portion thereof) on a pari passu basis with the Obligations.

“Patents” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to: (a) any and all patents and patent applications; (b) all inventions described and claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“Perfection Requirements” means, with respect to any Note Party that is organized under the laws of:

 

  (a)

the U.S., the filing of appropriate financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State or other appropriate office of the state of organization of each Note Party, the filing of Intellectual Property Security Agreements or other appropriate instruments or notices with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office, and the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any stock certificate or promissory note, together with instruments of transfer executed in blank;

 

  (b)

Canada or any province or territory thereof, (i) the filing of appropriate financing statements pursuant to the PPSA of the province or territory of organization of such Note Party or, if such Note Party is organized under the laws of Canada, the province or territory in which its registered office is located and, if it is organized under the laws of a province or territory other than the Province of Ontario or the Province of British Columbia, the province or territory in which its chief executive office is located and (ii) the filing of appropriate financing statements pursuant to the PPSA of any province or territory as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to the extent such additional PPSA filings are necessary to perfect the Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents by a Canadian Note Party, and (iii) the filing of Intellectual Property Security Agreements or other appropriate instruments or notices with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any stock certificate or promissory note, together with instruments of transfer executed in blank;

 

A-15


  (c)

Switzerland, the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any share certificate, duly endorsed in blank, the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any acknowledgment of debt (Schuldschein), a written notification to any account bank or a written security agreement; and

 

  (d)

Germany, the delivery of written notifications of pledge to any third party debtor of a pledged asset or claim;

in each case of the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), to the extent required by the applicable Note Documents.

“Permitted Liens” means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 2 of Annex A-2.

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Entity or any other entity.

“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario) and includes all regulations from time to time made under such legislation; provided that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of applicable law, attachment, perfection, the effect of perfection or non-perfection, or priority of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is governed by the personal property security laws as in effect in a jurisdiction in Canada other than Ontario, “PPSA” means the personal property security laws as in effect in such other jurisdiction for the purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection, priority, or availability of such remedy, as the case may be, and for the definitions related to such provisions.

“Project” means the engineering, design, procurement, installation of equipment, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, start-up, testing and/or production ramp-up of (i) the Facility, (ii) raw material and end products warehouses, administrative offices, quality control/quality assurance laboratories, visitor center buildings, and car parking lots, in each case for or related to the Facility, and/or (iii) recycling facilities, including, without limitation, Black Mass production facilities in Rochester, New York by the Issuer and/or any of its (direct or indirect) subsidiaries.

“Project Financing” means one or more project financings from any Project Lender in an aggregate gross principal amount (including any capitalized interest in respect thereof) of at least $375 million and not more than $475 million obtained by the Issuer and/or any of its (direct or indirect) subsidiaries from a Project Lender primarily in respect of the Project.

“Project Financing Closing Date” means the “closing date” (or such other equivalent term) under any Project Loan Documentation executed by the Issuer and/or any of its applicable Subsidiaries in connection with a Project Financing.

“Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Project Financing, an intercreditor agreement between, among others, the Project Lender providing such Project Financing, any Note Party and the Collateral Agent, which Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement shall be in form and substance agreed by the Project Lender in its sole and absolute discretion and the Required Noteholders acting reasonably.

“Project Lender” means the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Financing Bank, and/or any other provider of a Project Financing that is reasonably acceptable to the Required Noteholders (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as applicable.

 

A-16


“Project Loan Collateral” means (A) any assets of the Issuer, Li-Cycle Americas Corp., (or any other direct parent of a subsidiary which is party to any Project Financing) or the U.S. Project Finance Group that are required to be pledged pursuant to any Project Loan Documentation, and (B) any asset in respect of which a Lien would conflict with, or result in a violation of, any Project Loan Documentation, including without limitation, (i) any receivables in respect of subordinated debt or under any “Affiliate Transaction Agreement” (as defined in the relevant Project Loan Documentation) or any equivalent term in any Project Loan Documentation, in each case, which receivables are owed to a Note Party by any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group, (ii) any license of intellectual property granted by any Note Party to a Project Lender under the Project Loan Documentation, (iii) any cash collateral account held by the Issuer or a Note Party which is required to be or will be required to be pledged in favor of a Project Lender (or any agent on its behalf) in connection with any Project Loan Documentation, (iv) any equity interests in any (direct or indirect) subsidiary of the Issuer or any Note Party which are required to be pledged to secure a Project Financing (including the equity interests in any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group), and (v) any other assets customarily required by Project Lenders to secure Project Financings of the type contemplated herein (to the extent such assets are in fact pledged to secure a Project Financing).

“Project Loan Documentation” means any definitive documentation (including any definitive loan agreement) entered into by the Issuer and/or any of its subsidiaries in connection with any Project Financing.

“Qualified Capital Stock” of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that is not Disqualified Capital Stock. It is understood and agreed that the Common Shares of the Issuer constitutes Qualified Capital Stock of Li-Cycle Holdings, Corp.

“Real Estate Asset” means, at any time of determination, all right, title and interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) of any Person in and to real property (including, but not limited to, land, improvements and fixtures thereon).

“Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any asset received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in exchange for any asset transferred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall not be deemed to constitute a Related Business Asset if such asset consists of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Subsidiary.

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer of such Person and any other individual or similar official thereof, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president or the chief operating officer or other officer responsible for the administration of the obligations of such Person in respect of the Note, and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, shall include any secretary or assistant secretary or any other individual or similar official thereof with substantially equivalent responsibilities of a Note Party and, solely for purposes of notices, any other officer of the applicable Note Party so designated in writing by the Issuer to the Noteholder. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of any Note Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Note Party, and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Note Party.

“Restricted Debt” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness among the Issuer or any Subsidiaries) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that is (x) secured by a security interest in the Collateral that is expressly junior or subordinated to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations, (y) expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or (z) unsecured. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the Existing Convertible Debt constitutes Restricted Debt and (ii) Indebtedness incurred in respect of a Project Financing shall not constitute Restricted Debt.

 

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“Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution on account of any shares of any class of the Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, except a dividend payable solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock to the holders of such class; (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value of any shares of any class of the Capital Stock of the Issuer and (c) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of the Capital Stock of the Issuer now or hereafter outstanding.

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Issuer on any of its Subsidiaries of any real property or tangible property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in contemplation of such leasing.

“Secured A&R Notes” means, collectively, the First A&R Note and the Second A&R Note.

“Securities” means any stock, shares, units, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing; provided that the term “Securities” shall not include any earn-out agreement or obligation or any employee bonus or other incentive compensation plan or agreement.

“Software” means computer programs, source code, object code and supporting documentation including “software” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, as well as computer programs that may be construed as included in the definition of Goods.

“Spoke” means a decentralized facility that mechanically processes batteries close to sources of supply and handles the preliminary processing of end-of-life batteries and battery manufacturing scrap.

“Start of Production Date” means, with respect to the Project, the date following the occurrence of “substantial completion” (or other term with similar meaning) under any Project Loan Documentation and operation of the Project on which commercial production of Core Products and Byproducts has occurred at the Facility.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, in each case to the extent the relevant entity’s financial results are required to be included in such Person’s consolidated financial statements under GAAP; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interests in the nature of a “qualifying share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding. Unless otherwise specified, “subsidiary” shall mean any subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

A-18


“Subsidiary Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 to the U.S. Security Agreement; it being understood and agreed that any Subsidiary Joinder Agreement executed by any Subsidiary that is not a U.S. Subsidiary may include such modifications as may be necessary to reflect the fact that such Subsidiary may not become a party to the U.S. Security Agreement.

“Supporting Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

“Swiss Guarantors” means, collectively, all present and future (direct or indirect) subsidiaries of the Issuer organized under the laws of Switzerland, which consists, as of the Closing Date, of Li-Cycle Europe AG.

“Swiss Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is incorporated or organized under the laws of Switzerland.

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Entity, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

“Trademarks” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, and trade styles and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all renewals of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (d) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the creation or perfection of security interests.

“U.S.” means the United States of America.

“U.S. Guarantors” means, collectively, all present and future (direct or indirect) U.S. Subsidiaries, which consists as of the Closing Date of the U.S. Project Finance Group.

“U.S. Project Finance Group” means, collectively, Li-Cycle U.S. Holdings Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., and Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries.

“U.S. Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the Note Purchase Agreement, among Li-Cycle Americas Corp. and the U.S. Guarantors as grantors, and the Collateral Agent.

“U.S. Pledge Agreement” means the Pledge Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 to the Note Purchase Agreement, among Li-Cycle Americas Corp. as pledgor and the Collateral Agent.

“U.S. Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is incorporated or organized under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by Applicable Law to be owned by a resident of the relevant jurisdiction) shall be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

A-19


ANNEX A-1

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

From the Closing Date until the Reference Date, the Issuer hereby covenants and agrees with the Noteholder that:

1. Financial Statements and Other Reports. The Issuer will deliver to the Noteholder:

(a) Monthly Reporting.

(i) Within 45 days after the end of each fiscal month, commencing with the first full fiscal month following the Closing Date, (A) (other than with respect to the last fiscal month in any fiscal quarter) the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of income of the Issuer, and (B) a summary of cash expenditures of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries exceeding, individually, $1,000,000 during such fiscal month.

(ii) On or before the 15th calendar day of each month, commencing with the first full month ending after construction resumes at the Issuer’s (or is applicable Subsidiary’s) Rochester Hub located in Rochester, New York, a report (the “Rochester Hub Report”) describing (A) progress on construction of the Rochester Hub, (B) execution “s curves” and (C) an update on the construction budget with respect to cost overruns; provided that (x) the Issuer shall not be required to provide such Rochester Hub Report prior to the date on which construction of the Rochester Hub resumes and (y) the Issuer and the Initial Noteholder shall negotiate in good faith to agree the form of such Rochester Hub Report on or prior to the date that is 60 days after the Closing Date (it being understood and agreed that if construction resumes prior to the date on which the form of such Rochester Hub Report is agreed, the Issuer shall not be required to provide such Rochester Hub Report until the 15th calendar day of the first full fiscal month ending after the commencement of construction).

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024, (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of each fiscal year), the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of financial position of the Issuer as of the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related unaudited statement of income and comprehensive income of the Issuer, condensed consolidated statement of cash flows of the Issuer and condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity of the Issuer, in each case, prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(c) Annual Financial Statements. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Closing Date, (i) the audited condensed consolidated statement of financial position of the Issuer as of the end of such fiscal year, and the related audited statement of income and comprehensive income of the Issuer, condensed consolidated statement of cash flows of the Issuer and (ii) with respect to such financial statements, a report thereon of an independent certified public accountant of recognized national standing, and shall state that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Issuer as at the dates indicated and it’s results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP;

(d) Budget.

 

A-I-1


On or prior to the date that (A) in the case of the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2024, financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 1(b) above with respect to the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024 (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Initial Noteholder) and (B) for each Fiscal Year ending thereafter, is 75 days following the beginning of such Fiscal Year, an annual operating budget for such Fiscal Year in the form approved by the board of directors of the Issuer and presented on a monthly basis and based on assumptions believed by the Issuer to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof; provided, that prior to the delivery of the operating budget pursuant to clause (A) above, the Issuer shall (i) provide a draft of the operating budget to the Initial Noteholder at least 15 days prior to date such operating budget is required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (d) and in any case prior to delivery of the operating budget to the board of directors for approval, and to the extent requested by the Initial Noteholder within two days of receipt of such draft operating budget, make appropriate senior management of the Issuer available to host a reasonable number of conference calls with the Initial Noteholder at times to be mutually agreed prior to delivery of the operating budget to the board of directors for approval, to discuss such operating budget (provided that in no event will such conference calls be required to be held past the date that is five days after such request from the Initial Noteholder), and the Issuer will consider in good faith any reasonable comments, feedback or suggestions from the Initial Noteholder in respect of such operating budget; and (ii) deliver (commencing with the first full fiscal month ending after the Closing Date) a cash flow report on a bi-weekly basis consistent in scope with the corresponding cash flow reports delivered to by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Noteholder prior to the Closing Date.

(e) Liquidity Reporting. Within 45 days after the end of each fiscal month, a commencing with the first full fiscal month following the Closing Date, a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying as to the calculation of the Liquidity of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as at the Liquidity Covenant Test Date (determined in good faith by the Issuer) for the applicable fiscal month; and

(f) Other Information. The Issuer will not more than once during any fiscal quarter, furnish such readily available additional information relating to the financial position of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as the Noteholder may reasonably request; provided, however, that neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall be required to disclose or provide any information (A) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or competitively sensitive information, (B) in respect of which disclosure to the Noteholder (or its representatives) is prohibited by Applicable Law, (C) that would jeopardize the protection of attorney-client or similar privilege or (D) in respect of which the Issuer or any Subsidiary owes confidentiality obligations to any third party (provided such confidentiality obligations were not entered into in contemplation of the requirements of this clause (f)); provided that, the Issuer shall inform the Noteholder, to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law and would not result in a loss of such privilege or violation of such confidentiality obligations, as to whether any information is being withheld pursuant to these exceptions and will use commercially reasonable efforts to disclose such information in a manner that would not result in the disclosure of non-financial trade secrets or competitively sensitive information, violate Applicable Law or applicable confidentiality obligations or jeopardize the protection of attorney-client or similar privilege .

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 1 may be delivered electronically; provided that, in respect of the items required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) above shall be deemed to be delivered by (i) in the case of clause (b), the filing of the Issuer’s quarterly report and (ii) in the case of clause (c), the filing of the Issuer’s annual report, in each case, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by way of “EDGAR”).

2. Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Provide Security.

(a) Within 60 days of the Closing Date (or such longer period to which the Required Noteholders may reasonably agree) (such date being the “Post-Closing Security Date”), the Issuer (i) will cause each Swiss Guarantor and each German Guarantor to comply with the requirements set forth in (i) clause (b) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and (ii) to the extent not covered in the foregoing paragraph (i), will cause each applicable Note Guarantor to comply with the requirements set forth in Schedule A-1-1.

 

A-I-2


(b) On or before the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 1(b) or (c) of this Annex A-1 (or such longer period as the Required Noteholders may reasonably agree) for the fiscal quarter in which the relevant Person is formed or acquired, the Issuer shall cause each Subsidiary which is formed or acquired after the Closing Date that is organized in a Note Guarantor Jurisdiction to comply with the requirements set forth in clause (c) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Note Document, it is understood and agreed that (the provisions of this clause (c) together with all related supplements to this clause (c) or other exceptions and limitations set forth in the applicable Subsidiary Joinder Agreement or Collateral Document, collectively, the “Agreed Security Principles”):

(i) The Required Noteholders, may grant extensions of time in their reasonable discretion (including after the expiration of any relevant period, which may apply retroactively) for the creation and perfection of security interests in, or obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions, surveys or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets or the provision of any Note Guaranty by any Subsidiary (in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Closing Date);

(ii) any Lien required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” shall be subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth in this Note and the Collateral Documents;

(iii) perfection by control shall not be required with respect to assets requiring perfection through control agreements or other control arrangements, including deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodities accounts (other than control of pledged Capital Stock of any Note Guarantor and/or Material Debt Instruments);

(iv) no Note Party shall be required to seek any landlord lien waiver, bailee letter, estoppel, warehouseman waiver or other collateral access or similar letter or agreement;

(v) in no event will (x) the Collateral include any Excluded Asset or (y) any Excluded Subsidiary be required to become a Note Guarantor;

(vi) no Note Party will be required to (A) take any action to grant or perfect a security interest in any asset located outside of (1) in the case of any U.S Note Party, the U.S., any state thereof, or the District of Columbia or (2) in the case of any Note Party other than a U.S. Guarantor, in its jurisdiction of organization (or such other location where required for perfection in such jurisdiction to the extent consistent with market practice in such jurisdiction to take such perfection actions and otherwise consistent with the Agreed Security Principles) or (B) execute any security agreement, pledge agreement, mortgage, deed, charge or other collateral document governed by (i) in respect of any U.S. Note Party, the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) in respect of any Canadian Note Party, the laws of any jurisdiction other than Canada and any province or territory thereof, and (iii) in respect of any other Note Party, the laws of any jurisdiction other than its jurisdiction of organization; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, subject in all respects to the Agreed Security Principles, to the extent that any Note Party owns the Capital Stock of any wholly-owned Subsidiary that is organized in a Note Guarantor Jurisdiction, such Note Party shall be required to provide a pledge over the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary governed by the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary to the extent such local law pledge is required to perfect the Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) (other than to the extent such Capital Stock constitutes Excluded Assets); (vii) without limiting clause (xiii) below, no action shall be required to perfect any Lien with respect to any vehicle or other asset subject to a certificate of title except to the extent that a security interest therein can be perfected by filing a financing statement under the UCC, PPSA or similar laws (in each case without the requirement to list a “VIN” or similar number) or any analogous filing under the laws of any other applicable jurisdiction (without the requirement to list an “VIN” or similar number);

 

A-I-3


(viii) no action shall be required to perfect a Lien in any asset in respect of which the perfection of a security interest therein would (1) be prohibited by enforceable anti-assignment provisions set forth in any contract that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings), (2) violate the terms of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings), in each case, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, PPSA or other Applicable Law or (3) trigger termination of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings) pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision; it being understood that the Collateral shall include any proceeds and/or receivables arising out of any contract described in this clause to the extent the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed effective under the UCC, PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant prohibition, violation or termination right;

(ix) (A) no Note Party shall be required to perfect a Lien in any asset to the extent the perfection of a security interest in such asset would be prohibited under any Applicable Law and (B) it is understood and agreed for the avoidance of doubt that no Note Party shall be required to comply with the Federal Assignment of Claims Act or any similar statute of any other Applicable Law;

(x) any Subsidiary Joinder Agreement, any Collateral Document and/or any other Note Document executed by any Subsidiary that is required to become a Note Party pursuant to this Section 2 may include such schedules (or updates to schedules) as may be necessary to qualify any representation or warranty set forth in any Note Document to the extent necessary to ensure that such representation or warranty is true and correct to the extent required thereby or by the terms of any other Note Document;

(xi) the Noteholder acknowledges and agrees that the Collateral that may be provided by any Note Party may be limited to minimize stamp duty, notarization, registration or other applicable fees, taxes and duties where the benefit to the Noteholder of increasing the Guarantee and/or secured amount is disproportionate to the cost of such fees, taxes and duties;

 

A-I-4


(xii) the Noteholder shall not require the taking of a Lien on, or require the perfection of any Lien granted in, those assets as to which the cost of obtaining or perfecting such Lien (including any mortgage, stamp, intangibles or other tax or expenses relating to such Lien) is excessive in relation to the benefit to the Noteholder of the security afforded thereby as reasonably determined by the Issuer in consultation with the Required Noteholders; (xiii) no U.S. Note Party shall be required, and the Collateral Agent shall not be authorized, to perfect the security interest in the Collateral other than pursuant to (A) filings pursuant to the UCC in the office of the secretary state (or similar central filing office) of the relevant state where such Note Party is organized, (B) filings with the United States government offices with respect to intellectual property as expressly required by the Finance Documents, or (C) delivery to the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties), for its possession (subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement), of all Collateral consisting of Material Debt Instruments and Capital Stock owned by such Note Party (solely to the extent the pledge of such Capital Stock is required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement), in each case, as and to the extent expressly required in the Finance Documents;

(xiv) no Canadian Note Party shall be required, and the Collateral Agent shall not be authorized, to perfect the security interest in the Collateral other than pursuant to (A) filings pursuant to the PPSA of the relevant province where such Note Party is organized and of any other province or territory as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to the extent such additional PPSA filings are necessary to perfect the Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents by a Canadian Note Party, (B) filings with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office with respect to intellectual property as expressly required by the Finance Documents, or (C) delivery to the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties), for its possession (subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement), of all Collateral consisting of Material Debt Instruments and Capital Stock owned by such Note Party (solely to the extent the pledge of such Capital Stock is required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement), in each case, as and to the extent expressly required in the Finance Documents;

(xv) in no event shall any Swiss Guarantor be required to grant or perfect a security interest in or a Lien on any property other than the Capital Stock of another Note Guarantor, Deposit Accounts maintained by such Swiss Guarantor with a bank located in Switzerland and any intercompany receivable owed to such Swiss Guarantor by any other Subsidiary;

(xvi) in no event shall any German Guarantor be required to grant or perfect a security interest in or a Lien on any property other than the Capital Stock of another Note Guarantor, material Deposit Accounts maintained by such German Guarantor in Germany and any material intercompany receivable owed to such German Guarantor by any other Subsidiary; and

(xvii) (A) no Collateral Document executed and delivered after the Closing Date, will impose any commercial obligation on any Note Party or contain any representation, warranty or undertaking that is not required for the creation and/or perfection of a security interest in the relevant asset and (B) to the extent the subject matter of any representation, warranty or undertaking in any Collateral Document executed and delivered after the Closing Date is the same as any representation, warranty or covenant in the Note, such representation, warranty or covenant shall be no more burdensome to the applicable Note Party than the corresponding provision of this Note unless the relevant additional requirement is necessary for the creation and/or perfection of a security interest in the relevant asset;

(xviii) it is understood and agreed that, in certain jurisdictions, it may be either impossible or impractical to create security over certain categories of assets, in which event security will not be taken over such assets;

 

A-I-5


(xix) any guarantee or security shall be subject to applicable local law limitations and other exceptions and exclusions as may be reasonably agreed in the applicable Collateral Documents; (xx) with respect to any notification of pledge over bank accounts required to be provided from time to time pursuant to any Collateral Document, (A) the applicable Note Party shall provide the applicable notice of pledge to the applicable account bank within 10 Business Days of the security being granted, (B) if the applicable Note Party has used its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgment of such notice by the applicable account bank but has been unable to do so within 30 Business Days after such notice is given, the obligation to obtain such acknowledgment cease, and (C) (other than any pledge over bank accounts provided by the Swiss Guarantor) if the delivery of any notice of pledge of bank accounts would prevent any Note Party from using a bank account in the course of its business, no notice of pledge shall be served with respect to such account (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no acknowledgment of such pledge shall be required to be obtained from the applicable account bank) unless and until an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Notes then outstanding have been declared due and payable in accordance with this Note;

(xxi) with respect to any notification of security over accounts receivable required to be provided from time to time pursuant to any Collateral Document, (A) the applicable Note Party shall provide the applicable notice of pledge to the applicable account debtor within 10 Business Days of the security being granted and (B) (other than in respect of accounts receivables owing from the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) if the applicable Note Party has used its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgment of such notice by the applicable account debtor but has been unable to do so within 30 Business Days after such notice is given, the obligation to obtain such acknowledgment cease; and

(xxii) no Note Party will be required to grant a security interest in any asset or perfect a security interest in any asset to the extent that the same (A) is not within the legal capacity of such Note Party (whether as a result of any financial assistance, corporate benefit, thin capitalization, capital maintenance, liquidity maintenance or similar rules or legal principles), (B) in each case based upon any of the aforementioned rules or legal principles, could reasonably be expected to conflict with the fiduciary duties of such Note Party’s directors or result in, or could be reasonably expected to result in, a risk of personal or criminal liability for such Note Party or any of its officers or directors or (C) would contravene any applicable legal prohibition or regulatory condition; provided, that, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, the Issuer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to structure the provision of security by such Note Party to avoid or address such restrictions, conflicts or risks and where such restrictions, conflicts or risks apply, the relevant guarantees and security will be limited to the maximum amount or the maximum scope which such Note Party may provide having regard to applicable law, rules and legal principles without subjecting members of management or directors of such Loan Party to any risk of personal and/or criminal liability.

3. Further Assurances. Promptly upon request of the Required Noteholders:

(a) The Issuer will, and will cause each other Note Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements, instruments, certificates, notices and acknowledgments and take all such further actions (including the filing and recordation of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages and/or amendments thereto and other documents), that may be required under any Applicable Law and which the Required Noteholders may reasonably request to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created under the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the relevant Note Parties.

 

A-I-6


(b) The Issuer will, and will cause each other Note Party to, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts (including notices to third parties), deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created under the Collateral Documents.

 

A-I-7


ANNEX A-1-1

POST-CLOSING SCHEDULE

 

A.

Canada:

The following documents and evidence are delivered in respect of each Canadian Guarantor; provided that if the applicable Canadian Guarantor has used its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the following documents and evidence but has been unable to do so within 60 Business Days from the Post-Closing Date, the obligation to obtain such documents and evidence ceases:

 

  1.

Estoppel Letters for each of the following Ontario PPSA registrations:

 

  a.

Li-Cycle Corp. - file no. 763756191 in favour of MERIDIAN ONECAP CREDIT CORP.

 

  b.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. - file no. 783135369 in favour of CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

 

  2.

Discharges or Estoppel Letters in respect of each of the following Ontario PPSA registrations:

 

  a.

Li-Cycle Corp. - file no. 751124628 in favour of CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

 

  b.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. - file no. 788671386 in favour of BANK OF MONTREAL

 

B.

Germany:

The following documents and evidence have to be delivered in respect of each German Guarantor:

 

  1.

Share pledge agreement with respect to the shares in each German Subsidiary and any Subsidiary of such German Subsidiary which is required to be Note Guarantor.

 

  2.

Account pledge agreement over any material bank accounts maintained in Germany by any German Subsidiary.

 

  3.

Security assignment agreement with respect to material intercompany receivables owed to such German Subsidiary by any other Subsidiary.

 

  4.

Legal opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser) of (i) Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (opinion in relation to enforceability) with respect to the Collateral Documents governed by German law and (ii) Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (opinion in relation to capacity) with respect to the Collateral Documents governed by German law and any other relevant post-closing document or agreement entered into by a German Note Party.

 

  5.

Shareholders resolutions, partners resolutions, board resolutions and/or any other relevant corporate authorization in relation to the Collateral Documents governed by German law and any other relevant document or agreement entered into by a German Note Party or agreement, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of such documents and any other document required to be delivered by or on behalf of any German Note Party.

 

i


  6.

A certificate which shall (i) certify that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the resolutions provided under para 5. above and that such resolutions or written consents have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect, (ii) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the authorized signatories of the relevant German Note Party (including specimen signatures of such authorized signatories of the relevant German Note Party) authorized to sign the Collateral Documents governed by German law and any other relevant document or agreement entered into by a German Note Party and any other document required to be delivered by or on behalf of a German Note Party and (iii) certify that (1) attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the articles of association (Satzung), any rules of procedure (Geschäftsordnungen), if applicable, an up-to-date commercial register excerpt (Handelsregisterauszug) and the shareholders list (Gesellschafterliste) of the relevant German Note Party and (2) such documents or agreements have not been amended (except as otherwise attached to such certificate and certified therein as being the only amendments thereto as of such date).

 

C.

Switzerland:

The following documents and evidence have to be delivered in respect of each Swiss Guarantor:

 

  1.

Officer’s certificate appending the organizational documents (being an up-to-date certified copy of the articles of association as well as a certified excerpt from the commercial register), and, resolutions by the board of directors as well as the shareholder of the relevant Swiss Guarantor.

 

  2.

A copy of a board resolution, inter alia, (i) approving the entry into all transaction documents the relevant Swiss Guarantor is or will be a party to, (ii) acknowledging and agreeing with the terms and conditions of, and the granting of the pledge over the shares in the relevant Swiss Guarantor, (iii) approving the registration of the pledge of the shares in the share register (Aktienbuch) of the Swiss Guarantor, and (iv) approving irrevocably and in advance the registration in the share register of the Swiss Guarantor of any future acquirer/holder of any of the shares as shareholder with voting rights with respect to the relevant shares in case of such acquirer having acquired such shares in connection with the enforcement of the security created under Swiss law governed share pledge agreement.

 

  3.

A copy of a written shareholder resolution or a copy of the minutes of a shareholder meeting approving the entry into and the performance of the relevant transaction documents as well as the distribution of corporate assets in connection with an enforcement of the Swiss law governed security agreements.

 

  4.

An original of the duly signed copy of a Swiss law governed pledge agreement in respect of the equity interests in such Swiss Guarantor as well as the following additional documents relating thereto:

 

  (a)

the original(s) of the certificates representing all shares and related assets (duly endorsed in blank); and

 

  (b)

a copy of the of the up-to-date, correct and complete share register (Aktienbuch) and register of beneficial owners of the shares of the Swiss Guarantor evidencing that the pledge of the shares has been registered.

 

ii


  5.

An original of the duly signed copy of a Swiss law governed security assignment agreement in respect of the material intra-group receivables owing to such Swiss Guarantor as well as the following additional documents relating thereto:

Copies of the notifications to the intra-group debtors informing them about the assignment.

 

  6.

An original of the duly signed copy of a Swiss law governed pledge agreement in respect of the material bank accounts of such company which are located in Switzerland (and excluding the Project Loan Collateral) as well as the following additional documents relating thereto:

Copies of the notifications to the account banks of the Swiss Guarantor and a waiver of the bank secrecy rights in relation to the pledged bank accounts.

 

  7.

An original of the duly signed joinder to the Note Guaranty.

 

  8.

A legal opinion (capacity and enforceability) issued by Homburger, Swiss legal counsel to the Issuer with respect to the Swiss law governed security agreements and any other post-closing agreement entered into by a Swiss Guarantor.

 

iii


ANNEX A-2

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

From the Closing Date until the Reference Date, the Issuer covenants and agrees with the Noteholder that:

1. Indebtedness. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

(a) the Obligations;

(b) Indebtedness of (i) the Issuer to any Subsidiary, and/or (ii) any Subsidiary to the Issuer and/or any other Subsidiary; provided that (A) in the case of any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party owing to the Issuer or any Subsidiary that is a Note Party, such Indebtedness shall be permitted as an Investment under Section 4 and (B) any Indebtedness of any Note Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party incurred in reliance on this clause (b) must be unsecured and expressly subordinated to the Obligations of such Note Party on terms that are reasonably acceptable to the Required Noteholders (which may be pursuant to an Intercompany Note (the subordination terms of which are acceptable to the Required Noteholders));

(c) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations arising from any agreement providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations (including contingent earn-out obligations), in each case, incurred in connection with the Transactions, any Disposition permitted hereunder, any Investment permitted hereunder or consummated prior to the Closing Date or any other purchase of assets or Capital Stock, and Indebtedness arising from guaranties, letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments securing the performance of the Issuer or any such Subsidiary pursuant to any such agreement (but excluding any guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person making such acquisition or Disposition for the purpose of financing such acquisition or Disposition); provided that the maximum liability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in respect of all such Indebtedness in connection with a Disposition shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition);

(d) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary (i) as a result of or pursuant to tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, governmental contracts, trade contracts, surety, stay, customs, appeal, performance and/or return of money bonds or other similar obligations, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments to support any of the foregoing items;

(e) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary in respect of Banking Services and/or otherwise in connection with Cash management and Deposit Accounts, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(f) (i) guaranties by the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary of the obligations of suppliers, customers and licensees in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services and (iii) Indebtedness in respect of trade payables, warehouse receipts or similar facilities entered into in the ordinary course (including indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties or similar instruments supporting such trade payables, warehouse receipts or similar facilities); (g) Guarantees by the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary with respect to Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 1 or other obligations not prohibited by this Note (including, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent constituting Guarantees, sponsor support obligations and customary equity commitments required pursuant to any Project Loan Documentation);

 

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(h) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary existing, or pursuant to commitments existing, on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions; provided that any such Indebtedness shall be described on Schedule 1(h);

(i) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary consisting of obligations owing under incentive, supply, license or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums, (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and/or (iii) obligations to reacquire assets or inventory in connection with customer financing arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary with respect to Capital Leases and purchase money Indebtedness entered into or incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000;

(l) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any Subsidiary to any current or former director, officer, employee, member of management, manager or consultant of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (or their respective Immediate Family Members) to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of the Issuer to the extent such purchase or redemption is permitted by Section 3(a);

(m) Indebtedness refinancing, refunding or replacing any Indebtedness permitted under clauses (a), (h), (k), (p), (u) and (w) of this Section 1 (in any case, including any refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect thereof, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) and any subsequent Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that:

(i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value then outstanding) of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced, except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest, penalties and premiums (including tender premiums) thereon plus underwriting discounts, other reasonable and customary fees, commissions and expenses (including upfront fees, original issue discount or initial yield payments) incurred in connection with the relevant refinancing, refunding or replacement and the related refinancing transaction;

(ii) with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness of the type described in clause (a) and (b) of the definition thereof, such Indebtedness has a final maturity equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the Maturity Date and (y) the final maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced; and

 

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(iii) except in the case of Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect of Indebtedness permitted under clause (a) of this Section 1, (A) such Indebtedness, if secured, is secured only by Permitted Liens at the time of such refinancing, refunding or replacement (it being understood that secured Indebtedness may be refinanced with unsecured Indebtedness), and if the Liens securing such Indebtedness were originally contractually subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes, the Liens securing such Indebtedness are subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes on terms not materially less favorable (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith), taken as a whole, to the Noteholder than those (1) applicable to the Liens securing the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced, taken as a whole, or (2) set forth in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (B) such Indebtedness is incurred by the obligor or obligors in respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced (it being understood that any entity that was a guarantor in respect of the relevant refinanced Indebtedness may be the primary obligor in respect of the refinancing Indebtedness, and any entity that was the primary obligor in respect of the relevant refinanced Indebtedness may be a guarantor in respect of the refinancing Indebtedness), and (C) if the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced was expressly contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment, (1) such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment, or (2) if not contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment, the purchase, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, repayment, refinancing or other acquisition or retirement of such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 3(b) (other than Section 3(b)(i)).

(n) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary under any Derivative Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(o) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary representing deferred compensation to current or former directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers, and consultants of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $7,500,000;

(q) Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary incurred in connection with Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted hereunder;

(r) Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments with respect to such Indebtedness) incurred by the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary in respect of workers compensation claims, unemployment, property, casualty or liability insurance (including premiums related thereto) or self-insurance, other reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, other types of social security, pension obligations, vacation pay or health, disability or other employee benefits;

(s) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and/or similar instruments, in each case, that support Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary that is otherwise permitted by this Section 1;

(t) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business;

(u) Indebtedness in respect of a Project Financing incurred by the Issuer, each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a member of the U.S. Project Finance Group, and/or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that is party to any Project Loan Documentation;

(v) without duplication of any other Indebtedness, all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest and payment in kind interest), accretion or amortization of original issue discount, fees, expenses and charges with respect to Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary hereunder; (w) Indebtedness in respect of the Secured A&R Notes and any Guarantee of such Indebtedness by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries; and

 

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(x) any other Indebtedness with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

2. Liens. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property of any kind owned by it, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, except:

(a) Liens securing the Obligations;

(b) Liens for Taxes which (i) are not then due, (ii) if due, are not at such time required to be paid or (iii) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves are being maintained to the extent required by GAAP;

(c) statutory Liens (and rights of set-off) of landlords, banks, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by Applicable Law, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue by more than 30 days or (ii) for amounts that are overdue by more than 30 days and that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as any reserves or other appropriate provisions required by GAAP have been made for any such contested amounts;

(d) Liens incurred (i) in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security laws and regulations, (ii) in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money), (iii) pursuant to pledges and deposits of Cash or Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business securing (x) any liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of insurance carriers providing property, casualty, liability or other insurance to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries or (y) leases or licenses of property otherwise permitted by this Agreement and (iv) to secure obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments posted with respect to the items described in clauses (i) through (iii) above;

(e) Liens consisting of survey exceptions, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, conditions, declarations, encroachments, zoning restrictions and other defects or irregularities in title or environmental deed restrictions, in each case, which do not, in the aggregate, materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(f) Liens consisting of any (i) interest or title of a lessor or sub-lessor under any lease of real estate permitted hereunder, (ii) landlord lien permitted by the terms of any lease, (iii) restriction or encumbrance to which the interest or title of such lessor or sub-lessor may be subject or (iv) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sub-lessee under such lease to any restriction or encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (iii);

(g) Liens (i) solely on any Cash earnest money deposits (including as part of any escrow arrangement) made by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to any Investment permitted hereunder and (ii) consisting of (A) an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 5 and/or (B) the pledge of Cash as part of an escrow arrangement required in any Disposition permitted under Section 5; (h) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of UCC or PPSA financing statements relating solely to operating leases or consignment or bailee arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business, and Liens arising from precautionary UCC or PPSA financing statements or similar filings;

 

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(i) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(j) Liens in connection with any zoning, building, environmental or similar Applicable Law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Entity to control or regulate the use or dimensions of any real property or the structures thereon, including Liens in connection with any condemnation or eminent domain proceeding or compulsory purchase order;

(k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 1(m) (solely with respect to the permitted refinancing of (1) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 1(a), (h), (k), (p), (u), and (w)); provided that (i) no such Lien extends to any asset not covered by the Lien securing the Indebtedness that is being refinanced (it being understood that Indebtedness with respect to Capital Leases provided by any Person may be cross-collateralized to other Capital Leases provided by such Person or its affiliates), (ii) if the Lien securing the Indebtedness being refinanced was subject to intercreditor arrangements, then (A) the Lien securing any refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof shall be subject to intercreditor arrangements that are not materially less favorable to the Noteholder, taken as a whole, than the intercreditor arrangements governing the Lien securing the Indebtedness that is refinanced or (B) the intercreditor arrangements governing the Lien securing the relevant refinancing Indebtedness shall be set forth in an Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) no such Lien shall be senior in priority as compared to the Lien securing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(l) Liens in existence on the Closing Date; provided that any such Lien shall be described on Schedule 2(l); provided, further that (i) no such Lien extends to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 1 and (B) proceeds and products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon;

(m) Liens arising out of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted hereunder;

(n) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 1(k); provided, that any such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness and proceeds and products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon (it being understood that individual financings of the type permitted under Section 1(k) provided by any lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of such type provided by such lender or its affiliates);

(o) (i) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff or netting relating to (A) the establishment of depositary relations with banks not granted in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (B) pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (C) purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and (D) commodity trading or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits, (iii) bankers Liens and rights and remedies as to Deposit Accounts, (iv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 of the UCC or under equivalent provisions of the PPSA on items in the ordinary course of business, (v) Liens in favor of banking or other financial institutions arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions, (vi) Liens on the proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred in connection with any transaction permitted hereunder, which proceeds have been deposited into an escrow account on customary terms to secure such Indebtedness pending the application of such proceeds to finance such transaction and (vii) any general banking Lien over any bank account arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(p) Liens on assets owned by, and/or Capital Stock of, Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties (including Capital Stock owned by such Persons) securing Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 1;

(q) Liens securing obligations (other than obligations representing Indebtedness for borrowed money) under operating, reciprocal easement or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries;

(r) Liens on assets securing Indebtedness or other obligations related to a specified counterparty which have been disclosed to the Initial Noteholder in writing prior to the Closing Date, the aggregate outstanding amount of which Indebtedness and other obligations do not exceed $30,000,000;

(s) (i) Liens on assets securing judgments, awards, attachments and/or decrees and notices of lis pendens and associated rights relating to litigation being contested in good faith and (ii) any pledge and/or deposit securing any settlement of litigation;

(t) leases, non-exclusive licenses, subleases or non-exclusive sublicenses in the ordinary course of business which do not secure any Indebtedness;

(u) Liens on Securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Investments permitted under Section 4 arising out of such repurchase transaction;

(v) Liens securing obligations in respect letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments permitted under Sections 1(c), (d), (f), (r) and (s);

(w) Liens arising (i) out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of any asset in the ordinary course of business and permitted by this Note or (ii) by operation of law under Article 2 of the UCC or equivalent provisions of the PPSA (or similar Applicable Law under any jurisdiction);

(x) Liens (i) in favor of any Note Party and/or (ii) granted by any non-Note Party in favor of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), securing intercompany Indebtedness permitted (or not restricted) under Section 1 or Section 6;

(y) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(z) (i) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof and (ii) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

(aa) Liens securing (i) obligations of the type described in Section 1(e) and/or (ii) obligations of the type described in Section 1(n); (bb) (i) Liens on Capital Stock of joint ventures securing capital contributions to, or obligations of, such Persons and (ii) customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights in joint venture agreements and agreements with respect to non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries;

 

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(cc) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness to the extent that such defeasance, discharge or redemption is permitted hereunder;

(dd) Liens consisting of the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(ee) Liens disclosed in any title insurance policy (or commitment) or survey delivered to the Collateral Agent with respect to any Real Estate Asset and any replacement, extension or renewal thereof; provided, that no such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal (and additions thereto, improvements thereon and the proceeds thereof);

(ff) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

(gg) Liens on Project Loan Collateral securing obligations in respect of a Project Financing;

(hh) Liens securing obligations of the type described in Section 1(v) (only to the extent that the related Indebtedness is secured by a Lien that is otherwise permitted by this Section 2);

(ii) Liens on the Collateral securing obligations in respect of the Secured A&R Notes, subject to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement; and

(jj) any other Lien with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

3. Restricted Payments; Restricted Debt Payments.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or make any Restricted Payment, except that:

(i) the Issuer and any of its Subsidiaries may repurchase Capital Stock upon the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock to the extent such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price of, or tax withholdings with respect to, such warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock;

(ii) the Issuer and any Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to (i) redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Capital Stock (“Treasury Capital Stock”) of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary) of, Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer to the extent any such proceeds are contributed to the capital of the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary in respect of Qualified Capital Stock (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (ii) declare and pay dividends on any Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to the Issuer or a Subsidiary or to a long term incentive plan, management equity plan, stock option plan or any other similar employee benefit or incentive plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of any Refunding Capital Stock; (iii) to the extent constituting a Restricted Payment, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted by Section 4 (other than Section 4(g)), Section 5 (other than Section 5(g)) and Section 6 (other than Section 6(h));

 

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(iv) the Issuer may make Restricted Payments to redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase its Capital Stock (or any options, warrants, restricted stock or shares, stock or share appreciation rights or other equity-linked interests issued with respect to any such Capital Stock), in each case, held directly or indirectly by current or former employees, directors, members of management, officer or managers upon or in connection with the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or service of any such Person, so long as the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (iv) does not exceed $2,000,000;

(v) the Issuer may declare and make dividend payments or other Restricted Payments payable solely in the Capital Stock of the Issuer;

(vi) each Subsidiary of the Issuer may make Restricted Payments with respect to any shares of any class of its Capital Stock; provided, that in the case of any such Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the share of such Restricted Payment made or paid to the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer is at least pro rata to the percentage of such class of Capital Stock in such Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is owned by the Issuer and its other Subsidiaries;

(vii) payments or distributions to satisfy dissenters’ or appraisal rights, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with Section 5; and

(viii) any other Restricted Payments with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

(b) the Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, make any prepayment, redemption or repurchase in Cash in respect of principal outstanding under any Restricted Debt more than six months prior to the scheduled maturity date thereof (collectively, “Restricted Debt Payments”), except:

(i) with respect to any purchase, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, repayment or other acquisition or retirement thereof made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, Indebtedness permitted by Section 1 that has the same or lower priority in terms of payment and security as the Restricted Debt subject to such purchase, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, repayment or other acquisition or retirement;

(ii) as part of an applicable high yield discount obligation catch-up payment;

 

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(iii) payments of regularly scheduled principal or regularly scheduled interest (including any payment-in-kind interest and penalty interest) and payments of fees, expenses and indemnification obligations as and when due (other than payments that are prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof); (iv) (A) Restricted Debt Payments in exchange for, or with proceeds of any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary and/or any capital contribution in respect of Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (B) Restricted Debt Payments as a result of the conversion of all or any portion of any Restricted Debt into Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, and (C) to the extent constituting a Restricted Debt Payment, payment-in-kind interest with respect to any Restricted Debt that is permitted under Section 1;

(v) to the extent constituting Restricted Debt Payments, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Amended and Restated Existing Convertible Note, including the redemption of the Indebtedness thereunder in connection with the issuance of the Secured A&R Note;

(vi) Restricted Debt Payments with respect to the Existing Convertible Debt and any accrued and unpaid interest (including any payment-in-kind interest or penalty interest) in respect thereof; and

(vii) any other Restricted Debt Payments with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

4. Investments. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or own any Investment in any other Person except:

(a) Cash or Investments that were Cash Equivalents at the time made;

(b) (i) Investments existing on the Closing Date in the Issuer or in any Subsidiary solely to the extent of the value of such Investment as of the Closing Date and (ii) Investments made after the Closing Date by, between and/or among the Issuer and/or one or more Subsidiaries; provided, that any Investment made by any Note Party in any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party in reliance on this clause (ii) shall either be (x) made in the ordinary course of business in connection with intercompany cash management and working capital needs, (y) made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Project Loan Documentation and/or (z) in an aggregate outstanding amount that does not exceed $2,500,000;

(c) Investments (i) constituting deposits, prepayments, trade credit and/or other credits to suppliers, (ii) made in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client and customer contracts and/or (iii) in the form of advances made to distributors, suppliers, licensors and licensees, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or, in the case of clause (iii), to the extent necessary to maintain the ordinary course of supplies to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(d) Investments (i) existing on, or contractually committed to or contemplated as of, the Closing Date; provided that, any such Investment is described on Schedule 4 and (ii) any modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Investment described in clause (i) above so long as no such modification, renewal or extension increases the amount of such Investment except by the terms thereof or as otherwise permitted by this Section 4;

(e) Investments received in lieu of Cash in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 5 or any other disposition of assets not constituting a Disposition;

 

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(f) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business; (g) Investments consisting of (or resulting from) Indebtedness permitted under Section 1 (other than Indebtedness permitted under Sections 1(b) and (g)), Permitted Liens, Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3 (other than Section 3(a)(iii)), Restricted Debt Payments permitted by Section 3 and mergers, consolidations, amalgamations, liquidations, windings up, dissolutions or Dispositions permitted by Section 5 (other than Section 5(b), Section 5(c)(ii) (if made in reliance on clause (B) therein) and Section 5(g));

(h) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers;

(i) Investments (including debt obligations and Capital Stock) received (i) in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Person, (ii) in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers, suppliers and other account debtors arising in the ordinary course of business, (iii) upon foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment and/or (iv) as a result of the settlement, compromise, resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

(j) Investments to the extent that payment therefor is made solely with Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer, to the extent not resulting in a Change of Control so long as the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld);

(k) Investments made after the Closing Date by the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount outstanding not to exceed $2,500,000;

(l) (i) Guarantees of leases (other than Capital Leases) or of other obligations not constituting Indebtedness and (ii) Guarantees of the lease obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees and licensees of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(m) [Reserved];

(n) Investments under any Derivative Transaction of the type permitted under Section 1(n);

(o) Investments made in joint ventures as required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture agreements and similar binding arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Investments made in connection with any nonqualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement for any present or former employee, director, member of management, officer, manager or consultant or independent contractor (or any Immediate Family Member thereof) of the Issuer, its Subsidiaries and/or any joint venture;

(q) Investments in the Issuer, any Subsidiary and/or joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements and similar activities in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Investments consisting of the non-exclusive licensing, sublicensing or contribution of IP Rights, including pursuant to joint marketing or joint development arrangements with other Persons, in the ordinary course of business; and

(s) any other Investment with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that this Section 4 shall not permit an IP Separation Transaction.

 

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5. Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve themselves (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or make any Disposition having a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000 in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), except:

(a) the Issuer or any Subsidiary may be merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Subsidiary or, if applicable, effect a Delaware LLC Division; provided that (i) in the case of any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation with or into the Issuer, the Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving Person and (ii) in the case of any such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or Delaware LLC Division with or into any Note Guarantor, either (A) the Note Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person or the continuing or surviving Person (or, in the case of an amalgamation, the Person formed as a result thereof) shall expressly assume the obligations of such Note Guarantor in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Required Noteholders (including by complying with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirements) or (B) the relevant transaction shall be treated as an Investment and shall comply with Section 4;

(b) Dispositions (including of Capital Stock) among the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise); provided that any such Disposition made by any Note Party to any Person that is not a Note Party shall be treated as an Investment and otherwise made in compliance with Section 4 (other than in reliance on clause (g) thereof);

(c) (i) the liquidation, dissolution or Delaware LLC Division of any Subsidiary if the Issuer determines in good faith that such liquidation, dissolution or Delaware LLC Division is in the best interests of the Issuer, is not materially disadvantageous to the Noteholder and the Issuer or any Subsidiary receives the assets (if any) of the relevant liquidated, dissolved or divided Subsidiary; provided that in the case of any liquidation, dissolution or Delaware LLC Division of any Note Party that results in a distribution of assets to any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party, such distribution shall be treated as an Investment and shall comply with Section 4 (other than Section 4(g)); (ii) any merger, amalgamation, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Delaware LLC Division, the purpose of which is to effect (A) any Disposition otherwise permitted under this Section 5 (other than clause (a), clause (b) or this clause (c)) or (B) any Investment permitted under Section 4 (other than Section 4(g)); and (iii) the conversion of the Issuer or any Subsidiary into another form of entity, so long as such conversion does not adversely affect the value of the Note Guaranty or Collateral, if any;

(d) (i) Dispositions of inventory or immaterial equipment or immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business (including on an intercompany basis) and (ii) the leasing or subleasing of real property in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property that, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer, is (A) no longer useful in its business (or in the business of any Subsidiary of the Issuer) or (B) otherwise economically impracticable to maintain;

(f) Dispositions of Cash and/or Cash Equivalents and/or other assets that were Cash Equivalents when the relevant original Investment was made;

(g) Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations or conveyances that constitute (x) Investments permitted pursuant to Section 4 (other than Section 4(g)), (y) Permitted Liens and (z) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 3(a) (other than Section 3(a)(iii)); (h) to the extent that (i) the relevant property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of the relevant Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

A-II-11


(i) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between joint venture or similar parties set forth in the relevant joint venture arrangements and/or similar binding arrangements;

(j) Dispositions and/or terminations of leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under any open source license), (i) the Disposition or termination of which will not materially interfere with the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or (ii) which relate to closed facilities or the discontinuation of any product line;

(k) (i) any termination of any lease in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any expiration of any option agreement in respect of real or personal property and (iii) any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contractual rights or litigation claims (including in tort) in the ordinary course of business;

(l) Dispositions of property subject to foreclosure, casualty, eminent domain or condemnation proceedings (including in lieu thereof or any similar proceeding);

(m) Dispositions or consignments of equipment, inventory or other assets (including leasehold interests in real property) with respect to facilities that are not in use, held for sale or closed;

(n) Dispositions of non-core assets acquired in connection with any acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder and sales of Real Estate Assets acquired in any acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder which, within 90 days of the date of such acquisition or other Investment, are designated in writing to the Collateral Agent as being held for sale and not for the continued operation of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses;

(o) exchanges or swaps, including transactions covered by Section 1031 of the Code (or any comparable provision of any foreign jurisdiction), of assets so long as any such exchange or swap is made for fair value (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith) for like assets; provided, that upon the consummation of any such exchange or swap by any Note Party, to the extent the assets received do not constitute an Excluded Asset, the Collateral Agent has a perfected Lien with the same priority as the Lien held on the Real Estate Assets so exchanged or swapped;

(p) (i) non-exclusive licensing, sublicensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology, intellectual property or IP Rights of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and in respect of any Project Financing, and (ii) Dispositions, abandonments, cancellations or lapses of IP Rights, or any issuances or registrations, or applications for issuances or registrations, of any IP Rights, which, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries, or are no longer economical to maintain in light of their use;

(q) Dispositions in connection with the termination or unwind of Derivative Transactions;

 

A-II-12


(r) Dispositions made to comply with any order of any Governmental Entity or any Applicable Law; (s) any merger, consolidation, Disposition or conveyance the purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize (i) any Subsidiary in another jurisdiction in the US and/or (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary in the US or any other jurisdiction; provided, that in the case of clause (ii), any Note Party shall continue to be a Note Party following such merger, consolidation, Disposition or conveyance;

(t) any sale of motor vehicles and information technology equipment purchased at the end of an operating lease and resold thereafter;

(u) [Reserved];

(v) [Reserved];

(w) Dispositions involving assets having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Issuer at the time of the relevant Disposition) of not more than $2,500,000 in any Fiscal Year, which, if not used in such Fiscal Year, shall be carried forward to succeeding Fiscal Years;

(x) Dispositions of assets in connection with the closing or sale of an office in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, which consist of leasehold interests in the premises of such office, the equipment and fixtures located at such premises and the books and records relating exclusively and directly to the operations of such office; provided, that as to each and all such sales and closings, such sale shall be on commercially reasonable prices and terms in a bona fide arm’s-length transaction;

(y) Dispositions in connection with Sale and Lease-Back Transactions; provided, that the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall not enter into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction unless the Required Noteholders shall have provided their prior written consent; and

(z) any other Disposition with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

It being understood and agreed (a) to the extent that any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 5, such Collateral shall be Disposed of free and clear of the Liens created by the Finance Documents, which Liens shall be automatically released upon the consummation of such Disposition; it being understood and agreed that the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties shall be authorized to take, and shall take any actions reasonably requested by the Issuer in order to effect the foregoing; provided that, in the case of a Disposition by a Note Party to another Note Party, the transferee Note Party shall, substantially concurrently with such release, cause the relevant assets Disposed to it to become part of its Collateral (other than to the extent such assets constitute Excluded Assets) and (b) any determination of fair market value of any asset other than Cash for purposes of this Section 5 shall be made by the Issuer in good faith at its election either (1) at the time of the execution of the definitive agreement governing such Disposition or (2) the date on which such Disposition is consummated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that, without the Required Noteholders’ prior written consent, this Section 5 shall not permit the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to consummate or make (a) an IP Separation Transaction (b) any Disposition of equipment at the Facility with a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000 or (c) any Disposition of any Spoke and/or any equipment within the Spokes with a fair market value in excess of $500,000.

 

A-II-13


6. Transactions with Affiliates. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease, exchange or other Disposition of property and the incurrence or Guarantees of Indebtedness) involving payments by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in excess of $1,000,000 with any of their respective Affiliates unless such transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that might be obtained at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith); provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

(a) any transaction between or among the Issuer and/or one or more Subsidiaries (or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) to the extent permitted or not restricted by this Note;

(b) transactions in existence on the Closing Date and any amendment, modification or extension thereof to the extent such amendment, modification or extension, taken as a whole, is not (i) materially adverse to the Noteholder or (ii) more disadvantageous in any material respect to the Noteholder than the relevant transaction in existence on the Closing Date;

(c) the Transactions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Closing Date) and the payment of Transaction Costs;

(d) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, members of the board of directors (or similar governing body), officers, employees, members of management, managers, members, shareholders, consultants and independent contractors of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(e) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses related to registration rights and customary indemnities provided to shareholders under any shareholder agreement;

(f) any intercompany loans made by the Issuer to any Subsidiary to the extent such loans are otherwise permitted hereunder;

(g) any transaction (or series of related transactions) in respect of which the Issuer delivers to the Collateral Agent a letter addressed to the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Issuer from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing stating that such transaction or transactions, as applicable, is or are (i) on terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer or the applicable Subsidiary than might be obtained at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate or (ii) fair from a financial point of view to the Issuer and/or its applicable Subsidiary;

(h) any transaction (or series of related transactions) approved by the majority of the disinterested directors (or members of any similar governing body) of the Issuer;

(i) (i) payments and/or distributions to Affiliates in respect of securities or Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary that is otherwise permitted to be issued or incurred hereunder, (ii) issuances of Capital Stock to Affiliates upon conversion of Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted to be issued or incurred hereunder and/or (iii) the issuance of warrants to Affiliates pursuant to the terms of Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted to be issued or incurred hereunder ; and/or

(j) any other transaction that the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

 

A-II-14


7. Conduct of Business. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any material line of business other than (a) the businesses engaged in by the Issuer or any Subsidiary on the Closing Date and similar, incidental, complementary, ancillary or related businesses and (b) such other lines of business with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent,

8. Amendments or Waivers of Organizational Documents. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any Note Guarantor to, amend or modify their respective Organizational Documents, in each case in a manner that is materially adverse to the Noteholder (in its capacity as such), taken as a whole, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Noteholders; provided that, for purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that the Issuer and/or any Note Guarantor may effect a change to its respective organizational form and/or consummate any other transaction that is permitted under Section 5.

9. Amendments of or Waivers with Respect to Restricted Debt. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Restricted Debt, in each case, if the effect of such amendment or modification, together with all other amendments or modifications made, is materially adverse to the interest of the Noteholder (in its capacity as such); provided that, for purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that the foregoing limitation shall not otherwise prohibit (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness or any other replacement, refinancing, amendment, supplement, modification, extension, renewal, restatement or refunding of any Restricted Debt, in each case, that is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Note in respect thereof or (y) in the case of any modification to the terms applicable to any Restricted Debt other than the subordination terms, any modification to the extent that such modified terms would have been permitted (or not prohibited) under Section 1 and Section 2 if such Restricted Debt was being newly incurred with such modified terms on the date of such modification.

10. Financial Covenant. Commencing with the last day of the first full fiscal month following the Closing Date, the Issuer will not permit the Liquidity of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, to be less than $10,000,000 on the last day of each fiscal month (such date being a “Liquidity Covenant Test Date”) (it being understood and agreed that Liquidity as of such day shall be calculated as 5:00pm on such day).

11. Issuances of Capital Stock. The Issuer shall not issue any Capital Stock to any current or former director, officer, employee, member of management, manager or consultant of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (or their respective Immediate Family Members) other than (x) in accordance with any long term incentive plan, management equity plan, stock option plan or any other similar employee benefit or incentive plan of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries, in each case in effect as of the Closing Date or (y) with the prior written consent of the Required Noteholders.

12. Capital Expenditures. The Issuer shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries, to make Capital Expenditures in an amount that exceeds $2,000,000 in any transaction or series of related transactions other than (a) in accordance with the applicable cash flow report or annual operating budget, as applicable at the time of such Capital Expenditure, delivered to the Noteholder pursuant to Section 1(d) of Annex A-1 or (b) with respect to which the Required Noteholders shall have provided prior written consent.

 

A-II-15


13. Dividend and Other Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. Except as provided herein or in any other Transaction Document and/or agreement with respect to any refinancing, renewal or replacement of such Indebtedness that is permitted by Section 1, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create or otherwise cause to become effective any consensual restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party (x) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Note Party on account of its Capital Stock or (y) create, permit or grant a Lien on any of its properties or assets to secure the Obligations (after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC and/or any other Applicable Law), except restrictions:

(a) set forth in any contractual arrangement in effect on the Closing Date;

(b) set forth in any Transaction Document;

(c) arising in respect of purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Leases that impose restrictions of the type described in clause (y) above on the property so acquired or leased;

(d) arising under or as a result of Applicable Law or the terms of any license, authorization, concession or permit;

(e) set forth in any agreement governing (i) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party permitted by Section 1, (ii) Indebtedness permitted by Section 1 that is secured by a Permitted Lien if the relevant restriction applies only to the Person obligated under such Indebtedness and its Subsidiaries or the assets intended to secure such Indebtedness and (iii) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clauses (k), (m) (as it relates to Indebtedness in respect of clauses (a), (k), (p) and/or (q) of Section 1) and/or (q) of Section 1;

(f) arising under customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers (including the granting of any Lien) contained in leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses, and other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(g) that are or were created by virtue of any Lien granted upon, transfer of, agreement to transfer or grant of, any option or right with respect to any assets or Capital Stock not otherwise prohibited under this Note;

(h) any agreement or other instrument of a Person, or relating to Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person, which Person is acquired by or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Subsidiary, or any other transaction entered into in connection with any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Issuer or any Subsidiary or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person (but, in each case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(i) set forth in any agreement for any Disposition of any Subsidiary (or all or substantially all of the assets thereof) that restricts the payment of dividends or other distributions or the making of cash loans or advances by such Subsidiary pending such Disposition;

(j) set forth in provisions in agreements or instruments which prohibit the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions with respect to any class of Capital Stock of a Person other than on a pro rata basis;

(k) imposed by customary provisions in partnership agreements, limited liability company organizational governance documents and other similar agreements; (l) on Cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits under contracts or customary net worth or similar provisions imposed by any Person under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of business for whose benefit such Cash, other deposits or net worth or similar restrictions exist;

 

A-II-16


(m) set forth in documents relating to any Project Financing, including any Project Loan Documentation;

(n) arising pursuant to an agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred after the Closing Date if the relevant restrictions, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Noteholder than the restrictions contained in this Note, taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Issuer);

(o) arising in any agreement or arrangement relating to any Banking Services and/or any other obligation of the type permitted under Section 1(e);

(p) relating to any asset (or all of the assets) of and/or the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary which is imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with any Disposition of such asset (or assets) and/or all or a portion of the Capital Stock of the relevant Person that is permitted or not restricted by this Note or that would result in the occurrence of the Reference Date;

(q) set forth in any agreement relating to any Permitted Lien that limits the right of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to Dispose of or encumber the assets subject thereto;

(r) customary subordination and/or subrogation provisions set forth in guaranty or similar documentation (not relating to Indebtedness for borrowed money) that is entered into in the ordinary course of business; and/or

(s) imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of any contract, instrument or obligation referred to in clauses (a) through (o) above; provided that such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing is, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 13, the priority of any Disqualified Capital Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock.

 

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ANNEX A-3

OTHER COVENANTS

From the Closing Date until the Reference Date, the Issuer hereby covenants and agrees with the Noteholder that:

 

1.

Covenant to Pay. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid all the Principal of, the Redemption Price for, Interest on, and other amounts due with respect to, this Note on the dates and in the manner set forth in this Note.

 

2.

Corporate Existence. Subject to Section 8 of the Note, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done, at its own cost and expense, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence in accordance with the organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer.

 

3.

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. To the extent that it may lawfully do so, the Issuer (i) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Note; and (ii) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Noteholder by this Note, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

4.

Payment of Taxes. The Issuer shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon it or its properties except (i) where the failure to effect such payment or discharge is not adverse in any material respect to the Noteholder or (ii) where such taxes are being contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings and with respect to which appropriate reserves have been taken in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

 

5.

Further Covenants. The Issuer shall comply with those covenants as set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

A-III-1

EX-4.2 3 d797686dex42.htm EX-4.2 EX-4.2

EXHIBIT 4.2

NOTE GUARANTY

THIS NOTE GUARANTY (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Note Guaranty”) is entered into as of March 25, 2024, by and among Subsidiaries of the Issuer (as defined in the Note) from time to time party hereto as Note Guarantors (as defined in the Note) from time to time party hereto, and Glencore Canada Corporation, having an office at 100, King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3, Canada with company number 1947729, as Collateral Agent.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Reference is hereby made to that certain (i) Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Issuer, Glencore Parent, the Purchaser, and the Collateral Agent, among others, and (ii) Senior Secured Convertible Note issued by the Issuer to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, on the date hereof pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “Note”).

The Note Guarantors are entering into this Note Guaranty in order to induce the Collateral Agent to enter into the Note Purchase Agreement and purchase the Note and to guarantee the Obligations (as defined in the Note).

Each Note Guarantor will obtain benefits from the sale and issuance of the Note by the Issuer and the purchase thereof by the Collateral Agent.

ACCORDINGLY, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01 Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used in this Note Guaranty, in addition to the terms defined in the preamble and Preliminary Statement above, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Accommodation Payments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(a).

“Article” means a numbered article of this Note Guaranty, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning given to such term in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Electronic Signature” means any electronic symbol or process attached to, or associated with, any contract or other record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

“Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Note Guaranty, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.


“Guarantor Percentage” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(a).

“Issuer” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

“Maximum Liability” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(b).

“Non-Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(a).

“Note” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement.

“Note Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

“Note Guaranty” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

“Note Purchase Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement.

“Obligated Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.02.

“Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(a).

“Section” means a numbered section of this Note Guaranty, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“UFCA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(b).

“UFTA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(b).

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

SECTION 1.02 Terms Defined in the Note. All capitalized terms used in this Note Guaranty and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note or the Note Purchase Agreement, as applicable. The terms of Section 17 of the Note shall apply to this Note Guaranty, mutatis mutandis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the terms hereof shall be subject in all respects to the Agreed Security Principles. To the extent that the jurisdiction of organization of any Note Guarantor that becomes a party to this Note Guaranty pursuant to Section 3.04 requires the insertion of any additional provision in this Note Guaranty, any new defined term referenced therein will be deemed to be automatically incorporated by reference into this Section 1.02.

ARTICLE 2

NOTE GUARANTY

SECTION 2.01 Guaranty. Except as otherwise provided for herein (including under Section 3.14), each Note Guarantor hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, and absolutely and unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Collateral Agent (for the set-off of the Secured Parties), the full and prompt payment, when and as the same become due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Obligations, including amounts that would become due but for the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §362(a), together with any and all expenses which may be incurred by the Collateral Agent and other Secured Parties in collecting any of the Obligations that are reimbursable in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Note Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Note Guarantor further agrees that all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations may be increased, extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal.

 

2


In addition, if any or all of the Guaranteed Obligations become due and payable hereunder, each Note Guarantor, unconditionally and irrevocably, promises to pay such Guaranteed Obligations to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, on demand. Each Note Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the payment of any and all of the Guaranteed Obligations whether or not due or payable by the Issuer upon the occurrence of any of Bankruptcy Event of Default of the Note and thereafter irrevocably and unconditionally promises to pay such Guaranteed Obligations to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties. This Note Guaranty is a continuing one and shall remain in full force and effect until the Reference Date (or, with respect to any Note Guarantor, until the release of such Note Guarantor from its obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 3.14 hereof), and all liabilities to which it applies or may apply under the terms hereof shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance hereon.

SECTION 2.02 Guaranty of Payment. This Note Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Note Guarantor waives any right to require the Collateral Agent to sue the Issuer, any Note Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (the Issuer, each Note Guarantor, each other guarantor or such other Person, an “Obligated Party”), or otherwise to enforce its rights in respect of any Collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Collateral Agent may enforce this Note Guaranty in accordance with the express provisions of the Note.

SECTION 2.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Note Guaranty.

(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein (including under Section 3.14), the obligations of each Note Guarantor hereunder are unconditional, irrevocable and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Obligated Party; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any other Obligated Party, or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other right which any Note Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, the Collateral Agent, the Noteholder or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transaction; (v) any direction as to application of payments by the Issuer or by any other party; (vi) any other continuing or other guaranty, undertaking or maximum liability of a guarantor or of any other party as to the Guaranteed Obligations; (vii) any payment on or in reduction of any such other guaranty or undertaking; (viii) any dissolution, termination or increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Issuer or (ix) any payment made to any Secured Party on the Guaranteed Obligations which the such Secured Party repays to the Issuer pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and each Note Guarantor waives any right to the deferral or modification of its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

(b) Except for termination of such Note Guarantor’s obligations hereunder or as expressly permitted by Section 3.14, the obligations of each Note Guarantor hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any Applicable Law purporting to prohibit payment by any Obligated Party, of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.

 

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(c) Further, the obligations of any Note Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to (x) any applicable limitation under Applicable Law set forth in Section 2.12 and/or Section 2.13, which agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall, if required by such Applicable Law, remain unchanged unless the relevant affected Note Guarantor otherwise provides its express consent in writing and (y) to the extent required by Applicable Law, the procurement of appropriate consents by the applicable governing body of such Note Guarantor and the taking of any other necessary corporate or similar organizational action); (iii) any release, non-perfection, or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other guarantor of or other Person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Collateral Agent with respect to any Collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Note Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Note Guarantor as a matter of law or equity, in each case other than as set forth in Section 3.14.

SECTION 2.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, and except for termination of a Note Guarantor’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise provided for herein (including under Section 3.14), each Note Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Issuer or any other Note Guarantor or arising out of the disability of the Issuer or any other Note Guarantor or any other party or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Issuer or any other Note Guarantor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Note Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any notice not provided for herein or in any other Finance Document, including any notice of nonperformance, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, notice of acceptance of this Note Guaranty, and any notice of the existence, creation or incurrence of new or additional Guaranteed Obligations, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Obligated Party, or any other Person, including any right (except as may be required by Applicable Law and to the extent the relevant requirement cannot be waived) to require the Collateral Agent to (i) proceed against the Issuer, any other guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any Lien from the Issuer, any other relevant Note Guarantor or any other party or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Collateral Agent’s power whatsoever. The Collateral Agent may, at its election and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Finance Documents, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law), accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any Collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, and the Collateral Agent may, at its election, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Obligated Party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Note Guarantor under this Note Guaranty, except as otherwise provided in Section 3.14. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Note Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election may operate, pursuant to Applicable Law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Note Guarantor against any Obligated Party or any security.

SECTION 2.05 Authorization. Each Note Guarantor authorizes the Collateral Agent without notice or demand (except as may be required by Applicable Law and to the extent the relevant requirement cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder (except as set forth in Section 3.14), from time to time, subject to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of the referenced Finance Documents, to:

 

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(a) change the manner, place or terms of payment of, and/or change or extend the time of payment of, renew, increase, accelerate or alter, any of the Guaranteed Obligations (including any increase or decrease in the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest or fees thereon), any Lien therefor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof, and this Note Guaranty shall apply to the Guaranteed Obligations as so changed, extended, renewed or altered (but in any event subject to (x) any applicable limitation under Applicable Law set forth in Section 2.12 and/or Section 2.13, which agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall, if required by such Applicable Law, remain unchanged unless the relevant affected Note Guarantor otherwise provides its express consent in writing and (y) to the extent required by Applicable Law, the procurement of appropriate consents by the applicable governing body of such Note Guarantor and the taking of any other necessary corporate or similar organizational action;

(b) take and hold any Lien for the payment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations and sell, exchange, release, impair, surrender, realize upon or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property by whomsoever at any time pledged or mortgaged to secure, or howsoever securing, all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any liabilities (including any of those hereunder) incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and/or any offset there against;

(c) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Issuer, any other Note Party or others or otherwise act or refrain from acting;

(d) release or substitute any endorser, any guarantor, the Issuer, any other Note Party and/or any other obligor;

(e) settle or compromise any of the Guaranteed Obligations, any Lien therefor or any liability (including any of those hereunder) incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and/or subordinate the payment of all or any part thereof to the payment of any liability (whether due or not) of the Issuer to its creditors other than the Secured Parties;

(f) apply any sum by whomsoever paid or howsoever realized to any liability or liabilities of the Issuer to the Secured Parties regardless of what liability or liabilities of the Issuer remain unpaid;

(g) consent to or waive any breach of, or any act, omission or default under, this Note Guaranty, the Note, any other Finance Document, or any of the instruments or agreements referred to herein or therein, or otherwise amend, modify or supplement this Note Guaranty, the Note, any other Finance Document, or any of such other instruments or agreements; and/or

(h) take any other action which would, under otherwise applicable principles of common law, give rise to a legal or equitable discharge of the Note Guarantors from their respective liabilities under this Note Guaranty.

SECTION 2.06 Rights of Subrogation. No Note Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including any claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any Note Party in respect of this Note Guaranty until the occurrence of the Reference Date (or the release of such Note Guarantor from its obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 3.14 hereof); provided that if any amount is paid to such Note Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time prior to the Reference Date (or such date on which such Note Guarantor is released from its obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 3.14 hereof), then unless such Note Guarantor has already discharged its liabilities under this Note Guaranty in an amount equal to such Note Guarantor’s Maximum Liability as of such date, such amount shall be held by the recipient Note Guarantor in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and shall forthwith be paid by the recipient Note Guarantor to the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with Section9(e) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

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SECTION 2.07 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, each Note Guarantor’s obligations under this Note Guaranty with respect to such payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the other Note Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 2.08 Information. Each Note Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Issuer’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Note Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Note Guaranty, and agrees that neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any duty to advise any Note Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

SECTION 2.09 Contribution; Subordination; Maximum Liability.

(a) In the event that any Note Guarantor (a “Paying Guarantor”) makes any payment or payments under this Note Guaranty or suffers any loss as a result of any realization upon any Collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Note Guaranty (each such payment or loss, an “Accommodation Payment”), each other Note Guarantor (each a “Non-Paying Guarantor”) shall contribute to such Paying Guarantor an amount equal to such Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Guarantor Percentage” of such Accommodation Payment by such Paying Guarantor. For purposes of this Article 2, each Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Guarantor Percentage” with respect to any Accommodation Payment by a Paying Guarantor shall be determined as of the date on which such Accommodation Payment was made by reference to the ratio of (a) such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability (as defined below) as of such date to (b) the aggregate Maximum Liability of all Note Guarantors hereunder (including such Paying Guarantor) as of such date.

(b) As of any date of determination the “Maximum Liability” of each Note Guarantor:

(i) that is a U.S. Note Party shall be equal to the maximum amount of liability which could be asserted against such Note Guarantor hereunder and under the Note without (i) rendering such Note Guarantor “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (“UFTA”) or Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act (“UFCA”), (ii) leaving such Note Guarantor with unreasonably small capital or assets, within the meaning of Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 4 of the UFTA or Section 5 of the UFCA, or (iii) leaving such Note Guarantor unable to pay its debts as they become due within the meaning of Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 4 of the UFTA or Section 5 of the UFCA;

(ii) that is a Swiss Note Guarantor (as defined in Section 2.12(a) below) shall be determined as provided for in section 2.12(a) below; and

(iii) that is a German Note Guarantor (as defined in Section 2.12(b) below) shall be determined as provided for in section 2.12(b) below.

(c) Nothing in this provision shall affect any Note Guarantor’s several liability for the entire amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Note Guarantor’s Maximum Liability). Each of the Note Guarantors covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Note Guaranty from a Non-Paying Guarantor shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the Obligations until the Reference Date (or until the date on which such Note Guarantor is released from its obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 3.14 hereof).

 

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If, prior to the Reference Date, any such contribution payment is received by a Paying Guarantor at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such contribution payment shall be collected, enforced and received by such Note Guarantor as trustee for the Collateral Agent and be paid over to the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) on account of the Obligations, but without affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of such Note Guarantor under the other provisions of this Note Guaranty. This provision is for the benefit of the Collateral Agent.

(d) It is the desire and intent of the Note Guarantors and the Collateral Agent that this Note Guaranty shall be permitted to be enforced against the Note Guarantors to the fullest extent permissible under the Applicable Law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. The provisions of this Note Guaranty are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, Federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Applicable Law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Note Guarantor under this Note Guaranty would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Note Guarantor’s liability under this Note Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Note Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Note Guarantors or the Collateral Agent, be automatically limited and reduced to such Note Guarantor’s Maximum Liability. Each Note Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of such Note Guarantor without impairing this Note Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder; provided that nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Note Guarantor’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.

SECTION 2.10 Representations and Warranties. As, when and to the extent required in accordance with the terms of the Note, each Note Guarantor hereby makes each applicable representation and warranty made in the Finance Documents and Note Purchase Agreement by the Issuer with respect to such Note Guarantor and each Note Guarantor hereby further acknowledges and agrees that such Note Guarantor has, independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Note Guaranty and each other Finance Document to which it is or is to be a party, and such Note Guarantor has established adequate means of obtaining from each other Note Guarantor on a continuing basis information pertaining to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties and prospects of each other Note Guarantor.

SECTION 2.11 Covenants. Each Note Guarantor covenants and agrees that, until the Reference Date, such Note Guarantor will perform and observe all of the applicable terms, covenants and agreements set forth in the Transaction Documents that the Issuer has agreed to cause such Note Guarantor to perform or observe. Until the Reference Date, no Note Guarantor shall, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent or the Required Noteholders, commence or join with any other Person in commencing any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency case or proceeding against the Issuer or any Note Guarantor (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that nothing in this Section 2.11 shall prohibit any Note Guarantor from commencing or joining with the Issuer or Note Guarantor as a co-debtor in any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency case or proceeding).

SECTION 2.12 Local Law Guaranty Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note Guaranty or in any other Finance Document, it is acknowledged and agreed that the liability of each Note Guarantor that is not a U.S. Note Party shall be limited as follows:

(a) Swiss Note Guarantor Guaranty Limitations.

 

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(i) If and to the extent that a Note Guarantor organized under the laws of Switzerland (a “Swiss Note Guarantor”) becomes liable under this Note Guaranty or any other Finance Document for obligations of its Affiliates (as defined in the Note) which are not its wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiaries and if this would constitute a repayment of capital (Einlagerückgewähr), a violation of the legally protected reserves (gesetzlich geschützte Reserven) or the payment of a (constructive) dividend (Gewinnausschüttung) by such Swiss Note Guarantor or if the incurrence or payment of such liability would otherwise be restricted under then applicable Swiss law (the “Restricted Obligations”), the aggregate liability of such Swiss Note Guarantor for Restricted Obligations shall be limited to the amount of freely disposable equity (frei verwendbares Eigenkapital) (including, without limitation, any statutory reserves which can be transferred into unrestricted distributable reserves) of such Swiss Note Guarantor at the time of enforcement, as determined in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss accounting principles (the “Swiss Maximum Amount”), provided that this is a requirement under then applicable mandatory Swiss law and it is understood that such limitation shall not free such Swiss Note Guarantor from its obligations in excess of the Swiss Maximum Amount, but that it shall merely postpone the performance date of those obligations until such time or times as performance is again permitted.

(ii) Promptly after having been requested to perform the Restricted Obligations under this Note Guaranty or any other Finance Document (but in any event within not more than 60 Business Days after the relevant request having been made), the Swiss Note Guarantor shall (and with respect to sub-paragraph (y)(c) below, each Note Party shall) (x) perform any obligations which are not affected by the above limitations, and (y) if and to the extent required by Applicable Law applicable to such Swiss Note Guarantor or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent:

(A) provide the Collateral Agent with an interim balance sheet audited by the statutory auditors of the Swiss Note Guarantor setting out the Swiss Maximum Amount;

(B) convert restricted reserves into reserves freely available for distribution as dividends (to the extent permitted by mandatory Swiss law); and

(C) take any further corporate and other action as may be required by law (such as board and shareholders’ approvals and the receipt of any confirmations from the Swiss Note Guarantor’s statutory auditors) and other measures reasonably necessary to allow the Swiss Note Guarantor to make the payments agreed under this Note Guaranty or any other Finance Document with a minimum of limitations and, promptly thereafter, pay up to the Swiss Maximum Amount to the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties).

(iii) If the enforcement of Restricted Obligations would be limited due to the effects referred to in this Section 2.12, then each Note Party and the relevant Swiss Note Guarantor shall (x) to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, revalue and/or realize any of such Swiss Note Guarantor’s assets that are shown on its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of such assets, in case of realisation, however, only if such assets are not necessary for the Swiss Note Guarantor’s business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) and (y) reduce the Swiss Note Guarantor’s share/quota capital to the minimum allowed under then Applicable Law.

(b) German Note Guarantor Guaranty Limitations.

(i) The right to demand payment under this Note Guaranty and to enforce the Note Guaranty against a Note Guarantor incorporated in Germany as a private limited company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) (a “German Note Guarantor”), to the extent the Note Guaranty relates to obligations of a direct or indirect shareholder of the German Note Guarantor or Subsidiaries of such shareholders (except where such entity is, at the same time, a Subsidiary of the German Note Guarantor), shall be limited to the amount which may be paid by it or enforced against it without causing a Capital Impairment as determined by application of the following paragraphs (“German Maximum Amount”):

 

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(1) A “Capital Impairment” occurs if the payment or enforcement causes (A) the German Note Guarantor’s net assets to be (determined in accordance with the provisions of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch, “HGB”) consistently applied by the German Note Guarantor in preparing its unconsolidated balance sheets (Jahresabschluss) according to section 42 of the German Limited Liabilities Companies Act (Gesetz betreffend die Gesellschaften mit beschränkter Haftung, “GmbHG”) and in accordance with sections 30, 31 GmbHG (as applicable at the time of enforcement) and by only taking into account the sum of the values of the assets of the German Note Guarantor which correspond to those items listed in section 266 subsection (2) A, B, C, D and E HGB less the German Note Guarantor’s liabilities, consisting of all liabilities and liability reserves which correspond to those items listed in accordance with section 266 subsection (3) B (but disregarding, for the avoidance of doubt, any provisions (Rückstellungen) in respect of this Note Guaranty), C, D and E HGB and any amounts not available for distribution according to section 253 paragraph 6 or section 268 subsection (8) HGB but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any liabilities under or relating to the Guaranteed Obligations) and in each case subject to the adjustments under in sub-paragraph (2) below (the “Net Assets”) to be less than its registered share capital (Stammkapital) (Begründung einer Unterbilanz); or (B) if the German Note Guarantor’s Net Assets are already less than its registered share capital, the German Note Guarantor’s Net Assets to be further reduced (Vertiefung einer Unterbilanz).

(2) For the purposes of calculating the Net Assets, the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows: (A) the amount of any increase of the stated share capital (Stammkapital) of the German Note Guarantor registered after the date of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent shall not be taken into account; (B) any funds received by the Issuer under the Notes Purchase Agreement which have been or are on-lent or otherwise passed on to the relevant German Note Guarantor or to any subsidiary of such German Note Guarantor and have not yet been repaid at the time when payment of a Guaranteed Obligation is demanded, shall be disregarded as assets; (C) loans provided to the German Note Guarantor by the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer which are subordinated by law or by contract shall be disregarded as liabilities; and (D) any loans or other liabilities of the German Note Guarantor incurred in violation of any of the provisions of the Finance Documents shall be disregarded as liabilities.

(ii) The limitation of the Note Guaranty of the German Note Guarantor to the German Maximum Amount shall only apply if and to the extent that the managing director(s) (Geschäftsführer) of the relevant German Note Guarantor on behalf of relevant German Note Guarantor have confirmed in writing to the Collateral Agent within 10 (ten) Business Days following the Collateral Agent’s demand under the Note Guaranty to what extent the demanded payment would lead to the occurrence of a Capital Impairment (the “Management Determination”). Such confirmation shall comprise an up-to-date balance sheet of the German Note Guarantor and a detailed calculation of the amount of the Net Assets and share capital (taking into account the adjustments set out in sub-paragraph (2) above) of the German Note Guarantor. The relevant German Note Guarantor shall fulfil its obligations under the Note Guaranty within 3 (three) Business Days of providing the Management Determination (and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to enforce the Note Guaranty) in an amount which pursuant to the Management Determination would not cause a Capital Impairment (irrespective of whether or not the Collateral Agent agrees with the Management Determination).

 

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(iii) If the Collateral Agent, acting reasonably, disagrees with the Management Determination, the German Note Guarantor shall, in consultation with the Collateral Agent, instruct (at its own cost and expense) a firm of auditors of international standing and reputation to draw-up within 20 (twenty) Business Days (or such longer period as has been agreed between the German Note Guarantor and the Collateral Agent) from the date the Collateral Agent has contested the Management Determination an up-to-date balance sheet of the German Note Guarantor together with a detailed calculation of the amount of the Net Assets and share capital and to what extent the demanded payment would lead to the occurrence of a Capital Impairment (the “Auditor’s Determination”). The amounts determined in the Auditor’s Determination shall be (except for manifest error) binding for all Parties. The German Note Guarantor shall fulfil its obligations under the Guarantee within 3 (three) Business Days of providing the Auditor’s Determination (and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to enforce the Note Guaranty) in an amount which pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination would not cause a Capital Impairment.

(iv) If and to the extent that the Note Guaranty has been enforced without regard to the German Maximum Amount because the amount payable under the Note Guaranty resulting from the Auditor’s Determination is lower than the respective amount resulting from the Management Determination, the Collateral Agent shall upon demand of the relevant German Note Guarantor repay the difference between the amount paid and the amount payable resulting from the Auditor’s Determination calculated as of the date the demand under the Note Guaranty was made.

(v) The limitation of the Note Guaranty of the German Note Guarantor to the German Maximum Amount does not apply (A) if the German Note Guarantor does not provide the Management Determination within the time frame set out above; (B) to any amounts which correspond to funds that have been received by the Issuer under the Notes Purchase Agreement and have been on-lent to, or otherwise been passed on to, the relevant German Note Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent that any such on-lent or passed-on amount is still outstanding at the date demand under the Note Guaranty is made; (C) to any amounts payable under the Note Guaranty if and as long as the German Note Guarantor is subject to a domination and/or profit and loss transfer agreement (either directly or through a chain of such agreements) pursuant to Section 291 AktG on the date of the enforcement of the Note Guaranty as dominated company with the Issuer or the relevant other Note Guarantor whose obligations are secured by the Note Guaranty of the German Note Guarantor (and which shall be enforced against the German Note Guarantor) as dominating company; (D) if and to the extent the German Note Guarantor holds a fully recoverable loss compensation claim (vollwertiger Gegenleistungs- oder Rückgewähranspruch) against the Issuer or the relevant other Note Guarantor whose obligations are secured by the Note Guaranty of the German Note Guarantor (and which shall be enforced against the German Note Guarantor) that can be accounted for in the balance sheet as full value; (E) if the German Note Guarantor is insolvent; or (F) if and to the extent (based on changes in law or based on a decision of the Federal Supreme Court (BGH)) the enforcement of the Note Guaranty granted by any German Note Guarantor under this Agreement does not result in a personal liability of the managing directors (Geschäftsführer) of the German Note Guarantor including pursuant to section 43 GmbHG, each as amended, supplemented and/or replaced from time to time.

(vi) If the Management Determination shows that a Capital Impairment would occur upon payment under the Note Guaranty, the relevant German Note Guarantor shall realise all of its assets that are shown in the balance sheet with a book value (Buchwert) that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets to the extent this is necessary to fulfil its obligations under the Note Guaranty. If the relevant assets are necessary for the business of that German Note Guarantor (betriebsnotwendig), it will use its best efforts to realize the higher market value (including by sale and lease-back or similar measures).

(vii) Sections 2.09(b)(iii) and this section 2.12(b) shall apply mutatis mutandis if the Note Guaranty is granted by a German Note Guarantor incorporated as a limited liability partnership (KG) in relation to each general partner (Komplementär) incorporated as a limited liability company (GmbH) or the Guarantee is granted by a German Note Guarantor incorporated as a partnership (OHG) in relation to each partner incorporated as a limited liability company (GmbH).

 

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SECTION 2.13 Additional Foreign Guarantor Limitations/Waivers. To the extent that the jurisdiction of organization of any Note Guarantor that becomes a party to this Note Guaranty pursuant to Section 3.04 requires the inclusion of any additional local law provisions and limitations with respect to such new Note Guarantor’s Guaranteed Obligations, such provisions, set out in the Subsidiary Joinder Agreement (if any), shall be deemed to be automatically incorporated by reference into this Section 2.13.

SECTION 2.14 Taxes. Subject to section 15 of the Note Purchase Agreement, each Note Guarantor shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any applicable taxes or similar charges (including without limitation interest, penalties or similar amounts in respect thereof) imposed or levied pursuant to applicable local, foreign, or domestic laws, from any payment to be made on or in connection with this Note Guaranty or the Note. Provided that the Note Guarantor remits such withheld amount to the relevant government authority or agency pursuant to applicable local, foreign, or domestic laws and files all required forms in respect thereof and, at the same time, provides copies of such remittance and filing to the Collateral Agent, the amount of any such deduction or withholding will be considered an amount paid in satisfaction of the Note Guarantor’s obligations under this Note Guaranty.

ARTICLE 3

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 3.01 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Note Guarantor under this Note Guaranty is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of such Note Guarantor to the applicable Secured Parties under the Note and the other Finance Documents to which such Note Guarantor is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Note Guarantors, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

SECTION 3.02 No Waiver; Amendments. No delay or omission of the Collateral Agent in exercising any right or remedy granted under this Note Guaranty shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Note Guaranty whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Note Guarantors and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 13 of the Note and then only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.

SECTION 3.03 Severability of Provisions. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any provision of this Note Guaranty that is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Note Guaranty; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 3.04 Additional Subsidiaries. Subsidiaries of the Issuer may be required to enter into this Note Guaranty as Note Guarantors pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of Annex A-1 of the Note. Upon execution and delivery by any such Subsidiary of a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement, such Subsidiary shall become a Note Guarantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Note Guarantor herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Note Guarantor hereunder or any other Person. The rights and obligations of each Note Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Note Guarantor as a party to this Note Guaranty.

 

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SECTION 3.05 Headings. The titles of and section headings in this Note Guaranty are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Note Guaranty.

SECTION 3.06 Entire Agreement. This Note Guaranty and the other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 3.07 CHOICE OF LAW. THIS NOTE GUARANTY AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE GUARANTY, WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT (AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) OR OTHERWISE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 3.08 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.

(a) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (OR ANY APPELLATE COURT THEREFROM) OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE GUARANTY AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL (EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BELOW) BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY REGISTERED MAIL ADDRESSED TO SUCH PERSON SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST SUCH PERSON FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

(b) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE GUARANTY AND BROUGHT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (a) OF THIS SECTION. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY CLAIM OR DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND AGREES THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL) DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES PROVIDED IN SECTION 21(a) OF THE NOTE. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED HEREUNDER THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS INVALID AND INEFFECTIVE. NOTHING IN THIS NOTE GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS NOTE GUARANTY TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

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SECTION 3.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS NOTE GUARANTY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 3.10 Counterparts. This Note Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Note Guaranty by facsimile or by email as a “.pdf” or “.tif” attachment shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Note Guaranty. It is understood and agreed that, subject to any Applicable Law, the words “execution”, “signed”, “signature”, “delivery” and words of like import in or relating to this Note Guaranty shall be deemed to include any Electronic Signature, delivery or the keeping of any record in electronic form, each of which shall have the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

SECTION 3.11 INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT GOVERNS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE GUARANTEE OF THE GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS GRANTED TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SECURED PARTIES, PURSUANT TO THIS NOTE GUARANTY AND THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY BY THE COLLATERAL AGENT ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF THE RELEVANT INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THIS NOTE GUARANTY, THE PROVISIONS OF THE RELEVANT INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL.

SECTION 3.12 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Note Guaranty any party hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Note Guarantor or the Collateral Agent that are contained in this Note Guaranty shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except in a transaction permitted (or not restricted) under the Note, no Note Guarantor may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 3.13 Survival of Agreement. Without limitation of any provision of the Note, all covenants, agreements, indemnities, representations and warranties made by the Note Guarantors in the Finance Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Note Guaranty or any other Finance Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Purchaser and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the purchase of the Note, regardless of any investigation made by the Collateral Agent or the Purchaser may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended under the Note, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Reference Date, or with respect to any individual Note Guarantor until such Note Guarantor is otherwise released from its obligations under this Note Guaranty in accordance with Section 3.14.

 

13


SECTION 3.14 Release of Note Guarantors. A Note Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and its Note Guaranty shall be automatically released in the circumstances described in Section 10 of the Note Purchase Agreement. In connection with any such release, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to any Note Guarantor, at such Note Guarantor’s expense, all documents that such Note Guarantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to the preceding sentence of this Section 3.14 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent (other than as to the Collateral Agent’s authority to execute and deliver such documents).

SECTION 3.15 Payments. All payments made by any Note Guarantor hereunder will be made without setoff, counterclaim or other defense and on the same basis as payments are made by the Issuer under Sections 21(e) of the Note.

SECTION 3.16 Notice, Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or email, as follows:

(a) if to any Note Guarantor, addressed to it in care of the Issuer at its address specified in Section 21(a) of the Note; or

(b) if to the Collateral Agent, at its address specified in Section 21(a) of the Note.

SECTION 3.17 Parallel Debt. Section 11(a)(ii) of the Note Purchase Agreement is incorporated herein by reference and shall be deemed to be part of this Note Guaranty. The terms thereof shall constitute valid and binding agreements of each Note Guarantor, enforceable against each Note Guarantor in accordance with the terms under Section 11(a)(ii) of the Note Purchase Agreement. Each Note Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent, as creditor in its own right and not as representative of any other Secured Parties, the Parallel Debt in relation to its Corresponding Debt.

SECTION 3.18 Judgment Currency. If, for purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange which shall be applied shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures of the Collateral Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding the day on which the final judgment is rendered. Each Note Guarantor shall make payment relative to any Guaranteed Obligations in the currency (the “Agreement Currency”) in which such Note Guarantor is required to pay the related Guaranteed Obligations. If a Note Guarantor makes payment relative to its obligations hereunder in a currency (the “Other Currency”) other than the Agreement Currency (whether voluntarily or pursuant to an order or judgement of a court or tribunal of any jurisdiction), such payment shall constitute a discharge of the liabilities of such Note Guarantor only to the extent that on the Business Day following the receipt by the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) of any sum so due hereunder, the Collateral Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Other Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) from such Note Guarantor in the Agreement Currency, such Note Guarantor agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any judgment, agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Collateral Agent in such currency, the Collateral Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the applicable Note Guarantor (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).

 

14


SECTION 3.19 Interest Act (Canada). Each Note Guarantor acknowledges that for the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) the annual rate of interest payable by it will be determined in accordance with Section 2(c) of the Note.

SECTION 3.20 Indemnity. Each Note Guarantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent and the other Indemnitees, as set forth in Section 8 of the Note Purchase Agreement.

SECTION 3.21 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Guarantors or the Secured Parties shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against each other or any Related Party (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) thereof, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Note Guaranty or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

15


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Note Guarantor and the Collateral Agent have executed this Note Guaranty as of the date first above written.

 

LI-CYCLE CORP., as a Note Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director
LI-CYCLE AMERICAS CORP., as a Note Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director
LI-CYCLE U.S. INC., as a Note Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director
LI-CYCLE INC., as a Note Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director
LI-CYCLE NORTH AMERICA HUB, INC., as a Note Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director

Signature Page to Note Guaranty


GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION, as Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

  Name: Adam Luckie
  Title: Authorised Signatory

Signature Page to Note Guaranty

EX-4.3 4 d797686dex43.htm EX-4.3 EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDED AND RESTATED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE MAY OCCUR ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION S, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE ARE FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN SECTION 15 HEREOF, AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY SHALL NOT SELL, ASSIGN OR TRANSFER THIS SECURITY TO ANY PERSON THAT IS NOT A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT AND ANY PURPORTED ASSIGNMENT TO SUCH A PERSON WILL BE NULL AND VOID AB INITIO AND UNENFORCEABLE AND THE ISSUER WILL NOT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO ANY SUCH PERSON (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, INTEREST OR OTHER AMOUNT AND TO ISSUE ANY SHARE OR OTHER SECURITY); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A SALE, ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER TO A PERMITTED INDEMNIFYING TRANSFEREE SHALL BE PERMITTED. A NOTEHOLDER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT THAT SUBSEQUENLTY CEASES TO BE A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE DEFINITION OF PERMITTED INDEMNIFYING TRANSFEREE.


LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

 

Amendment and Restatement Date:

March 25, 2024 (the “Issuance Date”)

  

Original Principal Amount:

$116,551,170.40

This Amended and Restated Convertible Note, dated as of the Issuance Date set forth above (this “Note”) amends, restates, consolidates and supersedes in its entirety that certain (i) convertible note, the “Original Convertible Note”) held by the Existing Holder (as defined below) and originally issued by the Issuer pursuant to that certain note purchase agreement, dated May 5, 2022 as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) between the Issuer and Glencore Canada Corporation, (ii) that certain note issued in respect of the then outstanding PIK Amount of $8,133,333.36 held by the Existing Holder and originally issued by the Issuer on November 30, 2022 pursuant to the terms of the Original Convertible Note and the Note Purchase Agreement (“PIK Note 1”) and (iii) that certain note issued in respect of the then outstanding PIK Amount of $8,417,837.04 held by the Existing Holder and originally issued by the Issuer on May 31, 2023 pursuant to the terms of the Original Convertible Note and the Note Purchase Agreement (“PIK Note 2”, and together with PIK Note 1, collectively, the “Original PIK Notes”), and from and after the Issuance Date, such Original Convertible Note and each of the Original PIK Notes shall be of no further force and effect.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Issuer”), hereby promises to pay to the order of Glencore Canada Corporation, having an office at 100, King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3, Canada with company number 1947729, or its permitted assigns (the “Noteholder”) the amount set forth above as the Original Principal Amount (as increased or reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to PIK Amounts, redemption, conversion or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Convertible Note, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate on each Interest Date until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or upon acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof).

This Note is deemed issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not pursuant to the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 28. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

1.

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL. On the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall pay to the Noteholder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, together with all accrued and unpaid Interest (if any) on such Principal on the Maturity Date.

 

2


2.

INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.

 

  (a)

Interest on this Note shall (i) commence accruing on the Issuance Date, (ii) be computed on the basis of actual number of days in a 360-day year, and (iii) be payable, at the election of the Issuer, in cash or in kind (in accordance with Section 2(b) below) on the Interest Date with respect to each Interest Period in accordance with the terms of this Note (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any period during which Interest ceases to accrue pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement)). All such Interest shall accrue at the Interest Rate. In the case of a conversion in accordance with Section 4, a redemption in accordance with Section 5 or any required payment upon a Change of Control Transaction or Event of Default, in each case, prior to the payment of Interest on an Interest Date, accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note as of the date of any such event shall be payable by way of inclusion of such Interest in the Conversion Amount, the Redemption Price or the Forced Redemption Price, as applicable, on the applicable date of conversion or Redemption Date.

 

  (b)

Subject to Applicable Law, at any time Interest is due and payable hereunder, such Interest shall be paid in cash, or, at the option of the Issuer with no less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice to the Noteholder, prior to the applicable Interest Date (such written notice, a “PIK Notice”), may be capitalized by adding such amounts to the aggregate outstanding principal balance of this Note then outstanding on the applicable Interest Date (each such capitalized amount, a “PIK Amount”). In the absence of a PIK Notice being delivered to the Noteholder at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Noteholder may reasonably agree) prior to the applicable Interest Date, Interest shall be paid in cash for the applicable Interest Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Interest must be paid in cash in the event and to the extent that the Issuer determines that shareholder approval would be required in order to issue the Common Shares upon conversion of the portion of the Principal attributable to any such PIK Amount.

 

  (c)

For purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), whenever any Interest under this Note is calculated using a rate based on a year of 360 days the rate determined pursuant to such calculation, when expressed as an annual rate, is equivalent to (i) the applicable rate based on a year of 360 days (ii) multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the period for which such Interest is payable (or compounded) ends, and (iii) divided by 360. The principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any Interest calculation under this Note and the rates of Interest stipulated in this Note are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

  (d)

If any provision of this Note or of any of the other Transaction Documents would obligate the Issuer to make any payment of Interest or any other amount payable to the Noteholder in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by Applicable Law or would result in a receipt by the Noteholder of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada))

 

3


  then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by Applicable Law or so result in a receipt by the Noteholder of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to the Noteholder under the applicable Transaction Document, and thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the Noteholder which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada).

 

3.

PAYMENTS FREE OF TAXES. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note shall be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any payment under this Note, then (i) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax and/or Other Tax, the amount payable by the Issuer shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3) the Noteholder receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (ii) the Issuer shall make such deductions and (iii) the Issuer shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with Applicable Law and file all required forms in respect thereof and, at the same time, provide copies of such remittance and filing to the Noteholder.

 

4.

CONVERSION OF NOTE. This Note shall be convertible, in whole or in part, into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4.

 

  (a)

Noteholder Conversion Right. The Noteholder shall be entitled at its option at any time (other than at such time as any conversion rights of the Noteholder shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement)), to convert all or a portion of the Conversion Amount into that number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares determined by dividing the Conversion Amount being so converted by the Conversion Price on the Conversion Date. To convert any Conversion Amount into Common Shares on any Trading Day (the date of such conversion, a “Conversion Date”), the Noteholder shall deliver, for receipt by no earlier than 4:00 p.m. New York time, and no later than 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Conversion Date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Noteholder Conversion Notice”) to the Issuer, which Noteholder Conversion Notice shall set forth (i) the Conversion Amount being so converted, the detailed calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest included in the Conversion Amount being so converted as of the Conversion Date, and (iii) the detailed calculation of the number of Common Shares required to be delivered in respect of such Noteholder Conversion Notice

 

4


  (b)

[Reserved].

 

  (c)

Mechanics of Conversion.

 

  (i)

Satisfaction of Conversion. Any conversion in accordance with this Section 4 shall be deemed satisfied upon delivery of the appropriate number of Common Shares to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after a Noteholder Conversion Notice is delivered. For greater certainty, the day that the Noteholder Conversion Notice is delivered does not count as a Trading Day. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Shares issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Shares on the Conversion Date.

 

  (ii)

Return of Note. Following a conversion of this Note in accordance with this Section 4, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after such conversion and at its own expense, surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)). If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion and the outstanding Principal is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Issuer shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Noteholder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not converted.

 

  (iii)

The Issuer shall not issue any fraction of a Common Share upon any conversion. If the conversion would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Common Share, the Issuer shall round such fraction of a Common Shares down to the nearest whole share.

 

  (d)

Market Regulation. The Issuer shall only issue Common Shares upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note to the extent the issuance of such Common Shares would not exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Issuer may issue without violating the rules or regulations of any Eligible Market on which the Common Shares are then listed (including without limitation Section 312.03(c) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Issuer (i) obtains the approval of its shareholders as required by the applicable rules of any Eligible Market on which the Common Shares are then listed for issuances of Common Shares in excess of such amount or (ii) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Issuer that such approval is not required. In the event that

 

5


  shareholder approval is required with respect to the issuance of Common Shares upon conversion of this Note (or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note) under the rules or regulations of any Eligible Market on which the Common Shares are then listed, as contemplated by clause (i) above, the Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain such approval. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer’s non-compliance with the limitations contained in this Section 4(d) shall not constitute an Event of Default or breach of this Note by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall not have any liability under this Note resulting therefrom.

 

  (e)

Antitrust and Foreign Investment Laws. The Issuer shall only issue Common Shares upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note to the extent the issuance of such Common Shares would not exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Issuer may issue without violating the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) or any antitrust laws of other jurisdictions or any foreign investment laws applicable in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon conversion of this Note, except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that (i) the Noteholder (and, if applicable, the Issuer) obtains the necessary regulatory approvals as required by any applicable antitrust laws or foreign investment laws or (ii) the Noteholder (and, if applicable, the Issuer) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Noteholder (or, in the case of the Issuer, counsel to the Issuer) that such approval(s) are not required. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer’s non-compliance with the limitations contained in this Section 4(e) shall not constitute an Event of Default or breach of this Note by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall not have any liability under this Note or otherwise resulting therefrom, but in the event that conversion of this Note requires any filing or approval under the HSR Act or any applicable antitrust laws of any other jurisdiction and any foreign investment laws the Noteholder and, if applicable, the Issuer shall endeavor to make such filings and obtain such approval in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, Section 5(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

5.

REDEMPTION BY THE ISSUER.

 

  (a)

Optional Redemption Right. The Issuer shall be entitled to redeem (an “Optional Redemption”) (i) prior to the Modification Date, all, but not less than all, of this Note and (ii) from and after the Modification Date, all or any portion of this Note, in each case, at any time for a cash purchase price (the “Optional Redemption Price”) equal to the sum of:

 

  (i)

100% of the Principal being redeemed at such time; plus

 

  (ii)

all accrued and unpaid Interest on such portion of Principal being redeemed as of the Redemption Date (as defined below);

provided, that any Optional Redemption shall be suspended, and the Issuer shall have no obligation to consummate any such Optional Redemption, at any time following delivery of a Redemption Notice if Noteholder’s entitlement to redemption shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement).

 

6


  (b)

ECF Mandatory Redemption. From and after the occurrence of the Modification Date (but excluding any period during which any entitlement to redemption of the Noteholder shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement), in the event that the Issuer is required to make an ECF Mandatory Redemption (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note (as in effect on the date hereof)) with respect to the Indebtedness under the 2024 Secured Note (the amount required to be applied to such redemption prior to giving effect to the ratable application of such amount to the Secured Exchange Notes (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof), the “ECF Redemption Amount”), the Issuer shall be required to (i) redeem a portion of the Principal of this Note in an amount equal to its ratable portion of such ECF Redemption Amount (which amount for this purpose shall be calculated after giving effect to all deductions from, and reductions to, such amount as are contemplated by the 2024 Secured Note), as and to the extent contemplated by Section 6(b) of the 2024 Secured Note (as in effect on the date hereof) (such portion required to be applied to the redemption of this Note, the “Applicable ECF Redemption Amount” and such required redemption, the “Applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption”) and (ii) issue Redemption Warrants to the Noteholder in accordance with clause (d)(i) below, with such redemption and issuance of such Redemption Warrants occurring substantially concurrently with the corresponding redemption and issuance under the 2024 Secured Note.

 

  (c)

Mechanics of Redemption.

 

  (i)

Redemption Notice.

 

  (1)

To exercise its optional redemption right pursuant to Section 5(a), the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder a copy of an executed notice of redemption in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (when used in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 5, the “Redemption Notice”), which Optional Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Optional Redemption Price and (ii) detailed calculations of the Principal plus accrued and unpaid Interest included in the Optional Redemption Price as of the Redemption Date, provided that such notice may be conditioned on the occurrence of another event.

 

7


  (2)

To make an Applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 5(b), the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder a Redemption Notice substantially concurrently with the delivery of the corresponding redemption notice under the 2024 Secured Note, which Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Applicable ECF Redemption Amount and (ii) a calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest thereon up to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, in each case, after giving effect to any reductions and/or deductions in the ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount required to be applied to the Principal as provided in Section 6(b) of the 2024 Secured Note (as in effect on the date hereof) and in Section 5(b) above (such amounts required to be paid, the “ECF Mandatory Redemption Price”).

 

  (ii)

Satisfaction of Redemption. Any redemption on a Redemption Date in accordance with this Section 5 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Optional Redemption Price or the Applicable ECF Redemption Amount, as applicable, in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after the applicable Redemption Notice is delivered. For greater certainty, the day that the Redemption Notice is given shall not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (iii)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 5, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Optional Redemption Price or the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, as applicable, and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)).

 

  (iv)

Conversion Prior to Redemption. The Noteholder may convert this Note at its option pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof at any time after receipt of a Redemption Notice and prior to payment of the Optional Redemption Price or the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, as applicable.

 

  (d)

Warrants.

 

  (i)

Provided the Noteholder has not elected to convert this Note in whole into Common Shares in accordance with Section 5(b)(iv) following receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Issuer shall issue to the Noteholder, on the date of redemption of this Note, a number of share warrants of the Issuer (the “Redemption Warrants”) entitling the Noteholder to acquire a number of Common Shares equal to the Principal redeemed divided by the then applicable Conversion Price and expiring on the Maturity Date. The initial exercise price of the Redemption Warrants will be equal to the applicable Conversion Price as of the date of redemption of this Note. The form of Warrant certificate for such Redemption Warrants is attached hereto as Exhibit III. The Noteholder shall have the right to reasonably request that the Issuer deliver, upon issuance of the Redemption Warrants, customary opinions of counsel, in form and substance substantially as set forth in Exhibit D to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

8


  (e)

No Make-Whole. For the avoidance of doubt, no Make-Whole Amount, fees, premium or penalty shall be due, owing or payable by the Issuer in connection with the issuance of this Note and the other transactions contemplated by this Section 5.

 

6.

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL MATTERS.

 

  (a)

Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on and after the Modification Date:

 

  (i)

the Issuer will cause its subsidiaries that are required to become “Note Guarantors” under and as defined in the 2024 Secured Note (the “Applicable Note Guarantors” and together with the Issuer, the “Note Parties”) to guarantee the obligations of the Issuer under this Note (such guarantee, the “Note Guaranty”) on substantially the same terms as the 2024 Note Guaranty, to secure such Note Guaranty with pari passu liens on the same assets in respect of which such Applicable Note Guarantors have granted liens in favor of the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the secured parties under the 2024 Secured Note, to secure their obligations under the 2024 Secured Note and enter into collateral documentation in the same form and on the same terms as entered into to secure the 2024 Secured Note (the “Collateral Documents”); provided, that it is understood and agreed that in no event shall the Applicable Note Guarantors be required to grant liens on their assets that constitute Excluded Assets and in no event shall an Excluded Subsidiary be required to become an Applicable Note Guarantor and (B) the Noteholder agrees to enter into a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement with the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent and, when applicable, the holder of the Second A&R Note (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note) to set forth the relative priorities, rights and remedies as between the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent, the Noteholder and the holder of the Second A&R Note;

 

  (ii)

the Issuer will, and will cause each other Applicable Note Guarantors to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements, instruments, certificates, notices and acknowledgments and take all such further actions (including the filing and recordation of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages and/or amendments thereto and other documents), that may be required under any Applicable Law and which the Noteholder may reasonably request to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the liens created or intended to be created under the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the relevant Note Parties; and the Issuer will, and will cause each other Note Party to, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Documents or other document or instrument relating to any collateral and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts (including notices to third parties), deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Noteholder may reasonably request from time to time in order to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the liens created or intended to be created under the Collateral Documents.

 

9


  (b)

Guarantees and Collateral. Notwithstanding any provision of this Note, the Note Guaranty or any Collateral Document (collectively, the “Secured Note Documents”) to the contrary, for purposes of any determination relating to the Note Guaranty and/or the Collateral as to which the Noteholder is granted discretion hereunder or under any other Secured Note Document (including any determination with respect to any waivers, extensions, consents or approvals, any discretion to be exercised and/or any determinations with respect to whether any assets constitute Excluded Assets or whether any subsidiaries constitute “Excluded Subsidiaries” or similar term), the Noteholder shall be deemed to have agreed and accepted any determination in respect thereof by the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent (subject to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, until the Maturity Date (i) any possessory collateral required to be delivered to the Noteholder shall be deemed to be delivered to the Noteholder, if the same has been delivered to the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent or such other Person as may be mutually agreed acting as gratuitous bailee of the Noteholder, and (ii) any consent, judgment or discretion that may be exercised by the Noteholder with respect to the Applicable Note Guarantors, the Note Guaranty and/or the Collateral Documents under the terms of this Note, the Note Guaranty and/or the Collateral Documents shall be deemed to be exercised in the same manner as the consent, judgment or discretion of the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent.

 

7.

RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.

 

  (a)

Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

  (i)

default in any payment of interest on this Note when due and payable that has continued for a period of thirty (30) days;

 

  (ii)

default in the payment of Principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, within five (5) Business Days of becoming due and payable on the Maturity Date, a Redemption Date or upon declaration of acceleration hereunder;

 

  (iii)

failure by the Issuer to comply with its obligation to (a) convert this Note in accordance with this Note upon exercise of the Noteholder’s conversion right in accordance with the terms hereof or (b) issue Redemption Warrants in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that, in each case, such failure continues for a period of five (5) Business Days after the date such conversion or issuance was required to occur;

 

10


  (iv)

failure by the Issuer for sixty (60) days after written notice from the Noteholder has been received by the Issuer to comply with any of its other agreements contained in this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or, from and after the Modification Date, the other Secured Note Documents;

 

  (v)

(A) any “Event of Default” (howsoever defined) under the 2021 Convertible Note, or (B) default by the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed of $100,000,000 or more (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of the Issuer or such subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, (1) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity date or (2) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such debt when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, and in the cases of clauses (1) and (2), such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such failure to pay or default shall not have been cured or waived, or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days after written notice of such default to the Issuer by the Noteholder;

 

  (vi)

one or more final, non-appealable judgments or orders is rendered against the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer, which requires the payment in money by the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer, individually or in the aggregate, of an amount (net of amounts covered by insurance or bonded) in excess of $150,000,000, and such judgment or judgments have not been satisfied, stayed, paid, discharged, vacated, bonded, annulled or rescinded within thirty (30) days after the later of (A) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, and (B) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

 

  (vii)

commencement by the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor, of a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary or their respective debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor or any substantial part of their respective property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

11


  (viii)

an involuntary case or other proceeding having been commenced against the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor or their respective debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of their respective property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;

 

  (ix)

the Common Shares cease to be listed on an Eligible Market; or

 

  (x)

From and after the Modification Date, (i) any Note Guaranty for any reason, other than the occurrence of the Specified Date, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or shall be declared, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be null and void or any Note Guarantor shall repudiate in writing its obligations thereunder (in each case, other than (x) as a result of the discharge of such Note Guarantor in accordance with the terms thereof, (y) as a result of any act or omission by the Noteholder and/or (z) in any bona fide, good faith dispute as to the scope of Collateral or whether any Note Guaranty or Lien has been or is required to be released), (ii) this Note or any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect or shall be declared, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be null and void or any Lien on any material portion of the Collateral created under the Collateral Document ceases to be perfected (other than solely by reason of (1) such perfection not being required pursuant to the collateral and guarantee requirements to be set forth in the Collateral Documents, the Collateral Documents, this Note or otherwise, (2) the failure of the Noteholder to maintain possession of any Collateral actually delivered to it or the failure of the Noteholder to file UCC, PPSA or similar financing statements, amendments or continuation statements, (3) a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or any other Secured Note Document, (4) the occurrence of the Specified Date or any other termination of such Collateral Document in accordance with the terms thereof) or (iii) any Note Party shall contest in writing, the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Secured Note Document (or any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents on any portion of the Collateral or any Note Guaranty) or deny in writing that it has any further liability (other than by reason of the occurrence of the Specified Date or any other termination of any other Secured Note Document in accordance with the terms thereof), under any Secured Note Document to which it is a party; provided, that it is understood and agreed that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, in no event shall the subordination or release of any Obligation

 

12


  under the Note Guaranty or any Lien on any asset or property granted pursuant to any Collateral Document in connection with the consummation of any Project Financing and/or the entry into any Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement or any other matter or transaction contemplated by Section 7 give rise to a default or Event of Default under this Section 7(a)(x) or any other provision of this Note or any other Secured Note Document.

 

  (b)

Notice of Default; Accelerated Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence of a Default with respect to this Note the Issuer shall within three (3) Business Days deliver written notice thereof (a “Default Notice”) to the Noteholder that includes (i) a reasonable description of the applicable Default, (ii) a certification as to whether, in the opinion of the Issuer, such Default is capable of being cured and, if applicable, a reasonable description of any existing plans of the Issuer to cure such Default and (iii) a certification as to the date the Default occurred and, if cured on or prior to the date of such Default Notice, the applicable Event of Default Right Expiration Date (as defined below). At any time after the earlier of (A) the Noteholder’s receipt of a Default Notice and the subsequent occurrence of an Event of Default and (B) the Noteholder becoming aware of an Event of Default and ending (such ending date, the “Event of Default Right Expiration Date”) on the twentieth (20th) Trading Day after the later of (x) the date such Default is cured and (y) the Noteholder’s receipt of a Default Notice and the subsequent occurrence of an Event of Default, the Noteholder may require the Issuer to redeem (unless such Event of Default has been cured on or prior to the Event of Default Right Expiration Date) all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Issuer, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Noteholder is electing to require the Issuer to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be redeemed by the Issuer for a cash purchase price equal to the Forced Redemption Price. Any redemption upon an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 7(b) shall not constitute an election of remedies by the Noteholder, and all other rights and remedies of the Noteholder shall be preserved.

 

  (c)

Satisfaction of Accelerated Redemption. The Issuer’s obligation to redeem in accordance with this Section 7 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Forced Redemption Price in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the fifth Trading Day after the Event of Default Redemption Notice is given. For greater certainty, the day that the Event of Default Redemption Notice is given does not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (d)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 6, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Forced Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 16(b)).

 

13


  (e)

In addition to the foregoing:

 

  (i)

Automatic Acceleration. If an Event of Default set forth in Section 7(a)(vii) or Section 7(a)(viii) occurs, then the Principal of, and all accrued and unpaid interest and Make-Whole Amount on, this Note will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any Person.

 

  (ii)

Optional Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default set forth in Section 7(a)(vii) or Section 7(a)(viii)) occurs and is continuing, then the Noteholder may, by notice to the Issuer, declare the Principal, and all accrued and unpaid Interest on, this Note to become due and payable immediately.

 

  (iii)

Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, the Noteholder, by notice to the Issuer, may rescind any acceleration of this Note and its consequences if (A) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (B) all existing Events of Default (except the non-payment of Principal of, or Interest on, this Note that has become due solely because of such acceleration) have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

  (f)

The Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party, expressly agrees and acknowledges (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that the Make-Whole Amount payable in connection with any automatic acceleration of the Principal of this Note or any Forced Redemption Price in connection with a COC Mandatory Redemption or an Accelerated Redemption set forth in Section 7(b) (collectively, the “Premium”) (w) shall constitute reasonable and proportionate compensation for any lost profits or damages of the Noteholders caused by such events, (x) is the product of an arm’s length transaction resulting from good faith negotiations between sophisticated parties having received independent legal advice, (y) is payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment of the Premium is made and (z) shall be payable by the Issuer or the Applicable Note Guarantors (as applicable) to the Noteholder as and to the extent provided in this Note, notwithstanding any automatic acceleration hereunder following an Event of Default set forth in Section 7(a)(vii) or Section 7(a)(viii). The Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party, hereby expressly agrees (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that with respect to the Premium payable under the terms of this Note (i) payment of the Premium hereunder constitutes liquidated damages, is not a penalty, punishment, “unmatured interest” as that term is used in section 502(b) of the Bankruptcy Code (or otherwise) or an otherwise unenforceable or invalid obligation, and is a material inducement to

 

14


  each Noteholder, (ii) the actual amount of damages to the Noteholder or profits lost by the Noteholder as a result of the events requiring payment of the Premium hereunder would be impracticable and extremely difficult to ascertain, (iii) the amount of the Premium payable hereunder is provided by mutual agreement of the Issuer and the Noteholder, as a reasonable estimation and calculation of the damages that the Noteholder would incur upon the occurrence of events requiring payment of the Premium hereunder, and the Premium payable hereunder is reasonable in light of the circumstances, (iv) there has been a course of conduct between the Noteholder and the Note Parties giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Premium and (v) the Note Parties shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Premium shall be fully earned, and automatically and immediately due and payable, on the date on which such Premium is required to be made pursuant to the terms of this Note and shall constitute part of the Obligations secured by the Collateral as of such date. The Premium shall also be automatically and immediately due and payable if the Obligations are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other similar means, or if the Obligations are reinstated pursuant to section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code or similar provisions under Debtor Relief Laws. The obligation to pay the Premium will not be subject to counterclaim or setoff for, or otherwise be affected by, any claim or dispute any Note Party may have (other than a claim of payment). In the event that the Premium is determined not to be due and payable by order of any court of competent jurisdiction, including by operation of Debtor Relief Laws, despite becoming due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Note, such Premium shall nonetheless constitute Obligations under the Note Documents for all purposes hereunder and thereunder. The Noteholder has agreed to hold this Note in reliance of each such agreement and acknowledgement by the Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party. THE ISSUER, FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF ON ANY OTHER NOTE PARTY, EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH EVENT SET FORTH IN THIS NOTE.

 

8.

RIGHTS UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION.

 

  (a)

Mandatory Redemption upon Change of Control Transaction. Upon the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction, the Issuer shall redeem all, but not less than all, of this Note remaining outstanding and unconverted at such time for a cash purchase price equal to the Forced Redemption Price (a “Mandatory Redemption”).

 

  (b)

Mechanics of Redemption.

 

15


  (i)

Redemption Notice. Upon a redemption by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 8, the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder , a copy of an executed notice of redemption in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (when used in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 8, the “CoC Redemption Notice”) to the Noteholder , which CoC Redemption Notice shall, for greater certainty, set forth (i) the Forced Redemption Price and (ii) calculations of the accrued and unpaid Interest and Make-Whole Amount included in the Forced Redemption Price as of the Redemption Date.

 

  (ii)

Satisfaction of Redemption. Any redemption on a Redemption Date in accordance with this Section 8 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Forced Redemption Price in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after the CoC Redemption Notice is given. For greater certainty, the day that the CoC Redemption Notice is given does not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (iii)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 8, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Forced Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 16(b)).

 

  (iv)

Conversion Prior to Redemption. Noteholder may convert this note at its option pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof at any time after receipt of a CoC Redemption Notice and prior to payment of the Forced Redemption Price.

 

9.

ADJUSTMENTS.

 

  (a)

If and whenever, at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall: (i) subdivide or re-divide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common Shares; (ii) reduce, combine or consolidate the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares; (iii) issue options, rights, warrants or similar securities to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares; or (iv) issue Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution; the number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of this Note on the date of the subdivision, re-division, reduction, combination or consolidation or on the record date for the issue of options, rights, warrants or similar securities or on the record date for the issue of Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution, as the case may be, shall be adjusted so that the Noteholder shall be entitled to receive the kind and number of Common Shares or other securities of the Issuer which it would have owned or been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described in this Section 9(a) had this Note been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 9(a) shall become effective immediately after the effective time of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.

 

16


  (b)

If and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, there is a reclassification of the Common Shares or a capital reorganization of the Issuer other than as described in Section 9(a) or a consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, binding share exchange, merger of the Issuer with or into any other Person or other entity or acquisition of the Issuer or other combination pursuant to which the Common Shares are converted into or acquired for cash, securities or other property; or a sale or conveyance of the property and assets of the Issuer as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer) or other entity or a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Issuer (in any of the foregoing cases, that is not a Change of Control Transaction), the Noteholder , if it has not exercised its right of conversion prior to the effective date of such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, upon the exercise of such right thereafter, shall be entitled to receive and shall accept, in lieu of the number of Common Shares then sought to be acquired by it, such amount of cash or the number of shares or other securities or property of the Issuer or of the Person or other entity resulting from such merger, amalgamation, arrangement, acquisition, combination or consolidation, or to which such sale or conveyance may be made or which holders of Common Shares receive pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, as the case may be, that the Noteholder would have been entitled to receive on such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, if, on the record date or the effective date thereof, as the case may be, the Noteholder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares sought to be acquired by it and to which it was entitled to acquire upon the exercise of its conversion right at the Conversion Price.

 

  (c)

If, and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall issue Additional Shares of Common Stock, without consideration or for a consideration per share less than Fair Market Value as of the date of issue thereof, then the Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

CP2 = CP1* (A + B) ÷ (A + C).

For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:

 

17


  (i)

“CP2” shall mean the Conversion Price in effect immediately after such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

  (ii)

“CP1” shall mean the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

  (iii)

“A” shall mean the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock (treating for this purpose as outstanding all Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding immediately prior to such issue or upon conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue);

 

  (iv)

“B” shall mean the number of Common Shares that would have been issued if such Additional Shares of Common Stock had been issued at a price per share equal to CP1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Issuer (as determined in good faith by the Issuer’s board of directors) in respect of such issue by CP1); and

 

  (v)

“C” shall mean the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock issued in such transaction.

 

  (d)

If the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Shares (other than solely pursuant to an odd-lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the 1934 Act), and the value (determined as of the Expiration Time by the Issuer’s board of directors) of the cash and other consideration paid per Common Share in such tender or exchange offer exceeds the last reported sale price per Common Share on the Trading Day immediately after the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended), then the Conversion Price will be increased based on the following formula:

CP1 = CP0 x (OS0 x SP)

AC + (SP x OS1)

where:

 

CP0    =    the Conversion Price in effect immediately before the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer;

 

18


CP1    =    the Conversion Price in effect immediately after the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period;
AC    =    the aggregate value (determined as of the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires by the Issuer’s board of directors) of all cash and other consideration paid for Common Shares purchased or exchanged in such tender or exchange offer;
OS0    =    the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before the Expiration Time (including all Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
OS1    =    the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (excluding Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
SP    =    the average of the last reported sale prices per Common Shares over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

provided, however, that the Conversion Price will in no event be adjusted down pursuant to this Section 9(d), except to the extent provided in the immediately following paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9(d), if the Conversion Date for this Note to be converted occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Price for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date to, and including, such Conversion Date. To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Issuer being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of Common Shares in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Price will be readjusted to the Conversion Price that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of Common Shares, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

 

  (e)

If, and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Shares entitled to receive (and subsequently make or issue), a dividend or other distribution payable in cash or other property not involving Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares (which is the subject of Section 9(a)), then and in each such event the Noteholder of this Note shall receive, and shall accept, upon the conversion of this Note into Common Shares, a dividend or other distribution of such cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such cash or other property as it would have received if this Note had been converted into Common Shares on the date of such event.

 

19


  (f)

On the occurrence of any reclassification of, or other change in, the outstanding Common Shares or any other event which is not a Change of Control Transaction or addressed in Section 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) or 9(e) (each, an “Unanticipated Event”), the parties will, in good faith, make such further adjustments and changes and take all necessary actions, subject to the approval of the Noteholder , so as to ensure that the Noteholder receives, upon the conversion of this Note occurring at any time after the date of the occurrence of the Unanticipated Event, such shares, securities, rights, cash or property that the Noteholder would have received if, immediately prior to the date of such Unanticipated Event, the Noteholder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares to which the Noteholder would be entitled upon the conversion of this Note into Common Shares.

 

  (g)

The adjustments provided for in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) and 9(f) are cumulative and will be made successively whenever an event referred to therein occurs.

 

  (h)

If at any time a question or dispute arises with respect to the adjustments provided for in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) or 9(f), such question or dispute will be conclusively determined by a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Issuer (who may be the auditors of the Issuer) and acceptable to the Noteholder . Such accountants shall have access to all necessary records of the Issuer and any such determination will be binding upon the Issuer and the Noteholder.

 

  (i)

The Issuer shall, from time to time immediately after the occurrence of any event which requires an adjustment or re-adjustment as provided in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) or 9(f), deliver a certificate of the Issuer to the Noteholder specifying the nature of the event requiring the same and the amount of the necessary adjustment (or, in the case of Section 9(e), entitlement to cash or other property upon conversion) and setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based, and, if reasonably required by the Noteholder , such certificate and the amount of the adjustment specified therein shall be verified by an opinion of a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Issuer (who may be the auditors of the Issuer) and acceptable to the Noteholder .

 

  (j)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) or 9(f), if the Noteholder would otherwise be entitled to receive, upon the exercise of its right of conversion, any property (including cash) or securities that would not constitute “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of

 

20


  the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 (“Ineligible Consideration”), the Noteholder shall not be entitled to receive such Ineligible Consideration and the Issuer or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be, shall have the right (at the sole option of the Issuer or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be) to deliver to the Noteholder “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 with a market value (as conclusively determined by the board of directors of the Issuer) equal to the market value of such Ineligible Consideration.

 

10.

NOTEHOLDER CONSENT RIGHT OVER DEBT INCURRENCE.

The Issuer agrees that it shall not incur additional Indebtedness without the consent of the Noteholder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, other than:

 

  (a)

Indebtedness incurred during any rolling 12-month period that does not exceed $75,000,000 individually or in the aggregate;

 

  (b)

Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business, including trade payables and intercompany debt;

 

  (c)

Indebtedness incurred in connection with any Project Financing; or

 

  (d)

Indebtedness incurred in connection with any agreement entered into with the Export Development Canada Project Finance and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

 

11.

COVENANTS

 

  (a)

Covenant to Pay. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid all the Principal of, the Redemption Price for, Interest on, and other amounts due with respect to, this Note on the dates and in the manner set forth in this Note.

 

  (b)

Amendments to 2021 Convertible Note. If, on or after the date of issuance of the 2021 Convertible Note, any term of the 2021 Convertible Note has been or is amended or modified in a manner that is favorable to the holder thereof, the Issuer shall simultaneously offer to amend or modify this Note to reflect similar terms and, if Noteholder accepts such offer, the Issuer shall promptly effect such amendment or modification.

 

  (c)

Corporate Existence. Subject to Section 8, until the Specified Date, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done, at its own cost and expense, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence in accordance with the organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer.

 

21


  (d)

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. To the extent that it may lawfully do so, the Issuer (i) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Note; and (ii) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Noteholder by this Note, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

  (e)

Payment of Taxes. Until the Specified Date, the Issuer shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon it or its properties except (i) where the failure to effect such payment or discharge is not adverse in any material respect to the Noteholder or (ii) where such taxes are being contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings and with respect to which appropriate reserves have been taken in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

 

12.

VOTING RIGHTS. The Noteholder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by Applicable Law (including the Business Corporations Act (Ontario)).

 

13.

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS. Until the Specified Date, the Issuer shall comply with those covenants as set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

14.

AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. The prior written consent of the Noteholder shall be required for any change, modification, waiver or amendment to this Note. Any change, amendment, modification or waiver so approved shall be binding upon all existing and future holders of this Note.

 

15.

TRANSFER.

 

  (a)

The Issuer shall maintain a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the name and address of the Noteholder and the principal amount of this Note and Interest accrued and unpaid thereon (including as the Principal may be increased as the result of capitalization of Interest in accordance with Section 2(b) of this Note) (the “Registered Note”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The Issuer shall treat the Noteholder for all purposes (including the right to receive payments of Principal and Interest hereunder) as the owner hereof notwithstanding notice to the contrary, however, that upon its receipt of a written request to assign, transfer or

 

22


  sell all or part of the Registered Note by the Noteholder to a Permitted Transferee, the Issuer shall record the information contained therein in the Register and issue one or more new Registered Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Note to the designated assignee or transferee pursuant to Section 16; provided, however, that the Issuer will not register any assignment, transfer or sale of this Note not made in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 15, following conversion of any portion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Noteholder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Issuer unless (A) the full Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted (in which event this Note shall be delivered to the Issuer following conversion thereof as contemplated by Section 4(c)) or (B) the Noteholder has provided the Issuer with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Noteholder Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Note upon physical surrender of this Note. If the Issuer does not update the Register to record the Principal, Interest converted and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions and/or payments (as the case may be), then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such occurrence on the Business Day immediately prior to such occurrence.

 

  (b)

This Note may not be offered, sold, assigned or transferred (including through hedging or derivative transactions) by the Noteholder other than to one or more Permitted Transferees in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S of the 1933 Act or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom and by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register. Any purported assignment to a transferee that is not a Permitted Transferee will be null and void ab initio and unenforceable and the Issuer will not have any obligations to any such transferee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7(a) (in the case of 7(a)(v), only in the event of material breaches) and for so long as such Event of Default is continuing and has not been cured or waived, the Noteholder may offer, sell, assign or transfer this Note (including through hedging or derivative transactions) to any person in accordance with applicable law, and the Register shall be deemed updated to reflect such offer, sale, assignment, transfer, hedge or derivative transaction on the date of such offer, sale, assignment, transfer, hedge or derivative transaction.

 

  (c)

The Noteholder shall not offer, sell, assign or transfer this Note to any Person that is not a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act and any purported assignment or transfer to such a Person will be null and void ab initio and unenforceable and the Issuer will not have any obligation to any such person (including, without limitation, to make any payment of principal, interest or other amount and to issue any share or other security); provided, however, that an assignment to a Permitted Transferee that is a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee shall be permitted. A Noteholder that was previously a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act that subsequently ceases to be a resident of Canada for

 

23


  purposes of the Tax Act at any particular time shall be required to satisfy the requirements set forth in the definition of Permitted Indemnifying Transferee. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 15(c) shall not limit in any manner the offer, sale, assignment or transfer of this Note to any Person that is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act. This Section 15(c) shall be subject to the terms of Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement, the terms of which shall apply hereto mutatis mutandis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Note Purchase Agreement, each Permitted Transferee that is a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee shall, prior to and as a condition to becoming a holder of this Note, be required to become bound by the terms and provisions of the Tax Indemnity Side Letter (or a similar agreement having the same substance thereof).

 

16.

REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.

 

  (a)

Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred in accordance with the terms hereof, the Noteholder shall surrender this Note to the Issuer, whereupon the Issuer will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Noteholder a new Note (in accordance with Section 16(d)), registered as the Noteholder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Noteholder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 16(d)) to the Noteholder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Noteholder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this Note following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.

 

  (b)

Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Noteholder to the Issuer in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Noteholder a new Note (in accordance with Section 16(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.

 

  (c)

Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Noteholder at the principal office of the Issuer, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 16(d) and in principal amounts of at least $5,000,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Noteholder at the time of such surrender.

 

24


  (d)

Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Issuer is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note (other than in accordance with Section 7 hereof), such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 16(a) or Section 16(c), the Principal designated by the Noteholder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall include in the principal amount thereof accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note from the Issuance Date.

 

17.

PROJECT FINANCING SUBORDINATION.

 

  (a)

On a substantially concurrent basis with the occurrence of the Project Financing Closing Date, each of the Issuer and the Noteholder agree that (i) the obligations of each member of the U.S. Project Finance Group pursuant to the Note Guaranty (the “Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations”) shall automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably be subordinated to the Note Guaranty provided by such Persons to any Project Lender in connection with a Project Financing and (ii) the Liens on any property of any Note Party that constitutes Project Loan Collateral granted to or held by the Noteholder under or pursuant to any Collateral Document or any other Secured Note Document (such property, the “Applicable Project Collateral”) shall automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably be subordinated to the Liens on such Project Loan Collateral that are granted to or held by any Project Lender in connection with a Project Financing, in each case, (x) subject to clause (b) below and (y) in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement.

 

  (b)

The Noteholder expressly agrees that, promptly upon request by the Issuer, the Noteholder will negotiate in good faith the terms of an intercreditor agreement with the Project Lender with respect to the subordination matters described in clause (a) above and use commercially reasonable efforts to agree to the terms of an intercreditor agreement that is acceptable to the Project Lender. The Noteholder further expressly acknowledges and agrees that in the event that the Project Lender and the Noteholder are unable to reach agreement on the terms of an intercreditor arrangement that is acceptable to the Project Lender, the Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations and the Liens granted to, or held by, the Noteholder on the Applicable Project Collateral, shall in each case be automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably released. In furtherance of (but without limiting) the foregoing, if the Issuer determines in good faith that the Noteholder and the Project Lender have not reached agreement on the terms of an intercreditor arrangement that is acceptable to the Project Lender and that continued negotiation of such intercreditor arrangement could reasonably be expected to delay or impede the ability of the U.S. Project Finance Group to obtain the applicable Project Financing, the Issuer may deliver written notice of such determination to the Noteholder and unless a Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement is agreed between the Noteholder and the Project Lender within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice, the Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations and the Liens granted to, or held by, the Noteholder on the Applicable Project Collateral, shall in each case be automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably released on such fifth (5th) Business Day.

 

25


  (c)

The Noteholder shall take such additional steps, including filing an amendment or termination of any UCC financing statement and/or any PPSA financing statement, as may from time to time reasonably be requested by or on behalf of the Issuer or the Project Lender to evidence such subordination and/or release contemplated by this Section 17.

 

18.

REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Noteholder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Issuer to comply with the terms of this Note. No failure on the part of the Noteholder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Noteholder of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. In addition, the exercise of any right or remedy of the Noteholder at law or equity or under this Note or any of the documents shall not be deemed to be an election of Noteholder’s rights or remedies under such documents or at law or equity. The Issuer covenants to the Noteholder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Noteholder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Issuer (or the performance thereof). The Issuer acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Noteholder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Issuer therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Noteholder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to seek specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Issuer shall provide all information and documentation to the Noteholder that is reasonably requested by the Noteholder to enable the Noteholder to confirm the Issuer’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note.

 

26


19.

PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Noteholder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Issuer or other proceedings affecting the Noteholder’s rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Issuer shall pay the costs incurred by the Noteholder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Issuer expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.

 

20.

CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Issuer and the initial Noteholder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Note instead of just the provision in which they are found. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of this Note. Any calculation of accrued and unpaid interest under this Note shall exclude period(s) during which Interest has ceased to accrue pursuant to any term of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement).

 

21.

FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Noteholder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

22.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

 

  (a)

Submission to Dispute Resolution.

 

  (i)

In the case of a dispute relating to a Conversion Price, the Optional Redemption Price, the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price or the Forced Redemption Price (as the case may be) (including a dispute relating to the determination of any of the foregoing), the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via electronic mail or otherwise (A) if by the Issuer, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Noteholder within five (5) Business Days after the Noteholder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Noteholder and the Issuer are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such Conversion Price or such Redemption Price (as the case may be), at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be), then the Issuer shall select an independent, reputable investment bank acceptable to the Noteholder , acting reasonably, to resolve such dispute and the Issuer shall promptly send written confirmation of such joint selection to the Noteholder .

 

27


  (ii)

The Noteholder and the Issuer shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 21 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Issuer provided notice to the Noteholder of the joint selection of such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Noteholder or the Issuer fails to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both the Issuer and the Noteholder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Issuer nor the Noteholder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation). Any and all communications between the Issuer, on the one hand, and the Noteholder, on the other hand, and such investment bank shall be made in writing and a copy provided simultaneously to the Issuer and the Noteholder and no meeting between such investment bank and the Issuer or the Noteholder shall take place unless each of the Issuer and the Noteholder are in attendance.

 

  (iii)

The Issuer and the Noteholder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Issuer and the Noteholder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be shared equally between the Issuer and the Noteholder, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.

 

28


23.

NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.

 

  (a)

Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Note must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt by the recipient, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt by the recipient, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

If to the Issuer:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attention: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

3 World Trade Center

175 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10007

Attention: Andrea M. Basham, Allison Liff

Email: Andrea.Basham@Freshfields.com

   Allison.Liff@Freshfields.com

and

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

66 Wellington St W

Suite 5300

Toronto, ON M5K 1E6

Attention: Jonathan Grant, Fraser Bourne

Email: jgrant@mccarthy.ca, fbourne@mccarthy.ca

If to the Noteholder:

Glencore Canada Corporation

100, King Street West

Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Canada

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

 

29


with a copy to:

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attention: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attention: Heather Emmel, David Avery-Gee

Email: Heather.emmel@weil.com

   David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

or to such other address or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time and date or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

  (b)

The Issuer shall provide the Noteholder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuer will give written notice to the Noteholder (i) within three (3) Business Days after any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Issuer closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Shares, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property to holders of Common Shares or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Change of Control Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that any material non-public information in any such notice shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Noteholder .

 

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  (c)

Calculation of Time. When computing any time period in this Note, the following rules shall apply:

 

  (i)

the day marking the commencement of the time period shall be excluded but the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period shall be included;

 

  (ii)

for time periods measured in Business Days, any day that is not a Business Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Business Day;

 

  (iii)

for time periods measured in Trading Days, any day that is not a Trading Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Trading Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Trading Day;

 

  (iv)

if the end date of any deadline or time period in this Note refers to a specific calendar date and that date is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next Business Day following the specific calendar date; and

 

  (v)

when used in this Note the term “month” shall mean a calendar month.

 

  (d)

Currency. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires all dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”).

 

  (e)

Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Issuer to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in U.S. Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

24.

CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest, the Make-Whole Amount, if any, and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Issuer for cancellation and shall not be reissued. In addition, any Note held by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries shall be deemed cancelled and shall not be reissued.

 

25.

WAIVER OF NOTICE. To the extent permitted by law, the Issuer hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

31


26.

GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Issuer hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Transaction Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Note and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude a Noteholder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Issuer in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Issuer’s obligations to a Noteholder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of a Noteholder. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS NOTE BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

 

27.

SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

32


28.

MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Without limiting Section 8(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by Applicable Law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such Applicable Law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Issuer to the Noteholder and thus refunded to the Issuer.

 

29.

RANKING; SUBORDINATION. From the date hereof to, but excluding, the Modification Date, the Issuer, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and the Noteholder likewise covenants and agrees by its acceptance of this Note, that the obligations of the Issuer to make any payment on account of the principal of and interest on this Note shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment and upon liquidation to the Issuer’s obligations to the holders of all Senior Debt of the Issuer now existing or hereinafter assumed. For the avoidance of doubt, on and following the Modification Date, this Section 29 shall be of no further force and effect.

 

30.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

  (c)

“2021 Convertible Note” means the unsecured convertible note issued by the Issuer to Spring Creek Capital, LLC pursuant to a note purchase agreement on September 29, 2021.

 

  (d)

“2024 Note Guaranty” means the Note Guaranty (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof).

 

  (e)

“2024 Secured Note” means one or more senior secured convertible notes issued by the Issuer pursuant to the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (f)

“2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement” means the amended and restated note purchase agreement, dated March 25, 2024, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, by and among, inter alios, the Issuer, Glencore Canada Corporation and the other purchaser parties party thereto and the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent.

 

33


  (g)

“2024 Secured Collateral Agent” means Glencore Canada Corporation, in its capacity as the administrative and collateral agent under the 2024 Secured Note.

 

  (h)

“Additional Shares of Common Stock” shall mean all Common Shares or securities or notes convertible or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by the Issuer after the Issuance Date, other than (1) the following Common Shares and (2) Common Shares deemed issued pursuant to the following options and securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares:

 

  (i)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by way of a dividend or distribution that is covered by Section 9(a);

 

  (ii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued to employees or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, whether issued before or after the Issuance Date, pursuant to any option or incentive plan of the Issuer adopted by the board of directors of the Issuer (or any predecessor governing body); and

 

  (iii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued upon the exercise of options or warrants or Common Shares issued upon the conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares (including this Note (and any Note issued as PIK hereunder)) which are outstanding as of the date hereof, in each case provided such issuance is pursuant to the terms of such option or warrants or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares.

 

  (i)

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any Person (the “first named person”), any other Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first named person; provided that, for greater certainty, the Issuer is not an Affiliate of the Noteholder or any of its subsidiaries for the purposes of this Note.

 

  (j)

“Applicable Law” means all laws (statutory or common), rules, ordinances, regulations, grants, concessions, franchises, licenses, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, and other governmental restrictions, including permits and other similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature, having application, directly or indirectly, to the Issuer, and includes the rules and policies of any stock exchange upon which the Issuer has securities listed or quoted.

 

  (k)

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

34


  (l)

“Change of Control Transaction” means any of the following events: (i) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer or one or more employee benefit plans of the Issuer, files any report with the SEC indicating that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Issuer’s then outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Issuer as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Issuer); (ii) the consummation of (A) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, taken as a whole, to any Person; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Issuer as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Issuer) are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property (other than a subdivision or combination, or solely a change in par value, of the Common Shares); provided, however, that any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange or combination of the Issuer pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii); (iii) the Issuer’s shareholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer; or (iv) the Common Shares cease to be listed on any Eligible Market. For the purposes of this definition, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

  (m)

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

  (n)

“Collateral” means any and all property of any Note Party subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien under any Collateral Document and any and all other property of any Note Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that is or becomes subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure the Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall “Collateral” include any asset that is an Excluded Asset for so long as such asset constitutes an Excluded Asset.

 

35


  (o)

“Common Shares” means (i) the Issuer’s common shares, (ii) any share capital into which such common shares shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common shares and (iii) for purposes of Section 9(a)(iv) only, the common shares or other securities of any of the Issuer’s subsidiaries in addition to the common shares of the Issuer.

 

  (p)

“Conversion Amount” means the sum of (i) the portion of the Principal to be converted with respect to which this determination is being made; and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal, if any.

 

  (q)

“Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination:

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, $9.95 per Common Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein; and

 

  (ii)

on and after the Modification Date, the lesser of (x) the amount determined on the basis of a volume weighted average per share price of the Common Shares for thirty (30) Trading Days ending immediately prior to the Modification Date, plus a 25% premium and (y) $9.95 per Common Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

  (r)

“Default” means any event that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default.

 

  (s)

“Eligible Market” means the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange or the OTC US Market so long as, in the case of the OTC US Market only, the market capitalization of the Issuer is $150,000,000 or more.

 

  (t)

“Excluded Assets” has the meaning assigned to such term in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof).

 

  (u)

“Excluded Subsidiaries” has the meaning assigned to such term in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof).

 

  (v)

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment (or deemed payment) to a recipient:

 

  (i)

any Taxes imposed on (or measured by) such recipient’s net income or overall gross income, franchise Taxes and capital Taxes, in each case, (A) imposed as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office located in the taxing jurisdiction or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes;

 

36


  (ii)

any branch profits Taxes or any similar Tax imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (i);

 

  (iii)

any Taxes that would not have been imposed but for the recipient (A) not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Tax Act) with the Issuer, (B) being a “specified shareholder (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Tax Act) of the Issuer or not dealing at arm’s length with such a specified shareholder for purposes of the Tax Act, or (C) being a “specified entity” (as defined in subsection 18.4(1) of the Tax Act, as proposed to be amended by Bill C-59) in respect of the Issuer, including in each case where (x) the non-arm’s length relationship, (y) the recipient being a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer, or not dealing at arm’s length with a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer, or (z) the recipient being a “specified entity” in respect of the Issuer, as applicable, arises in connection with or as a result of the ownership of this Note, the Second A&R Note or the 2024 Secured Note;

 

  (iv)

any Taxes imposed in respect of an amount that is “participating debt interest” (as defined in subsection 212(3) of the Tax Act) arising (or deemed to arise) in respect of this Note; and

 

  (v)

any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

 

  (w)

“Existing Holder” means Glencore Canada Corporation in its capacity as the holder of the Original Convertible Note and each of the Original PIK Notes.

 

  (x)

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock, the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares for the seven (7) Trading Days immediately preceding the issue date of such Additional Shares of Common Stock.

 

  (y)

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Note (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among governmental authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

  (z)

“Floating Rate” means, with respect to each Interest Date, the rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) Term SOFR plus (B) 0.42826%; provided, that in no event shall the Floating Rate be less than 1% per annum nor more than 2% per annum.

 

37


  (aa)

“Forced Redemption Price” means a cash purchase price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the Principal, (ii) accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note as of the Redemption Date and (iii) the Make-Whole Amount.

 

  (bb)

“Indebtedness” shall mean (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money, including accrued interest, (ii) any obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including accrued interest, (iii) obligations, contingent or otherwise, under acceptance, letters of credit or similar facilities, (iv) swaps, options, derivatives and other hedging arrangements or arrangements that will be payable upon termination thereof, and (v) any guaranty of any of the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall not include any obligations as lessee under capitalized leases incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

  (cc)

“Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note.

 

  (dd)

“Ineligible Consideration” has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(j).

 

  (ee)

“Interest Date” means (i) with respect to the applicable Interest Period, the last day of such Interest Period; provided that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day.

(ff) “Interest Period” means (i) initially, the period commencing on the Issuance Date and ending on December 31, 2024 and (ii) thereafter, each period of six months commencing on January 1 and July 1 of each fiscal year.

(gg) “Interest Rate” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, the Floating Rate plus five percent (5%) per annum if interest is to be paid in cash at the applicable Interest Date, and (ii) the Floating Rate plus six percent (6%) per annum if, at the option of the Issuer, interest is to be paid in kind in accordance with Section 2(b) at the applicable Interest Date; and

 

  (ii)

on and after the Modification Date, (i) Term SOFR plus five percent (5%) per annum if interest is to be paid in cash at the applicable Interest Date, and (ii) Term SOFR plus six percent (6%) per annum if, at the option of the Issuer, interest is to be paid in kind in accordance with Section 2(b).

 

  (hh)

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any required redemption pursuant to delivery of an Event of Default Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 7(b) or any required redemption upon the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to Section 8, the sum of the undiscounted cash Interest payments that would have been payable under the Note beginning the day after such conversion or redemption through the Maturity Date but for the occurrence of such conversion or redemption.

 

38


  (ii)

“Maturity Date” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, May 31, 2027; and

 

  (ii)

commencing on and after the Modification Date, the fifth anniversary of the Modification Date.

 

  (jj)

“Modification Date” means the earlier of (a) the date that is one (1) month after the Project Financing Closing Date, and (b) December 31, 2024; it being understood and agreed that the Issuer will notify the Noteholder in writing of the occurrence of the Modification Date (for the avoidance of doubt, failure to deliver notice shall not invalidate the occurrence of the Modification Date).

 

  (kk)

“Optional Redemption Notice” has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(b)(i).

 

  (ll)

“Optional Redemption Price” has the meaning given to it in Section 5(a).

 

  (mm)

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Noteholder or any other recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or enforced this Note).

 

  (nn)

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes or any intangible, recording, filing or other similar Taxes arising from any payment made under this Note or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Note, but excluding (i) any Excluded Taxes and (ii) any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to a transfer of this Note, the Second A&R Note or the 2024 Secured Note pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

  (oo)

“Permitted Indemnifying Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (pp)

“Permitted Transferees” means as to the Noteholder, any of the following: (i) if a natural person, his/her ancestors, descendants, siblings, or spouse, any executor or administrator of his/her estate, or to a custodian, trustee (including a trustee of a voting trust), executor, or other fiduciary primarily for the account of the Noteholder or his/her ancestors, descendants, siblings, or spouse, whether step, in-law or adopted, and, in the case of any such trust or fiduciary, to the Noteholder

 

39


  who transferred this Note to such trust or fiduciary, but only with respect to transfers made for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy; (ii) if an entity, (A) the then-existing shareholders or other investors in the Noteholder in connection with the dissolution or winding-up of the Noteholder, or (B) any Person in connection with any consolidation or reorganization of the Noteholder directly or indirectly with or into one or more other investment vehicles; or (iii) any Affiliate of the Noteholder (other than any investment portfolio company of the Noteholder that is an Affiliate) provided that, with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), if any such Permitted Transferee shall not be a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act, it shall be a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee.

 

  (qq)

“Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

  (rr)

“PIK Amount” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2(b).

 

  (ss)

“PIK Notice” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2(b).

 

  (tt)

“Principal” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

  (uu)

“Principal Market” means The New York Stock Exchange or any Eligible Market on which the Issuer’s Common Shares are listed (and, in the case of simultaneous listings on multiple markets, the majority of the Issuer’s Common Shares trade) at the applicable time.

 

  (vv)

“Project” means the engineering, design, procurement, installation of equipment, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, start-up, testing and/or production ramp-up of certain (i) the Facility, (ii) raw material and end products warehouses, administrative offices, quality control/quality assurance laboratories, visitor center buildings, and car parking lots, in each case for or related to the Facility, and/or (iii) recycling facilities, including, without limitation, Black Mass production facilities in Rochester, New York by the Issuer and/or any of its (direct or indirect) subsidiaries.

 

  (ww)

“Project Financing” means one or more project financings from any Project Lender in an aggregate gross principal amount (including any capitalized interest in respect thereof) of at least $375 million and not more than $475 million obtained by the Issuer and/or any of its (direct or indirect) subsidiaries from a Project Lender primarily in respect of the Project.

 

  (xx)

“Project Financing Closing Date” means the “closing date” (or such other equivalent term) under any Project Loan Documentation executed by the Issuer and/or any of its applicable Subsidiaries in connection with a Project Financing.

 

40


  (yy)

“Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Project Financing, an intercreditor agreement between, among others, the Project Lender providing such Project Financing and the applicable Note Parties, which Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement shall be in form and substance agreed by the Project Lender in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

  (zz)

“Project Lender” means the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Financing Bank, and/or any other provider of a Project Financing that is reasonably acceptable to the Noteholder (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as applicable.

 

  (aaa)

“Project Loan Collateral” means (A) any assets of the Issuer, Li-Cycle Americas Corp., (or any other direct parent of a subsidiary which is party to any Project Financing) or the U.S. Project Finance Group that are required to be pledged pursuant to any Project Loan Documentation, and (B) a Lien in respect of which would conflict with, or result in a violation of, any Project Loan Documentation, including without limitation, (i) any receivables in respect of subordinated debt or under any “Affiliate Transaction Agreement” (as defined in the relevant Project Loan Documentation) or any equivalent term in any Project Loan Documentation, in each case, which receivables are owed to a Note Party by any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group, (ii) any license of intellectual property granted by any Note Party to a Project Lender under the Project Loan Documentation, (iii) any cash collateral account held by the Issuer or a Note Party which is required to be or will be required to be pledged in favor of a Project Lender (or any agent on its behalf) in connection with any Project Loan Documentation, (iv) any equity interests in any (direct or indirect) subsidiary of the Issuer or any Note Party which are required to be pledged to secure a Project Financing (including the equity interests in any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group), and (v) any other assets customarily required by Project Lenders to secure Project Financings of the type contemplated herein (to the extent such assets are in fact pledged to secure a Project Financing).

 

  (bbb)

“Project Loan Documentation” means any definitive documentation (including any definitive loan agreement) entered into by the Issuer and/or any of its subsidiaries in connection with any Project Financing.

 

  (ccc)

“Redemption Date” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, the date on which the Note is redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption by the Issuer, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control Transaction or redemption due to an Event of Default; and

 

  (ii)

commencing on and after the Modification Date, the date on which the Note is redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption by the Issuer, ECF Mandatory Redemption, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control Transaction or redemption due to an Event of Default.

 

41


  (ddd)

“Redemption Price” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, the cash purchase price for which the Note is to be redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control or redemption due to an Event of Default; and

 

  (ii)

commencing on and after the Modification Date, the cash purchase price for which the Note is to be redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption, ECF Mandatory Redemption, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control or redemption due to an Event of Default.

 

  (eee)

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the amended and restated registration rights agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Issuer and the Holder, as amended from time to time.

 

  (fff)

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

  (ggg)

“Senior Debt” means all present and future indebtedness for money borrowed of the Issuer from institutional lenders, commercial credit companies, commercial banks, credit unions, government agencies and other commercial lenders, which may be, from time to time, incurred by the Issuer, including, but not limited to, any negotiable instruments evidencing the same, all guaranties, debts, demands, monies, indebtedness, liabilities and obligations owed or to become owing, including interest, principal, costs, and other charges, and all claims, rights, causes of action, judgments, decrees, remedies, or other obligations of any kind whatsoever and howsoever arising, whether voluntary, involuntary, absolute, contingent, direct, indirect, or by operation of law, which indebtedness does not by its terms rank pari passu with or subordinate to this Note.

 

  (hhh)

“Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any subsidiary of such Person that constitutes, or any group of subsidiaries of such Person that, in the aggregate, would constitute, a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the 1934 Act) of such Person.

 

  (iii)

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

  (jjj)

“Specified Date” means the earlier of (i) the date on which this Note has been fully converted in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

  (kkk)

“Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

  (lll)

“Tax Indemnity Side Letter” has the meaning given to such term in the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (mmm)

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any governmental authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

42


  (nnn)

“Term SOFR” means, for any calculation of Interest, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the interest period on the Note on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such interest period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

  (ooo)

“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Noteholder (in consultation with the Issuer) in its reasonable discretion).

 

  (ppp)

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

 

  (qqq)

“Trading Day” means, as applicable, (i) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Common Shares are traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Shares, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares are then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Shares are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Shares are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Noteholder or (ii) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Principal Market (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.

 

43


  (rrr)

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

 

  (sss)

“U.S. Project Finance Group” means, collectively, Li-Cycle U.S. Holdings Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., and Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

31.

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS. REFERENCE IS MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. THE NOTEHOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL BE BOUND BY AND WILL TAKE NO ACTION CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZES. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 31 ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUMMARIZE ALL RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. REFERENCE MUST BE MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT ITSELF TO UNDERSTAND ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF. THE NOTEHOLDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ITS OWN ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS THEREOF. THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS ARE INTENDED AS AN INDUCEMENT TO THE NOTEHOLDER AND/OR HOLDER OF ANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBJECT TO ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT TO EXTEND CREDIT THEREUNDER AND THE HOLDERS OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH PROVISIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT.

 

32.

CONFLICTS. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Secured Note Document, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Note Purchase Agreement and any other Secured Note Document, the terms of the relevant Secured Note Document shall govern and control; provided that in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between any Intercreditor Agreement and any Secured Note Document, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

33.

DISCLOSURE. Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Noteholder (or receipt by the Issuer from the Noteholder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Issuer has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Issuer, the Issuer shall on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Issuer believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Issuer, the Issuer so shall indicate to the Noteholder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Noteholder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Issuer immediately upon receipt of notice from the Noteholder), the Noteholder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Issuer.

 

44


34.

NOTEHOLDER COVENANT. By accepting this Note and being a party to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Noteholder agrees to comply with and be bound by the terms and conditions hereof, including the agreements and covenants set forth herein made by such Noteholder, as if such Noteholder was a party hereto.

 

35.

ABSENCE OF TRADING AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that the Noteholder is not a fiduciary or agent of the Issuer and that the Noteholder shall have no obligation to (a) maintain the confidentiality of any information provided by the Issuer or (b) refrain from trading any securities while in possession of such information in the absence of a written non-disclosure agreement signed by an officer of the Noteholder that explicitly provides for such confidentiality and trading restrictions. In the absence of such an executed, written non-disclosure agreement, the Issuer acknowledges that the Noteholder may freely trade in any securities issued by the Issuer, may possess and use any information provided by the Issuer in connection with such trading activity, and may disclose any such information to any third party.

[signature page follows]

 

45


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Amended and Restated Convertible Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set forth above.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name:   Ajay Kochhar
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page – Convertible Note


EXHIBIT I

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. NOTEHOLDER CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued on March 25, 2024 to the undersigned Registered Noteholder by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into Common Shares, no par value per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company, as of the date specified below. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Conversion:  

 

Aggregate Principal to be converted:  

 

Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be converted:  

 

AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE CONVERTED:  

 

Please confirm the following information:
Conversion Price:  

 

Number of Common Shares to be issued:  

 

 

I-1


☐ Check here if the Holder not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S) and is not acting for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person.

Please issue the Common Shares into which the Note is being converted (in the form of uncertificated shares represented by an electronic position) to Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

Issue to:    Name of registered holder:
   Mailing Address:
   Email Address:
   Phone Number:

☐ Check here if requesting the shares be certificated (if permitted by law) and the delivery of a paper certificate to the following mailing address:

 

Issue a certificate in paper form and deliver the certificate to:   

 

☐ Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

 

DTC

 

Participant:

 

 

 

 

DTC

 

Number:

 

 

 

 

Account

 

Number:

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

_____________ __,

 

 

I-2


Name of Registered Holder
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Tax ID:   

 

E-mail Address:
Phone Number:

 

I-3


EXHIBIT II

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. REDEMPTION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued on March 25, 2024 to the undersigned Registered Noteholder by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby issues this redemption notice in connection with:

☐ Optional Redemption

☐ ECF Mandatory Redemption

in exchange for (as indicated below) cash as of the date specified below, and warrants to acquire Common Shares. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Redemption:  

 

Aggregate Principal to be redeemed:  

 

Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be redeemed:  

 

AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE REDEEMED:  

 

Number of Redemption Warrants to be Issued:  

 

 

II-1


Please confirm the following information:
Redemption Price:  

 

Pay to:   Name of registered holder:
  Mailing Address:
  Email Address:
  Phone Number:
  ABA Routing Number:
  Account Number:
  Attention:

 

Tax ID:  

 

E-mail Address:
Phone Number:

 

II-2

EX-4.4 5 d797686dex44.htm EX-4.4 EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDED AND RESTATED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE MAY OCCUR ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION S, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE ARE FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN SECTION 15 HEREOF, AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY SHALL NOT SELL, ASSIGN OR TRANSFER THIS SECURITY TO ANY PERSON THAT IS NOT A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT AND ANY PURPORTED ASSIGNMENT TO SUCH A PERSON WILL BE NULL AND VOID AB INITIO AND UNENFORCEABLE AND THE ISSUER WILL NOT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO ANY SUCH PERSON (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, INTEREST OR OTHER AMOUNT AND TO ISSUE ANY SHARE OR OTHER SECURITY); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A SALE, ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER TO A PERMITTED INDEMNIFYING TRANSFEREE SHALL BE PERMITTED. A NOTEHOLDER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT THAT SUBSEQUENLTY CEASES TO BE A RESIDENT OF CANADA FOR PURPOSES OF THE TAX ACT AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE DEFINITION OF PERMITTED INDEMNIFYING TRANSFEREE.


LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

 

Amendment and Restatement Date:

March 25, 2024 (the “Issuance Date”)

  

Original Principal Amount:

$114,615,632

This Amended and Restated Convertible Note, dated as of the Issuance Date set forth above (this “Note”) amends, restates, consolidates and supersedes in its entirety that certain (i) convertible note, the “Original Convertible Note”) held by the Existing Holder (as defined below) and originally issued by the Issuer pursuant to that certain note purchase agreement, dated May 5, 2022 as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) between the Issuer and Glencore Canada Corporation, (ii) that certain note issued in respect of the then outstanding PIK Amount of $8,806,414.26 held by the Existing Holder and originally issued by the Issuer on November 30, 2023 pursuant to the terms of the Original Convertible Note and the Note Purchase Agreement (“PIK Note 3”) and (iii) that certain note issued in respect of the then outstanding PIK Amount of $5,809,217.74 held by the Existing Holder and originally issued by the Issuer on March 25, 2024 pursuant to the terms of the Original Convertible Note and the Note Purchase Agreement (“PIK Note 4”, and together with PIK Note 3, collectively, the “Original PIK Notes”), and from and after the Issuance Date, such Original Convertible Note and each of the Original PIK Notes shall be of no further force and effect.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Issuer”), hereby promises to pay to the order of Glencore Canada Corporation, having an office at 100, King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3, Canada with company number 1947729, or its permitted assigns (the “Noteholder”) the amount set forth above as the Original Principal Amount (as increased or reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to PIK Amounts, redemption, conversion or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Convertible Note, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate on each Interest Date until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or upon acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof).

This Note is deemed issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not pursuant to the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 28. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

2


1.

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL. On the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall pay to the Noteholder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, together with all accrued and unpaid Interest (if any) on such Principal on the Maturity Date.

 

2.

INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.

 

  (a)

Interest on this Note shall (i) commence accruing on the Issuance Date, (ii) be computed on the basis of actual number of days in a 360-day year, and (iii) be payable, at the election of the Issuer, in cash or in kind (in accordance with Section 2(b) below) on the Interest Date with respect to each Interest Period in accordance with the terms of this Note (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any period during which Interest ceases to accrue pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement)). All such Interest shall accrue at the Interest Rate. In the case of a conversion in accordance with Section 4, a redemption in accordance with Section 5 or any required payment upon a Change of Control Transaction or Event of Default, in each case, prior to the payment of Interest on an Interest Date, accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note as of the date of any such event shall be payable by way of inclusion of such Interest in the Conversion Amount, the Redemption Price or the Forced Redemption Price, as applicable, on the applicable date of conversion or Redemption Date.

 

  (b)

Subject to Applicable Law, at any time Interest is due and payable hereunder, such Interest shall be paid in cash, or, at the option of the Issuer with no less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice to the Noteholder, prior to the applicable Interest Date (such written notice, a “PIK Notice”), may be capitalized by adding such amounts to the aggregate outstanding principal balance of this Note then outstanding on the applicable Interest Date (each such capitalized amount, a “PIK Amount”). In the absence of a PIK Notice being delivered to the Noteholder at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Noteholder may reasonably agree) prior to the applicable Interest Date, Interest shall be paid in cash for the applicable Interest Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Interest must be paid in cash in the event and to the extent that the Issuer determines that shareholder approval would be required in order to issue the Common Shares upon conversion of the portion of the Principal attributable to any such PIK Amount.

 

  (c)

For purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), whenever any Interest under this Note is calculated using a rate based on a year of 360 days the rate determined pursuant to such calculation, when expressed as an annual rate, is equivalent to (i) the applicable rate based on a year of 360 days (ii) multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the period for which such Interest is payable (or compounded) ends, and (iii) divided by 360. The principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any Interest calculation under this Note and the rates of Interest stipulated in this Note are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

3


  (d)

If any provision of this Note or of any of the other Transaction Documents would obligate the Issuer to make any payment of Interest or any other amount payable to the Noteholder in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by Applicable Law or would result in a receipt by the Noteholder of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)) then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by Applicable Law or so result in a receipt by the Noteholder of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to the Noteholder under the applicable Transaction Document, and thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the Noteholder which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada).

 

3.

PAYMENTS FREE OF TAXES. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note shall be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any payment under this Note, then (i) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax and/or Other Tax, the amount payable by the Issuer shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3) the Noteholder receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (ii) the Issuer shall make such deductions and (iii) the Issuer shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with Applicable Law and file all required forms in respect thereof and, at the same time, provide copies of such remittance and filing to the Noteholder.

 

4.

CONVERSION OF NOTE. This Note shall be convertible, in whole or in part, into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4.

 

4


  (a)

Noteholder Conversion Right. The Noteholder shall be entitled at its option at any time (other than at such time as any conversion rights of the Noteholder shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement)), to convert all or a portion of the Conversion Amount into that number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares determined by dividing the Conversion Amount being so converted by the Conversion Price on the Conversion Date. To convert any Conversion Amount into Common Shares on any Trading Day (the date of such conversion, a “Conversion Date”), the Noteholder shall deliver, for receipt by no earlier than 4:00 p.m. New York time, and no later than 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Conversion Date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Noteholder Conversion Notice”) to the Issuer, which Noteholder Conversion Notice shall set forth (i) the Conversion Amount being so converted, the detailed calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest included in the Conversion Amount being so converted as of the Conversion Date, and (iii) the detailed calculation of the number of Common Shares required to be delivered in respect of such Noteholder Conversion Notice

 

  (b)

[Reserved].

 

  (c)

Mechanics of Conversion.

 

  (i)

Satisfaction of Conversion. Any conversion in accordance with this Section 4 shall be deemed satisfied upon delivery of the appropriate number of Common Shares to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after a Noteholder Conversion Notice is delivered. For greater certainty, the day that the Noteholder Conversion Notice is delivered does not count as a Trading Day. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Shares issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Shares on the Conversion Date.

 

  (ii)

Return of Note. Following a conversion of this Note in accordance with this Section 4, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after such conversion and at its own expense, surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)). If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion and the outstanding Principal is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Issuer shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Noteholder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not converted.

 

5


  (iii)

The Issuer shall not issue any fraction of a Common Share upon any conversion. If the conversion would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Common Share, the Issuer shall round such fraction of a Common Shares down to the nearest whole share.

 

  (d)

Market Regulation. The Issuer shall only issue Common Shares upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note to the extent the issuance of such Common Shares would not exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Issuer may issue without violating the rules or regulations of any Eligible Market on which the Common Shares are then listed (including without limitation Section 312.03(c) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Issuer (i) obtains the approval of its shareholders as required by the applicable rules of any Eligible Market on which the Common Shares are then listed for issuances of Common Shares in excess of such amount or (ii) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Issuer that such approval is not required. In the event that shareholder approval is required with respect to the issuance of Common Shares upon conversion of this Note (or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note) under the rules or regulations of any Eligible Market on which the Common Shares are then listed, as contemplated by clause (i) above, the Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain such approval. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer’s non-compliance with the limitations contained in this Section 4(d) shall not constitute an Event of Default or breach of this Note by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall not have any liability under this Note resulting therefrom.

 

  (e)

Antitrust and Foreign Investment Laws. The Issuer shall only issue Common Shares upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note to the extent the issuance of such Common Shares would not exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Issuer may issue without violating the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) or any antitrust laws of other jurisdictions or any foreign investment laws applicable in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon conversion of this Note, except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that (i) the Noteholder (and, if applicable, the Issuer) obtains the necessary regulatory approvals as required by any applicable antitrust laws or foreign investment laws or (ii) the Noteholder (and, if applicable, the Issuer) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Noteholder (or, in the case of the Issuer, counsel to the Issuer) that such approval(s) are not required. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer’s non-compliance with the limitations contained in this Section 4(e) shall not constitute an Event of Default or breach of this Note by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall not have any liability under this Note or otherwise resulting therefrom, but in the event that conversion of this Note requires any filing or approval under the HSR Act or any applicable antitrust laws of any other jurisdiction and any foreign investment laws the Noteholder and, if applicable, the Issuer shall endeavor to make such filings and obtain such approval in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, Section 5(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

6


5.

REDEMPTION BY THE ISSUER.

 

  (a)

Optional Redemption Right. The Issuer shall be entitled to redeem (an “Optional Redemption”) (i) prior to the Modification Date, all, but not less than all, of this Note and (ii) from and after the Modification Date, all or any portion of this Note, in each case, at any time for a cash purchase price (the “Optional Redemption Price”) equal to the sum of:

 

  (i)

100% of the Principal being redeemed at such time; plus

 

  (ii)

all accrued and unpaid Interest on such portion of Principal being redeemed as of the Redemption Date (as defined below);

provided, that any Optional Redemption shall be suspended, and the Issuer shall have no obligation to consummate any such Optional Redemption, at any time following delivery of a Redemption Notice if Noteholder’s entitlement to redemption shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement).

 

  (b)

ECF Mandatory Redemption. From and after the occurrence of the Modification Date (but excluding any period during which any entitlement to redemption of the Noteholder shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement), in the event that the Issuer is required to make an ECF Mandatory Redemption (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note (as in effect on the date hereof)) with respect to the Indebtedness under the 2024 Secured Note (the amount required to be applied to such redemption prior to giving effect to the ratable application of such amount to the Secured Exchange Notes (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof), the “ECF Redemption Amount”), the Issuer shall be required to (i) redeem a portion of the Principal of this Note in an amount equal to its ratable portion of such ECF Redemption Amount (which amount for this purpose shall be calculated after giving effect to all deductions from, and reductions to, such amount as are contemplated by the 2024 Secured Note), as and to the extent contemplated by Section 6(b) of the 2024 Secured Note (as in effect on the date hereof) (such portion required to be applied to the redemption of this Note, the “Applicable

 

7


  ECF Redemption Amount” and such required redemption, the “Applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption”) and (ii) issue Redemption Warrants to the Noteholder in accordance with clause (d)(i) below, with such redemption and issuance of such Redemption Warrants occurring substantially concurrently with the corresponding redemption and issuance under the 2024 Secured Note.

 

  (c)

Mechanics of Redemption.

 

  (i)

Redemption Notice.

 

  (1)

To exercise its optional redemption right pursuant to Section 5(a), the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder a copy of an executed notice of redemption in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (when used in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 5, the “Redemption Notice”), which Optional Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Optional Redemption Price and (ii) detailed calculations of the Principal plus accrued and unpaid Interest included in the Optional Redemption Price as of the Redemption Date, provided that such notice may be conditioned on the occurrence of another event.

 

  (2)

To make an Applicable ECF Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 5(b), the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder a Redemption Notice substantially concurrently with the delivery of the corresponding redemption notice under the 2024 Secured Note, which Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Applicable ECF Redemption Amount and (ii) a calculation of the accrued and unpaid Interest thereon up to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, in each case, after giving effect to any reductions and/or deductions in the ECF Mandatory Redemption Amount required to be applied to the Principal as provided in Section 6(b) of the 2024 Secured Note (as in effect on the date hereof) and in Section 5(b) above (such amounts required to be paid, the “ECF Mandatory Redemption Price”).

 

  (ii)

Satisfaction of Redemption. Any redemption on a Redemption Date in accordance with this Section 5 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Optional Redemption Price or the Applicable ECF Redemption Amount, as applicable, in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after the applicable Redemption Notice is delivered. For greater certainty, the day that the Redemption Notice is given shall not count as a Trading Day.

 

8


  (iii)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 5, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Optional Redemption Price or the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, as applicable, and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 15(b)).

 

  (iv)

Conversion Prior to Redemption. The Noteholder may convert this Note at its option pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof at any time after receipt of a Redemption Notice and prior to payment of the Optional Redemption Price or the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price, as applicable.

 

  (d)

Warrants.

 

  (i)

Provided the Noteholder has not elected to convert this Note in whole into Common Shares in accordance with Section 5(b)(iv) following receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Issuer shall issue to the Noteholder, on the date of redemption of this Note, a number of share warrants of the Issuer (the “Redemption Warrants”) entitling the Noteholder to acquire a number of Common Shares equal to the Principal redeemed divided by the then applicable Conversion Price and expiring on the Maturity Date. The initial exercise price of the Redemption Warrants will be equal to the applicable Conversion Price as of the date of redemption of this Note. The form of Warrant certificate for such Redemption Warrants is attached hereto as Exhibit III. The Noteholder shall have the right to reasonably request that the Issuer deliver, upon issuance of the Redemption Warrants, customary opinions of counsel, in form and substance substantially as set forth in Exhibit D to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (e)

No Make-Whole. For the avoidance of doubt, no Make-Whole Amount, fees, premium or penalty shall be due, owing or payable by the Issuer in connection with the issuance of this Note and the other transactions contemplated by this Section 5.

 

9


6.

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL MATTERS.

 

  (a)

Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on and after the Modification Date:

 

  (i)

the Issuer will cause its subsidiaries that are required to become “Note Guarantors” under and as defined in the 2024 Secured Note (the “Applicable Note Guarantors” and together with the Issuer, the “Note Parties”) to guarantee the obligations of the Issuer under this Note (such guarantee, the “Note Guaranty”) on substantially the same terms as the 2024 Note Guaranty, to secure such Note Guaranty with pari passu liens on the same assets in respect of which such Applicable Note Guarantors have granted liens in favor of the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the secured parties under the 2024 Secured Note, to secure their obligations under the 2024 Secured Note and enter into collateral documentation in the same form and on the same terms as entered into to secure the 2024 Secured Note (the “Collateral Documents”); provided, that it is understood and agreed that in no event shall the Applicable Note Guarantors be required to grant liens on their assets that constitute Excluded Assets and in no event shall an Excluded Subsidiary be required to become an Applicable Note Guarantor and (B) the Noteholder agrees to enter into a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement with the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent and, when applicable, the holder of the First A&R Note (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note) to set forth the relative priorities, rights and remedies as between the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent, the Noteholder and the holder of the First A&R Note;

 

  (ii)

the Issuer will, and will cause each other Applicable Note Guarantors to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements, instruments, certificates, notices and acknowledgments and take all such further actions (including the filing and recordation of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages and/or amendments thereto and other documents), that may be required under any Applicable Law and which the Noteholder may reasonably request to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the liens created or intended to be created under the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the relevant Note Parties; and the Issuer will, and will cause each other Note Party to, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Documents or other document or instrument relating to any collateral and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts (including notices to third parties), deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Noteholder may reasonably request from time to time in order to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the liens created or intended to be created under the Collateral Documents.

 

10


  (b)

Guarantees and Collateral. Notwithstanding any provision of this Note, the Note Guaranty or any Collateral Document (collectively, the “Secured Note Documents”) to the contrary, for purposes of any determination relating to the Note Guaranty and/or the Collateral as to which the Noteholder is granted discretion hereunder or under any other Secured Note Document (including any determination with respect to any waivers, extensions, consents or approvals, any discretion to be exercised and/or any determinations with respect to whether any assets constitute Excluded Assets or whether any subsidiaries constitute “Excluded Subsidiaries” or similar term), the Noteholder shall be deemed to have agreed and accepted any determination in respect thereof by the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent (subject to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, until the Maturity Date (i) any possessory collateral required to be delivered to the Noteholder shall be deemed to be delivered to the Noteholder, if the same has been delivered to the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent or such other Person as may be mutually agreed acting as gratuitous bailee of the Noteholder, and (ii) any consent, judgment or discretion that may be exercised by the Noteholder with respect to the Applicable Note Guarantors, the Note Guaranty and/or the Collateral Documents under the terms of this Note, the Note Guaranty and/or the Collateral Documents shall be deemed to be exercised in the same manner as the consent, judgment or discretion of the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent.

 

7.

RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.

 

  (a)

Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

  (i)

default in any payment of interest on this Note when due and payable that has continued for a period of thirty (30) days;

 

  (ii)

default in the payment of Principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, within five (5) Business Days of becoming due and payable on the Maturity Date, a Redemption Date or upon declaration of acceleration hereunder;

 

  (iii)

failure by the Issuer to comply with its obligation to (a) convert this Note in accordance with this Note upon exercise of the Noteholder’s conversion right in accordance with the terms hereof or (b) issue Redemption Warrants in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that, in each case, such failure continues for a period of five (5) Business Days after the date such conversion or issuance was required to occur;

 

11


  (iv)

failure by the Issuer for sixty (60) days after written notice from the Noteholder has been received by the Issuer to comply with any of its other agreements contained in this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or, from and after the Modification Date, the other Secured Note Documents;

 

  (v)

(A) any “Event of Default” (howsoever defined) under the 2021 Convertible Note, or (B) default by the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed of $100,000,000 or more (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of the Issuer or such subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, (1) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity date or (2) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such debt when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, and in the cases of clauses (1) and (2), such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such failure to pay or default shall not have been cured or waived, or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days after written notice of such default to the Issuer by the Noteholder;

 

  (vi)

one or more final, non-appealable judgments or orders is rendered against the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer, which requires the payment in money by the Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer, individually or in the aggregate, of an amount (net of amounts covered by insurance or bonded) in excess of $150,000,000, and such judgment or judgments have not been satisfied, stayed, paid, discharged, vacated, bonded, annulled or rescinded within thirty (30) days after the later of (A) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, and (B) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

 

  (vii)

commencement by the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor, of a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary or their respective debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor or any substantial part of their respective property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

12


  (viii)

an involuntary case or other proceeding having been commenced against the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Issuer, a Significant Subsidiary or, from and after the Modification Date, any Applicable Note Guarantor or their respective debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of their respective property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;

 

  (ix)

the Common Shares cease to be listed on an Eligible Market; or

 

  (x)

From and after the Modification Date, (i) any Note Guaranty for any reason, other than the occurrence of the Specified Date, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or shall be declared, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be null and void or any Note Guarantor shall repudiate in writing its obligations thereunder (in each case, other than (x) as a result of the discharge of such Note Guarantor in accordance with the terms thereof, (y) as a result of any act or omission by the Noteholder and/or (z) in any bona fide, good faith dispute as to the scope of Collateral or whether any Note Guaranty or Lien has been or is required to be released), (ii) this Note or any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect or shall be declared, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be null and void or any Lien on any material portion of the Collateral created under the Collateral Document ceases to be perfected (other than solely by reason of (1) such perfection not being required pursuant to the collateral and guarantee requirements to be set forth in the Collateral Documents, the Collateral Documents, this Note or otherwise, (2) the failure of the Noteholder to maintain possession of any Collateral actually delivered to it or the failure of the Noteholder to file UCC, PPSA or similar financing statements, amendments or continuation statements, (3) a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or any other Secured Note Document, (4) the occurrence of the Specified Date or any other termination of such Collateral Document in accordance with the terms thereof) or (iii) any Note Party shall contest in writing, the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Secured Note Document (or any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral

 

13


  Documents on any portion of the Collateral or any Note Guaranty) or deny in writing that it has any further liability (other than by reason of the occurrence of the Specified Date or any other termination of any other Secured Note Document in accordance with the terms thereof), under any Secured Note Document to which it is a party; provided, that it is understood and agreed that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, in no event shall the subordination or release of any Obligation under the Note Guaranty or any Lien on any asset or property granted pursuant to any Collateral Document in connection with the consummation of any Project Financing and/or the entry into any Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement or any other matter or transaction contemplated by Section 7 give rise to a default or Event of Default under this Section 7(a)(x) or any other provision of this Note or any other Secured Note Document.

 

  (b)

Notice of Default; Accelerated Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence of a Default with respect to this Note the Issuer shall within three (3) Business Days deliver written notice thereof (a “Default Notice”) to the Noteholder that includes (i) a reasonable description of the applicable Default, (ii) a certification as to whether, in the opinion of the Issuer, such Default is capable of being cured and, if applicable, a reasonable description of any existing plans of the Issuer to cure such Default and (iii) a certification as to the date the Default occurred and, if cured on or prior to the date of such Default Notice, the applicable Event of Default Right Expiration Date (as defined below). At any time after the earlier of (A) the Noteholder’s receipt of a Default Notice and the subsequent occurrence of an Event of Default and (B) the Noteholder becoming aware of an Event of Default and ending (such ending date, the “Event of Default Right Expiration Date”) on the twentieth (20th) Trading Day after the later of (x) the date such Default is cured and (y) the Noteholder’s receipt of a Default Notice and the subsequent occurrence of an Event of Default, the Noteholder may require the Issuer to redeem (unless such Event of Default has been cured on or prior to the Event of Default Right Expiration Date) all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Issuer, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Noteholder is electing to require the Issuer to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be redeemed by the Issuer for a cash purchase price equal to the Forced Redemption Price. Any redemption upon an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 7(b) shall not constitute an election of remedies by the Noteholder, and all other rights and remedies of the Noteholder shall be preserved.

 

14


  (c)

Satisfaction of Accelerated Redemption. The Issuer’s obligation to redeem in accordance with this Section 7 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Forced Redemption Price in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the fifth Trading Day after the Event of Default Redemption Notice is given. For greater certainty, the day that the Event of Default Redemption Notice is given does not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (d)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 6, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Forced Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 16(b)).

 

  (e)

In addition to the foregoing:

 

  (i)

Automatic Acceleration. If an Event of Default set forth in Section 7(a)(vii) or Section 7(a)(viii) occurs, then the Principal of, and all accrued and unpaid interest and Make-Whole Amount on, this Note will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any Person.

 

  (ii)

Optional Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default set forth in Section 7(a)(vii) or Section 7(a)(viii)) occurs and is continuing, then the Noteholder may, by notice to the Issuer, declare the Principal, and all accrued and unpaid Interest on, this Note to become due and payable immediately.

 

  (iii)

Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, the Noteholder, by notice to the Issuer, may rescind any acceleration of this Note and its consequences if (A) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (B) all existing Events of Default (except the non-payment of Principal of, or Interest on, this Note that has become due solely because of such acceleration) have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

  (f)

The Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party, expressly agrees and acknowledges (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that the Make-Whole Amount payable in connection with any automatic acceleration of the Principal of this Note or any Forced Redemption Price in connection with a COC Mandatory Redemption or an Accelerated Redemption set forth in Section 7(b) (collectively,

 

15


  the “Premium”) (w) shall constitute reasonable and proportionate compensation for any lost profits or damages of the Noteholders caused by such events, (x) is the product of an arm’s length transaction resulting from good faith negotiations between sophisticated parties having received independent legal advice, (y) is payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment of the Premium is made and (z) shall be payable by the Issuer or the Applicable Note Guarantors (as applicable) to the Noteholder as and to the extent provided in this Note, notwithstanding any automatic acceleration hereunder following an Event of Default set forth in Section 7(a)(vii) or Section 7(a)(viii). The Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party, hereby expressly agrees (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that with respect to the Premium payable under the terms of this Note (i) payment of the Premium hereunder constitutes liquidated damages, is not a penalty, punishment, “unmatured interest” as that term is used in section 502(b) of the Bankruptcy Code (or otherwise) or an otherwise unenforceable or invalid obligation, and is a material inducement to each Noteholder, (ii) the actual amount of damages to the Noteholder or profits lost by the Noteholder as a result of the events requiring payment of the Premium hereunder would be impracticable and extremely difficult to ascertain, (iii) the amount of the Premium payable hereunder is provided by mutual agreement of the Issuer and the Noteholder, as a reasonable estimation and calculation of the damages that the Noteholder would incur upon the occurrence of events requiring payment of the Premium hereunder, and the Premium payable hereunder is reasonable in light of the circumstances, (iv) there has been a course of conduct between the Noteholder and the Note Parties giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Premium and (v) the Note Parties shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Premium shall be fully earned, and automatically and immediately due and payable, on the date on which such Premium is required to be made pursuant to the terms of this Note and shall constitute part of the Obligations secured by the Collateral as of such date. The Premium shall also be automatically and immediately due and payable if the Obligations are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other similar means, or if the Obligations are reinstated pursuant to section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code or similar provisions under Debtor Relief Laws. The obligation to pay the Premium will not be subject to counterclaim or setoff for, or otherwise be affected by, any claim or dispute any Note Party may have (other than a claim of payment). In the event that the Premium is determined not to be due and payable by order of any court of competent jurisdiction, including by operation of Debtor Relief Laws, despite becoming due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Note, such Premium shall nonetheless constitute Obligations under the Note Documents for all purposes hereunder and thereunder. The Noteholder

 

16


  has agreed to hold this Note in reliance of each such agreement and acknowledgement by the Issuer, for itself and on behalf on any other Note Party. THE ISSUER, FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF ON ANY OTHER NOTE PARTY, EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH EVENT SET FORTH IN THIS NOTE.

 

8.

RIGHTS UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION.

 

  (a)

Mandatory Redemption upon Change of Control Transaction. Upon the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction, the Issuer shall redeem all, but not less than all, of this Note remaining outstanding and unconverted at such time for a cash purchase price equal to the Forced Redemption Price (a “Mandatory Redemption”).

 

  (b)

Mechanics of Redemption.

 

  (i)

Redemption Notice. Upon a redemption by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 8, the Issuer shall deliver to the Noteholder , a copy of an executed notice of redemption in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (when used in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 8, the “CoC Redemption Notice”) to the Noteholder , which CoC Redemption Notice shall, for greater certainty, set forth (i) the Forced Redemption Price and (ii) calculations of the accrued and unpaid Interest and Make-Whole Amount included in the Forced Redemption Price as of the Redemption Date.

 

  (ii)

Satisfaction of Redemption. Any redemption on a Redemption Date in accordance with this Section 8 shall be deemed satisfied upon payment of the Forced Redemption Price in cash to the Noteholder by the end of the third Trading Day after the CoC Redemption Notice is given. For greater certainty, the day that the CoC Redemption Notice is given does not count as a Trading Day.

 

  (iii)

Return of Note. Following a redemption of this Note in accordance with this Section 8, the Noteholder shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Forced Redemption Price and at its own expense surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Issuer (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 16(b)).

 

17


  (iv)

Conversion Prior to Redemption. Noteholder may convert this note at its option pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof at any time after receipt of a CoC Redemption Notice and prior to payment of the Forced Redemption Price.

 

9.

ADJUSTMENTS.

 

  (a)

If and whenever, at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall: (i) subdivide or re-divide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common Shares; (ii) reduce, combine or consolidate the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares; (iii) issue options, rights, warrants or similar securities to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares; or (iv) issue Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares to the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution; the number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of this Note on the date of the subdivision, re-division, reduction, combination or consolidation or on the record date for the issue of options, rights, warrants or similar securities or on the record date for the issue of Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares by way of a dividend or distribution, as the case may be, shall be adjusted so that the Noteholder shall be entitled to receive the kind and number of Common Shares or other securities of the Issuer which it would have owned or been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described in this Section 9(a) had this Note been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 9(a) shall become effective immediately after the effective time of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.

 

  (b)

If and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, there is a reclassification of the Common Shares or a capital reorganization of the Issuer other than as described in Section 9(a) or a consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, binding share exchange, merger of the Issuer with or into any other Person or other entity or acquisition of the Issuer or other combination pursuant to which the Common Shares are converted into or acquired for cash, securities or other property; or a sale or conveyance of the property and assets of the Issuer as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer) or other entity or a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Issuer (in any of the foregoing cases, that is not a Change of Control Transaction), the Noteholder , if it has not exercised its right of conversion prior to the effective date of such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, upon the exercise of such

 

18


  right thereafter, shall be entitled to receive and shall accept, in lieu of the number of Common Shares then sought to be acquired by it, such amount of cash or the number of shares or other securities or property of the Issuer or of the Person or other entity resulting from such merger, amalgamation, arrangement, acquisition, combination or consolidation, or to which such sale or conveyance may be made or which holders of Common Shares receive pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, as the case may be, that the Noteholder would have been entitled to receive on such reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, share exchange, acquisition, combination, sale or conveyance or liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, if, on the record date or the effective date thereof, as the case may be, the Noteholder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares sought to be acquired by it and to which it was entitled to acquire upon the exercise of its conversion right at the Conversion Price.

 

  (c)

If, and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall issue Additional Shares of Common Stock, without consideration or for a consideration per share less than Fair Market Value as of the date of issue thereof, then the Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

CP2 = CP1* (A + B) ÷ (A + C).

For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:

 

  (i)

“CP2” shall mean the Conversion Price in effect immediately after such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

  (ii)

“CP1” shall mean the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

  (iii)

“A” shall mean the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock (treating for this purpose as outstanding all Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding immediately prior to such issue or upon conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issue);

 

  (iv)

“B” shall mean the number of Common Shares that would have been issued if such Additional Shares of Common Stock had been issued at a price per share equal to CP1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Issuer (as determined in good faith by the Issuer’s board of directors) in respect of such issue by CP1); and

 

19


  (v)

“C” shall mean the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock issued in such transaction.

 

  (d)

If the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Shares (other than solely pursuant to an odd-lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the 1934 Act), and the value (determined as of the Expiration Time by the Issuer’s board of directors) of the cash and other consideration paid per Common Share in such tender or exchange offer exceeds the last reported sale price per Common Share on the Trading Day immediately after the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended), then the Conversion Price will be increased based on the following formula:

CP1 = CP0 x (OS0 x SP)

AC + (SP x OS1)

where:

 

  CP0

= the Conversion Price in effect immediately before the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer;

 

  CP1

= the Conversion Price in effect immediately after the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period;

 

  AC

= the aggregate value (determined as of the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires by the Issuer’s board of directors) of all cash and other consideration paid for Common Shares purchased or exchanged in such tender or exchange offer;

 

  OS0

= the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before the Expiration Time (including all Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

 

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  OS1

= the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (excluding Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

 

  SP

= the average of the last reported sale prices per Common Shares over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

provided, however, that the Conversion Price will in no event be adjusted down pursuant to this Section 9(d), except to the extent provided in the immediately following paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9(d), if the Conversion Date for this Note to be converted occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Price for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date to, and including, such Conversion Date. To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Issuer being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of Common Shares in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Price will be readjusted to the Conversion Price that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of Common Shares, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

 

  (e)

If, and whenever at any time after the Issuance Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Shares entitled to receive (and subsequently make or issue), a dividend or other distribution payable in cash or other property not involving Common Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares (which is the subject of Section 9(a)), then and in each such event the Noteholder of this Note shall receive, and shall accept, upon the conversion of this Note into Common Shares, a dividend or other distribution of such cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such cash or other property as it would have received if this Note had been converted into Common Shares on the date of such event.

 

21


  (f)

On the occurrence of any reclassification of, or other change in, the outstanding Common Shares or any other event which is not a Change of Control Transaction or addressed in Section 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) or 9(e) (each, an “Unanticipated Event”), the parties will, in good faith, make such further adjustments and changes and take all necessary actions, subject to the approval of the Noteholder , so as to ensure that the Noteholder receives, upon the conversion of this Note occurring at any time after the date of the occurrence of the Unanticipated Event, such shares, securities, rights, cash or property that the Noteholder would have received if, immediately prior to the date of such Unanticipated Event, the Noteholder had been the registered holder of the number of Common Shares to which the Noteholder would be entitled upon the conversion of this Note into Common Shares.

 

  (g)

The adjustments provided for in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) and 9(f) are cumulative and will be made successively whenever an event referred to therein occurs.

 

  (h)

If at any time a question or dispute arises with respect to the adjustments provided for in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) or 9(f), such question or dispute will be conclusively determined by a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Issuer (who may be the auditors of the Issuer) and acceptable to the Noteholder . Such accountants shall have access to all necessary records of the Issuer and any such determination will be binding upon the Issuer and the Noteholder.

 

  (i)

The Issuer shall, from time to time immediately after the occurrence of any event which requires an adjustment or re-adjustment as provided in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) or 9(f), deliver a certificate of the Issuer to the Noteholder specifying the nature of the event requiring the same and the amount of the necessary adjustment (or, in the case of Section 9(e), entitlement to cash or other property upon conversion) and setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based, and, if reasonably required by the Noteholder , such certificate and the amount of the adjustment specified therein shall be verified by an opinion of a firm of nationally recognized chartered professional accountants appointed by the Issuer (who may be the auditors of the Issuer) and acceptable to the Noteholder .

 

  (j)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d) 9(e) or 9(f), if the Noteholder would otherwise be entitled to receive, upon the exercise of its right of conversion, any property (including cash) or securities that would not constitute “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 (“Ineligible Consideration”), the Noteholder shall not be entitled to receive such Ineligible Consideration and the Issuer or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be, shall have the right (at the sole option of the Issuer or the successor or acquiror, as the case may be) to deliver to the Noteholder “prescribed securities” for the purposes of clause 212(1)(b)(vii)(E) of the Tax Act as it applied immediately before January 1, 2008 with a market value (as conclusively determined by the board of directors of the Issuer) equal to the market value of such Ineligible Consideration.

 

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10.

NOTEHOLDER CONSENT RIGHT OVER DEBT INCURRENCE.

The Issuer agrees that it shall not incur additional Indebtedness without the consent of the Noteholder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, other than:

 

  (a)

Indebtedness incurred during any rolling 12-month period that does not exceed $75,000,000 individually or in the aggregate;

 

  (b)

Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business, including trade payables and intercompany debt;

 

  (c)

Indebtedness incurred in connection with any Project Financing; or

 

  (d)

Indebtedness incurred in connection with any agreement entered into with the Export Development Canada Project Finance and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

 

11.

COVENANTS

 

  (a)

Covenant to Pay. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid all the Principal of, the Redemption Price for, Interest on, and other amounts due with respect to, this Note on the dates and in the manner set forth in this Note.

 

  (b)

Amendments to 2021 Convertible Note. If, on or after the date of issuance of the 2021 Convertible Note, any term of the 2021 Convertible Note has been or is amended or modified in a manner that is favorable to the holder thereof, the Issuer shall simultaneously offer to amend or modify this Note to reflect similar terms and, if Noteholder accepts such offer, the Issuer shall promptly effect such amendment or modification.

 

  (c)

Corporate Existence. Subject to Section 8, until the Specified Date, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done, at its own cost and expense, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence in accordance with the organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer.

 

23


  (d)

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. To the extent that it may lawfully do so, the Issuer (i) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Note; and (ii) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Noteholder by this Note, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

  (e)

Payment of Taxes. Until the Specified Date, the Issuer shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon it or its properties except (i) where the failure to effect such payment or discharge is not adverse in any material respect to the Noteholder or (ii) where such taxes are being contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings and with respect to which appropriate reserves have been taken in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

 

12.

VOTING RIGHTS. The Noteholder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by Applicable Law (including the Business Corporations Act (Ontario)).

 

13.

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS. Until the Specified Date, the Issuer shall comply with those covenants as set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

14.

AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. The prior written consent of the Noteholder shall be required for any change, modification, waiver or amendment to this Note. Any change, amendment, modification or waiver so approved shall be binding upon all existing and future holders of this Note.

 

15.

TRANSFER.

 

  (a)

The Issuer shall maintain a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the name and address of the Noteholder and the principal amount of this Note and Interest accrued and unpaid thereon (including as the Principal may be increased as the result of capitalization of Interest in accordance with Section 2(b) of this Note) (the “Registered Note”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The Issuer shall treat the Noteholder for all purposes (including the right to receive payments of Principal and Interest hereunder) as the owner hereof notwithstanding notice to the

 

24


  contrary, however, that upon its receipt of a written request to assign, transfer or sell all or part of the Registered Note by the Noteholder to a Permitted Transferee, the Issuer shall record the information contained therein in the Register and issue one or more new Registered Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Note to the designated assignee or transferee pursuant to Section 16; provided, however, that the Issuer will not register any assignment, transfer or sale of this Note not made in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 15, following conversion of any portion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Noteholder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Issuer unless (A) the full Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted (in which event this Note shall be delivered to the Issuer following conversion thereof as contemplated by Section 4(c)) or (B) the Noteholder has provided the Issuer with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Noteholder Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Note upon physical surrender of this Note. If the Issuer does not update the Register to record the Principal, Interest converted and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions and/or payments (as the case may be), then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such occurrence on the Business Day immediately prior to such occurrence.

 

  (b)

This Note may not be offered, sold, assigned or transferred (including through hedging or derivative transactions) by the Noteholder other than to one or more Permitted Transferees in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S of the 1933 Act or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom and by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register. Any purported assignment to a transferee that is not a Permitted Transferee will be null and void ab initio and unenforceable and the Issuer will not have any obligations to any such transferee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7(a) (in the case of 7(a)(v), only in the event of material breaches) and for so long as such Event of Default is continuing and has not been cured or waived, the Noteholder may offer, sell, assign or transfer this Note (including through hedging or derivative transactions) to any person in accordance with applicable law, and the Register shall be deemed updated to reflect such offer, sale, assignment, transfer, hedge or derivative transaction on the date of such offer, sale, assignment, transfer, hedge or derivative transaction.

 

25


  (c)

The Noteholder shall not offer, sell, assign or transfer this Note to any Person that is not a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act and any purported assignment or transfer to such a Person will be null and void ab initio and unenforceable and the Issuer will not have any obligation to any such person (including, without limitation, to make any payment of principal, interest or other amount and to issue any share or other security); provided, however, that an assignment to a Permitted Transferee that is a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee shall be permitted. A Noteholder that was previously a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act that subsequently ceases to be a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act at any particular time shall be required to satisfy the requirements set forth in the definition of Permitted Indemnifying Transferee. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 15(c) shall not limit in any manner the offer, sale, assignment or transfer of this Note to any Person that is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act. This Section 15(c) shall be subject to the terms of Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement, the terms of which shall apply hereto mutatis mutandis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Note Purchase Agreement, each Permitted Transferee that is a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee shall, prior to and as a condition to becoming a holder of this Note, be required to become bound by the terms and provisions of the Tax Indemnity Side Letter (or a similar agreement having the same substance thereof).

 

16.

REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.

 

  (a)

Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred in accordance with the terms hereof, the Noteholder shall surrender this Note to the Issuer, whereupon the Issuer will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Noteholder a new Note (in accordance with Section 16(d)), registered as the Noteholder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Noteholder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 16(d)) to the Noteholder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Noteholder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this Note following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.

 

  (b)

Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Noteholder to the Issuer in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Noteholder a new Note (in accordance with Section 16(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.

 

26


  (c)

Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Noteholder at the principal office of the Issuer, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 16(d) and in principal amounts of at least $5,000,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Noteholder at the time of such surrender.

 

  (d)

Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Issuer is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note (other than in accordance with Section 7 hereof), such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 16(a) or Section 16(c), the Principal designated by the Noteholder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall include in the principal amount thereof accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note from the Issuance Date.

 

17.

PROJECT FINANCING SUBORDINATION.

 

  (a)

On a substantially concurrent basis with the occurrence of the Project Financing Closing Date, each of the Issuer and the Noteholder agree that (i) the obligations of each member of the U.S. Project Finance Group pursuant to the Note Guaranty (the “Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations”) shall automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably be subordinated to the Note Guaranty provided by such Persons to any Project Lender in connection with a Project Financing and (ii) the Liens on any property of any Note Party that constitutes Project Loan Collateral granted to or held by the Noteholder under or pursuant to any Collateral Document or any other Secured Note Document (such property, the “Applicable Project Collateral”) shall automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably be subordinated to the Liens on such Project Loan Collateral that are granted to or held by any Project Lender in connection with a Project Financing, in each case, (x) subject to clause (b) below and (y) in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement.

 

27


  (b)

The Noteholder expressly agrees that, promptly upon request by the Issuer, the Noteholder will negotiate in good faith the terms of an intercreditor agreement with the Project Lender with respect to the subordination matters described in clause (a) above and use commercially reasonable efforts to agree to the terms of an intercreditor agreement that is acceptable to the Project Lender. The Noteholder further expressly acknowledges and agrees that in the event that the Project Lender and the Noteholder are unable to reach agreement on the terms of an intercreditor arrangement that is acceptable to the Project Lender, the Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations and the Liens granted to, or held by, the Noteholder on the Applicable Project Collateral, shall in each case be automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably released. In furtherance of (but without limiting) the foregoing, if the Issuer determines in good faith that the Noteholder and the Project Lender have not reached agreement on the terms of an intercreditor arrangement that is acceptable to the Project Lender and that continued negotiation of such intercreditor arrangement could reasonably be expected to delay or impede the ability of the U.S. Project Finance Group to obtain the applicable Project Financing, the Issuer may deliver written notice of such determination to the Noteholder and unless a Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement is agreed between the Noteholder and the Project Lender within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice, the Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations and the Liens granted to, or held by, the Noteholder on the Applicable Project Collateral, shall in each case be automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably released on such fifth (5th) Business Day.

 

  (c)

The Noteholder shall take such additional steps, including filing an amendment or termination of any UCC financing statement and/or any PPSA financing statement, as may from time to time reasonably be requested by or on behalf of the Issuer or the Project Lender to evidence such subordination and/or release contemplated by this Section 17.

 

18.

REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Noteholder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Issuer to comply with the terms of this Note. No failure on the part of the Noteholder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Noteholder of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. In addition, the exercise of any right or remedy of the Noteholder at law or equity or under this Note or any of the documents shall not be deemed to be an election of Noteholder’s rights or remedies under such documents or at law or equity. The Issuer covenants to the Noteholder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for

 

28


  herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Noteholder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Issuer (or the performance thereof). The Issuer acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Noteholder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Issuer therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Noteholder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to seek specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Issuer shall provide all information and documentation to the Noteholder that is reasonably requested by the Noteholder to enable the Noteholder to confirm the Issuer’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note.

 

19.

PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Noteholder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Issuer or other proceedings affecting the Noteholder’s rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Issuer shall pay the costs incurred by the Noteholder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Issuer expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.

 

20.

CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Issuer and the initial Noteholder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Note instead of just the provision in which they are found. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of this Note. Any calculation of accrued and unpaid interest under this Note shall exclude period(s) during which Interest has ceased to accrue pursuant to any term of this Note or the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement (including Section 15 of the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement).

 

29


21.

FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Noteholder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

22.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

 

  (a)

Submission to Dispute Resolution.

 

  (i)

In the case of a dispute relating to a Conversion Price, the Optional Redemption Price, the ECF Mandatory Redemption Price or the Forced Redemption Price (as the case may be) (including a dispute relating to the determination of any of the foregoing), the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via electronic mail or otherwise (A) if by the Issuer, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Noteholder within five (5) Business Days after the Noteholder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Noteholder and the Issuer are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such Conversion Price or such Redemption Price (as the case may be), at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Issuer or the Noteholder (as the case may be), then the Issuer shall select an independent, reputable investment bank acceptable to the Noteholder , acting reasonably, to resolve such dispute and the Issuer shall promptly send written confirmation of such joint selection to the Noteholder .

 

  (ii)

The Noteholder and the Issuer shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 21 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Issuer provided notice to the Noteholder of the joint selection of such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Noteholder or the Issuer fails to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right

 

30


  to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both the Issuer and the Noteholder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Issuer nor the Noteholder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation). Any and all communications between the Issuer, on the one hand, and the Noteholder, on the other hand, and such investment bank shall be made in writing and a copy provided simultaneously to the Issuer and the Noteholder and no meeting between such investment bank and the Issuer or the Noteholder shall take place unless each of the Issuer and the Noteholder are in attendance.

 

  (iii)

The Issuer and the Noteholder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Issuer and the Noteholder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be shared equally between the Issuer and the Noteholder, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.

 

23.

NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.

 

  (a)

Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Note must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt by the recipient, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt by the recipient, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

If to the Issuer:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attention: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com

 

31


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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

3 World Trade Center

175 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10007

Attention: Andrea M. Basham, Allison Liff

Email: Andrea.Basham@Freshfields.com

 Allison.Liff@Freshfields.com

and

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

66 Wellington St W

Suite 5300

Toronto, ON M5K 1E6

Attention: Jonathan Grant, Fraser Bourne

Email: jgrant@mccarthy.ca, fbourne@mccarthy.ca

If to the Noteholder:

Glencore Canada Corporation

100, King Street West

Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Canada

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

with a copy to:

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attention: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

 

32


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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attention: Heather Emmel, David Avery-Gee

Email: Heather.emmel@weil.com

 David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

or to such other address or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time and date or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

  (b)

The Issuer shall provide the Noteholder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuer will give written notice to the Noteholder (i) within three (3) Business Days after any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Issuer closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Shares, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property to holders of Common Shares or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Change of Control Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that any material non-public information in any such notice shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Noteholder .

 

  (c)

Calculation of Time. When computing any time period in this Note, the following rules shall apply:

 

  (i)

the day marking the commencement of the time period shall be excluded but the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period shall be included;

 

33


  (ii)

for time periods measured in Business Days, any day that is not a Business Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Business Day;

 

  (iii)

for time periods measured in Trading Days, any day that is not a Trading Day shall be excluded in the calculation of the time period; and, if the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period falls on a day which is not a Trading Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next following Trading Day;

 

  (iv)

if the end date of any deadline or time period in this Note refers to a specific calendar date and that date is not a Business Day, the deadline or time period shall be extended to the next Business Day following the specific calendar date; and

 

  (v)

when used in this Note the term “month” shall mean a calendar month.

 

  (d)

Currency. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires all dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”).

 

  (e)

Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Issuer to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in U.S. Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

24.

CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest, the Make-Whole Amount, if any, and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Issuer for cancellation and shall not be reissued. In addition, any Note held by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries shall be deemed cancelled and shall not be reissued.

 

25.

WAIVER OF NOTICE. To the extent permitted by law, the Issuer hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

26.

GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Issuer

 

34


  hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Transaction Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Note and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude a Noteholder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Issuer in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Issuer’s obligations to a Noteholder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of a Noteholder. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS NOTE BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

 

27.

SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

35


28.

MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Without limiting Section 8(d) of the Note Purchase Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by Applicable Law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such Applicable Law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Issuer to the Noteholder and thus refunded to the Issuer.

 

29.

RANKING; SUBORDINATION. From the date hereof to, but excluding, the Modification Date, the Issuer, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and the Noteholder likewise covenants and agrees by its acceptance of this Note, that the obligations of the Issuer to make any payment on account of the principal of and interest on this Note shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment and upon liquidation to the Issuer’s obligations to the holders of all Senior Debt of the Issuer now existing or hereinafter assumed. For the avoidance of doubt, on and following the Modification Date, this Section 29 shall be of no further force and effect.

 

30.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

  (c)

“2021 Convertible Note” means the unsecured convertible note issued by the Issuer to Spring Creek Capital, LLC pursuant to a note purchase agreement on September 29, 2021.

 

  (d)

“2024 Note Guaranty” means the Note Guaranty (as defined in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof).

 

  (e)

“2024 Secured Note” means one or more senior secured convertible notes issued by the Issuer pursuant to the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement.

 

36


  (f)

“2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement” means the amended and restated note purchase agreement, dated March 25, 2024, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, by and among, inter alios, the Issuer, Glencore Canada Corporation and the other purchaser parties party thereto and the 2024 Secured Collateral Agent.

 

  (g)

“2024 Secured Collateral Agent” means Glencore Canada Corporation, in its capacity as the administrative and collateral agent under the 2024 Secured Note.

 

  (h)

“Additional Shares of Common Stock” shall mean all Common Shares or securities or notes convertible or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by the Issuer after the Issuance Date, other than (1) the following Common Shares and (2) Common Shares deemed issued pursuant to the following options and securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares:

 

  (i)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued by way of a dividend or distribution that is covered by Section 9(a);

 

  (ii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued to employees or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, whether issued before or after the Issuance Date, pursuant to any option or incentive plan of the Issuer adopted by the board of directors of the Issuer (or any predecessor governing body); and

 

  (iii)

Common Shares or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares issued upon the exercise of options or warrants or Common Shares issued upon the conversion or exchange of securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares (including this Note (and any Note issued as PIK hereunder)) which are outstanding as of the date hereof, in each case provided such issuance is pursuant to the terms of such option or warrants or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares.

 

  (i)

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any Person (the “first named person”), any other Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first named person; provided that, for greater certainty, the Issuer is not an Affiliate of the Noteholder or any of its subsidiaries for the purposes of this Note.

 

  (j)

“Applicable Law” means all laws (statutory or common), rules, ordinances, regulations, grants, concessions, franchises, licenses, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, and other governmental restrictions, including permits and other similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature, having application, directly or indirectly, to the Issuer, and includes the rules and policies of any stock exchange upon which the Issuer has securities listed or quoted.

 

37


  (k)

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in New York City or the City of Toronto generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

  (l)

“Byproducts” means any byproduct or ancillary material produced in the course of producing the Core Products at the Facility, including (without limitation) the graphite concentrate, copper sulphide, gypsum, manganese carbonate and anhydrous sodium sulphate to be produced at the Facility.

 

  (m)

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate amount, without duplication, of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) that would, in accordance with US GAAP, are, or are required to be included as, capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for such period.

 

  (n)

“Change of Control Transaction” means any of the following events: (i) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer or one or more employee benefit plans of the Issuer, files any report with the SEC indicating that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Issuer’s then outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Issuer as treasury stock or owned by a subsidiary of the Issuer); (ii) the consummation of (A) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, taken as a whole, to any Person; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Shares (other than Common Shares held by the Issuer as treasury stock or owned by a

 

38


  subsidiary of the Issuer) are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property (other than a subdivision or combination, or solely a change in par value, of the Common Shares); provided, however, that any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, share exchange or combination of the Issuer pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to this clause (ii); (iii) the Issuer’s shareholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer; or (iv) the Common Shares cease to be listed on any Eligible Market. For the purposes of this definition, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

  (o)

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

  (p)

“Collateral” means any and all property of any Note Party subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien under any Collateral Document and any and all other property of any Note Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that is or becomes subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure the Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall “Collateral” include any asset that is an Excluded Asset for so long as such asset constitutes an Excluded Asset.

 

  (q)

“Common Shares” means (i) the Issuer’s common shares, (ii) any share capital into which such common shares shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common shares and (iii) for purposes of Section 9(a)(iv) only, the common shares or other securities of any of the Issuer’s subsidiaries in addition to the common shares of the Issuer.

 

  (r)

“Construction Budget” means the initial construction budget with respect to the Project that is agreed to by the Project Lender and the applicable member (or members) of the U.S. Project Finance Group pursuant to the Project Loan Documentation, including any changes, reallocations, amendments, supplements and/or other modifications thereto as may be agreed between any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group and the Project Lender pursuant to the Project Loan Documentation.

 

39


  (s)

“Conversion Amount” means the sum of (i) the portion of the Principal to be converted with respect to which this determination is being made; and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal, if any.

 

  (t)

“Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination:

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, $9.95 per Common Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein; and

 

  (ii)

on and after the Modification Date, the lesser of (x) the amount determined on the basis of a volume weighted average per share price of the Common Shares for thirty (30) Trading Days ending immediately prior to the Modification Date, plus a 25% premium and (y) $9.95 per Common Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

  (u)

“Core Products” means cobalt sulfate heptahydrate, nickel sulfate hexahydrate, and lithium carbonate.

 

  (v)

“Default” means any event that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default.

 

  (w)

“Eligible Market” means the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange or the OTC US Market so long as, in the case of the OTC US Market only, the market capitalization of the Issuer is $150,000,000 or more.

 

  (x)

“Excluded Assets” has the meaning assigned to such term in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof).

 

  (y)

“Excluded Subsidiaries” has the meaning assigned to such term in the 2024 Secured Note as in effect on the date hereof).

 

  (z)

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment (or deemed payment) to a recipient:

 

  (i)

any Taxes imposed on (or measured by) such recipient’s net income or overall gross income, franchise Taxes and capital Taxes, in each case, (A) imposed as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office located in the taxing jurisdiction or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes;

 

40


  (ii)

any branch profits Taxes or any similar Tax imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (i);

 

  (iii)

any Taxes that would not have been imposed but for the recipient (A) not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Tax Act) with the Issuer, (B) being a “specified shareholder (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Tax Act) of the Issuer or not dealing at arm’s length with such a specified shareholder for purposes of the Tax Act, or (C) being a “specified entity” (as defined in subsection 18.4(1) of the Tax Act, as proposed to be amended by Bill C-59) in respect of the Issuer, including in each case where (x) the non-arm’s length relationship, (y) the recipient being a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer, or not dealing at arm’s length with a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer, or (z) the recipient being a “specified entity” in respect of the Issuer, as applicable, arises in connection with or as a result of the ownership of this Note, the First A&R Note or the 2024 Secured Note;

 

  (iv)

any Taxes imposed in respect of an amount that is “participating debt interest” (as defined in subsection 212(3) of the Tax Act) arising (or deemed to arise) in respect of this Note; and

 

  (v)

any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

 

  (aa)

“Existing Holder” means Glencore Canada Corporation in its capacity as the holder of the Original Convertible Note and each of the Original PIK Notes.

 

  (bb)

“Facility” means that certain hydrometallurgical refinery facilities in Rochester, New York.

 

  (cc)

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock, the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares for the seven (7) Trading Days immediately preceding the issue date of such Additional Shares of Common Stock.

 

  (dd)

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Note (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among governmental authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

41


  (ee)

“Floating Rate” means, with respect to each Interest Date, the rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) Term SOFR plus (B) 0.42826%; provided, that in no event shall the Floating Rate be less than 1% per annum nor more than 2% per annum.

 

  (ff)

“Forced Redemption Price” means a cash purchase price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the Principal, (ii) accrued and unpaid Interest on this Note as of the Redemption Date and (iii) the Make-Whole Amount.

 

  (gg)

“Indebtedness” shall mean (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money, including accrued interest, (ii) any obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including accrued interest, (iii) obligations, contingent or otherwise, under acceptance, letters of credit or similar facilities, (iv) swaps, options, derivatives and other hedging arrangements or arrangements that will be payable upon termination thereof, and (v) any guaranty of any of the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall not include any obligations as lessee under capitalized leases incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

  (hh)

“Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Issuer under this Note.

 

  (ii)

“Ineligible Consideration” has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(j).

 

  (jj)

“Interest Date” means (i) with respect to the applicable Interest Period, the last day of such Interest Period; provided that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day.

 

  (kk)

“Interest Period” means (i) initially, the period commencing on the Issuance Date and ending on December 31, 2024 and (ii) thereafter, each period of six months commencing on January 1 and July 1 of each fiscal year.

 

  (ll)

“Interest Rate” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, the Floating Rate plus five percent (5%) per annum if interest is to be paid in cash at the applicable Interest Date, and (ii) the Floating Rate plus six percent (6%) per annum if, at the option of the Issuer, interest is to be paid in kind in accordance with Section 2(b) at the applicable Interest Date; and

 

42


  (ii)

on and after the Modification Date, (i) Term SOFR plus five percent (5%) per annum if interest is to be paid in cash at the applicable Interest Date, and (ii) Term SOFR plus six percent (6%) per annum if, at the option of the Issuer, interest is to be paid in kind in accordance with Section 2(b).

 

  (mm)

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any required redemption pursuant to delivery of an Event of Default Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 7(b) or any required redemption upon the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to Section 8, the sum of the undiscounted cash Interest payments that would have been payable under the Note beginning the day after such conversion or redemption through the Maturity Date but for the occurrence of such conversion or redemption.

 

  (nn)

“Maturity Date” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, May 31, 2027; and

 

  (ii)

commencing on and after the Modification Date, the fifth anniversary of the Modification Date.

 

  (oo)

“Modification Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) the last day of the fiscal quarter during which the Start of Production Date occurs, (b) the last day of any fiscal quarter during which Capital Expenditures of the U.S. Project Finance Group during such fiscal quarter exceed the amount budgeted therefor in any Construction Budget then in effect by more than 110% and (c) June 1, 2026; it being understood and agreed that the Issuer will notify the Noteholder in writing of the occurrence of the Modification Date (for the avoidance of doubt, failure to deliver notice shall not invalidate the occurrence of the Modification Date).

 

  (pp)

“Optional Redemption Notice” has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(b)(i).

 

  (qq)

“Optional Redemption Price” has the meaning given to it in Section 5(a).

 

  (rr)

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Noteholder or any other recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or enforced this Note).

 

43


  (ss)

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes or any intangible, recording, filing or other similar Taxes arising from any payment made under this Note or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Note, but excluding (i) any Excluded Taxes and (ii) any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to a transfer of this Note, the First A&R Note or the 2024 Secured Note pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

  (tt)

“Permitted Indemnifying Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (uu)

“Permitted Transferees” means as to the Noteholder, any of the following: (i) if a natural person, his/her ancestors, descendants, siblings, or spouse, any executor or administrator of his/her estate, or to a custodian, trustee (including a trustee of a voting trust), executor, or other fiduciary primarily for the account of the Noteholder or his/her ancestors, descendants, siblings, or spouse, whether step, in-law or adopted, and, in the case of any such trust or fiduciary, to the Noteholder who transferred this Note to such trust or fiduciary, but only with respect to transfers made for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy; (ii) if an entity, (A) the then-existing shareholders or other investors in the Noteholder in connection with the dissolution or winding-up of the Noteholder, or (B) any Person in connection with any consolidation or reorganization of the Noteholder directly or indirectly with or into one or more other investment vehicles; or (iii) any Affiliate of the Noteholder (other than any investment portfolio company of the Noteholder that is an Affiliate) provided that, with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), if any such Permitted Transferee shall not be a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act, it shall be a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee.

 

  (vv)

“Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

  (ww)

“PIK Amount” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2(b).

 

  (xx)

“PIK Notice” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2(b).

 

  (yy)

“Principal” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

  (zz)

“Principal Market” means The New York Stock Exchange or any Eligible Market on which the Issuer’s Common Shares are listed (and, in the case of simultaneous listings on multiple markets, the majority of the Issuer’s Common Shares trade) at the applicable time.

 

44


  (aaa)

“Project” means the engineering, design, procurement, installation of equipment, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, start-up, testing and/or production ramp-up of certain (i) the Facility, (ii) raw material and end products warehouses, administrative offices, quality control/quality assurance laboratories, visitor center buildings, and car parking lots, in each case for or related to the Facility, and/or (iii) recycling facilities, including, without limitation, Black Mass production facilities in Rochester, New York by the Issuer and/or any of its (direct or indirect) subsidiaries.

 

  (bbb)

“Project Financing” means one or more project financings from any Project Lender in an aggregate gross principal amount (including any capitalized interest in respect thereof) of at least $375 million and not more than $475 million obtained by the Issuer and/or any of its (direct or indirect) subsidiaries from a Project Lender primarily in respect of the Project.

 

  (ccc)

“Project Financing Closing Date” means the “closing date” (or such other equivalent term) under any Project Loan Documentation executed by the Issuer and/or any of its applicable Subsidiaries in connection with a Project Financing.

 

  (ddd)

“Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Project Financing, an intercreditor agreement between, among others, the Project Lender providing such Project Financing and the applicable Note Parties, which Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement shall be in form and substance agreed by the Project Lender in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

  (eee)

“Project Lender” means the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Financing Bank, and/or any other provider of a Project Financing that is reasonably acceptable to the Noteholder (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as applicable.

 

  (fff)

“Project Loan Collateral” means (A) any assets of the Issuer, Li-Cycle Americas Corp., (or any other direct parent of a subsidiary which is party to any Project Financing) or the U.S. Project Finance Group that are required to be pledged pursuant to any Project Loan Documentation, and (B) a Lien in respect of which would conflict with, or result in a violation of, any Project Loan Documentation, including without limitation, (i) any receivables in respect of subordinated debt or under any “Affiliate Transaction Agreement” (as defined in the relevant Project Loan Documentation) or any equivalent term in any Project Loan Documentation, in each case, which receivables are owed to a Note Party by any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group, (ii) any license of intellectual property granted by any Note Party to a Project Lender under the Project Loan Documentation, (iii) any cash collateral account held by the Issuer or a Note Party which is required to be or will be required to be pledged in favor of a Project Lender (or any agent on its behalf)

 

45


  in connection with any Project Loan Documentation, (iv) any equity interests in any (direct or indirect) subsidiary of the Issuer or any Note Party which are required to be pledged to secure a Project Financing (including the equity interests in any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group), and (v) any other assets customarily required by Project Lenders to secure Project Financings of the type contemplated herein (to the extent such assets are in fact pledged to secure a Project Financing).

 

  (ggg)

“Project Loan Documentation” means any definitive documentation (including any definitive loan agreement) entered into by the Issuer and/or any of its subsidiaries in connection with any Project Financing.

 

  (hhh)

“Redemption Date” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, the date on which the Note is redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption by the Issuer, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control Transaction or redemption due to an Event of Default; and

 

  (ii)

commencing on and after the Modification Date, the date on which the Note is redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption by the Issuer, ECF Mandatory Redemption, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control Transaction or redemption due to an Event of Default.

 

  (iii)

“Redemption Price” means,

 

  (i)

from the date hereof until, but excluding, the Modification Date, the cash purchase price for which the Note is to be redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control or redemption due to an Event of Default; and

 

  (ii)

commencing on and after the Modification Date, the cash purchase price for which the Note is to be redeemed pursuant to an Optional Redemption, ECF Mandatory Redemption, Mandatory Redemption upon a Change of Control or redemption due to an Event of Default.

 

  (jjj)

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the amended and restated registration rights agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Issuer and the Holder, as amended from time to time.

 

  (kkk)

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

46


  (lll)

“Senior Debt” means all present and future indebtedness for money borrowed of the Issuer from institutional lenders, commercial credit companies, commercial banks, credit unions, government agencies and other commercial lenders, which may be, from time to time, incurred by the Issuer, including, but not limited to, any negotiable instruments evidencing the same, all guaranties, debts, demands, monies, indebtedness, liabilities and obligations owed or to become owing, including interest, principal, costs, and other charges, and all claims, rights, causes of action, judgments, decrees, remedies, or other obligations of any kind whatsoever and howsoever arising, whether voluntary, involuntary, absolute, contingent, direct, indirect, or by operation of law, which indebtedness does not by its terms rank pari passu with or subordinate to this Note.

 

  (mmm)

“Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any subsidiary of such Person that constitutes, or any group of subsidiaries of such Person that, in the aggregate, would constitute, a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the 1934 Act) of such Person.

 

  (nnn)

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

  (ooo)

“Specified Date” means the earlier of (i) the date on which this Note has been fully converted in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

  (ppp)

“Start of Production Date” means, with respect to the Project, the date following the occurrence of “substantial completion” (or other term with similar meaning) under any Project Loan Documentation and operation of the Project on which commercial production of Core Products and Byproducts has occurred at the Facility.

 

  (qqq)

“Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

  (rrr)

“Tax Indemnity Side Letter” has the meaning given to such term in the 2024 Secured Note Purchase Agreement.

 

  (sss)

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any governmental authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

47


  (ttt)

“Term SOFR” means, for any calculation of Interest, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the interest period on the Note on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such interest period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

  (uuu)

“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Noteholder (in consultation with the Issuer) in its reasonable discretion).

 

  (vvv)

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

 

  (www)

“Trading Day” means, as applicable, (i) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Common Shares are traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Shares, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares are then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Shares are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Shares are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Noteholder or (ii) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Shares, any day on which the Principal Market (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.

 

  (xxx)

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

 

48


  (yyy)

“U.S. Project Finance Group” means, collectively, Li-Cycle U.S. Holdings Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., and Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. and their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

31.

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS. REFERENCE IS MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. THE NOTEHOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL BE BOUND BY AND WILL TAKE NO ACTION CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZES. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 31 ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUMMARIZE ALL RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. REFERENCE MUST BE MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT ITSELF TO UNDERSTAND ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF. THE NOTEHOLDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ITS OWN ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS THEREOF. THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS ARE INTENDED AS AN INDUCEMENT TO THE NOTEHOLDER AND/OR HOLDER OF ANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBJECT TO ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT TO EXTEND CREDIT THEREUNDER AND THE HOLDERS OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH PROVISIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT.

 

32.

CONFLICTS. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Secured Note Document, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Note Purchase Agreement and any other Secured Note Document, the terms of the relevant Secured Note Document shall govern and control; provided that in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between any Intercreditor Agreement and any Secured Note Document, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

33.

DISCLOSURE. Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Noteholder (or receipt by the Issuer from the Noteholder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Issuer has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Issuer, the Issuer shall on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Issuer believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Issuer, the Issuer so shall indicate to the Noteholder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Noteholder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Issuer immediately upon receipt of notice from the Noteholder), the Noteholder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Issuer.

 

49


34.

NOTEHOLDER COVENANT. By accepting this Note and being a party to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Noteholder agrees to comply with and be bound by the terms and conditions hereof, including the agreements and covenants set forth herein made by such Noteholder, as if such Noteholder was a party hereto.

 

35.

ABSENCE OF TRADING AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that the Noteholder is not a fiduciary or agent of the Issuer and that the Noteholder shall have no obligation to (a) maintain the confidentiality of any information provided by the Issuer or (b) refrain from trading any securities while in possession of such information in the absence of a written non-disclosure agreement signed by an officer of the Noteholder that explicitly provides for such confidentiality and trading restrictions. In the absence of such an executed, written non-disclosure agreement, the Issuer acknowledges that the Noteholder may freely trade in any securities issued by the Issuer, may possess and use any information provided by the Issuer in connection with such trading activity, and may disclose any such information to any third party.

[signature page follows]

 

50


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Amended and Restated Convertible Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set forth above.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name:   Ajay Kochhar
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page – Convertible Note


EXHIBIT I

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. NOTEHOLDER CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued on March 25, 2024 to the undersigned Registered Noteholder by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into Common Shares, no par value per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company, as of the date specified below. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Conversion:    
Aggregate Principal to be converted:    
Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be converted:    
AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE CONVERTED:    
Please confirm the following information:  
Conversion Price:    
Number of Common Shares to be issued:    

 

I-1


☐ Check here if the Holder not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S) and is not acting for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person.

Please issue the Common Shares into which the Note is being converted (in the form of uncertificated shares represented by an electronic position) to Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

Issue to:    Name of registered holder:
   Mailing Address:
   Email Address:
   Phone Number:

☐ Check here if requesting the shares be certificated (if permitted by law) and the delivery of a paper certificate to the following mailing address:

 

Issue a certificate in paper form and deliver the certificate to:     

☐ Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

DTC

Participant:

   

DTC

Number:

   

Account

Number:

   

Date:

_____________ __,

 

I-2


Name of Registered Holder
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Tax ID:  

 

E-mail Address:
Phone Number:

 

I-3


EXHIBIT II

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP. REDEMPTION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued on March 25, 2024 to the undersigned Registered Noteholder by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby issues this redemption notice in connection with:

☐ Optional Redemption

☐ ECF Mandatory Redemption

in exchange for (as indicated below) cash as of the date specified below, and warrants to acquire Common Shares. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Redemption:    
Aggregate Principal to be redeemed:    
Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be redeemed:    
AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE REDEEMED:    
Number of Redemption Warrants to be Issued:    

 

II-1


Please confirm the following information:
Redemption Price:
Pay to:   Name of registered holder:
  Mailing Address:
  Email Address:
  Phone Number:
  ABA Routing Number:
  Account Number:
  Attention:
Tax ID:  

 

E-mail Address:
Phone Number:

 

II-2

EX-4.5 6 d797686dex45.htm EX-4.5 EX-4.5

Exhibit 4.5

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CONVERTIBLE NOTE

This AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CONVERTIBLE NOTE is being entered into as of March 25, 2024 (this “Amendment”), by and between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a company existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario (the “Company”), and Wood River Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Holder”). The Company and the Holder desire to amend the Note (as defined below) as set forth herein. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Note.

WHEREAS, on September 29, 2021, the Company issued a Convertible Note to Spring Creek Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Original Holder”) in the Original Principal Amount of $100,000,000 (such note, as amended by the May 2022 Consent and Amendment No. 2 (in each case, as defined below), and any payment-in-kind notes issued thereunder referred to collectively herein as the “Note”);

WHEREAS, on May 1, 2022, the Original Holder transferred its rights and obligations under the Note to the Holder pursuant to that certain Joinder Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2022, by and among the Company, the Original Holder and the Holder;

WHEREAS, on May 5, 2022, the Company and the Holder entered into that certain Consent to New Debt and Amendment to Convertible Note (the “May 2022 Consent”), whereby certain provisions of the Note were amended;

WHEREAS, on February 13, 2023, the Company and the Holder entered into that certain Amendment No. 2 to Convertible Note (the “Amendment No. 2”), whereby certain provisions of the Note were amended;

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2024, the Company and the Holder entered into that certain Letter Agreement Re: Consent to New Debt (the “March 2024 Consent”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company and the Holder agreed to enter into this Amendment, conditional on certain events occurring; and

WHEREAS, accordingly, on the date hereof, the Company and the Holder desire to further amend the Note as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the rights and obligations contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1. Section 27(m) of the Note is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“(m) “Floating Rate” means, with respect to each Interest Date, the rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York two Business Days prior to such Interest Date, plus (ii) the Average Spread.”


Section 2. Section 27(r) of the Note is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“(r) “Interest Rate” means (i) the Floating Rate plus five percent (5.0%) per annum if interest is to be paid in cash at the applicable Interest Date, and (ii) the Floating Rate plus six percent (6.0%) per annum if, at the option of the Company, interest is to be paid in PIK at the applicable Interest Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Interest shall accrue, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, at a rate equal to the applicable Interest Rate plus 1.00% per annum (which additional 1.00% per annum shall be payable in cash) until the relevant Event of Default shall have been cured or waived in accordance with the terms of this Note.

Section 3. This Amendment amends the Note and shall be effective upon its execution and delivery by the parties hereto.

Section 4. Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the Note shall continue in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed and this Amendment will not constitute any other modification, amendment or waiver to the Note. None of the obligations of the parties under the Note are discharged by this Amendment, and this Amendment does not result in a novation, rescission, extinguishment, accord and satisfaction of the Note nor does it result in a new obligation or the substitution of any loan for the Note. The obligations of the parties to the Note will continue in force unamended, except as specifically amended in Section 1 hereof.

Section 5. On and after the date hereof, each reference in the Note to “this Note,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein” or words of like import referring to the Note, and each reference in any other document relating to the “Note,” “thereunder,” “thereof,” or words of like import referring to the Note, means and references the Note as amended hereby.

Section 6. Each party hereby represents to the other parties hereto that this Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such party and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such party enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms.

Section 7. The terms of Section 23 of the Original Note are hereby incorporated into this Amendment as if fully set forth herein.

Section 8. This Amendment may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts including by email or other electronic transmission, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Amendment or any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date first set forth above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name:   Ajay Kochhar
Title:   President & Chief Executive Officer
WOOD RIVER CAPITAL, LLC
By:  

/s/ Matthew J Orr

Name:   Matthew J Orr
Title:   President
EX-10.1 7 d797686dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

U.S. PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS U.S. PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Security Agreement”) is entered into as of March 25, 2024, by and among LI-CYCLE U.S. INC., a Delaware corporation ( “Li-Cycle U.S.”), and each other U.S. Subsidiary of the Issuer (as defined below) listed on the signature pages hereto or that becomes a party hereto from time to time pursuant to Section 7.10 (Li-Cycle U.S., and each such subsidiary, collectively, the “Grantors”) and Glencore Canada Corporation, having an office at 100, King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3, Canada with company number 1947729, as Collateral Agent (defined below).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., an Ontario corporation (the “Issuer”), the direct or indirect parent of the Grantors, the Purchaser and the Collateral Agent among others are entering into that certain Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”). The Grantors are entering into this Security Agreement in order to induce the Purchaser to enter into the Note Purchase Agreement and purchase the Note issued by the Issuer thereunder, and to secure the Obligations (as defined in the Note) and their obligations under the Note Guaranty.

ACCORDINGLY, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Terms Defined in Note. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note or Note Purchase Agreement, as applicable. The terms of Section 17 of the Note shall apply to this Security Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

Section 1.02. Terms Defined in UCC. Terms defined in the UCC that are not otherwise defined in this Security Agreement or the Note Purchase Agreement are used herein as defined in Articles 8 or 9 of the UCC, as the context may require (including without limitation, as if such terms were capitalized in Article 8 or 9 of the UCC, as the context may require, the following terms: “Account”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commercial Tort Claim”, “Commodities Account”, “Deposit Accounts”, “Document”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Fixture”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instruments”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Securities Account”, “Securities Entitlement”, “Supporting Obligation” and “Tangible Chattel Paper”).

Section 1.03. Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used in this Security Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the preamble and Preliminary Statement above, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Article” means a numbered article of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Article 2.

 

1


“Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Contract Rights” means all rights of any Grantor under any Contract, including, without limitation, (a) any and all rights to receive and demand payments under such Contract, (b) any and all rights to receive and compel performance under such Contract and (c) any and all other rights, interests and claims now existing or in the future arising in connection with such Contract.

“Contracts” means all contracts between any Grantor and one or more additional parties (including, without limitation, licensing agreement and any partnership agreement, joint venture agreement and/or limited liability company agreement).

“Control” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.

“Copyrights” means the following: (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“Domain Names” means all Internet domain names and associated URL addresses.

“Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Grantors” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Intellectual Property Collateral” means, collectively, all rights of any Grantor in, to and under IP rights, including Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Domain Names, Licenses and Software.

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means any agreement executed on or after the Closing Date confirming or effecting the grant of any Lien on Intellectual Property Collateral owned by any Note Party to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, required in accordance with this Agreement, in a form that is reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Grantors and the Collateral Agent.

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement Supplement” means any supplement to an Intellectual Property Security Agreement in a form that is reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Grantors and the Collateral Agent.

“Issuer” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statement.

“Li-Cycle U.S.” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Licenses” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all licensing agreements or similar arrangements, whether as licensor or licensee, (1) Patents, (2) Copyrights, (3) Trademarks, (4) Trade Secrets or (5) Software, (b) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future breaches thereof, and (c) all rights to sue for past, present, and future breaches thereof.

 

2


“Money” has the meaning set forth in Article 1 of the UCC.

“Note” has the meaning given to such term in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Note Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statement.

“Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization and its by-laws, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership and its partnership agreement, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization or certificate of formation, and its operating agreement, and (e) with respect to any other form of entity, such other organizational documents required by Applicable Law or customary under such jurisdiction to document the formation and governance principles of such type of entity. In the event that any term or condition of this Security Agreement or any other Transaction Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official.

“Patents” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to: (a) any and all patents and patent applications; (b) all inventions described and claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“Perfection Certificate” means Schedule 1 to this Security Agreement, as supplemented from time to time pursuant to Section 7.10 of this Security Agreement.

“Permits” shall mean, to the extent permitted to be assigned by the terms thereof or by applicable law, all licenses, permits, rights, orders, variances, franchises or authorizations of or from any Governmental Entity or agency.

“Pledged Collateral” means all Pledged Stock, including all stock certificates, options or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Pledged Stock that may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this Security Agreement is in effect, all Instruments owned by any Grantor, whether or not physically delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Security Agreement, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor and any and all Proceeds thereof, together with any other shares of Capital Stock as are hereafter acquired by such Grantor.

“Pledged Stock” means, with respect to any Grantor (other than Li-Cycle Americas), the shares of Capital Stock held by such Grantor, including Capital Stock described in Schedule 3 to the Perfection Certificate as held by such Grantor.

“Proceeds” has the meaning assigned in Article 9 of the UCC and, in any event, shall also include but not be limited to (a) any and all proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable to the Collateral Agent or any Grantor from time to time with respect to any of the Collateral, (b) any and all payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due and payable to any Grantor from time to time in connection with any requisition, confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of the Collateral by any Governmental Entity, (c) any and all Stock Rights and (d) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.

 

3


“Purchaser” has the meaning given to such term in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Receivables” means any Account, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument and/or any General Intangible, in each case, that is a right or claim to receive money (whether or not earned by performance) or that is otherwise included as Collateral, but in any case, excluding any item constituting an Excluded Asset.

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, managers, officers, trustees, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

“Section” means a numbered section of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Secured Parties” has the meaning given to such term in the Note.

“Security Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Software” means computer programs, source code, object code and supporting documentation including “software” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, as well as computer programs that may be construed as included in the definition of Goods.

“Stock Rights” means all dividends, options, warrants, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property which any Grantor shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Capital Stock constituting Collateral, any right to receive any Capital Stock constituting Collateral and any right to receive earnings, in which such Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any right, issued by an issuer of such Capital Stock.

“Trade Secrets” means, with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following: (a) confidential and proprietary information, including unpatented inventions, invention disclosures, engineering or other data, information, production procedures, know-how, financial data, customer lists, supplier lists, business and marketing plans, processes, schematics, algorithms, techniques, analyses, proposals, source code, data, databases and data collections; (b) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims and payments for past, present and future misappropriations or infringements thereof; (c) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (d) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“Trademarks” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, and trade styles and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all renewals of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (d) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

4


ARTICLE 2

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

Section 2.01. Grant of Security Interest.

(a) As security for the prompt and complete payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges, collaterally assigns, mortgages, transfers and grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to all of the following personal property and other assets, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which are collectively referred to as the “Collateral”):

 

(i)

all Accounts;

 

(ii)

all Chattel Paper (including, without limitation, all Tangible Chattel Paper and all Electronic Chattel Paper);

 

(iii)

all Intellectual Property Collateral;

 

(iv)

all Documents;

 

(v)

all Equipment;

 

(vi)

all Fixtures;

 

(vii)

all General Intangibles;

 

(viii)

all Goods;

 

(ix)

all Instruments;

 

(x)

all Inventory;

 

(xi)

all Investment Property, Pledged Stock and other Pledged Collateral;

 

(xii)

all Money, Cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(xiii)

all letters of credit and Letter-of-Credit Rights;

 

(xiv)

all Deposit Accounts;

 

(xv)

all Commercial Tort Claims described on Schedule 6 to the Perfection Certificate (including any supplements to such Schedule 6 delivered pursuant to Section 4.04);

 

(xvi)

all Permits;

 

(xvii)

all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording;

 

(xviii)

all Contracts, together with all Contract Rights arising thereunder;

 

(xix)

all Securities Entitlements in any or all of the foregoing;

 

5


(xx)

all other personal property not constituting Excluded Assets not otherwise described in clauses (i) through (xix) above;

 

(xxi)

all Supporting Obligations; and

 

(xxii)

all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for and Proceeds and products of the foregoing, together with all books and records, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Collateral” (and any component definition thereof) shall not include any Excluded Asset. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any restriction or condition set forth in the definition of “Excluded Assets” in the Note that prevented the grant of a security interest in any right, interest or other asset that would have, but for such restriction or condition, constituted Collateral, the Collateral shall include, and the relevant Grantor shall be deemed to have automatically granted a security interest in, such previously restricted or conditioned right, interest or other asset, as the case may be, as if such restriction or condition had never been in effect.

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Grantor, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent as and when required under the Note Purchase Agreement that:

Section 3.01. Title, Perfection and Priority; Filing Collateral. Such Grantor has good and valid rights in, title to, or the power to transfer the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), and has the requisite power and authority to grant the Collateral Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto. Subject to the Legal Reservations, this Security Agreement is effective to create a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on and security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, subject to the satisfaction of the Perfection Requirements, the Collateral Agent will have a fully perfected first priority Lien on such Collateral securing the Obligations to the extent perfection can be achieved by the Perfection Requirements.

Section 3.02. Intellectual Property. As of the date hereof, no Grantor has actual knowledge of (a) any third-party claim (i) that any of its owned Patent, Trademark or Copyright registrations or applications is invalid or unenforceable, or (ii) challenging such Grantor’s rights to such registrations and applications or (b) any basis for such claims, other than, in each case, to the extent any such third-party claim would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.03. Pledged Collateral.

(a) (i) All Pledged Stock has been duly authorized and validly issued (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Stock) by the issuer thereof and is fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) as of the Closing Date, each Grantor is the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Stock described in Schedule 3 to the Perfection Certificate as of the Closing Date as held by such Grantor and (iii) as of the Closing Date, each Grantor holds the Pledged Stock described in Schedule 3 to the Perfection Certificate as of the Closing Date as held by such Grantor free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens).

 

6


ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

From the date hereof, and thereafter until the Reference Date (as defined in the Note):

Section 4.01. General.

(a) Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification. Each Grantor hereby (i) authorizes the Collateral Agent to file (A) all financing statements (including fixture filings) and amendments thereto with respect to the Collateral naming such Grantor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party, in form appropriate for filing under the UCC of the relevant jurisdiction and (B) filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office (including any Intellectual Property Security Agreement) for the purpose of perfecting, enforcing, maintaining or protecting the Lien of the Collateral Agent in United States issued, registered and applied for Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (in each case, to the extent constituting Collateral) and naming such Grantor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party and (ii) subject to the terms of the Transaction Documents, agrees to take such other actions, in each case as may from time to time be necessary and reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take any such other actions, which it has no obligation to take) in order to establish and maintain a first priority, valid, enforceable (subject to the Legal Reservations) and perfected security interest in and subject, in the case of Pledged Collateral, to Section 4.02 hereof, Control of, the Collateral. Each Grantor shall pay any applicable filing fees, recordation fees and related expenses relating to its Collateral in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Note Purchase Agreement. Any financing statement filed by the Collateral Agent may (i) indicate the Collateral (A) as “all assets” of the applicable Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC of such jurisdiction, or (B) by any other description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Security Agreement and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) in each case to the extent applicable, whether the Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to the Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the relevant real property to which the Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to furnish any such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

(b) Further Assurances. Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to defend title to the Collateral against all Persons (other than Persons holding Permitted Liens on such Collateral that have priority over the Collateral Agent’s Lien) and to defend the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien that is not a Permitted Lien.

(c) Limitations on Actions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Security Agreement, no Grantor shall be required to take any action in connection with Collateral pledged hereunder (and no security interest in such Collateral shall be required to be perfected) except to the extent consistent with Section 2 of Annex A-1 of the Note and the Perfection Requirements or expressly required hereunder and except in accordance with Applicable Law.

Section 4.02. Pledged Collateral.

(a) Delivery of Certificated Securities and Instruments. Each Grantor will, after the Closing Date, hold in trust for the Collateral Agent upon receipt and, on or before the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) and (c) of Section 1 of Annex A-1 of the Note for the reporting period in which the relevant event occurred (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may reasonably agree), deliver to the Collateral Agent any (1) certificated Security representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral and (2) Instrument (A) in each case under this clause (2), having an outstanding balance in excess of $5,000,000 and (B) in each case under clauses (1) and (2), constituting Collateral received after the date hereof, accompanied by undated instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Security Agreement or any other Transaction Document, no Grantors shall be required to deliver any Tangible Chattel Paper or Document to the Collateral Agent.

(b) Uncertificated Securities and Pledged Collateral. With respect to any partnership interest or limited liability company interest owned by any Grantor which is required to be pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof (other than a partnership interest or limited liability company interest held by a Clearing Corporation, Securities Intermediary or other financial intermediary of any kind) which is not represented by a certificate and which is not a Security for purposes of the UCC, such Grantor shall not permit any issuer of such partnership interest or limited liability company interest to allow such partnership interest or limited liability company interest (as applicable) to become a Security unless such Grantor complies with the procedures set forth in Section 4.02(a) within the time period prescribed therein. Each Grantor which is an issuer of any uncertificated Pledged Collateral described in this Section 4.02(b) hereby agrees to comply with all instructions from the Collateral Agent without such Grantor’s further consent, in each case subject to the notice requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a)(iv).

(c) Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. The Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall hold certificated Pledged Collateral required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent under clause (a) above in the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent, but at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and upon at least concurrent notice to the applicable Grantor, the Collateral Agent shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion, but subject to the last paragraph of Section 7(e) of the Note) to hold such Pledged Collateral in its own name as pledgee, or in the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent). At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, but subject to the last paragraph of Section 7(e) of the Note, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing such Pledged Collateral for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Security Agreement.

(d) Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral. It is agreed that:

(i) without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, each Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights and other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral for any purpose that does not violate this Security Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Transaction Document; Section 4.03.

(ii) each Grantor will permit the Collateral Agent or its nominee at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing to exercise the rights and remedies provided under Section 5.01(a)(iv) (subject to the notice requirements set forth therein); and

(iii) subject to Section 5.01(a)(iv), each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral; provided that any non-cash dividend or other distribution that would constitute Pledged Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Capital Stock of the issuer of any Pledged Collateral or received in exchange for Pledged Collateral or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall, to the extent constituting Collateral, be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent as and to the extent required by clause (a) above.

 

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(e) Return of Pledged Collateral. So long as no Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to the applicable Grantor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) any Pledged Collateral in its possession if requested to be delivered to the issuer or holder thereof in connection with any action or transaction that is permitted or not restricted by the Note.

Intellectual Property.

(a) At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and upon the written request of the Collateral Agent, each Grantor will (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all consents and approvals necessary for the assignment to or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent of any License held by such Grantor in the U.S. to enable the Collateral Agent to enforce the security interests granted hereunder and (ii) to the extent required pursuant to any material License in the U.S. under which such Grantor is the licensee, deliver to the licensor thereunder any notice of the grant of security interest hereunder or such other notices required to be delivered thereunder in order to permit the security interest created or permitted to be created hereunder pursuant to the terms of such License.

(b) Each Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent promptly if it knows that any application for or registration of any Patent, Trademark, Domain Name, or Copyright (now or hereafter existing) has been abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any determination or development abandoning such Grantor’s ownership of any such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same, except, in each case, to the extent the same is permitted or not restricted by the Note Purchase Agreement or where the same, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) In the event that any Grantor files an application for the registration of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, acquires any such application or registration by purchase or assignment in each case, after the Closing Date and to the extent the same constitutes Collateral (and other than as a result of an application that is then subject to an Intellectual Property Security Agreement becoming registered), it shall, on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) and (c) of Section 1 of Annex A-1 of the Note for the reporting period in which the relevant event occurred (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may reasonably agree), execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, at such Grantor’s sole cost and expense, an Intellectual Property Security Agreement with respect to such Intellectual Property Collateral.

(d) Each Grantor shall take all actions reasonably necessary to (i) maintain and pursue each application and to obtain and maintain the registration of each Patent, Trademark, Domain Name and, to the extent consistent with past practices, Copyright included in the Collateral (now or hereafter existing), including by filing applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and, if reasonably necessary (taking into account the projected cost of such proceedings versus the expected benefit thereof), by initiating opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings against third parties, (ii) maintain and protect the secrecy or confidentiality of its Trade Secrets and (iii) otherwise protect and preserve such Grantor’s rights in, and the validity or enforceability of, its Intellectual Property Collateral, in each case except where failure to do so (A) could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, or (B) is otherwise permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement.

(e) Each Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent of any infringement or misappropriation of such Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights or Trade Secrets of which it becomes aware that such Grantor reasonably determines could have a Company Material Adverse Effect and shall take such actions that, in the Grantors’ commercially reasonable business judgment, are reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Trade Secret, except where such infringement, misappropriation or dilution could not reasonably be expected to cause a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 4.04. Commercial Tort Claims. After the Closing Date, on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) and (c) of Section 1 of Annex A-1 of the Note for the reporting period in which the relevant event occurred (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may reasonably agree), each relevant Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent of any Commercial Tort Claim with an individual value (as reasonably estimated by such Grantor) in excess of $5,000,000 acquired by it, together with an update to Schedule 6 to the Perfection Certificate containing a summary description thereof, and such Commercial Tort Claim (and the Proceeds thereof) shall automatically constitute Collateral, all upon the terms of this Security Agreement.

Section 4.05. Information Regarding Collateral. The Grantors will furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt (and, in any event, within 60 days of the relevant change) written notice, with respect to any Grantor, of any change in (i) any Grantor’s legal name, (ii) any Grantor’s type of organization, (iii) any Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization or (iv) any Grantor’s organizational identification number, in each case to the extent such information is necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to perfect or maintain the perfection and priority of its security interest in the Collateral of the relevant Grantor, together with a certified copy of the applicable Organizational Document reflecting the relevant change.

Section 4.06. Grantors Remain Liable.

(a) Each Grantor (rather than the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party) shall remain liable (as between itself and any relevant counterparty) to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under any Contract relating to the Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall not have any obligation or liability under any Contract by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any payment relating to such Contract pursuant hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Contract, to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to them or to which they may be entitled at any time or times.

(b) Each Grantor assumes all liability and responsibility in connection with the Collateral acquired by it, and the liability of such Grantor to pay the Obligations shall in no way be affected or diminished by reason of the fact that such Collateral may be lost, destroyed, stolen, damaged or for any reason whatsoever unavailable to such Grantor.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Grantor (rather than the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party) shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all of the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to such Accounts. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any payment relating to such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by them or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to them or to which they may be entitled at any time or times.

 

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ARTICLE 5

REMEDIES

Section 5.01. Remedies.

(a) Each Grantor agrees that, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies (in addition to the rights and remedies existing under Applicable Law):

(i) the rights and remedies provided in this Security Agreement, the Note, or any other Transaction Document; provided that this Section 5.01(a) shall not limit any rights available to the Collateral Agent prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default;

(ii) the rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other Applicable Law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ Lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement;

(iii) without notice (except as specifically provided in Section 7.01 or elsewhere herein), demand or advertisement of any kind to any Grantor or any other Person, but subject to the terms of any applicable lease agreement, personally, or by agents or attorneys, enter the premises of any Grantor where any Collateral is located (through self-help and without judicial process) to collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of, deliver, or realize upon, the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at one or more public or private sales (which sales may be adjourned or continued from time to time with or without notice and may take place at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere), for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable;

(iv) upon at least concurrent written notice to the applicable Grantor, (A) transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral constituting Collateral, and (B) exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto (whereupon the voting and other rights of such Grantor described in Section 4.02(d)(i) above shall immediately cease such that the Collateral Agent shall have the sole right to exercise such voting and other rights while the relevant Event of Default is continuing), to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon (it being understood that all Stock Rights received by any Grantor while the relevant Event of Default is continuing shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsements)) and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral constituting Collateral as though the Collateral Agent was the outright owner thereof; and

(v) take possession of the Collateral or any part thereof, by directing such Grantor in writing to deliver the same to the Collateral Agent at any reasonable place or places designated by the Collateral Agent, in which event such Grantor shall at its own expense forthwith cause the same to be moved to the place or places so designated by the Collateral Agent and there delivered to the Collateral Agent;

(b) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that compliance by the Collateral Agent with any Applicable Law in connection with a disposition of the Collateral will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

(c) Any Secured Party shall have the right in any public sale and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, in any private sale, to purchase all or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption that Grantor is permitted to release and waive pursuant to Applicable Law, and each Grantor hereby expressly releases such right to equity redemption to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.

 

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(d) Until the Collateral Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of any particular Collateral under this Section 5.01, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to hold or use such Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving such Collateral or the value of such Collateral or for any other purpose deemed reasonably appropriate by the Collateral Agent. At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of any Collateral and to enforce any of the Collateral Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, the Grantors, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

(f) Each Grantor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that no such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit any Grantor or the issuer of any Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under Applicable Law, even if any Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.

(g) The Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits of this Security Agreement) acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding any other provision in this Security Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the exercise of rights or remedies with respect to certain Collateral and the enforcement of any security interests therein may be limited or restricted by, or require any consent, authorization, approval or license under, any Applicable Law.

(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any rights and remedies provided in this Section 5.01 shall be subject to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 5.02. Grantors’ Obligations Upon Default. Upon the request of the Collateral Agent at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Grantor will:

(a) at its own cost and expense (i) assemble and make available to the Collateral Agent, the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places reasonably specified by the Collateral Agent, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere, (ii) deliver all tangible evidence of its Accounts and Contract Rights (including, without limitation, all documents evidencing the Accounts and all Contracts) and such books and records to the Collateral Agent or to its representatives (copies of which evidence and books and records may be retained by such Grantor) and (iii) if the Collateral Agent so directs and in a form and in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, add a legend to the Accounts and the Contracts, as well as books, records and documents (if any) of such Grantor evidencing or pertaining to such Accounts and Contracts, which legend shall include an appropriate reference to the fact that such Accounts and Contracts have been assigned to the Collateral Agent and that the Collateral Agent has a security interest therein; and Section 5.03.

 

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(b) subject to the terms of any applicable lease agreement, permit the Collateral Agent and/or its representatives and/or agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay any Grantor for such use and occupancy.

Intellectual Property Remedies.

(a) For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article 5 at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and at such time as the Collateral Agent is lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a power of attorney to sign any document which may be required by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, domain name registrar or similar registrar in order to effect an absolute assignment of all right, title and interest in each registered Patent, Trademark, Domain Name and Copyright and each application for any such registration, and record the same. For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article 5 at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and at such time as the Collateral Agent is lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, the Collateral Agent may (i) declare the entire right, title and interest of such Grantor in and to each item of Intellectual Property Collateral to be vested in the Collateral Agent in which event such right, title and interest shall immediately vest in the Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to exercise the power of attorney referred to in this Section 5.03 to execute, cause to be acknowledged and notarized and record such absolute assignment with the applicable agency or registrar; (ii) sell any Grantor’s Inventory directly to any Person, including without limitation Persons who have previously purchased any Grantor’s Inventory from such Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Collateral Agent’s rights under this Security Agreement and subject to any restrictions contained in applicable third party licenses entered into by such Grantor, sell Inventory which bears any Trademark owned by or licensed to any Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any Intellectual Property Collateral owned by or licensed to any Grantor, and the Collateral Agent may finish any work in process and affix any relevant Trademark Collateral owned by or licensed to such Grantor, and sell such Inventory as provided herein; (iii) direct such Grantor to refrain, in which event such Grantor shall refrain, from using any Intellectual Property Collateral in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly; and (iv) assign or sell any Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Domain Name, Trade Secret and/or other IP Right, in each case to the extent constituting Collateral, as well as the goodwill of such Grantor’s business symbolized by any such Trademark and the right to carry on the business and use the assets of such Grantor in connection with which any such Trademark or Domain Name has been used. In addition, the Collateral Agent shall maintain the confidentiality of all Trade Secrets, ensure that the goodwill of any Trademarks inures to the benefit of an is assigned to the owner, not reasonably forfeit or waive claims for past infringement, and require the use of appropriate designations and notices for all Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights, and the Collateral Agent shall not otherwise exercise any of the rights granted to it under this Agreement in a manner than would unreasonably invalidate, abandon, forfeit or otherwise destroy the Intellectual Property Collateral.

(b) Each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent an irrevocable (until the Reference Date), nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to its right to use, license or sublicense any Intellectual Property Collateral now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and (to the extent not prohibited by any applicable license) to all Software and programs used for compilation or printout thereof.

 

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The use of the license granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence may be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, for the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article 5, only when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and at such time as the Collateral Agent is lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies; provided, however, that such licenses to be granted hereunder with respect to Trademarks shall be subject to, with respect to the goods and/or services on which such Trademarks are used, the maintenance of quality standards that are sufficient to preserve the validity of such Trademarks and are consistent with past practices.

Section 5.04. Application of Proceeds.

(a) Subject to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization of any Collateral as set forth in Section 9(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or in any other Transaction Document, the Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, money or balance in accordance with this Security Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), a receipt by the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale of such proceeds, moneys or balances shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. It is understood that the Grantors shall remain jointly and severally liable to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral and the aggregate amount of the Obligations.

ARTICLE 6

ACCOUNT VERIFICATION; ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

Section 6.01. Account Verification. The Collateral Agent may at any time and from time to time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon at least concurrent notice to the relevant Grantor, in the Collateral Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Collateral Agent, or in the name of any Grantor, communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the Account Debtors of such Grantor, parties to Contracts with such Grantor and obligors in respect of Instruments of such Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Collateral Agent’s reasonable satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Contracts, Instruments, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other Receivables that constitute Collateral.

Section 6.02. Authorization for the Collateral Agent to Take Certain Action.

(a) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as its true and lawful attorney in fact at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in the sole discretion of the Collateral Agent (in the name of such Grantor or otherwise), (i) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities that constitute Pledged Collateral or with securities intermediaries holding Pledged Collateral as may be necessary or advisable to give the Collateral Agent Control over such Pledged Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral and to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Collateral Agent to the Obligations as provided herein or in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Finance Document, but in any event subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) to demand payment or enforce payment of any Receivable in the name of the Collateral Agent or such Grantor and to endorse any check, draft and/or any other instrument for the payment of money relating to any such Receivable, (iv) to sign such Grantor’s name on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any Receivable, any draft against any Account Debtor of such Grantor, and/or any assignment and/or verification of any Receivable, (v) to exercise all of any Grantor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of any Receivable and any other Collateral, (vi) to settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew any Receivable, (vii) to settle, adjust or compromise any legal proceeding brought to collect any Receivable, (viii) to prepare, file and sign such Grantor’s name on a proof of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any Account Debtor of such Grantor, (ix) to prepare, file and sign such Grantor’s name on any notice of Lien, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document in connection with any Receivable, (x) to change the address for delivery of mail addressed to such Grantor to such address as the Collateral Agent may designate and to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to such Grantor (provided copies of such mail are provided to such Grantor), (xi) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for Permitted Liens), (xii) to make, settle and adjust claims in respect of Collateral under policies of insurance and endorse the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance, and (xiii) to do all other acts and things or institute any proceeding which the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem to be necessary (pursuant to this Security Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and in accordance with Applicable Law) to carry out the terms of this Security Agreement and to protect the interests of the Secured Parties (subject to any limitation set forth herein or in any other Transaction Document).

 

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(b) The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent under this Section 6.02 are solely to protect the Collateral Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent to exercise any such powers.

Section 6.03. PROXY. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY (UNTIL THE REFERENCE DATE) CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE COLLATERAL AGENT AS ITS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.02 ABOVE) WITH RESPECT TO THE PLEDGED COLLATERAL CONSTITUTING COLLATERAL, INCLUDING, DURING THE CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AND SUBJECT TO ANY NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AS SET FORTH HEREIN, THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT, UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AND SUBJECT TO ANY NOTICE REQUIREMENT AS SET FORTH HEREIN, TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), IN EACH CASE ONLY WHEN AN EVENT OF DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING AND UPON AT LEAST CONCURRENT WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE APPLICABLE GRANTOR.

Section 6.04. NATURE OF APPOINTMENT; LIMITATION OF DUTY. THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE 6 IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE REFERENCE DATE.

 

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NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NEITHER THE COLLATERAL AGENT, NOR ANY OF ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH DAMAGES ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO BAD FAITH, GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF SUCH PERSON AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN A FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE DECISION SUBJECT TO SECTION 7.19 HEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT THE FOREGOING SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO OBLIGATE THE COLLATERAL AGENT TO TAKE OR REFRAIN FROM TAKING ANY ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THE COLLATERAL.

ARTICLE 7

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 7.01. Waivers. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any judicial hearing in connection with the Collateral Agent’s taking possession of the Collateral or of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made, including without limitation, any and all prior notice and hearing for any prejudgment remedy or remedies. To the extent such notice may not be waived under Applicable Law, any notice made shall be deemed commercially reasonable if sent to any Grantor, addressed as set forth in Article 8, at least 10 days prior to (a) the date of any such public sale or (b) the time after which any such private disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Collateral Agent arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except those arising out of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Collateral Agent as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Collateral Agent, any valuation, stay (other than an automatic stay under any applicable Debtor Relief Law), appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar law and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest, any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law) of any kind or all other requirements as to the time, place and terms of sale in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

Section 7.02. Limitation on Collateral Agent’s Duty with Respect to the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation to clean or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Collateral Agent shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession; provided that the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to which it accords its own property. The Collateral Agent shall not have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Collateral Agent, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto.

 

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To the extent that Applicable Law impose duties on the Collateral Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it would be commercially reasonable for the Collateral Agent, subject to Section 7.06, (a) to elect not to incur expenses to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (b) to elect not to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of (unless expressly required under any applicable lease agreement), or to obtain or, if not otherwise required by any Applicable Law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (c) to elect not to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (d) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (e) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (f) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as any Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (g) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (h) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (i) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (j) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (k) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Collateral Agent against risks of loss in connection with any collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Collateral Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral or (l) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Collateral Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 7.02 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Collateral Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Collateral Agent’s exercise of remedies with respect to the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Collateral Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 7.02. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 7.02 shall be construed to grant any rights to any Grantor or to impose any duties on the Collateral Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Security Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 7.02.

Section 7.03. Compromises and Collection of Collateral. Each Grantor and the Collateral Agent recognize that setoffs, counterclaims, defenses and other claims may be asserted by obligors with respect to certain of the Receivables, that certain of the Receivables may be or become uncollectible in whole or in part and that the expense and probability of success in litigating a disputed Receivable may exceed the amount that reasonably may be expected to be recovered with respect to any Receivable. In view of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Collateral Agent may at any time and from time to time, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon concurrent notice to the relevant Grantor, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Collateral Agent in its sole and reasonable discretion shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Collateral Agent shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Collateral Agent acts reasonably in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.

Section 7.04. Collateral Agent Performance of Debtor Obligations. Without having any obligation to do so, the Collateral Agent may, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon prior written notice to the applicable Grantor, perform or pay any obligation which any Grantor has agreed to perform or pay under this Security Agreement and which obligation is due and unpaid and not being contested by such Grantor in good faith, and such Grantor shall reimburse the Collateral Agent for any amounts paid by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 7.04 as an Obligation payable in accordance with Section 5(c) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

Section 7.05. No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies. No delay or omission of the Collateral Agent to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Security Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and no single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Security Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Grantors and the Collateral Agent and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All rights and remedies contained in this Security Agreement or afforded by law shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Collateral Agent until the Reference Date.

 

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Section 7.06. Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions. All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any Applicable Law, and all of the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all Applicable Law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that such provisions do not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any provision of this Security Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Security Agreement; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. If the exercise of rights or remedies with respect to certain Collateral and the enforcement of any security interest therein require any consent, authorization, approval or license under any Applicable Law, no such action shall be taken unless and until all requisite consents, authorizations approvals or licenses have been obtained.

Section 7.07. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the security interests granted hereunder and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Note, any other Transaction Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement or instrument relating to the foregoing, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guaranty, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, (d) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like of any Grantor, (e) any exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver of, any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of this Security Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (f) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Security Agreement (other than a termination of any Lien contemplated by Section 7.12 or the occurrence of the Reference Date).

Section 7.08. Benefit of Security Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Security Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Grantor, the Collateral Agent and its respective successors and permitted assigns (including all Persons who become bound as a debtor to this Security Agreement). No sale of any participation, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of any agreement governing the Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder.

Section 7.09. Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of each Grantor contained in this Security Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement until the Reference Date.

Section 7.10. Additional Subsidiaries. Upon the execution and delivery by any Subsidiary of a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement (which Subsidiary Joinder Agreement will include a supplemental schedule substantially in the form of the Perfection Certificate (the “Supplemental Perfection Certificate”), (i) such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if such Subsidiary was originally named as a Grantor herein and (ii) the Supplemental Perfection Certificate shall be incorporated into and become a part of and supplement the Perfection Certificate (and each reference to such Perfection Certificate shall mean and be a reference to such Perfection Certificate as supplemented pursuant to the Supplemental Perfection Certificate).

 

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The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Grantor or any other Person. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Security Agreement.

Section 7.11. Headings. The titles of and section headings in this Security Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Security Agreement.

Section 7.12. Termination or Release.

(a) This Security Agreement shall continue in effect until the Reference Date, and the Liens on the Collateral or the relevant portion of the Collateral, as applicable, granted hereunder shall automatically be released in the circumstances described in and in accordance with the Note.

(b) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a) above, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute (if applicable) and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, (i) all UCC termination statements and/or UCC amendments and similar documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence and/or effectuate such termination or release and (ii) all or the relevant portion of, as applicable, the Pledged Collateral. Any execution and delivery of any document pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall be without recourse to or representation or warranty by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any other Secured Party as the result of any release of the Collateral (or the relevant portion thereof) by it in accordance with (or which the Collateral Agent in good faith believes to be in accordance with) the terms of this Section 7.12.

Section 7.13. Entire Agreement. This Security Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents and, to the extent applicable, each Intercreditor Agreement, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between each Grantor and the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between any Grantor and the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral.

Section 7.14. CHOICE OF LAW. THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT (AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 7.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.

(a) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (OR ANY APPELLATE COURT THEREFROM) OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL (EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BELOW) BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY REGISTERED MAIL ADDRESSED TO SUCH PERSON SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST SUCH PERSON FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

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EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT THE COLLATERAL AGENT RETAINS THE RIGHT TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ITS RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF THE COLLATERAL UNDER THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT.

(b) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND AGREES THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL) DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 14(f) OF THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED HEREUNDER THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS INVALID AND INEFFECTIVE. NOTHING IN THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Section 7.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (a) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (b) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 7.17. Counterparts. This Security Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Security Agreement by facsimile or by email as a “.pdf” or “.tif” attachment or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Security Agreement.

Section 7.18. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT GOVERNS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE LIENS AND SECURITY INTERESTS GRANTED TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SECURED PARTIES PURSUANT TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY BY THE COLLATERAL AGENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL HEREUNDER ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT, THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL.

 

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NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT TO ENDORSE, ASSIGN OR DELIVER POSSESSORY COLLATERL TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT SHALL BE DEEMED SATISIFED (OR ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY SHALL BE DEEMED TRUE) BY ENDORSEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OR DELIVERY OF SUCH POSSESSORY COLLATERAL TO ANOTHER PERSON PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (AS GRATUITOUS BAILEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT PURSUANT TO THE APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUCH ENDORSEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OR DELIVERY OF SUCH POSSESSORY COLLATERAL TO ANOTHER PERSON PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL NOT RESULT IN A DEFAULT OR EVENT OF DEFAULT UNDER THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER FINANCING DOCUMENT.

Section 7.19. Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Grantors or the Secured Parties shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against each other or any Related Party thereof, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Security Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby.

Section 7.20. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Security Agreement any party hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent in this Security Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except in a transaction expressly permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement, no Grantor may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Collateral Agent.

Section 7.21. Survival of Agreement. Without limiting any provision of the Note, all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Grantors in the Finance Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Security Agreement or any other Finance Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Noteholders and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the issuance, sale and purchase of the Note, regardless of any investigation made by the Noteholders or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Collateral Agent or any Noteholder may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time the Note was purchased, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Reference Date, or with respect to any individual Grantor until such Grantor is otherwise released from its obligations under this Security Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 7.22. Indemnity. Each Grantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnities, as and to the extent, set forth in Section 8 of the Note Purchase Agreement.

ARTICLE 8

NOTICES

Section 8.01. Sending Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Security Agreement shall be delivered (i) in the case of any Grantor, to such Grantor in care of the Issuer in accordance with Section 21(a) of the Note and (ii) in the case of the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Section 21(a) of the Note (it being understood and agreed that references in such Section 21(a) of the Note to “herein,” “hereunder” and other similar terms shall be deemed to be references to this Security Agreement).

 

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ARTICLE 9

THE COLLATERAL AGENT

Glencore Canada Corporation has been appointed Collateral Agent for the Noteholders hereunder pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Security Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Noteholders to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, and that the Collateral Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Collateral Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in the Note Purchase Agreement. Any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

By accepting the benefits of this Security Agreement and any other Finance Document, each Secured Party, other than the Collateral Agent, expressly acknowledges and agrees that this Security Agreement and each other Collateral Document may be enforced only by the action of the Collateral Agent, and that such Secured Party shall not have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Security Agreement or any other Collateral Document or to realize upon the security to be granted hereby or thereby; it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of this Security Agreement and the other Finance Documents.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have executed this Security Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

LI-CYCLE U.S. INC., as a Grantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director
LI-CYCLE INC., as a Grantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director
LI-CYCLE NORTH AMERICA HUB, INC., as a Grantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement


GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION,
as the Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

  Name: Adam Luckie
  Title: Authorised Signatory

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement

EX-10.2 8 d797686dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

U.S. STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

THIS U.S. STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Pledge Agreement”) is entered into as of March 25, 2024, by and among LI-CYCLE AMERICAS CORP., an Ontario corporation (“Li-Cycle Americas”) and each other Subsidiary of the Issuer (as defined below) that becomes a party hereto from time to time pursuant to Section 7.10 (Li-Cycle Americas, and each such subsidiary, collectively, the “Grantors”) and Glencore Canada Corporation, having an office at 100, King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3, Canada with company number 1947729 as Collateral Agent (as defined below).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., an Ontario corporation (the “Issuer”), the direct or indirect parent of the Grantors, the Purchaser, and the Collateral Agent, among others, are entering into Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”). The Grantors are entering into this Pledge Agreement in order to induce the Purchaser to enter into the Note Purchase Agreement and purchase the Note issued by the Issuer thereunder, and to secure the Obligations (as defined in the Note) and their obligations under the Note Guaranty.

ACCORDINGLY, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Terms Defined in Note. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note or the Note Purchase Agreement, as applicable. The terms of Section 17 of the Note shall apply to this Pledge Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

Section 1.02. Terms Defined in UCC. Terms defined in the UCC that are not otherwise defined in this Pledge Agreement or the Note Purchase Agreement are used herein as defined in Articles 8 or 9 of the UCC, as the context may require (including without limitation, as if such terms were capitalized in Article 8 or 9 of the UCC, as the context may require, the following terms: “Account”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commercial Tort Claim”, “Commodities Account”, “Deposit Accounts”, “Document”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Fixture”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instruments”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Securities Account”, “Securities Entitlement”, “Supporting Obligation” and “Tangible Chattel Paper”).

Section 1.03. Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used in this Pledge Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the preamble and Preliminary Statement above, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Article” means a numbered article of this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Article 2.

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

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“Control” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.

“Grantors” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Issuer” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statement.

“Li-Cycle Americas” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Li-Cycle U.S.” means LI-CYCLE U.S. INC., a Delaware corporation.

“Note” has the meaning given to such term in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Note Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statement.

“Secured Parties” has the meaning given to such term in the Note.

“Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization and its by-laws, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership and its partnership agreement, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization or certificate of formation, and its operating agreement, and (e) with respect to any other form of entity, such other organizational documents required by Applicable Law or customary under such jurisdiction to document the formation and governance principles of such type of entity. In the event that any term or condition of this Pledge Agreement or any other Transaction Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official.

“Perfection Certificate” means that certain Canadian Perfection Certificate dated as of the date hereof and executed by Li-Cycle Holding Corp., an Ontario Corporation Li-Cycle Corp., an Ontario Corporation and Li-Cycle Americas Corp., an Ontario Corporation (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

“Pledged Collateral” means all Pledged Stock, including all stock certificates, options or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Pledged Stock that may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this Pledge Agreement is in effect, whether or not physically delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Pledge Agreement, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor and any and all Proceeds thereof, together with any other shares of Capital Stock as are hereafter acquired by such Grantor.

“Pledged Stock” means, (a) with respect to Li-Cycle Americas, the Capital Stock of Li-Cycle U.S. Inc. and (b) with respect to each other Grantor, the shares of Capital Stock of each U.S. Subsidiary which is a Note Party held by such Grantor, including Capital Stock described in Schedule 3 to the Perfection Certificate as held by such Grantor.

“Proceeds” has the meaning assigned in Article 9 of the UCC and, in any event, shall also include but not be limited to (a) any and all proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable to the Collateral Agent or any Grantor from time to time with respect to any of the Collateral, (b) any and all payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due and payable to any Grantor from time to time in connection with any requisition, confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of the Collateral by any Governmental Entity, (c) any and all Stock Rights and (d) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.

 

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“Purchaser” has the meaning given to such term in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, managers, officers, trustees, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

“Section” means a numbered section of this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Security Agreement” means that certain U.S. Pledge and Security Agreement (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), entered into as of March 25, 2024, by and among Li-Cycle U.S., certain other U.S. Subsidiary of the Issuer (as defined in the Security Agreement) and the Collateral Agent.

“Stock Rights” means all dividends, options, warrants, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property which any Grantor shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Capital Stock constituting Collateral, any right to receive any Capital Stock constituting Collateral and any right to receive earnings, in which such Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any right, issued by an issuer of such Capital Stock.

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

ARTICLE 2

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

Section 2.01. Grant of Security Interest.

(a) As security for the prompt and complete payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges, collaterally assigns, mortgages, transfers and grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to all of the following personal property and other assets, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which are collectively referred to as the “Collateral”):

(i) Pledged Stock;

(ii) Other Pledged Collateral; and

(iii) all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for and Proceeds and products of the foregoing.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Collateral” (and any component definition thereof) shall not include any Excluded Asset. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any restriction or condition set forth in the definition of “Excluded Assets” in the Note Purchase Agreement that prevented the grant of a security interest in any right, interest or other asset that would have, but for such restriction or condition, constituted Collateral, the Collateral shall include, and the relevant Grantor shall be deemed to have automatically granted a security interest in, such previously restricted or conditioned right, interest or other asset, as the case may be, as if such restriction or condition had never been in effect.

 

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ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Grantor, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent as and when required under the Note Purchase Agreement, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

Section 3.01. Title, Perfection and Priority; Filing Collateral. Such Grantor has good and valid rights in, title to, or the power to transfer the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Subject to the Legal Reservations, this Pledge Agreement is effective to create a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on and security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, subject to the satisfaction of the Perfection Requirements, the Collateral Agent will have a fully perfected first priority Lien on such Collateral securing the Obligations to the extent perfection can be achieved by the Perfection Requirements.

Section 3.02. Pledged Collateral.

(a) (i) All Pledged Stock has been duly authorized and validly issued (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Stock) by the issuer thereof and is fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) as of the Closing Date, each Grantor is the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Stock described in Schedule 3 to the Perfection Certificate as of the Closing Date as held by such Grantor and (iii) as of the Closing Date, each Grantor holds the Pledged Stock described in Schedule 3 to the Perfection Certificate as of the Closing Date as held by such Grantor free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens).

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

From the date hereof, and thereafter until the Reference Date (as defined in the Note):

Section 4.01. General.

(a) Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification. Each Grantor hereby (i) authorizes the Collateral Agent to file all financing statements and amendments thereto with respect to the Collateral naming such Grantor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party, in form appropriate for filing under the UCC of the relevant jurisdiction and (ii) subject to the terms of the Transaction Documents, agrees to take such other actions, in each case as may from time to time be necessary and reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take any such other actions, which it has no obligation to take) in order to establish and maintain a first priority, valid, enforceable (subject to the Legal Reservations) and perfected security interest in and subject, in the case of Pledged Collateral, to Section 4.02 hereof, Control of, the Collateral. Each Grantor shall pay any applicable filing fees, recordation fees and related expenses relating to its Collateral in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Note Purchase Agreement. Any financing statement filed by the Collateral Agent may (i) indicate the Collateral by any description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Pledge Agreement and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) in each case to the extent applicable, whether the Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to the Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the relevant real property to which the Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to furnish any such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

 

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(b) Further Assurances. Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to defend title to the Collateral against all Persons (other than Persons holding Permitted Liens on such Collateral that have priority over the Collateral Agent’s Lien) and to defend the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien that is not a Permitted Lien.

(c) Limitations on Actions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Pledge Agreement, no Grantor shall be required to take any action in connection with Collateral pledged hereunder (and no security interest in such Collateral shall be required to be perfected) except to the extent consistent with Section 2 of Annex A-1 of the Note and the Perfection Requirements or expressly required hereunder and except in accordance with Applicable Law.

Section 4.02. Pledged Collateral.

(a) Delivery of Certificated Securities and Instruments. Each Grantor will, after the Closing Date, hold in trust for the Collateral Agent upon receipt and, on or before the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) and (c) of Section 1 of Annex A-1 of the Note for the reporting period in which the relevant event occurred (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may reasonably agree), deliver to the Collateral Agent any (1) certificated Security representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral and (2) Instrument (A) in each case under this clause (2), having an outstanding balance in excess of $5,000,000 and (B) in each case under clauses (1) and (2), constituting Collateral received after the date hereof, accompanied by undated instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Pledge Agreement or any other Transaction Document, no Grantors shall be required to deliver any Tangible Chattel Paper or Document to the Collateral Agent.

(b) Uncertificated Securities and Pledged Collateral. With respect to any partnership interest or limited liability company interest owned by any Grantor which is required to be pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof (other than a partnership interest or limited liability company interest held by a Clearing Corporation, Securities Intermediary or other financial intermediary of any kind) which is not represented by a certificate and which is not a Security for purposes of the UCC, such Grantor shall not permit any issuer of such partnership interest or limited liability company interest to allow such partnership interest or limited liability company interest (as applicable) to become a Security unless such Grantor complies with the procedures set forth in Section 4.02(a) within the time period prescribed therein. Each Grantor which is an issuer of any uncertificated Pledged Collateral described in this Section 4.02(b) hereby agrees to comply with all instructions from the Collateral Agent without such Grantor’s further consent, in each case subject to the notice requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a)(iv).

(c) Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. The Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall hold certificated Pledged Collateral required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent under clause (a) above in the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent, but at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and upon at least concurrent notice to the applicable Grantor, the Collateral Agent shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion, but subject to the last paragraph of Section 7(e) of the Note) to hold such Pledged Collateral in its own name as pledgee, or in the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent). At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, but subject to the last paragraph of Section 7(e) of the Note, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing such Pledged Collateral for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Pledge Agreement.

 

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(d) Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral. It is agreed that:

(i) without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, each Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights and other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral for any purpose that does not violate this Pledge Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Transaction Document;

(ii) each Grantor will permit the Collateral Agent or its nominee at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing to exercise the rights and remedies provided under Section 5.01(a)(iv) (subject to the notice requirements set forth therein); and

(iii) subject to Section 5.01(a)(iv), each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral; provided that any non-cash dividend or other distribution that would constitute Pledged Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Capital Stock of the issuer of any Pledged Collateral or received in exchange for Pledged Collateral or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall, to the extent constituting Collateral, be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent as and to the extent required by clause (a) above.

(e) Return of Pledged Collateral. So long as no Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to the applicable Grantor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) any Pledged Collateral in its possession if requested to be delivered to the issuer or holder thereof in connection with any action or transaction that is permitted or not restricted by the Note.

Section 4.03. Information Regarding Collateral. The Grantors will furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt (and, in any event, within 60 days of the relevant change) written notice, with respect to any Grantor, of any change in (i) any Grantor’s legal name, (ii) any Grantor’s type of organization, (iii) any Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization or (iv) any Grantor’s organizational identification number, in each case to the extent such information is necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to perfect or maintain the perfection and priority of its security interest in the Collateral of the relevant Grantor, together with a certified copy of the applicable Organizational Document reflecting the relevant change.

Section 4.04. Grantors Remain Liable.

(a) Each Grantor (rather than the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party) shall remain liable (as between itself and any relevant counterparty) to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under any Contract relating to the Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Contract by reason of or arising out of this Pledge Agreement or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any payment relating to such Contract pursuant hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Contract, to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to them or to which they may be entitled at any time or times.

(b) Each Grantor assumes all liability and responsibility in connection with the Collateral acquired by it, and the liability of such Grantor to pay the Obligations shall in no way be affected or diminished by reason of the fact that such Collateral may be lost, destroyed, stolen, damaged or for any reason whatsoever unavailable to such Grantor.

 

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ARTICLE 5

REMEDIES

Section 5.01. Remedies.

(a) Each Grantor agrees that, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies (in addition to the rights and remedies existing under Applicable Law):

(i) the rights and remedies provided in this Pledge Agreement, the Note, or any other Transaction Document; provided that this Section 5.01(a) shall not limit any rights available to the Collateral Agent prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default;

(ii) the rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other Applicable Law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ Lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement;

(iii) without notice (except as specifically provided in Section 7.01 or elsewhere herein), demand or advertisement of any kind to any Grantor or any other Person, but subject to the terms of any applicable lease agreement, personally, or by agents or attorneys, enter the premises of any Grantor where any Collateral is located (through self-help and without judicial process) to collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of, deliver, or realize upon, the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at one or more public or private sales (which sales may be adjourned or continued from time to time with or without notice and may take place at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere), for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable;

(iv) upon at least concurrent written notice to the applicable Grantor, (A) transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral constituting Collateral, and (B) exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto (whereupon the voting and other rights of such Grantor described in Section 4.02(d)(i) above shall immediately cease such that the Collateral Agent shall have the sole right to exercise such voting and other rights while the relevant Event of Default is continuing), to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon (it being understood that all Stock Rights received by any Grantor while the relevant Event of Default is continuing shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsements)) and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral constituting Collateral as though the Collateral Agent was the outright owner thereof; and

(v) take possession of the Collateral or any part thereof, by directing such Grantor in writing to deliver the same to the Collateral Agent at any reasonable place or places designated by the Collateral Agent, in which event such Grantor shall at its own expense forthwith cause the same to be moved to the place or places so designated by the Collateral Agent and there delivered to the Collateral Agent;

(b) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that compliance by the Collateral Agent with any Applicable Law in connection with a disposition of the Collateral will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

(c) Any Secured Party shall have the right in any public sale and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, in any private sale, to purchase all or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption that Grantor is permitted to release and waive pursuant to Applicable Law, and each Grantor hereby expressly releases such right to equity redemption to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.

 

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(d) Until the Collateral Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of any particular Collateral under this Section 5.01, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to hold or use such Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving such Collateral or the value of such Collateral or for any other purpose deemed reasonably appropriate by the Collateral Agent. At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of any Collateral and to enforce any of the Collateral Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, the Grantors, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

(f) Each Grantor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that no such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit any Grantor or the issuer of any Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under Applicable Law, even if any Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.

(g) The Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits of this Pledge Agreement) acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding any other provision in this Pledge Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the exercise of rights or remedies with respect to certain Collateral and the enforcement of any security interests therein may be limited or restricted by, or require any consent, authorization, approval or license under, any Applicable Law.

(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any rights and remedies provided in this Section 5.01 shall be subject to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 5.02. Grantors’ Obligations Upon Default. Upon the request of the Collateral Agent at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Grantor will:

(a) at its own cost and expense assemble and make available to the Collateral Agent, the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places reasonably specified by the Collateral Agent, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere; and Section 5.03.

(b) subject to the terms of any applicable lease agreement, permit the Collateral Agent and/or its representatives and/or agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay any Grantor for such use and occupancy.

 

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Application of Proceeds.

(a) Subject to each applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization of any Collateral as set forth in Section 9(h) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or in any other Transaction Document, the Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, money or balance in accordance with this Pledge Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), a receipt by the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale of such proceeds, moneys or balances shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. It is understood that the Grantors shall remain jointly and severally liable to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral and the aggregate amount of the Obligations.

ARTICLE 6

ACCOUNT VERIFICATION; ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

Section 6.01. [Reserved].

Section 6.02. Authorization for the Collateral Agent to Take Certain Action.

(a) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as its true and lawful attorney in fact at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in the sole discretion of the Collateral Agent (in the name of such Grantor or otherwise), (i) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities that constitute Pledged Collateral or with securities intermediaries holding Pledged Collateral as may be necessary or advisable to give the Collateral Agent Control over such Pledged Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral and to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Collateral Agent to the Obligations as provided herein or in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Finance Document, but in any event subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) to exercise all of any Grantor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of any Collateral, (iv) to change the address for delivery of mail addressed to such Grantor to such address as the Collateral Agent may designate and to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to such Grantor (provided copies of such mail are provided to such Grantor), (v) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for Permitted Liens), (vi) to make, settle and adjust claims in respect of Collateral under policies of insurance and endorse the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance, and (vii) to do all other acts and things or institute any proceeding which the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem to be necessary (pursuant to this Pledge Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and in accordance with Applicable Law) to carry out the terms of this Pledge Agreement and to protect the interests of the Secured Parties (subject to any limitation set forth herein or in any other Transaction Document).

(b) The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent under this Section 6.02 are solely to protect the Collateral Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent to exercise any such powers.

 

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Section 6.03. PROXY. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY (UNTIL THE REFERENCE DATE) CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE COLLATERAL AGENT AS ITS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.02 ABOVE) WITH RESPECT TO THE PLEDGED COLLATERAL CONSTITUTING COLLATERAL, INCLUDING, DURING THE CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AND SUBJECT TO ANY NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AS SET FORTH HEREIN, THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT, UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AND SUBJECT TO ANY NOTICE REQUIREMENT AS SET FORTH HEREIN, TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), IN EACH CASE ONLY WHEN AN EVENT OF DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING AND UPON AT LEAST CONCURRENT WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE APPLICABLE GRANTOR.

Section 6.04. NATURE OF APPOINTMENT; LIMITATION OF DUTY. THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE 6 IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE REFERENCE DATE. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NEITHER THE COLLATERAL AGENT, NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH DAMAGES ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO BAD FAITH, GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF SUCH PERSON AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN A FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE DECISION SUBJECT TO SECTION 7.19 HEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT THE FOREGOING SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO OBLIGATE THE COLLATERAL AGENT TO TAKE OR REFRAIN FROM TAKING ANY ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THE COLLATERAL.

ARTICLE 7

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 7.01. Waivers. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any judicial hearing in connection with the Collateral Agent’s taking possession of the Collateral or of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made, including without limitation, any and all prior notice and hearing for any prejudgment remedy or remedies. To the extent such notice may not be waived under Applicable Law, any notice made shall be deemed commercially reasonable if sent to any Grantor, addressed as set forth in Article 8, at least 10 days prior to (a) the date of any such public sale or (b) the time after which any such private disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Collateral Agent arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except those arising out of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Collateral Agent as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment.

 

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To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Collateral Agent, any valuation, stay (other than an automatic stay under any applicable Debtor Relief Law), appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar law and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Pledge Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest, any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law) of any kind or all other requirements as to the time, place and terms of sale in connection with this Pledge Agreement or any Collateral.

Section 7.02. Limitation on Collateral Agent’s Duty with Respect to the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation to clean or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Collateral Agent shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession; provided that the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to which it accords its own property. The Collateral Agent shall not have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Collateral Agent, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that Applicable Law impose duties on the Collateral Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it would be commercially reasonable for the Collateral Agent, subject to Section 7.06, (a) to elect not to incur expenses to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (b) to elect not to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of (unless expressly required under any applicable lease agreement), or to obtain or, if not otherwise required by any Applicable Law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (c) to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (d) [reserved], (e) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (f) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as any Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (g) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (h) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (i) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (j) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (k) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Collateral Agent against risks of loss in connection with any collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Collateral Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral or (l) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Collateral Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 7.02 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Collateral Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Collateral Agent’s exercise of remedies with respect to the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Collateral Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 7.02. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 7.02 shall be construed to grant any rights to any Grantor or to impose any duties on the Collateral Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Pledge Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 7.02.

 

11


Section 7.03. [Reserved].

Section 7.04. Collateral Agent Performance of Debtor Obligations. Without having any obligation to do so, the Collateral Agent may, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon prior written notice to the applicable Grantor, perform or pay any obligation which any Grantor has agreed to perform or pay under this Pledge Agreement and which obligation is due and unpaid and not being contested by such Grantor in good faith, and such Grantor shall reimburse the Collateral Agent for any amounts paid by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 7.04 as an Obligation payable in accordance with Section 5(c) of the Note Purchase Agreement.

Section 7.05. No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies. No delay or omission of the Collateral Agent to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Pledge Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and no single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Pledge Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Grantors and the Collateral Agent and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All rights and remedies contained in this Pledge Agreement or afforded by law shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Collateral Agent until the Reference Date.

Section 7.06. Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions. All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Pledge Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any Applicable Law, and all of the provisions of this Pledge Agreement are intended to be subject to all Applicable Law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that such provisions do not render this Pledge Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any provision of this Pledge Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Pledge Agreement; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. If the exercise of rights or remedies with respect to certain Collateral and the enforcement of any security interest therein require any consent, authorization, approval or license under any Applicable Law, no such action shall be taken unless and until all requisite consents, authorizations approvals or licenses have been obtained.

Section 7.07. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the security interests granted hereunder and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Note, any other Transaction Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement or instrument relating to the foregoing, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guaranty, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, (d) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like of any Grantor, (e) any exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver of, any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of this Pledge Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (f) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Pledge Agreement (other than a termination of any Lien contemplated by Section 7.12 or the occurrence of the Reference Date).

 

12


Section 7.08. Benefit of Pledge Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Pledge Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Grantor, the Collateral Agent and its respective successors and permitted assigns (including all Persons who become bound as a debtor to this Pledge Agreement). No sale of any participation, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of any agreement governing the Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder.

Section 7.09. Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of each Grantor contained in this Pledge Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Pledge Agreement until the Reference Date.

Section 7.10. Additional Subsidiaries. Upon the execution and delivery by any Subsidiary of a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement (which Subsidiary Joinder Agreement will include a supplemental schedule substantially in the form of the Perfection Certificate (the “Supplemental Perfection Certificate”), (i) such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if such Subsidiary was originally named as a Grantor herein and (ii) the Supplemental Perfection Certificate shall be incorporated into and become a part of and supplement the Perfection Certificate (and each reference to such Perfection Certificate shall mean and be a reference to such Perfection Certificate as supplemented pursuant to the Supplemental Perfection Certificate). The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Grantor or any other Person. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Pledge Agreement.

Section 7.11. Headings. The titles of and section headings in this Pledge Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Pledge Agreement.

Section 7.12. Termination or Release.

(a) This Pledge Agreement shall continue in effect until the Reference Date, and the Liens on the Collateral or the relevant portion of the Collateral, as applicable, granted hereunder shall automatically be released in the circumstances described in and in accordance with the Note.

(b) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a) above, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute (if applicable) and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, (i) all UCC termination statements and/or UCC amendments and similar documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence and/or effectuate such termination or release and (ii) all or the relevant portion of, as applicable, the Pledged Collateral. Any execution and delivery of any document pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall be without recourse to or representation or warranty by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any other Secured Party as the result of any release of the Collateral (or the relevant portion thereof) by it in accordance with (or which the Collateral Agent in good faith believes to be in accordance with) the terms of this Section 7.12.

Section 7.13. Entire Agreement. This Pledge Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents and, to the extent applicable, each Intercreditor Agreement, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between each Grantor and the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between any Grantor and the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral.

Section 7.14. CHOICE OF LAW. THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT (AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

13


Section 7.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.

(a) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (OR ANY APPELLATE COURT THEREFROM) OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL (EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BELOW) BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY REGISTERED MAIL ADDRESSED TO SUCH PERSON SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST SUCH PERSON FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT THE COLLATERAL AGENT RETAINS THE RIGHT TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ITS RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF THE COLLATERAL UNDER THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT.

(b) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND AGREES THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL) DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 14(f) OF THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED HEREUNDER THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS INVALID AND INEFFECTIVE. NOTHING IN THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Section 7.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (a) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (b) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 7.17. Counterparts. This Pledge Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Pledge Agreement by facsimile or by email as a “.pdf” or “.tif” attachment or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Pledge Agreement.

 

14


Section 7.18. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT GOVERNS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE LIENS AND SECURITY INTERESTS GRANTED TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SECURED PARTIES PURSUANT TO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT AND THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY BY THE COLLATERAL AGENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL HEREUNDER ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT, THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT TO ENDORSE, ASSIGN OR DELIVER POSSESSORY COLLATERL TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT SHALL BE DEEMED SATISIFED (OR ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY SHALL BE DEEMED TRUE) BY ENDORSEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OR DELIVERY OF SUCH POSSESSORY COLLATERAL TO ANOTHER PERSON PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (AS GRATUITOUS BAILEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT PURSUANT TO THE APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUCH ENDORSEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OR DELIVERY OF SUCH POSSESSORY COLLATERAL TO ANOTHER PERSON PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL NOT RESULT IN A DEFAULT OR EVENT OF DEFAULT UNDER THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER FINANCING DOCUMENT.

Section 7.19. Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Grantors or the Secured Parties shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against each other or any Related Party thereof, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Pledge Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby.

Section 7.20. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Pledge Agreement any party hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent in this Pledge Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except in a transaction expressly permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement, no Grantor may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Collateral Agent.

Section 7.21. Survival of Agreement. Without limiting any provision of the Note, all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Grantors in the Finance Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Pledge Agreement or any other Finance Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Noteholders and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the issuance, sale and purchase of the Note, regardless of any investigation made by the Noteholders or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Collateral Agent or any Noteholders may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time the Note was purchased, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Reference Date, or with respect to any individual Grantor until such Grantor is otherwise released from its obligations under this Pledge Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 7.22. Indemnity. Each Grantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnities as, and to the extent, set forth in Section 8 of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

15


ARTICLE 8

NOTICES

Section 8.01. Sending Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Pledge Agreement shall be delivered (i) in the case of any Grantor, to such Grantor in care of the Issuer in accordance with Section 21(a) of the Note and (ii) in the case of the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Section 21(a) of the Note (it being understood and agreed that references in such Section 21(a) of the Note to “herein,” “hereunder” and other similar terms shall be deemed to be references to this Pledge Agreement).

ARTICLE 9

THE COLLATERAL AGENT

Glencore Canada Corporation has been appointed Collateral Agent for the Noteholders hereunder pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Pledge Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Noteholders to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, and that the Collateral Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Collateral Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in the Note Purchase Agreement. Any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

By accepting the benefits of this Pledge Agreement and any other Finance Document, each Secured Party, other than the Collateral Agent, expressly acknowledges and agrees that this Pledge Agreement and each other Collateral Document may be enforced only by the action of the Collateral Agent, and that such Secured Party shall not have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Pledge Agreement or any other Collateral Document or to realize upon the security to be granted hereby or thereby; it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of this Security Agreement and the other Finance Documents.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have executed this Pledge Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

LI-CYCLE AMERICAS CORP. as a Grantor
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Pledge Agreement


GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION, as the Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

 

Name: Adam Luckie

 

Title: Authorised Signatory

 

Signature Page to Pledge Agreement

EX-10.3 9 d797686dex103.htm EX-10.3 EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

Canadian General Security Agreement

between

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.

and

LI-CYCLE CORP.

and

LI-CYCLE AMERICAS CORP.

and

GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION

as Collateral Agent

made

March 25, 2024

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article 1 - Interpretation

     1  

1.01

   Interpretation      1  

1.02

   Headings      4  

1.03

   Extended Meanings      4  

Article 2 - Grant of Security Interest

     4  

2.01

   Security Interest      4  

2.02

   Attachment of Security Interest      5  

2.03

   Excluded Assets      5  

2.04

   Real Property      5  

2.05

   Security Interest Absolute      6  

Article 3 - Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the DebtorS

     6  

3.01

   Representations and Warranties      6  

3.02

   Covenants      7  

Article 4 - Dealing with Collateral

     8  

4.01

   Dealing with Collateral by the Debtors      8  

4.02

   Rights and Duties of the Collateral Agent      8  

4.03

   Registration of Securities      8  

4.04

   Notification of Account Debtors      9  

4.05

   Application of Funds      9  

Article 5 - Default and Remedies

     9  

5.01

   Consequences of a Default      9  

5.02

   Remedies      9  

5.03

   Powers of the Receiver      10  

5.04

   Liability of Collateral Agent      10  

5.05

   Proceeds of Realization      11  

5.06

   Waivers by Debtor      11  

Article 6 - General

     11  

6.01

   Additional Debtors      11  

6.02

   Failure of Debtor to Perform      11  

6.03

   Appointment of Consultant      11  

6.04

   Benefit of the Agreement      12  

6.05

   Entire Agreement      12  

6.06

   Amendments and Waivers      12  

6.07

   Assignment      12  

6.08

   Severability      12  

6.09

   Notices      12  

6.10

   Remedies Cumulative; Additional Continuing Security      13  

6.11

   Further Assurances      13  

6.12

   Power of Attorney      13  


6.13

  Amalgamation      13  

6.14

  Discharge      13  

6.15

  Reinstatement      14  

6.16

  Governing Law      14  

6.17

  Attornment      14  

6.18

  Conflicts      14  

6.19

  Counterparts      14  

6.20

  Electronic Execution      15  

6.21

  Intercreditor Agreement      15  

6.22

  Copy of Documents and Consent to Filings      15  

Article 7 - THE COLLATERAL AGENT

     15  

7.01

  General      15  

Schedule A

       A-1  

Schedule B

       B-1  

 

- ii -


Canadian General Security Agreement

This Agreement is made as of March 25, 2024

between

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario (the “Issuer”),

and

Li-Cycle Corp. and Li-Cycle Americas Corp., each a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario (collectively, the “Guarantors” and, together with the Issuer, the “Debtors”),

and

Glencore Canada Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, as Collateral Agent (as defined below).

 

A.

The Issuer has entered into a note purchase agreement with the Purchaser, Glencore Ltd. and the Collateral Agent dated as of March 11, 2024 and amended and restated as of the date hereof (as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Issuer has agreed to issue and sell to the Purchaser a senior secured convertible note in a principal amount of $75,000,000 maturing on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such senior secured convertible note (the “Note”);

 

B.

The Guarantors and the Collateral Agent have entered into the Note Guaranty (as defined in the Note), pursuant to which each Guarantor has guaranteed the Obligations (as hereinafter defined) of the Issuer;

 

C.

Each Debtor has agreed to grant a security interest and assignment, mortgage and charge in the Collateral to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in order to secure the performance of its Obligations;

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES that in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1 - Interpretation

 

1.01

Interpretation

(1) In this Agreement, unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith:

“Agreement” means this agreement, including its recitals and schedules, as amended from time to time.

“Collateral” has the meaning set out in Section 2.01; provided always that the term “Collateral” when used herein shall not include any consumer goods of the Debtors.

 


“Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Event of Default” means any of the events described as “Events of Default” in the Note.

“Excluded Assets” means each of the following:

 

  (a)

any asset the grant or perfection of a security interest in which would (i) be prohibited by enforceable anti-assignment provisions set forth in any contract that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of the Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than assets subject to Capital Leases and purchase money financings), (ii) violate (after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the PPSA or other Applicable Law) the terms of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of the Note and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than Capital Leases and purchase money financings), or (iii) trigger termination of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of the Note pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision (to the extent such contract is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof); it being understood that the term “Excluded Asset” shall not include proceeds or receivables arising out of any contract described in this clause (a) to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed to be effective under the PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant prohibition, violation or termination right;

 

  (b)

the Capital Stock of any Excluded Subsidiary;

 

  (c)

any asset (including Capital Stock), the grant or perfection of a security interest in which would (i) be prohibited under Applicable Law (including rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity) (after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the PPSA or other Applicable Law), (ii) require any governmental or regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval, license or authorization has not been obtained (it being understood and agreed that no Note Party shall have any obligation to procure any such consent, approval, license or authorization) (after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the PPSA or other Applicable Law); it being understood that the term “Excluded Asset” shall not include proceeds or receivables arising out of any asset described in this clause (c) to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed to be effective under the PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant requirement or prohibition, or (iii) be reasonably likely to result in material and adverse tax consequences to the Issuer and/or its direct or indirect equityholders (including as a result of the application of Section 956 of the Code) as determined by the Issuer in good faith;

 

  (d)

any Real Estate Asset and, except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by the filing of a PPSA financing statement, any leasehold interest in any other assets;

 

  (e)

any Margin Stock;

 

- 2 -


  (f)

any Excluded Account;

 

  (g)

assets subject to a purchase money security interest, Capital Lease obligations or similar arrangement, in each case, that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of the Note and to the extent the grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or purchase money or similar arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than a Debtor) after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the PPSA or other Applicable Law; it being understood that the term “Excluded Asset” shall not include proceeds or receivables arising out of any asset described in this clause (g) to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed to be effective under the PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant violation or invalidation;

 

  (h)

any asset of a Person acquired by a Debtor that, at the time of the relevant acquisition, is encumbered to secure assumed Indebtedness permitted by the Note to the extent (and for so long as) the documentation governing the applicable assumed Indebtedness prohibits such asset from being pledged to secure the Obligations and the relevant prohibition was not implemented in contemplation of the applicable acquisition;

 

  (i)

any governmental licenses or provincial or municipal franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization would be prohibited or restricted thereby, after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the PPSA or other Applicable Law, other than any proceeds or receivable thereof to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed to be effective under the PPSA or other Applicable Law notwithstanding the relevant prohibition or restriction; and/or

 

  (j)

Project Loan Collateral, in accordance with the terms of an applicable Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement.

“Obligations” has the meaning given to such term in the Note.

“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), as amended from time to time (or successor statute) including the regulations thereto; provided, however, if the validity, attachment, perfection (or opposability), effect of perfection or of non-perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in any Collateral are governed by the personal property security laws or laws relating to personal or movable property of any jurisdiction other than Ontario (including without limitation pursuant to the Civil Code of Quebec), “PPSA” shall also include those personal property security laws or laws relating to personal or movable property in such other jurisdiction for the purpose of the provisions hereof relating to such validity, attachment, perfection (or opposability), effect of perfection or of non-perfection or priority and for the definitions related to such provisions.

The terms “accessions”, “accounts”, “chattel paper”, “documents of title”, “goods”, “instruments”, “intangibles”, “inventory”, “money”, “proceeds” and “securities” whenever used herein have the meanings given to those terms in the PPSA currently in effect in the province referred to in Section 6.16 below.

 

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Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Note or in the Notes Purchase Agreement, as applicable.

 

1.02

Headings

(1) The division of this Agreement into Articles and Sections and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The terms “hereof”, “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion hereof. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

 

1.03

Extended Meanings

(1) In this Agreement words importing the singular number only include the plural and vice versa, words importing any gender include all genders and words importing persons include individuals, corporations, limited and unlimited liability companies, general and limited partnerships, associations, trusts, unincorporated organizations, joint ventures and governmental authorities. The term “including” means “including without limiting the generality of the foregoing”.

ARTICLE 2 - Grant of Security Interest

 

2.01

Security Interest

(1) As general and continuing security for the payment and performance of all its Obligations, each Debtor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Debtor’s present and after acquired undertaking and property, both real and personal (collectively, the “Collateral”), and, as further general and continuing security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, each Debtor hereby also assigns the Collateral (other than trademarks) to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and mortgages and charges the Collateral as and by way of a fixed and specific mortgage and charge to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties,. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral includes all right, title and interest that any Debtor now has or may hereafter have or acquire in any manner whatsoever (including by way of amalgamation) in all property of the following kinds:

 

  (a)

Receivables: all debts, accounts, claims and choses in action for monetary amounts (collectively, the “Receivables”);

 

  (b)

Inventory: all inventory of whatever kind and wherever situated (collectively, the “Inventory”);

 

  (c)

Equipment: all machinery, equipment, fixtures, furniture, plant, vehicles and other tangible personal property that are not Inventory (collectively, the “Equipment”);

 

  (d)

Chattel Paper: all chattel paper;

 

  (e)

Documents of Title: all warehouse receipts, bills of lading and other documents of title, whether negotiable or not;

 

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  (f)

Securities: all shares, bonds, debentures, and other securities (collectively, the “Securities”);

 

  (g)

Intangibles: all intangibles not otherwise described in this Section 2.01 including all goodwill, patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property;

 

  (h)

Instruments and Money: all bills, notes, cheques and other instruments and all coins or bills or other medium of exchange adopted for use as part of the currency of Canada or of any foreign government;

 

  (i)

Books, Records, Etc.: all books, invoices, documents and other records in any form evidencing or relating to the Collateral;

 

  (j)

all rights under any lease or agreement relating to real property;

 

  (k)

Substitutions, Etc.: all replacements of, substitutions for and increases, additions and accessions to any of the property described in this Section 2.01; and

 

  (l)

Proceeds: all proceeds of any Collateral in any form derived directly or indirectly from any dealing with the Collateral or that indemnifies or compensates for the loss of or damage to the Collateral;

provided that the said grant of a security interest, assignment, mortgage and charge will not render the Collateral Agent liable to observe or perform any term, covenant or condition of any agreement, document or instrument to which a Debtor is a party or by which it is bound.

 

2.02

Attachment of Security Interest

(1) Each Debtor acknowledges that the security interest hereby created attaches upon the execution of this Agreement (or in the case of any after acquired property, upon the date of acquisition by such Debtor of any rights therein), that value has been given by the Collateral Agent and that such Debtor has, or in the case of after acquired property will have, rights in the Collateral or the power to transfer rights in the Collateral to the Collateral Agent. Each Debtor, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waives all rights to receive from the Collateral Agent a copy of any financing statement, financing change statement, or verification statement, filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement.

 

2.03

Excluded Assets

(1) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Collateral include or the security interest granted under Section 2.01 attach to any Excluded Asset.

 

2.04

Real Property

(1) The assignment, mortgage and charge granted hereby will not extend to the last day of the term of any lease or agreement relating to real property, but each Debtor will hold such last day in trust for the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and, upon the enforcement by the Collateral Agent of its security, will assign such last day as directed by the Collateral Agent.

 

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2.05

Security Interest Absolute

(1) The security interests granted hereby and all rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder and all obligations of each Debtor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and independent and separate from any other security for the Obligations, whether executed by such Debtor or any other person, and shall not be affected or impaired by:

 

  (a)

any amendment, modification, replacement of or addition or supplement to the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (b)

any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege in respect of this Agreement, the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (c)

any waiver, consent, extension, indulgence or other action, inaction or admission under or in respect of this Agreement, the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (d)

any default by the Issuer under, or any invalidity or unenforceability of, or any limitation of the liability of the Issuer or on the method or terms of payment under, or any irregularity or other defect in the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (e)

any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of a Debtor into or with any other Person; or

 

  (f)

any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, composition, winding-up, dissolution or similar proceeding involving or affecting a Debtor.

ARTICLE 3 - REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE DEBTORS

 

3.01

Representations and Warranties

 

  (1)

Each Debtor hereby represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent that:

 

  (a)

such Debtor has good and valid rights in, title to, or the power to transfer the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), and has all requisite power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto;

 

  (b)

subject to the Legal Reservations, this Agreement is effective to create a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on and security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and, subject to the satisfaction of the Perfection Requirements, the Collateral Agent will have a fully perfected first priority Lien on such Collateral securing the Obligations to the extent perfection can be achieved by the Perfection Requirements;

 

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  (c)

as of the date hereof, no Debtor has actual knowledge of (a) any third-party claim (i) that any of its owned patent, trademark or copyright registrations or applications is invalid or unenforceable, or (ii) challenging such Debtor’s rights to such registrations and applications or (b) any basis for such claims, other than, in each case, to the extent any such third-party claim would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.02

Covenants

 

  (1)

Each Debtor covenants with the Collateral Agent that such Debtor will:

 

  (a)

ensure that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.01 will be true and correct at all times;

 

  (b)

give written notice to the Collateral Agent within 60 days following any change in the location of its registered office or chief executive office or the transfer of Inventory, Securities or Equipment from the jurisdictions specified in any schedule hereto to a jurisdiction not specified in such schedule;

 

  (c)

(i) keep proper books of account in accordance with sound accounting practice, (ii) furnish to the Collateral Agent in writing such financial information and statements and all such information and statements relating to the Collateral as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request, (iii) permit the Collateral Agent or its authorized agents upon the Security Party’s reasonable request at the expense of such Debtor to examine the books of account and other financial records and reports relating to the Collateral and to make copies thereof and take extracts therefrom;

 

  (d)

permit the Collateral Agent from time to time at any reasonable time to inspect the Collateral and make copies of all information relating to the Collateral and for such purposes the Collateral Agent will have access to all premises occupied by such Debtor or where the Collateral may be found;

 

  (e)

not change its name or, if such Debtor is a corporation, not amalgamate with any other corporation without first giving notice to the Collateral Agent of its new name and the names of all amalgamating corporations and the date when such new name or amalgamation is to become effective;

 

  (f)

pay to the Collateral Agent forthwith upon demand all reasonable costs, fees and expenses (including all reasonable legal, Receiver’s (as defined below), consulting and accounting fees and expenses) incurred by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, perfection, administration and discharge of this Agreement and the security granted hereby and the preservation and exercise of the rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Agent, and all such costs, fees and expenses will bear interest at the highest rate borne by any of the Obligations and will form part of the Obligations; and

 

  (g)

immediately deliver all instruments owned as of the date hereof having an outstanding balance in excess of $5,000,000 to the Collateral Agent or its nominee.

 

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(2) To the extent any Debtor acquires, by way of amalgamation or otherwise, any additional instrument having an outstanding balance in excess of $5,000,000 at any time or from time to time after the date hereof, such Collateral will automatically (and without any further action being required to be taken by the Collateral Agent) be subject to the security interest and pledge created hereby. Each Debtor will take, or cause to be taken, as promptly as practicable and, in any event on or before the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) and (c) of Section 1 of Annex A-1 of the Note for the reporting period in which such Collateral was acquired (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may reasonably agree), all steps and actions as the Collateral Agent deems necessary to ensure that such additional instrument is delivered to the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, no Pledgors shall be required to deliver any Tangible Chattel Paper or Document of Title to the Collateral Agent.

ARTICLE 4 - Dealing with Collateral

 

4.01

Dealing with Collateral by the Debtors

(1) No Debtor shall sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, except, until an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the security interest granted hereby becomes enforceable, as not prohibited by the terms of the Note or otherwise in the ordinary course of its business so that the purchaser of any Collateral takes title thereto free and clear of the security interest, assignment and mortgage and charge granted hereby, but all proceeds of any such sale will continue to be subject to the security granted hereby or as otherwise permitted pursuant to the Note and the Note Purchase Agreement. At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies under Section 5.02, all money received by a Debtor will be held by such Debtor in trust for the Collateral Agent and must be held separate and apart from other money of such Debtor and paid over to the Collateral Agent on request.

 

4.02

Rights and Duties of the Collateral Agent

(1) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its rights and duties hereunder by or through agents (including, without limitation, any receiver or receiver and manager (each herein referred to as the “Receiver”)) and is entitled to retain counsel and to act in reliance upon the advice of such counsel concerning all matters pertaining to its rights and duties hereunder.

(2) In the holding of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent and any agent on its behalf is only bound to exercise the same degree of care as it would exercise with respect to similar property of its own of similar value held in the same place. The Collateral Agent and any agent on its behalf will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care with respect to the custody and preservation of the Collateral if it takes such action for that purpose as any Debtor reasonably requests in writing, but failure of the Collateral Agent or its agent to comply with any such request will not of itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care.

 

4.03

Registration of Securities

(1) The Collateral Agent may have any Securities registered in its name or in the name of its nominee and will be entitled but not required to exercise any of the rights that any holder of such Securities may at any time have. However, until an Event of Default has occurred and the Collateral Agent has exercised any of its rights and remedies under Section 5.02, a Debtor will be entitled to exercise, in a manner not prejudicial to the interests of the Collateral Agent or which would not violate or be inconsistent with this Agreement, all voting power from time to time exercisable in respect of the Securities.

 

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The Collateral Agent will not be responsible for any loss occasioned by its exercise of any of such rights or by failure to exercise the same within the time limited for the exercise thereof. A Debtor must from time to time forthwith upon the request of the Collateral Agent deliver to the Collateral Agent those Securities requested by the Collateral Agent duly endorsed for transfer to the Collateral Agent or its nominee.

 

4.04

Notification of Account Debtors

(1) After the occurrence of an Event of Default and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies under Section 5.02, may give notice to any account debtors or other person to make all further payments to the Collateral Agent. Any payment or other proceeds of Collateral received by any Debtor from account debtors or from any other person liable to any Debtor after the occurrence of such Event of Default and exercise of such rights and remedies will be held by such Debtor in trust for the Collateral Agent and must be held separate and apart from other money of such Debtor and paid over to the Collateral Agent on request.

 

4.05

Application of Funds

(1) All money collected or received by the Collateral Agent in respect of the Collateral will be applied in accordance with Section 6(g) of the Note.

ARTICLE 5 - Default and Remedies

 

5.01

Consequences of a Default

(1) On or after the occurrence of any Event of Default that is continuing, at the option of the Collateral Agent, (a) any or all of the Obligations not yet payable will become immediately payable, without presentment, protest, notice of protest or notice of dishonour, all of which are expressly waived and (b) the security granted hereby will become immediately enforceable.

 

5.02

Remedies

(1) In addition to any right or remedy otherwise provided herein or existing under Applicable Law, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent will have the rights and remedies set out below, all of which may be enforced successively or concurrently:

 

  (a)

the Collateral Agent may take possession of the Collateral and require a Debtor to assemble the Collateral and deliver or make the Collateral available to the Collateral Agent at such places as may be specified by the Collateral Agent, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any Receiver will be or be deemed to be a mortgagee in possession by virtue of any such actions;

 

  (b)

the Collateral Agent may take such steps as it considers desirable to maintain, preserve or protect the Collateral;

 

  (c)

the Collateral Agent may carry on, or concur in the carrying on of, all or any part of the business of any Debtor;

 

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  (d)

the Collateral Agent may have, exercise or enforce any rights of a Debtor in respect of the Collateral;

 

  (e)

the Collateral Agent may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the Collateral at public auction, by private tender, by private sale or otherwise either for cash or upon credit, upon such terms and conditions as the Collateral Agent may determine and without notice to any Debtor unless required by law;

 

  (f)

the Collateral Agent may accept (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) all or any part of the Collateral in total or partial satisfaction of the Obligations in the manner provided by law;

 

  (g)

the Collateral Agent may, for any purpose specified herein, including for the maintenance, preservation or protection of any Collateral or for carrying on any of the business or undertaking of any Debtor, borrow money on the security of the Collateral, which security will rank in priority to the security granted hereby;

 

  (h)

the Collateral Agent may occupy and use all or any of the premises, buildings and plants occupied by any Debtor and use all or any of the Equipment and other property of any Debtor for such time as the Collateral Agent requires to facilitate the realization of the Collateral, free of charge and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties will not be liable for any rent, charges, depreciation or damages in connection with such actions, nor will the Collateral Agent or any Receiver be or be deemed to be a mortgagee in possession by virtue of any such actions;

 

  (i)

the Collateral Agent may appoint a Receiver of the whole or any part of the Collateral and may remove or replace such Receiver from time to time or may institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Receiver of the Collateral;

 

  (j)

the Collateral Agent may discharge any claim, lien, mortgage, charge, security interest, encumbrance or any rights of others that may exist or be threatened against the Collateral, and in every such case the amounts so paid together with costs, charges and expenses incurred in connection therewith will be added to the Obligations; and

 

  (k)

take any other action, suit, remedy or proceeding authorized or permitted by this Agreement, the PPSA or by other Applicable Law or equity.

 

5.03

Powers of the Receiver

(1) Any Receiver will have all of the rights and powers that the Collateral Agent is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 5.02 but the Collateral Agent will not be in any way responsible for any misconduct or negligence of any such Receiver.

 

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5.04

Liability of Collateral Agent

(1) The Collateral Agent will not be liable or responsible for any failure to seize, collect, realize, or obtain payment with respect to the Collateral and is not bound to institute proceedings or to take other steps for the purpose of seizing, collecting, realizing or obtaining possession or payment with respect to the Collateral or for the purpose of preserving any rights of the Collateral Agent, the Debtors or any other person in respect of the Collateral. In the exercise of its rights and the performance of its obligations, the Collateral Agent will only be liable for gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

5.05

Proceeds of Realization

(1) The Collateral Agent will apply any proceeds of realization of the Collateral in accordance with Section 6(g) of the Note. If there is any surplus remaining, the Collateral Agent may pay it to any person entitled thereto by Applicable Law of whom the Collateral Agent has knowledge and any balance remaining may be paid to the Debtors. If the realization of the Collateral fails to satisfy the Obligations, the Debtors will be liable to pay any deficiency to the Collateral Agent.

 

5.06

Waivers by Debtor

(1) The Collateral Agent may (a) grant extensions of time, (b) take and perfect or abstain from taking and perfecting security, (c) give up any security, (d) accept compositions or compromises, (e) grant releases and discharges, and (f) otherwise waive rights against the Debtors, debtors of the Debtors, guarantors and others and with respect to the Collateral and other security as the Collateral Agent sees fit. No such action or omission will reduce the Obligations or affect the Collateral Agent’s rights hereunder.

ARTICLE 6 – General

 

6.01

Additional Debtors

(1) If, at the option of the Issuer or as required pursuant to the Note or the Note Purchase Agreement, the Issuer shall cause any party that is not a Debtor to become a Debtor hereunder, such party shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Schedule B and such party shall thereafter for all purposes be a party hereto and have the same rights, benefits and obligations as a Debtor party hereto on the date hereof.

 

6.02

Failure of Debtor to Perform

(1) If any Debtor fails to perform any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement, the Collateral Agent may, in its absolute discretion, but without being required to do so, perform any such covenant or obligation. If any such covenant or obligation requires the payment of monies, the Collateral Agent may make such payment. All sums so paid by the Collateral Agent will be payable by such Debtor to the Collateral Agent and, for greater certainty, Section 3.02(1)(f) will apply to such sums. No such performance or payment will relieve such Debtor from any default under this Agreement or any consequences of such default.

 

6.03

Appointment of Consultant

(1) The Collateral Agent will be entitled to appoint a consultant to provide such services and advice as the Collateral Agent may determine in its sole discretion, with power to enter a Debtor’s premises, to inspect and evaluate the Collateral, to make copies of a Debtor’s records, to review a Debtor’s business plans and projections, to assess the conduct and viability of a Debtor’s business, to prepare reports on a Debtor’s affairs and to distribute such reports to the Collateral Agent or to other such persons as the Collateral Agent may direct.

 

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Such consultant will act as an agent for the Collateral Agent and will owe no duty to such Debtor. The consultant is to have no managerial or advisory capacity and will have no decision making responsibility. Each Debtor authorizes the Collateral Agent to provide confidential information to the consultant. All fees and expenses in connection with the engagement of a consultant are payable by each Debtor to the Collateral Agent and for greater certainty, Section 3.02(1)(f) will apply to such fees and expenses.

 

6.04

Benefit of the Agreement

(1) This Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties hereto.

 

6.05

Entire Agreement

(1) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory, between the parties other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document.

 

6.06

Amendments and Waivers

(1) No amendment to this Agreement will be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by all of the parties. No waiver of any breach of any provision of this Agreement will be effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the party purporting to give the same and, unless otherwise provided, will be limited to the specific breach waived.

 

6.07

Assignment

(1) The rights of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement may be assigned by the Collateral Agent without the prior consent of the Debtors. No Debtor may assign its obligations under this Agreement.

 

6.08

Severability

(1) If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability will attach only to such provision or part thereof and the remaining part of such provision and all other provisions hereof will continue in full force and effect.

 

6.09

Notices

(1) Any demand, notice or other communication to be given under this Agreement to any Debtor or the Collateral Agent shall be effective if given in accordance with Section 20(a) of the Note (and in the case of any Guarantor, to such Guarantor in care of the Issuer in accordance therewith) as to the giving of notice to each, and each Debtor and the Collateral Agent may change their respective address for notices in accordance with the said provision.

 

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6.10

Remedies Cumulative; Additional Continuing Security

(1) The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder are cumulative and are in addition to and not in substitution for any other security now or hereafter held by the Collateral Agent or any other rights or remedies available at law or in equity or otherwise. No single or partial exercise by the Collateral Agent of any right or remedy precludes or otherwise affects the exercise of any other right or remedy to which the Collateral Agent may be entitled. This Agreement is a continuing agreement and security that will remain in full force and effect until discharged by the Collateral Agent.

 

6.11

Further Assurances

(1) Each of the Debtors and the Collateral Agent will from time to time execute and deliver all such further documents and instruments, including financing statements and schedules, and do all acts and things as the other party may reasonably require to effectively carry out or better evidence or perfect the security granted hereby and the full intent and meaning of this Agreement.

 

6.12

Power of Attorney

(1) Each Debtor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent and any officer or agent thereof the true and lawful attorney of such Debtor upon the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing and the security interest granted hereunder having become enforceable, with full power of substitution, to do, make and execute all such statements, assignments, documents, agreements, acts, matters or things with the right to use the name of such Debtor whenever and wherever the officer or agent may deem necessary or expedient and from time to time to exercise all rights and powers and to perform all acts of ownership in respect to the Collateral in accordance with this Agreement, such power being coupled with an interest; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to obligate the Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action with respect to the Collateral.

 

6.13

Amalgamation

(1) In the event that any Debtor shall amalgamate with any other corporation or corporations:

 

  (a)

the term “Debtor” wherever used herein shall extend to and include each of the amalgamating corporations and the amalgamated corporation, and the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of each of them shall be included in the Obligations; and

 

  (b)

the security interest granted hereunder shall extend to and the Collateral shall include all the property and assets of each of the amalgamating corporations and the amalgamated corporation and to any property or assets of the amalgamated corporation thereafter owned or acquired.

 

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6.14

Discharge

(1) This Agreement shall continue in effect until the Reference Date, provided that a Debtor will be entitled to a discharge of this Agreement upon written request by such Debtor, on full and irrevocable payment, performance and satisfaction of the Obligations or as permitted by the terms of the Transaction Documents. No discharge will be effective unless in writing and executed by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any other Secured Party as the result of any release of the Collateral (or the relevant portion thereof) by it in accordance with (or which the Collateral Agent in good faith believes to be in accordance with) the terms of this Section 6.14.

 

6.15

Reinstatement

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6.10 and 6.14 hereof, this Agreement shall be reinstated if at any time following the termination of this Agreement under Sections 6.10 and 6.14 hereof, the performance by a Debtor hereunder or under any other Transaction Document is set aside upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, dissolution or liquidation of such Debtor or otherwise. Such period of reinstatement shall continue until satisfaction of the conditions contained in, and shall continue to be subject to, the provisions of Sections 6.10 and 6.14.

 

6.16

Governing Law

(1) This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

6.17

Attornment

(1) For the purpose of all legal proceedings this Agreement will be deemed to have been performed in the Province of Ontario and the courts of the Province of Ontario will have jurisdiction to entertain any action arising under this Agreement. Each Debtor hereby attorns to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario.

 

6.18

Conflicts

(1) In the event of any conflict between the provisions hereunder and the provisions of the Note then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the provisions contained in the Note shall prevail and the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to be amended to the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict. If any act or omission of a Debtor is expressly permitted under the Note but is expressly prohibited hereunder, such act or omission shall be permitted. If any act or omission is expressly prohibited hereunder, but the Note does not expressly permit such act or omission, or if any act is expressly required to be performed hereunder but the Note does not expressly relieve a Debtor from such performance, such circumstance shall not constitute a conflict between the applicable provisions hereunder and the provisions of the Note.

 

6.19

Counterparts

(1) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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6.20

Electronic Execution

(1) Any party may deliver an executed signature page to this Agreement by electronic transmission and such delivery will be as effective as delivery of a manually executed copy of the Agreement by such party.

 

6.21

Intercreditor Agreement

(1) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent with respect to any Collateral hereunder are subject to the provisions of each applicable Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the requirements of this security agreement to endorse, assign or deliver possessory collateral to the Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied (or any representation or warranty shall be deemed true) by endorsement, assignment or delivery of such possessory collateral to another person pursuant to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement (as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of the of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) and any such endorsement, assignment or delivery of such possessory collateral to another person pursuant to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Financing Document.

 

6.22

Copy of Documents and Consent to Filings

(1) Each Debtor acknowledges having received a fully executed copy of this Agreement and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waives all rights to receive from the Collateral Agent a copy of any financing statement, financing change statement, or verification statement, filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement. Each Debtor confirms its consent to the filing by the Collateral Agent or on its behalf of any financing statement or financing change statement filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 7 – THE COLLATERAL AGENT

 

7.01

General

(1) Glencore Canada Corporation has been appointed Collateral Agent for the Noteholders hereunder pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Noteholders to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, and that the Collateral Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Collateral Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in the Note Purchase Agreement. Any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

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(2) By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and any other Finance Document, each Secured Party, other than the Collateral Agent, expressly acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and each other Collateral Document may be enforced only by the action of the Collateral Agent, and that such Secured Party shall not have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Agreement or any other Collateral Document or to realize upon the security to be granted hereby or thereby; it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents.

[signature pages follow]

 

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

 

ISSUER:     LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
    Per:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

      Name: Ajay Kochhar
      Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
GUARANTORS:     LI-CYCLE CORP.
    Per:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

      Name: Ajay Kochhar
      Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    LI-CYCLE AMERICAS CORP.
    Per:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

     

Name: Ajay Kochhar

      Title: Director

[Signature page to Canadian General Security Agreement]

 


COLLATERAL AGENT:     GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION, as Collateral Agent
    Per:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

     

Name:Adam Luckie

Title: Authorised Signatory

    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

[Signature page to Canadian General Security Agreement]


SCHEDULE B

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of •, 20•, is delivered pursuant to Section Article 6 of the Canadian General Security Agreement, dated as of March •, 2024, by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (the “Issuer”) and others which are from time to time party thereto as Debtors in favour of Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Security Agreement.

By executing and delivering this Security Agreement, the undersigned, as provided in Section Article 6 of the Security Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Security Agreement as a Debtor thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Debtor therein and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as general and continuing security for the payment and performance of its Obligations, hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a security interest in, and pledges to the Collateral Agent all of the undersigned’s Collateral. The undersigned hereby agrees to be bound as a Debtor for the purposes of the Security Agreement.

The information set forth in Annex 1 is hereby added to the information set forth in Schedule A to the Security Agreement. By acknowledging and agreeing to this Joinder Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees that this Joinder Agreement may be attached to the Security Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Article 3 of the Security Agreement is true and correct on and as of the date hereof as if made on and as of such date.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Joinder Agreement.

 

ADDITIONAL DEBTOR:    
    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

     

 

     

Name:

Title:

COLLATERAL AGENT:    
    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

[Signature page to Canadian General Security Agreement]

EX-10.4 10 d797686dex104.htm EX-10.4 EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

CANADIAN PLEDGE AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of March 25, 2024

BETWEEN

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario (together with all successors, whether by amalgamation or otherwise, the “Issuer”),

- and -

Li-Cycle Corp. and Li-Cycle Americas Corp., each a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario (collectively with all successors, whether by amalgamation or otherwise, the “Guarantors”, and together with the Issuer, the “Pledgors” and each a “Pledgor”).

- and -

Glencore Canada Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, as Collateral Agent (as defined below).

WHEREAS the Issuer has entered into a note purchase agreement with the Purchaser, Glencore Ltd. and the Collateral Agent dated as of March 11, 2024 and amended and restated as of the date hereof (as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Issuer has agreed to issue and sell to the Collateral Agent a senior secured convertible note in a principal amount of $75,000,000 maturing on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such senior secured convertible note (the “Note”);

AND WHEREAS the Guarantors and the Collateral Agent have entered into the Note Guaranty (as defined in the Note), pursuant to which each Guarantor has guaranteed the Obligations (as hereinafter defined) of the Issuer;

AND WHEREAS each Pledgor has agreed to grant a security interest and assignment, mortgage and charge in the Collateral to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in order to secure the performance of its Obligations;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1 - INTERPRETATION

 

1.01

Definitions

Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Note or the Note Purchase Agreement, as applicable. In this Agreement, unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith:


“Account Control Agreement” means, with respect to a Securities Account, a securities account control agreement between a Pledgor, the Collateral Agent and the Securities Intermediary which maintains such Securities Account on behalf of such Pledgor, as the same may be amended from time to time;

“Agreement” means this pledge agreement, including its recitals and schedules, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time;

“Canadian Security Agreement” means that certain general security agreement made as of the date hereof between each of the Pledgors and the Collateral Agent;

“Collateral” has the meaning set out in Section 2.01;

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement.

“Delivery” and the corresponding term “Delivered” when used with respect to Collateral means:

 

(i)

in the case of Collateral constituting Certificated Securities, transfer thereof to the Collateral Agent or its nominee by physical delivery of the Security Certificates to the Collateral Agent or its nominee, such Collateral to be endorsed for transfer or accompanied by stock powers of attorney duly executed in blank, all in form and content satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(ii)

in the case of Collateral constituting Uncertificated Securities, (A) registration thereof on the books and records of the issuer thereof in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee or (B) the execution and delivery by the issuer thereof of an effective agreement (each, an “Issuer Control Agreement”), pursuant to which such issuer agrees that it will comply with instructions originated by the Collateral Agent or its nominee without further consent of the Pledgor that is the owner thereof or any other person;

 

(iii)

in the case of Collateral constituting Security Entitlements in respect of Financial Assets deposited in or credited to a Securities Account, (A) completion of all actions necessary to constitute the Collateral Agent or its nominee the entitlement holder with respect to each such Security Entitlement or (B) the execution and delivery by the relevant Securities Intermediary of an effective Account Control Agreement pursuant to which such Securities Intermediary agrees to comply with entitlement orders originated by the Collateral Agent or its nominee without further consent of the Pledgor that is the Entitlement Holder with respect thereto or any other person; and

 

(iv)

in each case such additional or alternative procedures as may hereafter become reasonably appropriate to grant control of, or otherwise perfect a security interest in, any Collateral in favour of the Collateral Agent or its nominee.

“Event of Default” means any of the events described as “Events of Default” in the Note;

“Issuer Control Agreement” has the meaning set out in clause (ii) of the definition of “Delivery”;

 

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“Obligations” has the meaning given to such term in the Note;

“Pledged Shares” has the meaning set out in clause (i) of the definition of “Stock”;

“Excluded Assets” has the meaning given to such term in the Canadian Security Agreement; “PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), as amended from time to time (or successor statute) including the regulations thereto; provided, however, if the validity, attachment, perfection (or opposability), effect of perfection or of non-perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in any Collateral are governed by the personal property security laws or laws relating to personal or movable property of any jurisdiction other than Ontario (including without limitation pursuant to the Civil Code of Quebec), “PPSA” shall also include those personal property security laws or laws relating to personal or movable property in such other jurisdiction for the purpose of the provisions hereof relating to such validity, attachment, perfection (or opposability), effect of perfection or of non-perfection or priority and for the definitions related to such provisions;

“Stock” means

 

(i)

all Securities owned by each Pledgor (collectively, the “Pledged Shares”), including the shares in the capital stock described in Schedule 1.01, as such Schedule may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, all Security Certificates, if any, and other instruments evidencing or representing such Pledged Shares, and all dividends, interest, distributions, cash, instruments and other property, income, profits and proceeds from time to time received or receivable upon or otherwise distributed or distributable in respect of or in exchange for any and all of the Pledged Shares;

 

(ii)

all additional or substitute shares of capital stock or other equity interests of any class of any issuer from time to time issued to or otherwise acquired by the Pledgor in any manner in respect of Pledged Shares, the Security Certificates, if any, and other instruments representing such additional or substitute shares, and all dividends, interests, distributions, cash, instruments and other property, income, profits and proceeds from time to time received or receivable upon or otherwise distributed or distributable in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such additional or substitute shares; and

 

(iii)

to the extent not otherwise included in the foregoing, all Proceeds thereof.

The terms “Certificated Security”, “Document of Title”, “Entitlement Holder”, “Entitlement Order”, “Financial Asset”, “Proceeds”, “Securities Account”, “Securities Intermediary”, “Security”, “Security Certificate”, “Uncertificated Security”, “Security Entitlement” and “Tangible Chattel Paper” whenever used herein have the meanings given to those terms in the PPSA.

 

1.02

Headings

The division of this Agreement into Articles and Sections and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The terms “hereof”, “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion hereof. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles, Sections and Schedules are to Articles and Sections of and Schedules to this Agreement.

 

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1.03

Extended Meanings

In this Agreement words importing the singular number only include the plural and vice versa, words importing any gender include all genders and words importing persons include individuals, corporations, limited and unlimited liability companies, general and limited partnerships, associations, trusts, unincorporated organizations, joint ventures and governmental authorities. The term “including” means “including without limiting the generality of the foregoing”. A reference to any agreement, instrument or declaration means such agreement, instrument or declaration as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated or replaced from time to time.

 

1.04

Statutory References

In this Agreement, unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith or unless otherwise herein provided, a reference to any statute is to that statute as now enacted or as the same may from time to time be amended, re-enacted or replaced and includes any regulation made thereunder.

 

1.05

Schedules

The following are the Schedules to this Agreement:

Schedule 1.01 – List of Stock

Schedule 6.01 – Form of Joinder Agreement.

ARTICLE 2 - GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST AND PLEDGE

 

2.01

Grant and Pledge of Collateral

As general and continuing collateral security for the payment and performance of its Obligations, each Pledgor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, and pledges to the Collateral Agent all right, title and interest of such Pledgor in and to, the following, whether now owned or existing or hereafter from time to time acquired, by way of amalgamation or otherwise (collectively, the “Collateral”):

 

  (a)

all Securities Accounts in the name of such Pledgor, including any and all assets of whatever type or kind deposited in or credited to such Securities Accounts, including all Financial Assets, all Security Entitlements related to such Financial Assets, and all certificates and other instruments from time to time representing or evidencing the same, and all dividends, interest, distributions, cash and other property from time to time received or receivable upon or otherwise distributed or distributable in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing;

 

  (b)

all Stock;

 

  (c)

all Financial Assets;

 

  (d)

all Security Entitlements; and

 

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  (e)

all Proceeds in respect of the foregoing and all rights and interest of such Pledgor in respect thereof or evidenced thereby, including all money received or receivable from time to time by such Pledgor in connection with the sale of any of the foregoing.

 

2.02

Security Interest Absolute

The security interests granted hereby and all rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder and all obligations of each Pledgor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and independent and separate from any other security for the Obligations, whether executed by such Pledgor or any other person, and shall not be affected or impaired by:

 

  (a)

any amendment, modification, replacement of or addition or supplement to the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (b)

any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege in respect of this Agreement, the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (c)

any waiver, consent, extension, indulgence or other action, inaction or admission under or in respect of this Agreement, the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (d)

any default by the Issuer under, or any invalidity or unenforceability of, or any limitation of the liability of the Issuer or on the method or terms of payment under, or any irregularity or other defect in the Note, any other Transaction Document or any other security provided to the Collateral Agent;

 

  (e)

any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of a Pledgor into or with any other Person; or

 

  (f)

any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, composition, winding-up, dissolution or similar proceeding involving or affecting a Pledgor.

 

2.03

Delivery of Collateral

All Collateral must be Delivered immediately to the Collateral Agent or its nominee. The Collateral Agent may, at its option, cause all or any of the Collateral to be registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Pledgor shall have any obligation hereunder to Deliver any Pledged Shares which are, under the terms of the Note, required to be pledged to the Collateral Agent (whether as of the date hereof or at a later date) pursuant to a pledge agreement governed by the law of the jurisdiction of formation of the issuer of such Pledged Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Pledged Shares constituting shares in the capital stock of any German Guarantor or Swiss Guarantor).

 

2.04

Subsequently Acquired Collateral

To the extent any Pledgor acquires, by way of amalgamation or otherwise, any additional Collateral at any time or from time to time after the date hereof, such Collateral will automatically (and without any further action being required to be taken by the Collateral Agent) be subject to the security interest and pledge created hereby. Each Pledgor will take, or cause to be taken, as promptly as practicable and, in any event on or before the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) and (c) of Section 1 of Annex A-1 of the Note for the reporting period in which such Collateral was acquired (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may reasonably agree), all steps and actions as the Collateral Agent deems necessary to ensure that the additional Collateral is Delivered to the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, no Pledgors shall be required to deliver any Tangible Chattel Paper or Document of Title to the Collateral Agent.

 

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2.05

Attachment

Each Pledgor acknowledges that the security interest hereby created attaches upon the execution of this Agreement (or in the case of any after-acquired property, upon the date of acquisition by such Pledgor of any rights therein), that value has been given by the Collateral Agent and that such Pledgor has, or in the case of after-acquired property will have, rights in the Collateral or the power to transfer rights in the Collateral to the Collateral Agent. Each Pledgor, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waives all rights to receive from the Collateral Agent a copy of any financing statement, financing change statement, or verification statement, filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement.

 

2.06

Excluded Assets

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Collateral include or the security interest granted under Section 2.01 attach to any Excluded Asset.

 

2.07

Return of Collateral

So long as no Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to the applicable Pledgor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) any Collateral in its possession if requested to be delivered to the issuer or holder thereof in connection with any action or transaction that is permitted or not restricted by the Note.

ARTICLE 3 - REPRESENTATIONS,

WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

 

3.01

Representations and Warranties of the Pledgor

Each Pledgor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent that:

 

  (a)

such Pledgor has good and valid rights in, title to, or the power to transfer the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), and has all requisite power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto;

 

  (b)

subject to the Legal Reservations, this Agreement is effective to create a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on and security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and, subject to the satisfaction of the Perfection Requirements, the Collateral Agent will have a fully perfected first priority Lien on such Collateral securing the Obligations to the extent perfection can be achieved by the Perfection Requirements;

 

  (c)

no Collateral is in the possession or control of any person asserting a claim thereto or security interest therein, except that the Collateral Agent or its nominee or a Securities Intermediary acting on its behalf may have possession or control of the Collateral;

 

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  (d)

all Collateral consisting of Pledged Shares has been duly authorized and validly issued, is outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable, constitutes 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the respective issuers thereof, and is held by each Pledgor free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens);

 

  (e)

except to the extent previously disclosed to the Collateral Agent in writing, there is no existing agreement, option, warrant, right or privilege capable of becoming an agreement or option pursuant to which any issuer of the Pledged Shares is obligated to issue additional Securities or such Pledgor could be required to sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral; and

 

  (f)

no authorization, consent, permit or approval of, or other action by, or filing with or notice to, any governmental agency or authority, regulatory body, court, tribunal or other similar entity having jurisdiction is required in connection with the execution and delivery by such Pledgor of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder, except for such filings as may be required to perfect the security interest granted hereby and as may be required in connection with the disposition of all or any Collateral by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.

 

3.02

Covenants of the Pledgors

Each Pledgor covenants with the Collateral Agent that such Pledgor will provide to the Collateral Agent, promptly upon request, all information and evidence the Collateral Agent may reasonably request concerning the Collateral to enable the Collateral Agent to enforce the provisions hereof.

ARTICLE 4 - DEALING WITH COLLATERAL

 

4.01

Rights and Duties of the Collateral Agent

(1) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its rights and duties hereunder by or through agents (including, without limitation, any receiver or receiver and manager) and is entitled to retain counsel and to act in reliance upon the advice of such counsel concerning all matters pertaining to its rights and duties hereunder.

(2) In the holding of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent and any nominee on its behalf is only bound to exercise the same degree of care as it would exercise with respect to similar property of its own of similar value held in the same place. The Collateral Agent and any nominee on its behalf will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care with respect to the custody and preservation of the Collateral if it takes such action for that purpose as the relevant Pledgor reasonably requests in writing, but failure of the Collateral Agent or its nominee to comply with any such request will not of itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care.

 

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4.02

Voting Rights

(1) Subject to the provisions of Section 4.02(2), each Pledgor is entitled to exercise with respect to the Collateral owned by it, either directly or, if such Collateral is registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee, by power of attorney or proxy, all the rights and powers of a holder of such Collateral, including the right to vote from time to time exercisable in respect of such Collateral and to give proxies, consents, ratifications and waivers in respect thereof. No such action may be taken if it would be prejudicial to the interests of the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties or would violate or be inconsistent with any of the Note or this Agreement or with any other agreement relating thereto or hereto or would have the effect of reducing the value of the Collateral as security for the Obligations or imposing any restriction on the transferability of any of the Collateral.

(2) At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies under Section 5.01, the Collateral Agent may give any or all of the Pledgors a notice prohibiting such Pledgor or Pledgors from exercising the rights and powers of a holder of the Collateral, including the right to vote the Collateral, at which time all such rights of such Pledgor or Pledgors will cease immediately and the Collateral Agent will have the right to exercise the rights and powers related to such Collateral, including the right to vote.

 

4.03

Dividends and Interest Payments

(1) Subject to the provisions of Section 4.03(2), the relevant Pledgor is entitled to receive all dividend payments or other distributions or interest payments in respect of the Collateral. If the Collateral has been registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee, the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to the relevant Pledgor all directions and other instruments as such Pledgor may request for the purpose of enabling such Pledgor to receive the dividends or other payments that such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to this Section 4.03(1).

(2) At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies under Section 5.01, all rights of the Pledgors pursuant to Section 4.03(1) will cease, and all such rights will thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, and the Collateral Agent will have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain all payments that any Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to retain pursuant to Section 4.03(1). All money and other property received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.03(2) will be applied in accordance with Section 6(g) of the Note. All payments which are received by any Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 4.03(2) will be held by such Pledgor in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, will be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and will be forthwith Delivered to the Collateral Agent or its nominee to hold as Collateral.

 

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ARTICLE 5 - REMEDIES

 

5.01

Remedies

(1) At any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (i) any or all of the Obligations will, at the option of the Collateral Agent, become immediately due and payable or be subject to immediate performance, as the case may be, without presentment, protest or notice of dishonour, all of which are expressly waived, (ii) any or all security granted hereby will, at the option of the Collateral Agent, become immediately enforceable and (iii) in addition to any right or remedy existing under Applicable Law or any other agreement (including the right to give Entitlement Orders, instructions or a notice of exclusive control to a Securities Intermediary subject to an Account Control Agreement or an issuer subject to an Issuer Control Agreement) and all the rights and remedies of a Collateral Agent upon default under the PPSA (whether or not the PPSA applies to the affected Collateral), the Collateral Agent will have the rights and remedies set out below, all of which rights and remedies will be enforceable successively, concurrently or both:

 

  (a)

transfer any part of the Collateral into the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee if it has not already done so in accordance with Section 2.03;

 

  (b)

vote any of the Collateral (whether or not registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee) and give or withhold all consents, waivers and ratifications in respect thereof;

 

  (c)

exercise all rights of conversion, exchange or subscription, or any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to any of the Collateral, including the right to exchange at its discretion any of the Collateral upon the amalgamation, arrangement, merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the issuer of the Collateral, all without liability except to account for property actually received by the Collateral Agent;

 

  (d)

from time to time realize upon, collect, sell, transfer, assign, give options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver any Collateral in such manner as may seem advisable to the Collateral Agent. For such purposes each requirement relating thereto and prescribed by law or otherwise is hereby waived by each Pledgor to the extent permitted by law and in any offer or sale of any of the Collateral the Collateral Agent is authorized to comply with any limitation or restriction in connection with such offer or sale as the Collateral Agent may be advised by counsel is necessary in order to avoid any violation of Applicable Law, or in order to obtain any required approval of the sale or of the purchase by any governmental or regulatory authority or official. Such compliance will not result in such sale being considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner nor will the Collateral Agent be liable or accountable to a Pledgor for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that such Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction;

 

  (e)

purchase, or sell to any Secured Party, any of the Collateral, whether in connection with a sale made under the power of sale herein contained or pursuant to judicial proceedings or otherwise;

 

  (f)

accept (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) the Collateral in satisfaction of the Obligations upon notice to the relevant Pledgor of its intention to do so in the manner required by law;

 

  (g)

enforce collection of any of the Collateral by suit or otherwise, and surrender, release or exchange all or any part thereof, or compromise or extend or renew for any period (whether or not longer than the original period) any obligations of any nature of any party with respect thereto;

 

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  (h)

endorse any cheques, drafts, or other writings in a Pledgor’s name to allow collection of the Collateral;

 

  (i)

take control of any proceeds of the Collateral; and

 

  (j)

execute (in the name, place and stead of a Pledgor) endorsements, assignments, stock powers and other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to all or any of the Collateral.

(2) The Collateral Agent may (i) grant extensions of time, (ii) take and perfect or abstain from taking and perfecting security, (iii) give up securities, (iv) accept compositions or compromises, (v) grant releases and discharges, and (vi) release any part of the Collateral or otherwise deal with a Pledgor, debtors of a Pledgor, sureties and others and with the Collateral and other security as the Collateral Agent sees fit without prejudice to the liability of such Pledgor to the Collateral Agent or the Collateral Agent’s rights hereunder.

(3) The Collateral Agent will not be liable or responsible for any failure to seize, collect, realize, or obtain payment with respect to the Collateral and is not bound to institute proceedings or to take other steps for the purpose of seizing, collecting, realizing or obtaining possession or payment with respect to the Collateral or for the purpose of preserving any rights of the Collateral Agent, any Pledgor or any other person, in respect of the Collateral.

(4) The Collateral Agent will apply any proceeds of realization of the Collateral in accordance with Section 6(g) of the Note. If there is any surplus remaining, the Collateral Agent may pay it to any person having a claim thereto in priority to the relevant Pledgor of whom the Collateral Agent has knowledge and any balance remaining must be paid to such Pledgor. If the disposition of the Collateral fails to satisfy the Obligations of a particular Pledgor secured by this Agreement and the aforesaid expenses, each Pledgor will be liable to pay any deficiency to the Collateral Agent forthwith on demand.

 

5.02

Payment of Expenses

The Collateral Agent may charge on its own behalf and also pay to others all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Collateral Agent and others, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of any Securities Intermediary, experts or advisers (including lawyers on a solicitor and client basis) retained by the Collateral Agent, incurred in connection with realizing, collecting, selling, transferring, delivering or obtaining payment for the Collateral, or in connection with the administration or any amendment of this Agreement or incidental to the care, safekeeping or otherwise of any Collateral. The Collateral Agent may deduct the amount of such expenses from any proceeds of disposition of the Collateral.

ARTICLE 6 - GENERAL

 

6.01

Additional Pledgors

If, at the option of the Issuer or as required pursuant to the Note or the Note Purchase Agreement, the Issuer shall cause any party that is not a Pledgor to become a Pledgor hereunder, such party shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Schedule 6.01 and such party shall thereafter for all purposes be a party hereto and have the same rights, benefits and obligations as a Pledgor party hereto on the date hereof.

 

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6.02

Benefit of the Agreement

This Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties hereto.

 

6.03

Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory, between the parties other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document.

 

6.04

Termination of Pledge

This Agreement shall continue in effect until the Reference Date, provided that this Agreement and the security interest created hereunder will terminate when the Collateral is no longer subject to the security interest in accordance with the Note, or as permitted by the terms of the Transaction Documents. Upon such termination any Collateral then in the custody of the Collateral Agent or its nominee must be re-delivered to the relevant Pledgor as soon as practicable. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any other Secured Party as the result of any release or re-delivery of the Collateral (or any portion thereof) by it in accordance with (or which the Collateral Agent in good faith believes to be in accordance with) the terms of this Section 6.04.

 

6.05

Amendments and Waivers

No amendment to this Agreement will be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by all of the parties. No waiver of any breach of any provision of this Agreement will be effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the party purporting to give the same and, unless otherwise provided in the written waiver, will be limited to the specific breach waived.

 

6.06

Assignment

The rights of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement may be assigned by the Collateral Agent without the prior consent of the Pledgors. No Pledgor may assign its obligations under this Agreement.

 

6.07

Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability will attach only to such provision or part thereof and the remaining part of such provision and all other provisions hereof will continue in full force and effect.

 

6.08

Notices

Any demand, notice or other communication to be given under this Agreement to any Pledgor or the Collateral Agent shall be effective if given in accordance with Section 20(a) of the Note (and in the case of any Guarantor, to such Guarantor in care of the Issuer in accordance therewith) as to the giving of notice to each, and each Pledgor and the Collateral Agent may change their respective address for notices in accordance with the said provision.

 

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6.09

Additional Continuing Security

This Agreement and the security interest, assignment and mortgage and charge granted hereby are in addition to and not in substitution for any other security now or hereafter held by the Collateral Agent and this Agreement is a continuing agreement and security that will remain in full force and effect until discharged by the Collateral Agent.

 

6.10

Remedies Cumulative

The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder are cumulative and are in addition to and not in substitution for any other security now or hereafter held by the Collateral Agent or any other rights or remedies available at law or in equity or otherwise. No single or partial exercise by the Collateral Agent of any right or remedy precludes or otherwise affects the exercise of any other right or remedy to which the Collateral Agent may be entitled.

 

6.11

Further Assurances

Each Pledgor must at its expense from time to time do, execute and deliver, or cause to be done, executed and delivered, all such financing statements, further assignments, documents, agreements, acts, matters and things as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of giving effect to this Agreement or for the purpose of establishing compliance with the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained.

 

6.12

Power of Attorney

Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent and any officer or agent thereof the true and lawful attorney of such Pledgor upon the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing and the security interest granted hereunder having become enforceable, with full power of substitution, to do, make and execute all such statements, assignments, documents, agreements, acts, matters or things with the right to use the name of such Pledgor whenever and wherever the officer or agent may deem necessary or expedient and from time to time to exercise all rights and powers and to perform all acts of ownership in respect to the Collateral in accordance with this Agreement, such power being coupled with an interest; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to obligate the Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action with respect to the Collateral.

 

6.13

Amalgamation

In the event that any Pledgor shall amalgamate with any other corporation or corporations:

(a) the term “Pledgor” wherever used herein shall extend to and include each of the amalgamating corporations and the amalgamated corporation, and the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of each of them shall be included in the Obligations; and

(b) the security interest granted hereunder shall extend to and the Collateral shall include all the property and assets of each of the amalgamating corporations and the amalgamated corporation and to any property or assets of the amalgamated corporation thereafter owned or acquired.

 

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6.14

Discharge

No Pledgor will be discharged from any of the Obligations or from this Agreement except by a release or discharge signed in writing by the Collateral Agent.

 

6.15

Reinstatement

Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6.09 and 6.15 hereof, this Agreement shall be reinstated if at any time following the termination of this Agreement under Sections 6.09 and 6.15 hereof, the performance by a Pledgor hereunder or under any other Transaction Document is set aside upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, dissolution or liquidation of such Pledgor or otherwise. Such period of reinstatement shall continue until satisfaction of the conditions contained in, and shall continue to be subject to, the provisions of Sections 6.09 and 6.15 hereof.

 

6.16

Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

6.17

Attornment

For the purpose of all legal proceedings this Agreement will be deemed to have been performed in the Province of Ontario and the courts of the Province of Ontario will have jurisdiction to entertain any action arising under this Agreement. Each Pledgor hereby attorns to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario.

 

6.18

Conflicts

In the event of any conflict between the provisions hereunder and the provisions of the Note then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the provisions contained in the Note shall prevail and the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to be amended to the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict. If any act or omission of a Pledgor is expressly permitted under the Note but is expressly prohibited hereunder, such act or omission shall be permitted. If any act or omission is expressly prohibited hereunder, but the Note does not expressly permit such act or omission, or if any act is expressly required to be performed hereunder but the Note does not expressly relieve a Pledgor from such performance, such circumstance shall not constitute a conflict between the applicable provisions hereunder and the provisions of the Note.

 

6.19

Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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6.20

Electronic Execution

Any party may deliver an executed signature page to this Agreement by electronic transmission and such delivery will be as effective as delivery of a manually executed copy of the Agreement by such party.

 

6.21

Intercreditor Agreement

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent with respect to any Collateral hereunder are subject to the provisions of each applicable Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the requirements of this security agreement to endorse, assign or deliver possessory collateral to the Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied (or any representation or warranty shall be deemed true) by endorsement, assignment or delivery of such possessory collateral to another person pursuant to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement (as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of the of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) and any such endorsement, assignment or delivery of such possessory collateral to another person pursuant to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Financing Document.

 

6.22

Executed Copy

Each Pledgor acknowledges having received a fully executed copy of this Agreement and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waives all rights to receive from the Collateral Agent a copy of any financing statement, financing change statement, or verification statement, filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement. Each Pledgor confirms its consent to the filing by the Collateral Agent or on its behalf of any financing statement or financing change statement filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 7 - THE COLLATERAL AGENT

 

7.01

General

(1) Glencore Canada Corporation has been appointed Collateral Agent for the Noteholders hereunder pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Noteholders to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, and that the Collateral Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Collateral Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in the Note Purchase Agreement. Any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to Section 9 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

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(2) By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and any other Finance Document, each Secured Party, other than the Collateral Agent, expressly acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and each other Collateral Document may be enforced only by the action of the Collateral Agent, and that such Secured Party shall not have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Agreement or any other Collateral Document or to realize upon the security to be granted hereby or thereby; it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents.

[signature pages follow]

 

- 15 -


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

 

ISSUER:     LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
    Per:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

     

Name: Ajay Kochhar

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

OTHER PLEDGORS:     LI-CYCLE CORP.
    Per:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

     

Name: Ajay Kochhar

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

    LI-CYCLE AMERICAS CORP.
    Per:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

     

Name: Ajay Kochhar

Title: Director

[Signature page to Canadian Pledge Agreement]


COLLATERAL AGENT:     GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION, as Collateral Agent
    Per:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

     

Name: Adam Luckie

Title: Authorised Signatory

    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

[Signature page to Canadian Pledge Agreement]


SCHEDULE 6.01

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of •, 20•, is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Canadian Pledge Agreement, dated as of March •, 2024, by Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (the “Issuer”) and others which are from time to time party thereto as Pledgors in favour of Glencore Canada Corporation as Collateral Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Pledge Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Pledge Agreement.

By executing and delivering this Joinder Agreement, the undersigned, as provided in Section 6.01 of the Pledge Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Pledge Agreement as a Pledgor thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Pledgor therein and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as general and continuing security for the payment and performance of its Obligations, hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a security interest in, and pledges to the Collateral Agent all of the undersigned’s Collateral. The undersigned hereby agrees to be bound as a Pledgor for the purposes of the Pledge Agreement.

The information set forth in Annex 1 is hereby added to the information set forth in Schedule 1.01 to the Pledge Agreement. By acknowledging and agreeing to this Joinder Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees that this Joinder Agreement may be attached to the Pledge Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Article 3 of the Pledge Agreement is true and correct on and as of the date hereof as if made on and as of such date.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Joinder Agreement.

 

ADDITIONAL PLEDGOR:    
    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

     

 

     

Name:

Title:

COLLATERAL AGENT:    
    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

    Per:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

[Signature page to Canadian Pledge Agreement]


ANNEX 1

List of Stock

 

 

 

 

EX-10.5 11 d797686dex105.htm EX-10.5 EX-10.5

Exhibit 10.5

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of March 25, 2024 is by and between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., an Ontario corporation (the “Company”), and Glencore Canada Corporation, an Ontario corporation having an address at 100 King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3 (the “Initial Glencore Holder” and together with any permitted Affiliate assignees, the “Glencore Holders”).

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

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

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2024 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company, the Initial Glencore Holder and Glencore Intermediate, on the Closing Date, the Company issued to the Initial Glencore Holder $75,000,000 original principal amount of senior secured convertible notes due March 25, 2029 (the “Secured Convertible Note” and, together with any additional notes that may be issued to the Holder in respect of any interest paid by the Company in kind as permitted by the Secured Convertible Note, the “Secured Convertible Notes”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2024, Glencore Intermediate assigned the Existing Convertible Notes, and its rights under the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Glencore Holder;

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

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

WHEREAS, in connection with any redemption of the Convertible Notes by the Company in accordance with their terms, the Company is required to issue to the Holders of Convertible Notes warrants (the “Redemption Warrants”) to acquire Common Shares (such Common Shares, the “Redemption Warrant Shares”); WHEREAS, the Company is party to that Investor and Registration Rights Agreement by and between the Company and the parties thereto dated as of August 10, 2021 (the “IRA”);


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

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

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

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

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

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this Agreement, no party to this Agreement shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another party to this Agreement solely by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, neither Sponsor nor its Affiliates shall be considered to be an Affiliate of the Company or any Person Controlled by the Company.

“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

“Beneficial Owner” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. The term “Beneficially Own” shall have a correlative meaning.

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

 

2


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

“Closing” means the closing of the Transactions.

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

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Shares” means the common shares of the Company.

“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

“Control” (including the terms “Controls,” “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

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

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

“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Glencore Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

3


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

“Holder” or “Holders” shall mean the Holders from time to time of the Notes, the Redemption Warrants or the Registrable Securities.

“Initial Glencore Holder” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

“IRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

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

“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of at least a majority-in-interest of the then-outstanding number of Registerable Securities held by the Holders.

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

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

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

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

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

“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof or other entity, and also includes any managed investment account.

“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

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

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

 

4


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

“Registrable Security” and “Registrable Securities” shall mean (a) the Conversion Shares, (b) the Redemption Warrant Shares, (c) any Common Shares hereafter acquired by any Holder to the extent such Common Shares are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or otherwise are held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company and (d) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to Common Shares referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earlier of: (A) when the following conditions have been satisfied: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company to the transferee, and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities have been sold under Rule 144 (or other similar exemption under the Securities Act then in force); or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction and (B) the date on (1) with respect to any Holder’s right to request a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or a Resale Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.3, five (5) years after the Holders’ receipt of the Conversion Shares or the Redemption Warrant Shares, as applicable, in respect of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes or the exercise in full of the Redemption Warrant, as applicable and (2) with respect to any Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, seven (7) years the Holders’ receipt of the Conversion Shares or the Redemption Warrant Shares, as applicable, in respect of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes or the exercise in full of the Redemption Warrant, as applicable.

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

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

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

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

(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and

 

5


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

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

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

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

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

“SEC Guidance” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

6


ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION

Section 2.1. Demand Registration.

2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.5 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time, (a) the Glencore Holders or (b) the Majority Holders (each, a “Demanding Holder” and, collectively, the “Demanding Holders”), in each case, may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of its Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting Registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by the Holders), which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). Each Demanding Holder when making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Resale Shelf Registration). The Company shall comply in all respects with all notification requirements and obligations to include other Holders in such registration pursuant to Section 2.2 of the IRA. The Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than six (6) Demand Registrations for the Glencore Holders and the Majority Holders, collectively; provided, however, that in no event shall the Glencore Holders be entitled to fewer than four (4) Demand Registrations (such registration a “Glencore Holders Demand Registration”).

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

Section 2.2. Piggyback Registration.

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If at any time or from time to time, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed pursuant to Section 2.1, (ii) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (iii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iv) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (v) to register the offering of securities in connection with a transaction to be registered Form S-4 or (vi) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter(s), if any, in such offering, and (B) subject to the expiration or waiver by the Company of any applicable lock up with respect to the Common Shares pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, offer to the Holders the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as the Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter(s) of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the 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 Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Holders when proposing to distribute Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

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

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

If the Registration is pursuant to a request by Persons or entities other than the Holders, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Shares or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting Persons, other than the Holders, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing section (A), the Registrable Securities of the Glencore Holders that the Glencore Holders desire to sell if the Glencore Holders are exercising its rights to register its Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, 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), the Registrable Securities of the other Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof and any other Common Shares or other equity securities for the account of

 

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  other Persons as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such other Persons, in each case pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that the Holders and such other shareholders have requested be included, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

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

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

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

Section 2.3. Resale Shelf Registrations.

2.3.1 Registration Statement Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the right of the Demanding Holders to request a Resale Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1, upon the written request of (a) the Glencore Holders or (b) the Majority Holders, the Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the Commission as soon as practicable (but in any case no later than 45 calendar days after receipt of such notice) a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act or any successor thereto registering the resale from time to time by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after filing, but no later than the earlier of (i) forty-five (45) calendar days after the filing of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (or seventy-five (75) calendar days after the filing of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) and (ii) fifteen (15) Business Days after the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review.

 

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The Company shall cause the Resale Registration Statement or a replacement Resale Registration Statement to remain effective until five (5) years after the Holders’ receipt of the Conversion Shares or the Redemption Warrant Shares, as applicable, in respect of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes or the exercise in full of the Redemption Warrant, as applicable. The Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be filed on any then applicable form. If the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is initially filed on Form S-1 and thereafter the Company becomes eligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause such Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is on Form S-3. If any Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.3.1 is filed on Form S-3 and thereafter the Company becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall promptly notify the Holders of such ineligibility and use its best efforts to file a shelf registration on an appropriate form as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and have such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities; provided, however that at any time the Company once again becomes eligible to use Form S-3, the Company shall cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is once again on Form S-3. Once effective, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement that is required to be filed pursuant to this Section 2.3.1 and Prospectus included therein continuously effective and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available at all times until the date on which the Holders cease to hold any Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 shall contain a Prospectus in such form as to permit the Holders to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement (subject to compliance or waiver by the Company of any lock up provisions contained in the Note Purchase Agreement), and shall provide that such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders. The Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed hereunder may also register Common Shares or other securities other than Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including shares sold by the Company to other shareholders.

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

 

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

2.3.4 Underwritten Shelf Takedown. At any time and from time to time after a Resale Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, to the extent such Resale Shelf Registration may be used for an underwritten offering, (a) the Glencore Holders, or (b) if there are no Glencore Holders, the Majority Holders, may request to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, including a Block Trade (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided, however that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $5,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

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The Company shall comply in all respects with all notification requirements and obligations to include other Holders in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.3.4 of the IRA. The Holders when proposing to distribute its Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under this subsection 2.3.4 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Holders (who must be reasonably acceptable to the Company).

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 2.5. Block Trades. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Sections 2.4 and 3.4, if the Glencore Holders or, if there are no remaining Glencore Holders, the Majority Holders desire to effect a Block Trade, then notwithstanding any other time periods in this Article II, the Glencore Holders or the Majority Holders as applicable, shall provide written notice to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date such Block Trade will commence. As expeditiously as possible, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade, provided that the Holder(s) engaging in such Block Trade use their commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the Underwriters (including by disclosing the maximum number of Registrable Securities proposed to be the subject of such Block Trade) in order to facilitate preparation of the Registration Statement, Prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade and any related due diligence and comfort procedures. In the event of a Block Trade, and after consultation with the Company, the Glencore Holders or the Majority Holders (as applicable) shall determine the Maximum Number of Securities, the underwriter or underwriters (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), reasonably acceptable to the Company, and share price of such offering.

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

ARTICLE III

COMPANY PROCEDURES

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

 

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3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding; 3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or are no longer outstanding;

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriter(s), if any, and the Holders, and the 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 included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders or the legal counsel for any the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the 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;

3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to: (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders (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 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 advise the Holders, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed (provided that any such notice may be made by the issuance of a press release including such information);

 

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

3.1.10 notify the 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 hereof;

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

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

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

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

3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission); 3.1.16 if a Registration, including an Underwritten Offering, involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $5,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter(s) in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

17


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

Section 3.2. Registration Expenses. All Registration Expenses 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.

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

Section 3.4. Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. The Company shall promptly notify the Holders in writing if a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement and, upon receipt of such written notice from the Company, 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, provided that the Company hereby covenants promptly to prepare and file any required supplement or amendment correcting any Misstatement promptly after the time of such notice and, if necessary, to request the immediate effectiveness thereof. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement or Prospectus included in any Registration Statement at any time (a) would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, (c) requires the Company to update the financial statements contained in such Registration Statement pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission through the filing of a post-effective amendment which is subject to potential Commission review, or (d) in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, which judgment shall be documented in writing and provided to the Holders in the form of a written certificate signed by such officer, such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement would be materially detrimental to the Company. The Company shall have the right to defer the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of any Registration Statement pursuant to (a), (b) or (c) for a period of not more than ninety (90) days in any three hundred and sixty (360)-day period.

 

18


In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.

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

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

ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

Section 4.1. Indemnification.

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

 

19


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

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

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

 

20


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

ARTICLE V

Section 5.1. [Reserved]

ARTICLE VI

Section 6.1. [Reserved]

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

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

 

21


ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

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

 

  (i)

If to the Company, to it at:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attn: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com

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

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

66 Wellington St W Suite 5300

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

Email: jgrant@mccarthy.ca; fbourne@mccarthy.ca

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10007

Attn: Paul M. Tiger; Andrea Basham

Email: paul.tiger@freshfields.com; andrea.basham@freshfields.com

 

  (ii)

If to the Glencore Holder:

Glencore Ltd.

330 Madison Ave.

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Legal Department

E-Mail: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

Attention: Heather Emmel, Nitin Konchady

Email: Heather.Emmel@weil.com

Nitin.Konchady@weil.com

and

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attn: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

 

22


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

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

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

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

 

23


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

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

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

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

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

 

24


Section 8.11. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, and no provision herein may be waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Glencore Holders, or if the Glencore Holders no longer hold any of the Notes, Redemption Warrants or Registerable Securities, the Majority Holders.

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

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

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

(Next Page is Signature Page)

 

25


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

 

COMPANY:
LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:   /s/ Ajay Kochhar
Name: Ajay Kochhar
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
INITIAL GLENCORE HOLDER:
GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Adam Luckie
Name:   Adam Luckie
Title:   Authorised Signatory

 

26

EX-10.6 12 d797686dex106.htm EX-10.6 EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queens Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

March 25, 2024

Glencore plc

Baarermattstrasse 3

Baar, CH-6340

Switzerland

Glencore Ltd.

330 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10017

Glencore Canada Corporation

100 King Street West, Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

 

  Re:

Governance Letter Agreement (the “Agreement”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (the “Company”), Glencore Ltd. (“Glencore Intermediate”) and Glencore Canada Corporation (“Glencore Canada”). As a condition and inducement to each of Glencore Intermediate, Glencore Canada and the Company consummating the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, Glencore Canada, Glencore Intermediate and Glencore plc (“Glencore Parent”) hereby agree as follows. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, Glencore Parent, Glencore Intermediate and Glencore Canada, together with their respective Affiliates, are referred to as “Glencore”.


  1.

Glencore Director Nomination Rights:

 

  a.

Subject to (x) this Section 1(a), Section 1(h) and Section 1(j) below, (y) Applicable Law (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the director eligibility requirements of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), the SEC, the Ontario Securities Commission and any Eligible Market on which Common Shares trade, in each case, as they exist from time to time and to the extent applicable to the Company), and (z) the occurrence of the Closing, Glencore Canada shall be entitled to designate up to three (3) nominees for election or appointment to the Board of Directors (the “Glencore Nominees”), inclusive of Glencore Intermediate’s existing Glencore Nominee (the “Existing Glencore Nominee” with the Glencore Nominees other than the Existing Glencore Nominee being referred to herein as the “Incremental Glencore Nominees”), by giving written notice to the Company (that includes the name of each Incremental Glencore Nominee and a statement as to whether such nominee is a Glencore Related Party (as defined below)) not later than thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated mailing date of the proxy statement on Schedule 14A, management information circular or equivalent proxy material for use at a meeting of the shareholders of the Company called for the purpose of electing directors to the Board of Directors and, in the case of the first Incremental Glencore Nominee to be so elected, not later than thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated mailing date of the proxy statement on Schedule 14A, management information circular or equivalent proxy material for use at the Company’s annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in calendar year 2024, and, in the case of the second Incremental Glencore Nominee to be so elected, the earlier of as promptly as practicable following a vacancy being created on the Board of Directors after the Closing (with the parties using their respective reasonable best efforts to fill such vacancy as promptly as practicable) and at least thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated mailing date of the proxy statement on Schedule 14A, management information circular or equivalent proxy material for use at the Company’s annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in calendar year 2025, in each case, where such notice of designation is required to be delivered prior to the anticipated mailing date of proxy material for use at a meeting of the shareholders of the Company called for the purpose of electing directors to the Board of Directors, after receiving notice of the anticipated date for the applicable meeting (such notice to be provided by the Company to Glencore Canada at least ninety (90) days prior to the anticipated date for the applicable meeting); provided that, the identity of the second Incremental Glencore Nominee and any successor thereof shall be mutually agreed in writing by Glencore Canada and the Company prior to the delivery of such notice of designation; provided, further, nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Company from changing the date of a meeting of the shareholders of the Company called for the purpose of electing directors to the Board of Directors to a later date or otherwise adjourning or postponing such meeting; provided, still further, upon such designations, subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set out in Section 1 of this Agreement, the Incremental Glencore Nominee(s), as applicable, shall be included in the Board of Directors’ slate of nominees to be recommended to the shareholders of the Company for the election of directors at the next annual general meeting of shareholders; provided, still

 

2


  further, at any given time, no more than one Glencore Director, in total, shall (i) fail to be independent within the meaning of Applicable Independence Requirements (as defined below) or (ii) be a Glencore Related Party (as defined below) (such one Glencore Director, the “Non-Independent Glencore Director”); and provided, still further, that (A) each Glencore Nominee has: (I) provided the Company with such Glencore Nominee’s written consent to a customary background check, which consent shall be provided promptly after such Glencore Nominee is proposed, (II) provided the Company with a completed director questionnaire (in the form to be provided by the Company within three (3) Business Days after such Glencore Nominee has been identified in writing to the Company) and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Company’s Board of Directors (with such form of questionnaire provided by the Company and such other information requested by the Company’s Board of Directors to be that which is customarily used or requested by the Company), (III) upon request by the Company, completed a reasonably satisfactory interview with the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee (or similarly designated committee or subcommittee), and (IV) provided the Company with such Glencore Nominee’s written consent to be named in such proxy statement on Schedule 14A, management information circular or equivalent proxy material, (B) the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee determines such Glencore Nominee satisfies the Company’s then-applicable director nominee requirements (other than diversity, equity and inclusion principles set forth therein), and (C) Glencore shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to select Glencore Nominees who satisfy the Company’s diversity, equity and inclusion principles in effect from time to time, including in light of the then-existing composition of the Board of Directors at any such time, but such obligation shall not limit Glencore Canada’s choice of Glencore Nominee ultimately or require Glencore to remove any Glencore Director or cause any Glencore Director to resign, in any such case, in order for the Company to comply with such diversity, equity and inclusion principles if it is otherwise deficient. If Glencore Canada fails to give notice of any Glencore Nominee as provided above, such Glencore Nominee(s) shall be deemed to be the incumbent Glencore Nominee-director(s) then-serving on the Company’s Board of Directors. In the event that the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee determines in its sole discretion that any Glencore Nominee is not reasonably acceptable, including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of the findings of the background check required pursuant to this Section 1(a)(A)(I) or the failure to satisfy the Company’s director nominee requirements referenced above, Glencore Canada may propose a new nominee, subject to the approval process described above, until a Glencore Nominee is approved in accordance with this Section 1(a) and Section 1(b) below. For the avoidance of doubt and subject to the foregoing, with respect to the initial designation of the Incremental Glencore Nominees following

 

3


  the Closing Date, in the event and only to the extent any vacancies exist on the Company’s Board of Directors, Glencore Canada shall be entitled to provide written notice to the Company at any time following the Closing Date designating one or more Incremental Glencore Nominees to fill such vacancy to the extent it has not yet seated any Glencore Directors pursuant to its nomination rights under this Section 1(a); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to cause the resignation of any currently-serving director in between annual meetings of shareholders of the Company in order to seat any Glencore Nominee nor shall Glencore have any right to designate which currently-serving director might resign in order to seat a Glencore Nominee (it being understood that any such decision to resign shall be left to each director’s sole discretion). As used in this Section 1(a), the term “Glencore Related Party” shall mean (a) any employee or officer of Glencore Parent or its subsidiaries within the last twelve months or (b) any current executive officer of a company that has made payments, or received payments, from Glencore Parent or its subsidiaries in an amount, which in the last completed fiscal year of such other company, exceeded the greater of U.S. $1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, in each case, as determined in good faith by Glencore Canada.

 

  b.

For so long as Glencore Canada has the right to designate nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors, the size of the Company’s Board of Directors shall not exceed 9 directors absent written agreement between Glencore Canada and the Company. Glencore Canada shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company as necessary to ensure that the nomination of the Incremental Glencore Nominees will promote compliance with the Company’s director criteria and permit the Company to comply with applicable independence requirements of Ontario securities laws, the SEC and any Eligible Market on which Common Shares trade, in each case, as they exist from time to time and to the extent applicable to the Company (the “Applicable Independence Requirements”) and the Board shall have no obligation to nominate or appoint any Incremental Glencore Nominee to the extent that the Company would not be in compliance with any of the foregoing applicable independence requirements (for the avoidance of doubt, the Existing Glencore Nominee and any designated replacement of the Existing Glencore Nominee is not required to meet the Applicable Independence Requirements at any time). Each of the Board and the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee shall have discretion to determine whether an Incremental Glencore Nominee meets the Applicable Independence Requirements at any time and from time to time; provided that it is the intention of the Company and Glencore that the Applicable Independence Requirements are applied to any Incremental Glencore Nominee in the same manner as any other nominee to the Board. Should any Glencore Director other than the Existing Glencore Nominee or any designated replacement of the Existing Glencore Nominee be determined at

 

4


  any time not to be independent such that the Company would violate any of the Applicable Independence Requirements, Glencore Canada shall cause such Glencore Director to promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors and may propose a new nominee, subject to the approval process described above, until a Glencore Nominee is approved in accordance with Section 1(a) above and this Section 1(b).

 

  c.

Following a determination by the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee that a Glencore Nominee satisfies the Company’s director nominee requirements and the Applicable Independence Requirements (to the extent applicable to such Glencore Nominee), the Company shall ensure that: (i) in the case of a vacancy on the Company’s Board of Directors, such Glencore Nominee is appointed to fill the vacancy until the Company’s next meeting of shareholders of the Company called for the purposes of electing directors, (ii) at any meeting of shareholders of the Company called for the purpose of electing directors, such Glencore Nominee is included in the Board of Directors’ slate of nominees to the shareholders of the Company for each election of directors and recommended by the Board of Directors at any such meeting; (iii) such Glencore Nominee is included in the applicable proxy statement on Schedule 14A, management information circular or equivalent proxy material prepared by management of the Company in connection with the Company’s solicitation of proxies or consents in favor of the foregoing for every meeting of the shareholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board of Directors, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written resolution of the shareholders of the Company or the Board of Directors with respect to the election of members of the Board of Directors, subject to such Glencore Nominee other than the Existing Glencore Nominee or any designated replacement of the Existing Glencore Nominee continuing to meet the Applicable Independence Requirements as discussed in Section 1(b) above; and (iv) the Company uses the same level of efforts to solicit proxies or consents in favor of such Glencore Nominee as is expended for the other director nominees of the Company with respect to the applicable meeting of shareholders or consent solicitation.

 

  d.

If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disability, disqualification, resignation or removal of any Glencore Director or for any other reason that results in a vacancy in a board seat formerly occupied by a Glencore Director, and at such time, Glencore Canada’s right to designate a Glencore Nominee has not ended pursuant to Section 1(h) or Section 1(j) then Glencore Canada shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor, and the Company shall take all necessary actions within its control, in accordance with and subject to the process set forth in Section 1(a) and Section 1(b), such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Glencore Nominee, it being understood that (i) any such successor designee shall serve the remainder of the term of the director whom such designee

 

5


  replaces, and (ii) the identity of any successor to the second Incremental Glencore Nominee shall be mutually agreed in writing by Glencore Canada and the Company prior to the delivery of such notice of designation. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Glencore Director” means any individual elected to the Board of Directors that has been nominated by Glencore Canada pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  e.

If at any time Glencore Canada ceases to have the right to designate a Glencore Nominee, then within ten (10) days thereafter, if so requested by the Company, Glencore Canada shall cause any Glencore Director to tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors for the Board of Directors’ consideration.

 

  f.

Subject to Applicable Law (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Applicable Independence Requirements and applicable financial literacy requirements under Ontario securities laws) and Section 1(b) above and notwithstanding Glencore Canada’s rights to nominate Glencore Nominees and seat Glencore Directors on the Board of Directors, the composition of each committee of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee consistent with customary public company practices, it being understood that Glencore Directors shall not have greater than proportionate representation on any particular committee. For the avoidance of doubt, each Glencore Director other than the Non-Independent Glencore Director shall be eligible for appointment to each committee of the Board of Directors, subject to the recommendation of the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee based on the satisfaction of such Glencore Directors of the same requirements for appointment to any such committee as are applicable to the other members of the Board of Directors, Applicable Independence Requirements and other applicable laws.

 

  g.

Each Glencore Director shall be entitled to any retainer, equity compensation or other fees or compensation paid to the other non-employee directors of the Company for their service as a director, including for any service on any committee of the Board of Directors. Each Glencore Director shall be entitled to the same expense reimbursement and advancement, exculpation and indemnification in connection with his or her role as a director as the other members of the Board of Directors, as well as reimbursement for documented, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors of which such Glencore Director is a member, if any, in each case to the same extent as the other members of the Board of Directors. The Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with each Glencore Director, in each case on substantially the same terms as the indemnification agreements the Company has entered into with the other members of the Board of Directors as of the date hereof (including as they may be updated for all members of the Board of Directors from time to time).

 

6


  h.

Assuming receipt of all required regulatory clearances and the expiration of all required waiting periods under Applicable Law, for so long as Glencore and its Affiliates beneficially own, in the aggregate, voting securities (or securities or notes convertible into voting securities) of the Company at any particular time (and subject in each case to the other provisions of this Agreement), in each case, on an as-converted, fully-diluted basis:

 

  1.

equal to or greater than thirty percent (30%) of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the Company at such time, Glencore Canada shall be entitled to nominate three (3) Glencore Nominees;

 

  2.

equal to or greater than twenty percent (20%) but less than thirty percent (30%) of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the Company at such time, Glencore Canada shall be entitled to nominate two (2) Glencore Nominees; and

 

  3.

equal to or greater than five percent (5%) but less than twenty percent (20%) of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the Company at such time, Glencore Canada shall be entitled to nominate one (1) Glencore Nominee.

 

  i.

If any vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors due to the death, disability, disqualification, resignation or removal of any director who is not a Glencore Director or for any other reason that results in a vacancy in a board seat formerly occupied by a director who is not a Glencore Director, within 30 days after such vacancy arises, the Continuing Independent Directors (as defined below) may resolve in their sole discretion to reduce the size of the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the size of the Board of Directors is reduced pursuant to this Section 1(i), the number of Glencore Nominees to which Glencore Canada shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to this Section 1 shall not be modified.

 

  j.

Glencore Canada’s right to designate Glencore Nominees for election or appointment to the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 1 shall end on the earlier to occur of (i) Glencore, together with its Affiliates, having ceased to beneficially own, in the aggregate, voting securities (or securities or notes convertible into voting securities) of the Company having voting rights equal to or greater than five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the Company on an as-converted, fully-diluted basis at the relevant time and (ii) the breach by Glencore of any terms or conditions set forth in Section 3 or Section 7 of this Agreement.

 

7


  2.

Certain Actions With Respect to the Board of Directors.

 

  a.

For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Continuing Independent Director” shall mean each of Susan Alban, Jacqueline Dedo, Scott Prochazka, Anthony Tse, Mark Wellings, Diane Pearse and any Unaffiliated Independent Director nominated to the Board of Directors from time to time by the Continuing Independent Directors pursuant to Section 2(b) and (ii) “Unaffiliated Independent Director” shall mean any member of the Board of Directors (A) who is not affiliated or associated with either of the Company or Glencore other than solely by virtue of having been nominated as a director by Glencore pursuant to Section 1, and (B) who is “independent” under the Applicable Independence Requirements, it being understood that each of the Continuing Independent Directors listed by name above shall be deemed an Unaffiliated Independent Director as of the date hereof.

 

  b.

Subject to Section 1(i), in the event that any vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors due to the death, disability, disqualification, resignation or removal of any director who is not a Glencore Director or for any other reason that results in a vacancy in a board seat formerly occupied by a director who is not a Glencore Director, such vacancy shall be filled by the Continuing Independent Directors then remaining in office upon the recommendation of the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee following customary public company practices.

 

  3.

Limited Agreement to Not Conduct Actual or Creeping Tender Offer or Take-Private. Effective as of the date hereof, Glencore agrees that it and its Affiliates shall not:

 

  a.

unless approved in advance by a special committee composed solely of Continuing Independent Directors, acquire beneficial ownership of additional voting securities of the Company or securities or notes convertible into voting securities of the Company in excess of five percent (5%) of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company, other than (i) pursuant to one or more Permitted Events (as defined in Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company), and (ii) pursuant to receipt of beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Company, securities convertible into voting securities of the Company or other equity grants to the Glencore Directors, in each case, as approved in the sole discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee in accordance with its charter or any requirement to own Common Shares in accordance with any then-applicable Company ownership guidelines. For the avoidance of doubt, no securities acquired by Glencore or its Affiliates pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) above shall be counted for purposes of the 5% threshold set forth in this Section 3(a).

 

8


  b.

unless approved in advance by a special committee composed solely of Continuing Independent Directors, enter into any agreement with respect to, or otherwise publicly propose or commit to, any Schedule 13e-3 transaction, other going private transaction, or other acquisition of the remaining voting securities of the Company that are not already beneficially owned by Glencore and its Affiliates (whether by merger, share purchase or otherwise), provided, in any such case, that the consummation of such transaction shall also be subject to a non-waivable condition requiring approval of a majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company; and

 

  c.

rely or cause the Company to rely on any exemption available to a “Controlled Company” permitting the Company to not comply with otherwise applicable listing standards of any Eligible Market on which Common Shares trade; provided that nothing in the foregoing shall prevent the Company from determining that it shall avail itself of such “Controlled Company” exemption so long as such determination is made by a special committee composed solely of the Continuing Independent Directors.

 

  4.

Termination of Standstill Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that upon the Closing, the Amended and Restated Standstill Agreement, dated May 31, 2022, among the Company, Glencore Intermediate and Glencore Parent shall hereby be terminated.

 

  5.

Each party represents and warrants to the other parties as follows:

 

  a.

Organization. Such party is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing, to the extent such concept is relevant in the applicable jurisdiction, under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.

 

  b.

Authorization: Validity; Enforcement. Such party has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on behalf of such party. No other proceedings on the part of such party are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such party. Assuming this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the other parties hereto, this Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms.

 

  c.

No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by such party of this Agreement, and the performance by such party of its obligations under this Agreement, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of such party pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which such party is a party or by which such party is

 

9


  bound or to which any of the property or assets of such party is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of such party to perform its obligations hereunder; or (ii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over such party or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of such party to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

  d.

Consents and Approvals. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or exemption or review by any governmental entity is required on the part of such party in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement, except for any consent, approval, order, authorization, registration, declaration, filing, exemption or review, the failure of which to be obtained or made, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

  e.

Accuracy of Representations. Such party understands that the other parties hereto are relying and will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

  6.

Board Determinations as to Glencore Arrangements. Effective as of the date hereof, Glencore agrees that any decisions regarding the enforcement, amendment, waiver, interpretation, form of interest payment, redemption or other consideration in respect of this Agreement, the Note, the Existing Note, the A&R Notes, any additional notes that may be issued by the Company to Glencore in connection therewith, or any other Transaction Document or that relates to or involves Glencore (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any of its Affiliates) as a shareholder of the Company shall be made only by a majority of the Continuing Independent Directors or a special committee composed solely of the Continuing Independent Directors, and Glencore shall agree to cause the Glencore Directors (whether independent of Glencore or otherwise) to recuse themselves from any meeting, decision or discussion relating to such matters. Glencore shall agree to cause each of the Glencore Directors (whether independent of Glencore or otherwise) not to provide any information related to or that is the subject of the matters set forth or otherwise described in this Section 6 to Glencore (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any of its Affiliates) or any other third party to the extent such information constitutes: (a) materials requested by any director or otherwise provided, distributed or made available to or prepared for or by the Board of Directors; (b) Board of Directors’ resolutions or minutes; (c) information learned via oral or written communications, including e-mail, text message or other informal communication channels; or (d) information otherwise learned in connection with service as a director on the Board of Directors.

 

10


  7.

Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided that each of the Continuing Independent Directors shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and entitled to enforce it as if he or she were a party hereto.

 

  8.

Cooperation. The parties agree to cooperate in good faith to effect all of the terms of this Agreement. The parties further agree to execute all papers and documents and to take such other actions as may be necessary and proper to fulfill the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Glencore hereby agrees, to the extent applicable, to (i) vote all voting securities of the Company held by Glencore (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any of its Affiliates) to fulfill its respective obligations under this Agreement and against any other action, proposal, agreement or transaction that would cause a breach of the Company’s or Glencore’s obligations under this Agreement, (ii) not commit or agree to take any action or proposal (or permit or cause any of their respective Affiliates to commit or agree to take any action or proposal), or take any action (or permit or cause any of their respective Affiliates to take any action) (including, without limitation, taking any action by written consent with respect to any voting securities of the Company or entering into any transaction or agreement) that would result in a breach of, or otherwise violate, any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company or Glencore under this Agreement, and (iii) not take any action by written consent or otherwise to remove any of the Unaffiliated Independent Directors that is not a Glencore Nominee, except upon the recommendation of at least 75% of the Continuing Independent Directors then in office.

 

  9.

Termination. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1(j), each of the Company and Glencore’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon Glencore (together with its Affiliates) ceasing to beneficially own, in the aggregate, five percent (5.0)% or more of the voting securities of the Company on an as-converted, fully-diluted basis.

 

  10.

Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Neither Glencore nor the Company shall assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.

 

  11.

Incorporation of Terms. The following provisions from the Purchase Agreement shall be apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis, as if set forth herein: Section 9(a) (Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial), Section 9(b) (Counterparts; Electronic Signatures); Section 9(d) (Severability; Maximum Payment Amounts); Section 9(e) (Entire Agreement; Amendments); Section 9(f) (Notices); Section 9(k) (Construction); and Section 9(l) (Remedies). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the nomination rights set forth in this Agreement shall supersede the nomination rights in favor of Glencore Intermediate set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, dated May 5, 2022, between the Company and Glencore Intermediate.

[Signature page follows.]

 

11


Please evidence your agreement with the foregoing by executing this Side Letter and returning to the undersigned.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name: Ajay Kochhar
Title:  President & Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Side Letter]


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED
This 25th day of March, 2024:
GLENCORE PLC
By:   /s/ John Burton  /s/ Peter Friedli
Name: John Burton  Peter Friedli
Title: Authorised Signatories
GLENCORE LTD.
By:   /s/ Adam Luckie
Name: Adam Luckie
Title: Authorised Signatory
GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Adam Luckie
Name: Adam Luckie
Title: Authorised Signatory

[Signature Page to Side Letter]

EX-10.7 13 d797686dex107.htm EX-10.7 EX-10.7

Exhibit 10.7

Confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted because it is both (i) not material and (ii) is the type of information that the registrant treats as private or confidential. The redacted terms have been marked at the appropriate place with “[XXX]”.

NORTH AMERICA BLACK MASS &

REFINED PRODUCTS ALLOCATION AGREEMENT

THIS NORTH AMERICA BLACK MASS & REFINED PRODUCTS ALLOCATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of March 25, 2024 (the “Execution Date”),

 

AMONG   

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

 

a corporation organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario,

Hereinafter called “Li-Cycle”

AND   

Li-Cycle U.S. Inc.

 

a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware,
Hereinafter called “North America Seller”

AND   

Li-Cycle Inc.

 

a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware,
Hereinafter called “SpokeCo”

AND   

Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc.

 

a corporation organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Hereinafter called “HubCo”,
and together with Li-Cycle, North America Seller, SpokeCo and HubCo, collectively, the “Li-Cycle Parties”

AND   

Traxys North America LLC

 

a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware,
Hereinafter called “Traxys”

AND   

Glencore Ltd.

 

a corporation organized under the laws of Switzerland,
Hereinafter called “Glencore”

 

(each a “Party” and collectively the Parties”)

RECITALS:

WHEREAS Li-Cycle, through its proprietary Spoke & Hub TechnologiesTM: (i) processes lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap and other lithium-ion battery materials (including cathode scrap, jelly rolls, electrode stacks and waste/recall batteries) at its Spokes to produce Black Mass and other intermediate products; and (ii) intends to further process such Black Mass at its Rochester Hub to produce end products, including lithium carbonate, nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate; AND WHEREAS pursuant to the Black Mass—Amended and Restated Marketing, Logistics and Working Capital Agreement dated as of December 15, 2021 and the related Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated July 1, 2023 (collectively, as amended from time to time, the “Traxys Black Mass Agreement”), North America Seller is required to sell to Traxys for a specified term 100% of the production of Black Mass from its North American Spokes that it determines (in its sole discretion) is not required for internal purposes at the Rochester Hub or an other commercial Hub that may be developed by North America Seller in the future (the “Traxys Black Mass Commitment”);

 

1


AND WHEREAS pursuant to the Refined Products – Amended and Restated Marketing, Logistics and Working Capital Agreement dated as of December 15, 2021 and the related Assignment, Assumption and Joinder Agreement dated July 1, 2023 (collectively, as amended from time to time, the “Traxys Refined Products Agreement”), North America Seller is required to sell to Traxys for a specified term 100% of the production of Lithium Carbonate, Nickel Sulphate, Cobalt Sulphate, Manganese Carbonate and Graphite Concentrate (collectively, the “Refined Products”) from its Rochester Hub (the “Traxys Refined Products Commitment”);

AND WHEREAS the Traxys Black Mass Agreement and the Traxys Refined Products Agreement provide that Traxys shall be the off-taker and take title to the Black Mass and the Refined Products as principal and shall sell such Black Mass and Refined Products to its third-party end customers (“Customers”) on a global basis, and that Traxys shall receive certain specified marketing fees (ranging from 3% to 5% of the customer final price, depending on the applicable product) and is reimbursed for certain transaction costs in connection with the purchase, transportation, transactional financing and sale of the products to its Customers;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to the Traxys Commercial Agreements, North America Seller keeps Traxys apprised of the expected volumes of Black Mass and Refined Products available for sale, and Traxys keeps North America Seller apprised of the terms and conditions, contracts and agreements between Traxys and its Customers covering the on-sale of Black Mass and Refined Products, acting in full transparency with one another, with a view to maximizing sales of and revenues from such products;

AND WHEREAS Li-Cycle, North America Seller and certain of their affiliates have entered into a series of commercial agreements with Glencore, including: (i) the Master Commercial Agreement dated May 31, 2022 (the “Master Agreement”), (ii) the Black Mass Offtake Agreement dated May 31, 2022 (the “Black Mass Offtake Agreement”), (ii) the End Products Offtake Agreement dated May 31, 2022 (the “End Products Offtake Agreement”), (iii) the By-Products Offtake Agreement dated May 31, 2022 (as amended on October 22, 2022, and by a waiver letter dated July 11, 2023) (the “By-Products Offtake Agreement”), and (iv) the Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated July 1, 2023;

AND WHEREAS Li-Cycle proposes to issue and Glencore proposes to purchase $75 million in original principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Notes (the “Notes”) under a Notes Purchase Agreement dated on or about the date hereof (the “Notes Purchase Agreement”);

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES THAT in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

2


1.

DEFINITIONS

Wherever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

“AAA” means the American Arbitration Association.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person or entity, any other Person or entity that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, and “control”, including the terms “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 or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, as general partner or managing member, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person or entity.

“Applicable Law” means all applicable federal, provincial, territorial, state, national, regional and local laws (statutory or common), ordinances (including zoning and mineral removal ordinances), regulations, grants, franchises, licences, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, and other governmental restrictions, including permits and other similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature (including environmental laws and any applicable securities laws or regulations, and any applicable rules of any stock exchange, imposing disclosure requirements), and the term “applicable” with respect to such laws and in a context that refers to one or more Persons, means such laws as are applicable to such Person or its business, undertaking, property or securities.

“Black Mass” means unrefined “black mass” product, containing (among other things) lithium, cobalt and nickel material.

“Business Day” means any day on which banks are open for business in Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York.

“Buyer” means, as applicable, Glencore or any Affiliate thereof designated by Glencore to act as a Buyer of End Products.

“Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.

“Traxys Commercial Agreements” means, collectively, the Traxys Black Mass Agreement and the Traxys Refined Products Agreement.

 

2.

CLOSED LOOP OBJECTIVES

[XXX]

 

3


3.

BLACK MASS ALLOCATION TO GLENCORE

a) Quarterly Forecast

The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that (as set out in Section 1 of the Traxys Black Mass Agreement) all decisions concerning Spoke operations and the timing and quantity of Black Mass available for sale shall be made by the North America Seller, in its sole and absolute discretion. Specifically, North America Seller may determine that some or all of its Black Mass production may be required for internal purposes (including inventory build, commissioning and start-up of commercial production at the Rochester Hub), thus reducing the quantity of Black Mass available for sale to third parties.

At least three months prior to the start of each calendar year (i.e., by October 1, 2024 in respect of 2025), and at least [XXX] prior to the start of each quarter, beginning with the third calendar quarter of 2024 (each a “Quarterly Forecast”), North America Seller shall advise each of Traxys and Glencore of the volume and specifications of Black Mass expected to be: (a) produced, (b) required for internal purposes, and (c) available for sale to third parties, quarterly, on a rolling 12-month basis.

b) Black Mass Allocation

The Parties agree that, from and after the Execution Date, of the volume of Black Mass available for sale by North America Seller, at least 50% shall be allocated by North America Seller to Glencore, on the terms set forth below:

 

  i.

Traxys Terms: As between Traxys and Li-Cycle, Traxys shall waive its rights to such Black Mass under the terms of the Traxys Black Mass Agreement solely to permit Li-Cycle to sell such Black Mass directly to Glencore, provided that Traxys shall be entitled to a marketing fee equal to [XXX] for such Black Mass. For this purpose, [XXX]. For greater certainty, Li-Cycle shall not require any services from Traxys in relation to such sales, and there shall be no transaction costs incurred by Traxys or billed to Li-Cycle in relation to such sales.

 

  ii.

Glencore Terms: As between Li-Cycle and Glencore, such Black Mass shall be considered “Glencore Committed Black Mass” under the terms of the Black Mass Offtake Agreement, and Li-Cycle and Glencore shall enter into separate “Black Mass Sale Agreements” with respect to such Black Mass under the terms of the Black Mass Offtake Agreement. As between Li-Cycle and Glencore, for the purposes of the Black Mass Offtake Agreement, Glencore agrees that North America Seller shall pay Glencore (or its applicable affiliate) a marketing fee equal to [XXX] for such Black Mass, and such fee shall be deemed to be the “Black Mass Marketing Fee” for the purposes of such sales only.

 

  iii.

Delivery Shortfalls: In the event of any shortfall for any reason in the volume of Black Mass available for sale or delivery by North America Seller, such shortfall shall be allocated between Traxys and Glencore on a 50-50 basis.

 

  iv.

Payment of Marketing Fees: Within [XXX] following the end of each month during the Term, North America Seller shall prepare and submit a report to Traxys (the “Black Mass Monthly Report”), setting forth the Black Mass sold to Glencore or other applicable Buyer during such month (if any) and setting forth the calculation of the marketing fees payable to Traxys on such Black Mass sales (including any adjustments to determine the Customer Final Price in accordance with Section 3(b)(i) above). The Black Mass Monthly Report shall also set forth any reconciliations to preliminary and final payments that affect the marketing fees payable to Traxys, upon

 

4


  which adjustments to such marketing fee payable to Traxys shall be made. Traxys, through its third party auditors, may (no more than once a year) audit, confirm and validate the details of the Black Mass Monthly Report (and may inspect any records pertaining thereto), and Li-Cycle and Glencore shall cooperate therewith, subject to the execution of a customary confidentiality agreement with each of Li-Cycle and Glencore.

 

  v.

Allocation of Pending Commitments: The Parties acknowledge that Li-Cycle and Traxys have entered into a letter agreement dated February 23, 2024, pursuant to which Traxys has provided a limited one-time waiver to permit North America Seller to sell certain inventory directly to third-party customers, subject to Traxys being paid its customary marketing fee of [XXX] (in accordance with the terms of the Traxys Black Mass Agreement). For greater certainty, such materials shall be excluded from the allocation hereunder and Li-Cycle shall advise each of Traxys and Glencore once such sales have been completed. As of the Execution Date, Traxys and Li-Cycle have no other pending commitments for the sale of Black Mass.

 

4.

REFINED PRODUCTS ALLOCATION TO GLENCORE

a) Quarterly Forecast

The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that all decisions concerning Hub operations and the timing and quantity of Refined Products available for sale shall be made by the North America Seller, in its sole and absolute discretion. Li-Cycle shall keep each of Traxys and Glencore apprised of the progress of development of the Rochester Hub project with a view to providing Traxys and Glencore with information on certain Refined Products that may be available for sale during the Term (i.e., specifically, Lithium Carbonate, Graphite Concentrate and, if applicable, Nickel Sulphate, Cobalt Sulphate, and Manganese Carbonate).

From and after the start of commissioning of the Rochester Hub, at least three months prior to the start of each calendar year, and at least [XXX] prior to the start of each calendar quarter, North America Seller shall advise each of Traxys and Glencore of the volume and specifications of such Refined Products expected to be: (a) produced, and (b) available for sale, quarterly, on a rolling 12-month period (or such other basis as may be agreed by the Parties).

b) Allocation to Glencore

The Parties agree that, from and after the Execution Date, of the volume of each of the Refined Products available for sale by North America Seller, at least 50% shall be allocated by North America Seller to Glencore, on the terms set forth below:

 

  i.

Traxys Terms: As between Traxys and Li-Cycle, Traxys shall waive its rights to such Refined Products under the terms of the Traxys Refined Products Agreement solely to permit Li-Cycle to sell such Refined Products directly to Glencore, provided that Traxys shall be entitled to a marketing fee (equal to [XXX]) for such Refined Products. For this purpose, [XXX]. For greater certainty, Li-Cycle shall not require any services from Traxys in relation to such sales, and there shall be no transaction costs incurred by Traxys or billed to Li-Cycle in relation to such sales.

 

5


  ii.

Glencore Terms: As between Li-Cycle and Glencore, the Refined Products allocated to Glencore hereunder (other than Graphite Concentrate) shall be considered “Glencore Committed End Products” under the terms of the End Products Offtake Agreement, and Li-Cycle and Glencore shall enter into separate “End Products Sale Agreements” with respect to such Refined Products under the terms of the End Products Offtake Agreement. As between Li-Cycle and Glencore, for the purposes of the End Products Offtake Agreement, Glencore agrees that North America Seller shall pay Glencore (or its applicable affiliate) a marketing fee equal to [XXX] for such Refined Products, and such fee shall be considered to be the “End Products Marketing Fee” for the purposes of such sales only. As between Li-Cycle and Glencore, the Graphite Concentrate allocated to Glencore hereunder shall be considered “Surplus By-Products” under the terms of the By-Products Offtake Agreement and the material commercial terms for the sale and purchase of such Graphite Concentrate shall be determined pursuant to Section 6.1.4 (Graphite Concentrate) of the By-Products Off-Take Agreement.

 

  iii.

Delivery Shortfalls: In the event of any shortfall for any reason in the volume of Refined Products available for sale or delivery by North America Seller, such shortfall shall be allocated between Traxys and Glencore on a 50-50 basis.

 

  iv.

Payment of Marketing Fees: Within [XXX] following the end of each month during the Term, North America Seller shall prepare and submit a report to Traxys (the “Refined Products Monthly Report”), setting forth the volume of Refined Products sold to Glencore or other applicable Buyer during such month (if any) and setting forth the calculation of the marketing fees payable to Traxys on such Refined Products sales (including any adjustments to determine the Customer Final Price in accordance with Section 4(b)(i) above). The Refined Products Monthly Report shall also set forth any reconciliations to preliminary and final payments that affect the marketing fees payable to Traxys, upon which adjustments to such marketing fee payable to Traxys shall be made. Traxys, through its third party auditors, may (no more than once a year) audit, confirm and validate the details of the Refined Products Monthly Report (and may inspect any records pertaining thereto), and Li-Cycle and Glencore shall cooperate therewith, subject to the execution of a customary confidentiality agreement with each of Li-Cycle and Glencore.

 

  v.

Allocation of Pending Commitments: The Parties acknowledge that Li-Cycle and Traxys have entered into certain agreements with LG Energy Solution, Ltd. and LG Chem, Ltd. covering the sale of Nickel Sulphate. For greater certainty, such materials shall be included in determining the volume of Refined Products available for sale in the applicable period after the Execution Date, and shall be deemed to have been allocated to Traxys. As of the Execution Date, Traxys and Li-Cycle have no other pending commitments for the sale of Refined Products.

 

5.

TERM AND TERMINATION

The term of this Agreement begins on the Execution Date and continues for the duration of the Traxys Commercial Agreements, unless earlier terminated by mutual agreement of the Parties.

 

6


6.

SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT/NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY RIGHTS

No Party may assign this Agreement or its rights or obligations hereunder, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Except as expressly set out herein, this Agreement is for the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns only and shall not be construed to create beneficiary rights in any other person and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favour of, any person or entity other than the Parties.

 

7.

MODIFICATION, WAIVER

No modification or waiver of this Agreement or any right or obligation of any Party shall be binding upon such Party unless it is in writing and signed by an officer thereof. No waiver by a party of any of delay, fault or breach shall be deemed a waiver of any other delay, default or breach.

 

8.

FURTHER ASSURANCES

Each Party shall at all times hereinafter, do and execute or cause to be made, done or executed all such acts, instruments, assurances and writings whatsoever as may be reasonable to perform or give effect to this Agreement.

 

9.

SEVERABILITY

Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under Applicable Laws. However, if any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or prohibited under Applicable Laws, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity or prohibition without affecting the validity of the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

10.

NOTICES

 

  10.1

All notices and other required or permitted communications (each a “Notice”) under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed as follows:

 

  (a)

If to Glencore:

Glencore Ltd.

330 Madison Ave.

New York, New York

10017

U.S.A.

Attention: Kunal Sinha

Email: kunal.sinha@glencore-us.com

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

 

7


  (b)

If to Traxys:

Traxys North America LLC

299 Park Ave., 38th Fl.

New York, New York

10171

U.S.A.

Attention: Alan Docter

Email: alan.docter@traxys.com

Attention: Cobalt Trading

Email: trafficcobalt@traxys.com

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@traxys.com

 

  (c)

If to all or any of the Li-Cycle Parties:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West

Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario

M5J 1A7

Canada

Attention: Ajay Kochhar, Chief Executive Officer

Email: Ajay.Kochhar@li-cycle.com

Attention: Legal Department

Email: legalnotices@li-cycle.com

 

  10.2

All Notices shall be given:

 

  (a)

by electronic communication, capable of producing a printed transmission; or

 

  (b)

by national or international courier service, as applicable.

 

  10.3

All Notices (including electronic communication) shall be effective and shall be deemed given on the first date of receipt at the principal address if received during normal business hours, and, if not received during normal business hours, on the next Business Day following receipt. Any change of address may be made by Notice to the other Parties.

 

8


11.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, U.S.A., without regard to its principle of conflicts of interest.

 

12.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration administered by the AAA in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect, by a panel of arbitrators. Each of Li-Cycle, Traxys and Glencore (in such capacity, the “Disputing Parties” and each of them individually, a “Disputing Party”) shall select one arbitrator. Where there are two Disputing Parties involved in a controversy or claim, then the two appointed arbitrators shall appoint a third arbitrator, for a panel of three. Where there are three Disputing Parties involved in controversy or claim, then the three appointed arbitrators shall appoint two additional arbitrators, for a panel of five. The arbitration shall take place in the City of New York, New York. Judgment upon any award rendered in such arbitration will be binding and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. There shall be limited discovery prior to the arbitration hearing, as follows: (i) exchange of witness lists and copies of documentary evidence and documents relating to or arising out of the issues to be arbitrated; (ii) depositions of all party witnesses; and (iii) such other depositions as may be allowed by the arbitrators upon a showing of good cause. Depositions shall be conducted in accordance with the New York Code of Civil Procedure. The arbitral panel shall be required to provide in writing to the Parties the basis for the award or order of such arbitral panel, and a court reporter shall record all hearings, with such record constituting the official transcript of such proceedings. Any award from any such arbitration proceeding may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each Party shall bear its own costs in connection with any arbitration hereunder. Nothing herein shall prevent a Party from seeking injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) from any court having jurisdiction over the Parties and the subject matter of the dispute as is necessary to protect such Party’s rights.

 

13.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

 

  13.1

Each Party warrants, represents and undertakes to the other that, in connection with this Agreement, it, its Affiliates and its and their directors, officers, and to its knowledge, employees, agents, representatives and any other Person acting on its or their behalf:

 

  13.1.1

have complied with, and, except as may be required by Applicable Laws (including the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) and any orders issued thereunder), will comply with, all Applicable Laws including, without limitation, Applicable Laws pertaining to sanctions, anti-bribery, anti- corruption and anti-money laundering, in each case in all material respects; and

 

  13.1.2

have not authorized, offered, promised, paid or otherwise given, and will not authorize, offer, promise, pay or otherwise give, whether directly or indirectly, any financial or other advantage to or for the use or benefit of any public official or any private individual (i) for the purpose of inducing or rewarding that Person’s improper performance of their relevant function in breach of applicable anti-bribery law, or (ii) in a manner that would otherwise constitute a breach of any Applicable Law.

 

9


  13.2

Each of the other Parties may, in its sole discretion, report any concerns relating to the conduct of Glencore in connection with the Commercial Agreements that breaches Glencore’s Code of Conduct or underlying policies to its contacts at Glencore or through Glencore’s “Raising Concerns Programme”, details of which are available at https://glencore.raisingconcerns.org/.

 

14.

SANCTIONS

 

  14.1

Each Party represents and warrants to the other Party as at the Execution Date and throughout Term that:

 

  14.1.1

neither it nor any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) or any of its or their respective directors, senior executives or officers, or to the knowledge of the Company, any Person on whose behalf the Company is acting in connection with the subject matter of any of such Commercial Agreement, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is 50% or more owned or controlled by, a Person or Persons that is the subject of any economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce, the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), Switzerland or Canada (collectively, “Sanctions”) or based, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive (i.e., country-wide or territory-wide) Sanctions (including, as of the Execution Date, Crimea, Cuba, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Iran, so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, North Korea and Syria) (a “Sanctioned Country”) (collectively, a “Sanctioned Person”);

 

  14.1.2

no Sanctioned Person has any beneficial or other property interest in any of the Commercial Agreements nor will have any participation in or derive any other financial or economic benefit from any of the Commercial Agreements; and

 

  14.1.3

except as may be required by Applicable Law (including but not limited to the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) and any orders issued thereunder), it will not use, or make available, material or funds (as applicable) provided by the other party in terms of any of the Commercial Agreements (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of, with or involving any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in breach of Sanctions, or (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions, or (iii) for any activities or business that could reasonably result in the designation of the other Party as a Sanctioned Person (“Sanctionable Activity”).

 

  14.2

A Party will not be in breach of this Section in respect of a Sanctioned Person where the relevant Sanctions are exclusively sectoral sanctions, meaning any Sanctions that do not freeze or block the assets and/or economic resources of a Person or comprehensively freeze or block making available funds or economic resources to such Person, but merely restrict the ability of certain individuals or entities to access financing or export or import equipment, goods, technology or services, including, for the, avoidance of doubt, the Sanctions imposed under the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List maintained by OFAC (“Sectoral Sanctions”) and where the relevant activity or business is permitted by those Sectoral Sanctions.

 

10


  14.3

If a Party becomes a Sanctioned Person (or if a Party has breached or will breach this Section) (the “Defaulting Party”), then the other Party (the “Non-Defaulting Party”) may (without incurring any liability of any nature whatsoever) terminate or suspend all (but not less than all) of the Commercial Agreements with immediate effect by notice to the Defaulting Party or take any other action it reasonably deems necessary in order for the Non-Defaulting Party to comply with applicable Sanctions or avoid Sanctionable Activity. The Defaulting Party shall be liable for any and all direct costs, liabilities and expenses whatsoever incurred by the Non-Defaulting Party due to the Non-Defaulting Party exercising its rights under this Section except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined in a final judgement that the Defaulting Party was not properly a Sanctioned Person and/or did not breach this Section. Any exercise by the Non-Defaulting Party of its right under this Section shall be without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of the Non-Defaulting Party under this Agreement.

 

15.

COUNTERPARTS AND ELECTRONIC EXECUTION

This Agreement may be executed in a number of counterparts, and it shall not be necessary for the signatures of all Parties be contained on any counterpart. Each counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts maybe delivered by electronic transmission and the Parties adopt any signatures so received as original signatures of the Parties.

[Signature page follows]

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Execution Date.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Ajay Kochhar, Chief Executive Officer
LI-CYCLE U.S. INC.
By:  

/s/ Tim Johnston

  Tim Johnston, Director
LI-CYCLE INC.
By:  

/s/ Tim Johnston

  Tim Johnston, Director
LI-CYCLE NORTH AMERICA HUB, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tim Johnston

  Tim Johnston, Director
TRAXYS NORTH AMERICA LLC
By:  

/s/ Mark Kristoff

  Mark Kristoff, CEO
GLENCORE LTD.
By:  

/s/ Kunal Sinha

  Kunal Sinha, Head of Recycling

 

12

EX-10.8 14 d797686dex108.htm EX-10.8 EX-10.8

Exhibit 10.8

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated March 25, 2024, is being entered into by and among Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario with offices located at 207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590, Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7 (the “Company”), Glencore Ltd., a Swiss company having an address at 330 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017 (“Glencore Intermediate”) and Glencore Canada Corporation, an Ontario corporation having an address at 100 King Street West, Suite 6900, Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3 (the “Purchaser” or “Glencore Canada”) (each of the Purchaser and Glencore Intermediate a “Purchaser Party”, and together the “Purchaser Parties”) and Glencore Canada as Collateral Agent.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, the Senior Secured Convertible Note due five years from the Closing Date (as defined below) in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 (referred to herein as the “Note”) in the form attached as Exhibit A and to be issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the form of Note;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchaser desire to set forth certain agreements herein.

WHEREAS, the Company, the Purchaser Parties and Glencore Canada as Collateral Agent are parties to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated March 11, 2024 (the “Existing Note Purchase Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Company, the Purchaser Parties and Glencore Canada as Collateral Agent have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Note Purchase Agreement in its entirety as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF CONVERTIBLE NOTE.

(a) Purchase of Note. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined below), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase and acquire from the Company, the Note for a purchase price equal to $75,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”).

(b) Closing.

(i) The consummation of the issuance and purchase of the Note (the “Closing”) shall occur on the second Business Day following the date on which each of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement have been satisfied, or on such other Business Day to be agreed in writing between the Company and the Purchaser (“Closing Date”).


(ii) The Closing shall occur at the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York NY 10007 or remotely by electronic exchange by and among the parties and their counsel of all documents and deliverables required under the Agreement.

(c) Form of Payment for Note. At the Closing, (i) the Purchaser shall pay the Purchase Price for the Note to the Company by wire transfer of the Purchase Price in immediately available funds to the account of the Company designated in writing by the Company to the Purchaser at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date for such purchase, and (ii) the Company shall, against the payment of the Purchase Price, deliver to Purchaser the Note executed by the Company.

 

2.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER PARTIES.

Each Purchaser Party represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Organization. The Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Ontario. The Purchaser is a person that is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder, as amended (the “Tax Act”) and will remain a person that is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act at all times when it holds an interest in the Note. Glencore Intermediate is an entity duly organized, validly existing under the laws of Switzerland.

(b) Authorization; Validity; Enforcement. The Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Note, (iii) the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), (iv) the Amended and Restated Existing Convertible Notes substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 and Exhibit C-2 (collectively, the “A&R Notes”), (v) the Side Letter substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Side Letter” and together with this Agreement, the Note, the Registration Rights Agreement, the A&R Notes, the Allocation Agreement (defined below) and the Side Letter, the “Note Documents”), (vi) the Note Guaranty (as defined in the Note) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, (vii) each Collateral Document (as defined in the Note) substantially in the forms attached hereto as sub-exhibits to Exhibit G and (viii) the Tax Indemnity Side Letter (such Tax Indemnity Side Letter, together with the Note Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and the Note Documents, collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Note Documents to which it is a party (the “Note Transactions”) and the transactions contemplated by the Note Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and the Tax Indemnity Side Letter, together with the Note Transactions, collectively, the “Transactions”). Glencore Intermediate has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, (iii) the Allocation Agreement, (iv) the North America Black Mass & Refined Products Allocation Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Allocation Agreement”), (v) the Side Letter and (vi) the Tax Indemnity Side Letter. The execution, delivery and performance by each Purchaser Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of each Purchaser Party. No other proceedings on the part of the Purchaser or Glencore Intermediate are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by either Purchaser Party of any of the Transaction Documents and consummation of the Transactions to which it is a party.

 

2


Each of the Transaction Documents to which a Purchaser Party is a party has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Purchaser Party. Assuming each of the Transaction Documents constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party is a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser Party, enforceable against the Purchaser Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the limitation of such enforcement by the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium or other laws affecting or relating to creditors’ rights generally or the rules governing the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

(c) Sufficiency of Funds. At and immediately prior to the Closing, the Purchaser will have unrestricted cash (in immediately available funds) equal to the Purchase Price.

(d) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by each Purchaser Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the performance by each Purchaser Party of its obligations thereunder, including the Transactions contemplated herein and therein, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Purchaser Party pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Purchaser Party is a party or by which the Purchaser Party is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Purchaser Party is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser Party to perform its obligations hereunder; or (ii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser Party to perform its obligations hereunder.

(e) Consents and Approvals. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or exemption or review by, any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, whether federal, state, provincial, local or foreign, and any applicable industry self-regulatory organization (each, a “Governmental Entity”) is required on the part of either Purchaser Party in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser Party of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Purchaser Party of the Transactions to which it is a party, except for any required or approvals under any applicable antitrust laws or foreign investment laws, requirements or regulations in connection with the issuance of common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) upon the conversion of the Note or the A&R Notes, or the exercise of any warrants issued to the Purchaser upon the redemption of the Note or the A&R Notes in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof (the “Redemption Warrants”), any required filings pursuant to the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or the rules of the United States Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any consent, approval, order, authorization, registration, declaration, filing, exemption or review, the failure of which to be obtained or made, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect or delay the consummation of the Transactions by the Purchaser Party.

 

3


(f) Purchase for Investment. The purchase of the Note is for the Purchaser’s own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof. The Purchaser understands that neither the Note nor any Common Share (as defined below) issuable upon the conversion of the Note has been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Note. The Purchaser (i) is purchasing the Note as principal for the Purchaser’s own account, and not for the benefit of any other Person, and for investment purposes only, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of the Note, (ii) is resident in the Province of Ontario, and (iii) was not formed for the purpose of purchasing the Note and was not created and is not used solely to purchase or hold securities as an accredited investor.

(g) Ownership of Company Securities. As of March 11, 2024, the direct and indirect ownership of securities of the Company of the Purchaser Parties and their Affiliates in the aggregate consists of (i) 59,385 Common Shares and (ii) Existing Notes (as defined below) representing $225,357,585 in aggregate outstanding principal amount of convertible notes issued pursuant to that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated May 31, 2022 (the “2022 Note Purchase Agreement”) and accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind since such date in the form of additional convertible notes. As of the Closing and immediately prior to the amendment and restatement of the Existing Notes contemplated in connection with the Transactions, the direct and indirect ownership of securities of the Company of the Purchaser Parties and their Affiliates in the aggregate consists of (i) 59,385 Common Shares and (ii) Existing Notes representing $231,166,802.40 in aggregate outstanding principal amount issued pursuant to the 2022 Note Purchase Agreement and accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind since the date of the 2022 Note Purchase Agreement in the form of additional convertible notes. No Purchaser Party (individually or together with any other Person with whom the Purchaser has identified, or will have identified, itself as part of a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) currently beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, nor has it acquired or obtained the right to acquire, nor does it currently intend to acquire or obtain the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of, any of the Common Shares or any of the other securities of the Company, other than pursuant to the Note Documents, any other documents contemplated thereby or any Common Shares acquired by any employee of the Purchaser Parties then providing services to the Company as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to any equity grant awarded for such service or requirement to own Common Shares in accordance with any then applicable ownership guidelines.

(h) Accredited Investor; Restricted Securities. The Purchaser is an accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501 of the Securities Act) and in Section 73.3 of the Securities Act (Ontario) and National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 45-106”)) and is aware that the offering and sale of the Note is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption from registration under the Securities Act and the prospectus requirement of the Securities Act (Ontario) and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the certificates evidencing the Note (and any replacement certificate issued prior to the expiration of the applicable hold periods) will bear a legend, in the form required by applicable Ontario securities laws, referring to applicable restrictions on resale.

 

4


(i) No Qualification in Canada. The Purchaser acknowledges having been informed by the Company that the Note and the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note: (i) have not been, and will not be, qualified for distribution by prospectus in any jurisdiction of Canada, and (ii) may not be offered or sold in any jurisdiction of Canada during the course of their distribution except pursuant to a prospectus or exemption from the prospectus requirement under applicable securities laws in Canada.

(j) Investment Decision. The Purchaser has made its own investment decision based upon its own judgment, due diligence and advice from such advisors as it has deemed necessary and not upon any view expressed by any other Person (as defined herein). Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by it or its advisors or representatives, if any, shall modify, amend or affect its right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein. It is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any advice, statement, representation or warranty made by any Person by or on behalf of the Company, including, without limitation, except for the express statements, representations and warranties of the Company made or contained in this Agreement. Furthermore, it acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to it in connection with the purchase of the Note constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current needs and contingencies, has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Note, and can withstand a complete loss of such investment in the Note. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and any Governmental Entity (as defined below) or any department or agency thereof.

(k) Accuracy of Representations. Each Purchaser Party understands the Company is relying and will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgments and agreements in connection with the Transactions.

 

3.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Purchaser Party, on behalf of itself and, as applicable, the other Note Parties (as defined in the Note), that the statements in this Section 3 are all true and complete as of March 11, 2024 except as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule attached as Exhibit H to this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”), which exceptions shall be deemed to be part of, and qualify, the representations and warranties made hereunder. The Company Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in sections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections contained in this Section 3, and the disclosures in any section of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall qualify other sections in this Section 3 to the extent it is reasonably apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other sections.

 

5


(a) Organization; Authority. The Company and each other Note Party (as defined in the Note) (a) is (i) duly organized or incorporated (as applicable) and validly existing and (ii) in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction) under the Applicable Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has all requisite organizational power and authority to own its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction) in, every jurisdiction where the ownership, lease or operation of its properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except, in the case referred to in clause (c) of this Section 3(a) with respect to the Company where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change or development that has had, or would reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”), taken as a whole, but, in each case shall not include the effect of any event, change or development relating to (i) the industries and markets in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, (ii) macroeconomic factors, exchange rates, interest rates or general financial, credit, debt or capital market conditions (including changes in interest or exchange rates), (iii) earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, endemics or disease outbreaks, (iv) global, national or regional political conditions, including hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions or any escalation, worsening or diminution of any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions existing or underway as of March 11, 2024, (v) changes in Applicable Law, generally accepted accounting principles or interpretations of the foregoing, (vi) compliance with this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company at the written request of, or with the prior written consent of, the Purchaser, (vii) consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or any announcement of this Agreement or the identity of the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates (as defined in the Note), (viii) any failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet projections, forecasts or estimates (but not the underlying cause thereof), or (ix) any breach by the Purchaser of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents; provided, however, that with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) through (v), any such event, change or development may be taken into account in determining whether there has been or is a “Company Material Adverse Effect” to the extent it disproportionately impacts the results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to similarly situated participants in the same industry.

(b) Common Shares. The Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note, the A&R Notes or exercise of any Redemption Warrants, as applicable, will be duly and validly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered to Purchaser in accordance with the terms of the Note, the A&R Notes and this Agreement, such Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any statutory or contractual preemptive or similar rights.

(c) Authorization; Validity; Enforcement. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each other Note Party of each Transaction Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the Transactions contemplated pursuant to the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within such Note Party’s corporate or other organizational power and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action of such Note Party. Each Transaction Document to which any Note Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Note Party and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Note Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and the Legal Reservations (as defined in the Note).

 

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(d) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by each Note Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the performance by each Note Party of its respective obligations thereunder (including, in the case of the Company, the issuance and sale of the Note or the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note or the A&R Notes or upon exercise of any Redemption Warrants, as applicable), and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated thereunder, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of each Note Party pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which any Note Party is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Note Party is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially affect the enforceability of the Note or such Common Shares or the legal authority of the Company to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Agreement; (ii) the organizational documents of such Note Party; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over such Note Party or any of its properties that, for purposes of this clause (iii), would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially affect the validity of the Note or such Common Shares or the legal authority of the Company to comply in all material respects with this Agreement.

(e) Governmental Authorization. None of the Company nor the other Note Parties are required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, or any other action by, any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Note Parties of the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Note), except (i) as required by applicable state, provincial or federal securities laws or in connection with necessary filings pursuant to the Perfection Requirements (as defined in the Note), (ii) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (iii) consents, waivers, authorizations, orders, notices, filings or registrations required in connection with the issuance of Common Shares upon the conversion of the Note, or the exercise of any Redemption Warrants in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, including under applicable antitrust laws or foreign investment laws, and (iv) consents, waivers, authorizations, orders, notices, filings or registrations the failure of which to obtain would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(f) Non-contravention. Neither the Company nor any other Note Party is in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) its respective organizational documents, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which it is now a party or by which its properties or assets, are bound, or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over it or its respective properties, except, in the case of clause (ii) for defaults or violations that have are not, and would not reasonably to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and, in the case of clause (iii) for defaults or violations that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(g) Exchange Act Registration of Common Shares; Canadian Reporting Issuer Status. All of the issued and outstanding Common Shares have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Common Shares, or prohibit or terminate the listing of the Common Shares, on the NYSE. The Company has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of the Common Shares under the Exchange Act. The Company is not on a list of reporting issuers that is in default in the Province of Ontario. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or threatened against the Company by the Ontario Securities Commission (the “OSC”) to terminate the Company’s status as a reporting issuer, nor has the Company taken any action that is intentionally designed to terminate the Company’s status as a reporting issuer in the Province of Ontario.

(h) Reports; Financial Statements.

(i) The Company has filed with the SEC all reports, schedules, forms statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Company Reports”) since October 31, 2023. As of its respective date, and, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, each Company Report complied in all material respects as to form with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to such Company Report. As of its respective date, and, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, no Company Report contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) As of the time it was filed, each of the reports, schedules, forms, statements and any other disclosure documents (including exhibits and other information incorporated therein) filed by the Company with the OSC since October 31, 2023 (the “Canadian Company Reports”) that are available to the public on SEDAR+ complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Ontario securities laws and the respective regulations made thereunder (“Ontario Securities Legislation”), and none of the Canadian Company Reports contained any untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent any such Canadian Company Report is superseded by a subsequent Canadian Company Report. The Company has not filed any confidential material change report or other confidential report with the OSC which at March 11, 2024 remains confidential.

 

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(iii) Each of the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows included in the Company Reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act and in the Canadian Company Reports filed with the SEC have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates shown and the results of the consolidated income and comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods set forth therein, subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal recurring year-end audit adjustments, have been prepared in accordance with IFRS (or U.S. GAAP, as applicable) consistently applied during the periods involved, and, except in the case of unaudited financial statements for the absence of footnote disclosure, otherwise comply in all material respects with the requirements of the SEC and the OSC, as applicable.

(iv) Since October 31, 2022, (A) The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business, and (B) no events, changes or developments have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(i) Capitalization. The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. As of February 29, 2024, there were issued and outstanding: (A) 179,047,118 Common Shares of the Company (the “Outstanding Shares”); (B) no preferred shares of the Company; (C) options (the “Options”) to acquire an aggregate of 3,482,063 Common Shares of the Company and (D) restricted share units (the “RSUs”) to acquire an aggregate of 8,834,873 Common Shares of the Company. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will not grant any additional Options or RSUs. Except for the Outstanding Shares, there are no other shares of any class or series in the capital of the Company outstanding. Except for the Options, the RSUs and outstanding convertible notes held by Glencore Intermediate and Wood River Capital, LLC, respectively, there are no options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights, agreements or commitments requiring or which may require the issuance or sale by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(j) Litigation. (A) There is no (and since March 1, 2022, there has not been any) proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by or against the Company and its Subsidiaries that, if adversely decided or resolved, has been or would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or that would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Note Parties to timely consummate the Transactions and other transactions contemplated hereby and (B) none of the Company and its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any material order (including any order that would prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Note Parties to timely consummate the Transactions.

(k) Compliance with Law. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) conducts, and since March 1, 2022 has conducted, its business in accordance with all laws and orders applicable to the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, and is not in violation of any such law or order, and (ii) has not received any written communications from a Governmental Entity that alleges that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any such law or order, except, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), as is not and would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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(l) Intellectual Property.

(i) To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries have sufficient rights to Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are used in or necessary for the operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.

(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to safeguard and maintain the secrecy of any Trade Secrets owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, except which would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, taken as a whole. To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no violation or unauthorized access to or disclosure of any material Trade Secrets of or in the possession of or processed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed any claim commencing legal action against any Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Trade Secrets owned by the Company or any Subsidiary.

(iii) To the Company’s knowledge, since March 1, 2022, no Person is or was infringing, misappropriating, misusing, diluting or violating any Intellectual Property Right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any material respect. None of the Company or any Subsidiary has filed any claim commencing legal action against any Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Intellectual Property Right in any material respect.

(iv) “Intellectual Property Rights” means all (A) patents and patent applications, industrial designs and design patent rights, including any continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part and provisional applications and statutory invention registrations, and any patents issuing on any of the foregoing and any reissues, reexaminations, substitutes, supplementary protection certificates, extensions of any of the foregoing; (B) trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, brand names, trade dress rights, logos, Internet domain names, corporate names and other source or business identifiers, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and all applications, registrations, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing; (C) copyrights, works of authorship, data, database and design rights, and mask work rights, whether or not registered or published, and all registrations, applications renewals, extensions and reversions of any of any of the foregoing; (D) trade secrets, know-how, confidential or proprietary information, including invention disclosures, inventions, ideas, algorithms, formulae, processes, methods, techniques, and models, technologies, protocols, methodologies, formulations, layouts, specifications, discoveries, compositions, industrial models, architectures, drawings, plans, ideas, research and development, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals, in each case whether patentable or not and whether reduced to practice or not (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (E) rights in software, and (F) any other intellectual or proprietary rights.

 

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(m) Environmental Matters.

(i) Neither the Company or its Subsidiaries have received any written notice, report, order, communication or other information from any United States, Canadian or other Governmental Entity or any other Person regarding any actual, alleged, or potential violation in any material respect of, failure to comply in any material respect with, or material liability under, any laws and orders concerning pollution, the storage, use, treatment, transportation, handling, importation, exportation, sale, distribution, labeling, recycling, processing or testing of Hazardous Substance (as defined below) or the protection of the environment, or the protection of human health or safety (to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Substances) (collectively, “Environmental Laws”).

(ii) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(A) The Company and its Subsidiaries are (and, since March 1, 2022, have been) in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance has included obtaining, maintaining and complying with all approvals, authorizations, clearances, licenses, registrations, permits or certificates of a Governmental Entity (collectively, “Permits”) that are required pursuant to Environmental Laws for the ownership or occupation of their facilities and the operation of their business;

(B) There is no lawsuit, litigation, action, claim, complaint, charge, proceeding, administrative enforcement proceeding, suit or arbitration (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative and whether public or private) pending by or before or otherwise involving any Governmental Entity, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Environmental Laws;

(C) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not manufactured, released, treated, stored, disposed, arranged for disposal, transport or handling of, contaminated, or exposed any Person to, any material, substance, waste or other pollutant or contaminant that is regulated by, or for which standards of conduct are imposed or may give rise to liability pursuant to, any Environmental Law, including any petroleum products or byproducts, noise, odor, mold, asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or radon (each, a “Hazardous Substance”), except, in each case, in compliance with Environmental Law;

(D) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not assumed, undertaken, provided an indemnity with respect to or otherwise knowingly become subject to any liabilities of any other Person under Environmental Law; and

(E) The Company has made available to the Purchaser copies of all written environmental reports, audits, and assessments and all other material environmental, health and safety documents that are in the Company’s possession or control relating to the current or former operations, properties or facilities of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

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(n) Compliance with Sanctions Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or their respective directors, senior executives or officers, or to the knowledge of the Company, any Person on whose behalf the Company or its Subsidiaries is acting in connection with the subject matter of the Agreement, is an individual or entity that is, or is 50% or more owned or controlled by, a Person (or Persons) that is the subject of any economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce, the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), Switzerland, Canada or any other applicable sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions Laws”) or based, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive (i.e., country-wide or territory-wide) Sanctions (including, as of March 11, 2024, Crimea, Cuba, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Iran, so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, North Korea and Syria) (a “Sanctioned Territory”) (collectively, a “Sanctioned Person”);

(ii) The entering into of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions will not violate, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have not violated in any material respect, or have not at any time engaged in activity, practice or conduct which would constitute a material breach of, any Sanctions Laws, any applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity, including without limitation, the Criminal Code (Canada); the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956-1957, and regulations and guidance thereunder (“Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), all applicable laws relating to export, re-export, transfer and import controls, including the Export and Import Permits Act and the regulations thereunder and the Export Administration Regulations and the customs and import laws administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“Ex-In Laws”), or the (A) U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), (B) the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada), (C) the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions or (D) any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws related to combatting bribery, corruption and money laundering (“Anti-Corruption Laws”).

(iii) Neither the Company, its Subsidiaries, nor any of their directors or officers nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their employees, agents, or any third-party representatives acting for or on behalf of any of the foregoing has, in contravention of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (A) made, offered, promised, paid or received any unlawful bribes, kickbacks or other similar payments to or from any person, (B) made or paid any contributions, directly or indirectly, to a domestic or foreign political party or candidate which was not in compliance with domestic law or (C) otherwise made, offered, received, authorized, promised or paid any improper payment under any Anti-Corruption Laws and the Transactions and the Note Transactions and any benefit derived thereof will not, directly or indirectly, be used to provide any unlawful payment, gift or any other improper benefit to any (1) any employee, officer or associated person of, or any person otherwise acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of, a Government Entity or (2) a person holding a legislative, administrative or judicial position of any kind, regardless of whether elected or appointed, of a Government Entity (a “Public Official”) or their agents, or any other company or entity owed, directly or indirectly, by a Public Official or its agent, in each case in contravention of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

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(iv) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries has, to the Company’s knowledge, been the subject of any allegation, voluntary disclosure, investigation, prosecution or enforcement action related to any Sanctions Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, Ex-Im Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Part 3 of the UK Criminal Finances Act 2017 (Corporate Offences of Failure to Prevent Facilitation of Tax Evasion), any rules or regulations thereunder and any other laws, rules and regulations relating to tax evasion applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries and to the Company’s knowledge, no such allegation, voluntary disclosure, investigation, prosecution or enforcement action is pending or has been threatened in writing.

(v) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, including but not limited to the representations made under Section 3 of this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any director, officer, employee or agent of the foregoing, to commit an act or omissions that contravenes the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada), or any order promulgated thereunder.

(vi) All the documents and information the Company has provided, and/or will provide, to the Purchaser, including, without limitation, any “know-your-counterparty” information and documents requested by the Purchaser, is, and/or will be, accurate, complete and up to date in all material respects;

(vii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintained policies, procedures, systems and controls, including a compliance program (the “Compliance Program”), reasonably designed to (A) procure compliance by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries with Sanctions Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, and Anti-Money Laundering Laws and (B) prevent any person acting on behalf of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries or otherwise performing any services for or on any Company and/or its Subsidiaries’ behalf, including without limitation its directors, officers, employees, contractors, sub-contractors and agents (an “Affiliated Person”), from any conduct that would give rise to an offense by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries under Sanctions Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, or Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(viii) The Company, its Subsidiaries and its directors and officers are not (A) a Public Official or (B) (1) a Public Official’s spouse; (2) a Public Official and his or her spouse’s grandparents, parents, siblings, children, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and first cousins; (3) the spouse of any persons listed in subcategories (1) or (2); and (4) any other person who shares the same household with the individual, personal, business, or other relationship or association with a Public Official who may have responsibility for or oversight of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(ix) No Sanctioned Person has any beneficial or other property interest in the Agreement nor will have any participation in or derive any other financial or economic benefit from the Agreement; and

(x) The Company will not use, or make available, the funds provided by the Purchaser pursuant to the Agreement (A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of, with or related to any Sanctioned Territory or Sanctioned Person, (B) in any manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions Laws, or (C) for any activities or business that could result in the designation of the Purchaser as a Sanctioned Person.

 

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(xi) For purposes of this Agreement, “Applicable Law” means all laws (statutory or common), rules, ordinances, regulations, grants, concessions, franchises, licenses, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, and other governmental restrictions, including permits and other similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature, and includes having application, directly or indirectly with respect to the Company, the rules and policies of any stock exchange upon which the Company has securities listed or quoted.

(o) Record Keeping. In connection with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Company has, at all times in the last five (5) years, and in case of any Subsidiary incorporated in Switzerland in the last ten (10) years, maintained books, records and accounts that were accurate and complete, in all material respects, and complied, in all material respects, with the requirements of Applicable Laws.

(p) Information. As of the Closing Date, the financial projections of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared by management of the Company dated December 1, 2023 and furnished to the Purchaser on December 2, 2023 by inclusion in the virtual data room file 7.5, have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable at the time so furnished (it being understood and agreed by the Purchaser that such financial projections are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that no assurance can be given that any particular financial projections will be realized, that actual results may differ from projected results and that such differences may be material).

(q) No Registration of Note or Common Shares; Ontario Prospectus Exemption. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 2, no registration under the Securities Act and no registration or qualification under any applicable state securities laws is required for the offer and sale of the Note, the A&R Notes by the Company to the Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement or for the issuance of the Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of the Note or exercise of any Redemption Warrants. The distribution of the Note and the A&R Notes to the Purchaser is exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws under Section 2.3 of NI 45-106 and Section 73.3 of the Securities Act (Ontario), as applicable. The distribution of the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note or the exercise of any Redemption Warrants would, if issued on March 11, 2024, be exempt from the prospectus requirements of the Securities Act (Ontario) under Section 2.42(1)(a) of NI 45-106.

(r) Security Interest in Collateral. Subject to the Perfection Requirements, the Legal Reservations (as defined in the Note), the Agreed Security Principles (as defined in the Note) and the provisions of this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Document (including Section 2(a) of Annex A-1 of the Note), the Collateral Documents (as defined in the Note) entered into on the Closing Date the (“Closing Date Collateral Documents”) create legal, valid and enforceable Liens (as defined in the Note) on all of the Collateral (as defined in the Note) in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and upon the satisfaction of the applicable Perfection Requirements (as defined in the Note), such Liens constitute perfected Liens (with the priority that such Liens are expressed to have under the relevant Closing Date Collateral Documents, unless otherwise permitted hereunder or under any Transaction Document) on the Collateral (to the extent such Liens are required to be perfected under the terms of the Transaction Documents) securing the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Note), in each case as and to the extent set forth therein.

 

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(s) No U.S. Critical Technology Business. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company, or its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate, or develop “critical technologies” as that term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215 and in turn is not a “TID U.S. business” within the meaning of 31 C.F.R. § 800.248(a).

 

4.

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

(a) Mutual Conditions. The obligations of each of the Company and the Purchaser to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waiver of the following conditions, which conditions are for the mutual benefit of the Company and the Purchaser and may be waived only by the mutual consent of the Company and the Purchaser:

(i) Any applicable waiting period or approvals under the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, or any applicable antitrust law, as the case may be, shall have expired, or been terminated, or been obtained; and

(ii) no Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no Governmental Entity shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose any such prevention or prohibition.

(b) Additional Conditions to the Purchaser’s Obligation to Close. The obligations of the Purchaser to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waiver by the Purchaser of each of the following conditions:

(i) (A) the representations and warranties of the Company (and each Note Party pursuant to the terms of the Note Guaranty, as applicable) set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement (other than the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3(a) (Organization; Authority), Section 3(b) (Common Shares), Section 3(c) (Authorization; Validity; Enforcement) and Section 3(i) (Capitalization) (collectively, the “Fundamental Company Representations”) and Section 3(h)(iii)(B) (Absence of a Company MAE)) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitations as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” set forth therein) as of March 11, 2024 and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties that are made expressly as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date), in each case, except for such failures to be so true and correct as have not had, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (B) each of the Fundamental Company Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects as of March 11, 2024 and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties that are made expressly as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be so true and correct as of such date), and (C) the representation and warranty of the Company (and each Note Party pursuant to the terms of the Note Guaranty, as applicable) set forth in Section 3(h)(iv)(B) (Absence of a Company MAE) shall be true and correct in all respects as of March 11, 2024 and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date; (ii) the Company shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Note (and the application of the proceeds thereof) no Default or Event of Default (each as defined in the Note) shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

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(iii) the Company shall have, (A) pursuant to Section 312.05 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, complied with any requirement to obtain the approval of its shareholders with respect to the Transactions by notifying its shareholders not less than ten (10) calendar days prior to the Closing Date that the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Audit Committee”) has independently determined that a delay in securing shareholder approval of the Transactions would seriously jeopardize the financial viability of the Company and that the Audit Committee has expressly approved the Company’s reliance on such exception to omit seeking any shareholder approval that would otherwise be required under NYSE policy, (B) not received any notice of objection from the NYSE of the Company relying on the financial viability exception to the NYSE’s shareholder approval policy pursuant to Section 312.05 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual; and (C) received written confirmation from the NYSE of the approval for listing on the NYSE of all the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note (subject to official notice of issuance) reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser;

(iv) the Company shall have delivered a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer (as defined in the Note) thereof confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (i) and (ii) above as of the Closing; and

(v) the Purchaser shall have received customary opinions of outside counsel to the Company reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser.

Notwithstanding the forgoing or any other provision of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall not be obliged to perform any obligation required by this Agreement if to do so would result in a violation of, or be inconsistent with, any Sanctions, or expose the Purchaser to other Sanctions Laws risks, including, without limitation, the risk of being designated as a Sanctioned Person.

(c) Additional Conditions to the Company’s Obligation to Close. The obligations of the Company to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waiver by the Company of each of the following conditions:

(i) each of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 2 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than such representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of March 11, 2024 and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties that are made expressly as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be so true and correct as of such date); (ii) the Purchaser shall have delivered a certificate signed by an executive officer thereof confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (i) above as of the Closing;

 

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(iii) the Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing;

(iv) that certain Convertible Note, dated May 31, 2022 (the “Original Convertible Note”) and each payment-in-kind note issued thereunder (collectively, the “Existing Notes”) shall have been validly assigned or otherwise transferred to, and assumed or otherwise accepted by, the Purchaser pursuant to an assignment and assumption Agreement to be entered into between the Purchaser and Glencore Intermediate (the “Assignment and Assumption Agreement”); and

(v) the Original Convertible Note shall have been returned to, or in the event the Original Convertible Note has been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the Original Note together with an affidavit of loss containing an indemnification undertaking by the Purchaser to the Company in customary and reasonable form that will survive the Reference Date as defined in the Original Convertible Note, has been provided to, the Company, for reissuance into two notes of equal principal amount.

 

5.

COVENANTS.

(a) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Note (i) for general corporate purposes (including working capital and operating expenses) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) to advance construction of the Company’s Rochester Hub facility, and (iii) to pay fees and expenses relating to the issuance of the Note and/or the entry into this Agreement.

(b) Listing; Canadian Securities Law Compliance. Until the date (the “Reference Date”) that is the earlier of (i) the date on which the Note has been fully converted in accordance with its terms, and (ii) the later of (x) the Maturity Date and, if applicable, (y) the expiration date of any Redemption Warrants, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing or authorization for quotation (as the case may be) of all Common Shares from time to time issuable under the terms of the Note or, if Redemption Warrants are issued, upon exercise of the Redemption Warrants on the NYSE, New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange or the Canadian Securities Exchange or the OTC US Market so long as, in the case of the OTC US Market only, the market capitalization of the Company is $25,000,000 or more (each, an “Eligible Market”)). Until the Reference Date, the Company shall not take any action which could be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Shares on an Eligible Market. Until the Reference Date, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain a reporting issuer in the Province of Ontario. The Company shall timely file a Form 45-106FI under NI 45-106 in respect of the distribution of the Note to the Purchaser.

 

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(c) Expenses. The Company will be responsible for the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of each of the Purchaser incurred on or after February 15, 2024 incurred in connection with the negotiation, implementation and administration of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate.

(d) Transfer Restrictions.

(i) Except as set forth in this Section 5(d), the Note, the Redemption Warrants and any Common Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Note or exercise of any of the Redemption Warrants shall be fully transferable by each Noteholder (as defined in the Note). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5(d), upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7(a) of the applicable Note (in the case of 7(a)(v), only in the event of material breaches) and for so long as such Event of Default is continuing and has not been cured or waived, each Noteholder may offer, sell, assign or transfer the Note (including through hedging or derivative transactions) to any person in accordance with Applicable Law.

(ii) No Noteholder shall offer, sell, assign or transfer (including through hedging or derivative transactions) any Common Shares issued upon conversion of the Note or exercise of any of the Redemption Warrants other than to a Permitted Transferee for a period of twelve (12) months from the Closing Date.

(iii) No Noteholder shall offer, sell, assign or transfer the Note (or any portion thereof), any Redemption Warrants or any Common Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Note or exercise of any of the Redemption Warrants to any of the following Persons (such Persons, the “Prohibited Transferees”) (x) any Activist Investor; (y) any entity that has an affiliation with any Foreign Entity of Concern (as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy) or (z) without the prior consent of the Company not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, any Material Competitor of the Company (as defined below) (excluding for the purposes of the limitation set forth in each of clauses (x), (y) and (z), transfers of Common Shares through broad underwritten offerings, block trades or ordinary brokerage transactions that would result, without the knowledge of any of the Purchaser Parties, in an Activist Investor transferee, Foreign Entity of Concern transferee, or Material Competitor transferee, respectively).

(iv) If any Noteholder shall sell, assign or transfer the Note (or any portion thereof) to any Person that is not a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act (such Person, a “Non-Canadian Residency Transferee”), then such Person must be a Permitted Indemnifying Transferee.

(v) If any Noteholder transfers the Note (or any portion thereof), the Redemption Warrants, or any Common Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Note or exercise of any of the Redemption Warrants to a third party that is not a Permitted Transferee and that would, upon the consummation of such transfer, beneficially own 5% or more of the Company’s total outstanding Common Shares on an as-converted basis (excluding broad underwritten offerings, block trades and ordinary brokerage transactions), then such transferring Noteholder shall cause the transferee, as a condition to such transfer, to become bound by a standstill agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

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(vi) Each party hereto agrees that the Note (or any portion thereof), the Redemption Warrants and any Common Shares issued upon conversion of the Note or underlying the Redemption Warrants may not be offered, sold, assigned or transferred (including through hedging or derivative transactions) by a Noteholder other than in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S of the 1933 Act or pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom and by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register.

(vii) Swiss Transfer Restrictions.

(A) Each party hereto agrees that each Noteholder shall not offer, sell, assign or transfer (including through hedging, derivative or exposure transfer transactions) the Note or all or part of its rights and/or obligations hereunder without the express written consent of the Company, unless the relevant offer, sale, assignment or transfer is (x) made in compliance with this Section 5(d) and (y) (A) to any Swiss Qualifying Bank; (B) to one Affiliate only (which is considered as one creditor only for the purposes of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules); (C) made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing; or (D) made at a time where there is no Swiss Note Guarantor.

(B) The express written consent of the Company to any offer, sale, assignment or transfer shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, it being understood that it is not unreasonable for the Company to withhold consent if after such transfer, the Company would not be in compliance with the Swiss 10 Non-Bank Rules or the Swiss 20 Non-Bank Rules.

(C) The restrictions set out in this Section 5(d)(vi) will no longer be applicable if, as a consequence of a material change of the Swiss 10 Non-Bank Rules or the Swiss 20 Non-Bank Rules, a transfer does not result in the Company and the Note Guarantors becoming subject to Swiss withholding tax consequences. Furthermore, the restrictions set out in this Section 5(d)(viii) will no longer apply following a written confirmation or tax ruling countersigned by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration having been obtained (in a form satisfactory to the Noteholder) confirming that any “use of proceeds in Switzerland” does not result in the Note (or any part thereof) qualifying as a Swiss financing for Swiss withholding tax purposes.

(D) The Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Company to obtain authorization from the applicable Swiss tax authority to make interest payments without such interest payments being subject to Swiss withholding tax.

(E) To the extent that interest payable by the Company or any Note Guarantor under the Note or any other Finance Document becomes subject to Swiss withholding tax, each relevant Noteholder and the Company or relevant Note Guarantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in completing any procedural formalities (including submitting forms and documents required by the appropriate tax authority) to the extent possible and necessary for the Company or relevant Note Guarantor to obtain authorization to (i) make interest payments without such interest payments being subject to Swiss withholding tax or (ii) be subject to Swiss withholding tax at a rate reduced under applicable double taxation treaties. Any amount of Swiss withholding tax actually recovered by a Lender by way of a refund from tax authorities or tax credit actually received shall be promptly paid back by such Noteholder to the Company or relevant Note Guarantor, as applicable.

 

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(viii) Upon the occurrence of any sale, assignment or other transfer of the Note, the Redemption Warrants and any Common Shares issued upon conversion of the Note or exercise of any of the Redemption Warrants pursuant to this Section 5(d) (excluding any transfer pursuant to broad underwritten offerings, block trades and ordinary brokerage transactions), the selling, assigning or transferring Noteholder shall cause the transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a joinder to this Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit I to this Agreement (each, a “Noteholder Joinder Agreement”).

(ix) For purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Activist Investor” means, as of the date of the proposed transfer, any Person identified on the most recently available “SharkWatch 50” list (or, if “SharkWatch 50” is no longer available, then the prevailing comparable list as reasonably determined by the Company), or any Person who, to the knowledge of the transferor, is an Affiliate of any such Person.

“Initial Noteholder” means Glencore Canada, in its capacity as sole holder of the Note on the Closing Date.

“Material Competitor” means, as of the date of the proposed transfer, any Person for which the production of black mass or post production-processing of black mass is its primary business.

“Noteholder” means the Initial Noteholder, together with each other Person that becomes a holder of a note issued pursuant to the Section 5(d) of this Agreement and the terms of the Note, other than any such Person that ceases to be a holder of such other note in accordance with the terms of the Note and Section 5(d) of this Agreement.

“Permitted Indemnifying Transferee” means a Person that (1) (a) has a corporate investment grade rating (or better) with Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch, (b) has consolidated liquidity in excess of $300,000,000 or (c) meets other criteria for creditworthiness in the reasonable judgment of both the transferring holder of the Note and the Company, each acting in good faith to assess the creditworthiness of such Person using commercially reasonable efforts and (2) has entered into a Noteholder Joinder Agreement.

“Permitted Transferee” means as to any Noteholder, any of the following: (i) if a natural person, his/her ancestors, descendants, siblings, or spouse, any executor or administrator of his/her estate, or to a custodian, trustee (including a trustee of a voting trust), executor, or other fiduciary primarily for the account of the Noteholder or his/her ancestors, descendants, siblings, or spouse, whether step, in-law or adopted, and, in the case of any such trust or fiduciary, to the Noteholder who transferred the Note to such trust or fiduciary, but only with respect to transfers made for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy; (ii) if an entity, (A) the then-existing shareholders or other investors in the Noteholder in connection with the dissolution or winding-up of the Noteholder, or (B) any Person in connection with any consolidation or reorganization of the Noteholder directly or indirectly with or into one or more other investment vehicles; and (iii) any Affiliate of any Noteholder (other than any investment portfolio company of the Noteholder that is an Affiliate).

 

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“Swiss 10 Non-Bank Rules” means the rule that the aggregate number of creditors (including the Noteholders) under any facility, which are not Swiss Qualifying Banks, must not exceed 10 (ten), all in accordance with the meaning of the applicable Swiss Guidelines.

“Swiss 20 Non-Bank Rules” means the rule that the aggregate number of creditors (including the Noteholders) of the Company in aggregate, which are not Swiss Qualifying Banks, must not exceed 20 (twenty), all in accordance with the meaning of the applicable Swiss Guidelines.

“Swiss Guidelines” means, together, guideline S-02.123 in relation to interbank loans of 22 September 1986 (Merkblatt “Verrechnungssteuer auf Zinsen von Bankguthaben, deren Gläubiger Banken sind (Interbankguthaben)” vom 22. September 1986), circular letter no. 47 of 25 July 2019 (1-047-V-2019) in relation to bonds (Kreisschreiben Nr. 47 “Obligationen” vom 25. Juli 2019) guideline S-02.130.1 in relation to money market instruments and book claims of April 1999 (Merkblatt vom April 1999 betreffend Geldmarktpapiere und Buchforderungen inländischer Schuldner), circular letter no. 46 of 24 July 2019 (1-046-VS-2019) in relation to syndicated credit facilities (Kreisschreiben Nr. 46 “Steuerliche Behandlung von Konsortialdarlehen, Schuldscheindarlehen, Wechseln und Unterbeteiligungen” vom 24. Juli 2019) circular letter No. 34 of 26 July 2011 (1-034-V-2011) in relation to deposits (Kreisschreiben Nr. 34 “Kundenguthaben” vom 26. Juli 2011) and the circular letter No. 15 of 3 October 2017 (1-015-DVS-2017) in relation to bonds and derivative financial instruments as subject matter of taxation of Swiss federal income tax, Swiss withholding tax and Swiss stamp taxes (Kreisschreiben Nr. 15 “Obligationen und derivative Finanzinstrumente als Gegenstand der direkten Bundessteuer, der Verrechnungssteuer und der Stempelabgaben” vom 3. Oktober 2017), in each case as issued, amended or replaced from time to time, by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration or as substituted or superseded and overruled by any law, statute, ordinance, court decision, regulation or the like as in force from time to time.

“Swiss Non-Bank Rules” means the Swiss 10 Non-Bank Rule and the Swiss 20 Non-Bank Rule.

“Swiss Non-Qualifying Banks” means a Person which is not a Swiss Qualifying Bank.

“Swiss Qualifying Bank” means a Person (including any commercial bank or financial institution (irrespective of its jurisdiction of organization)) which conducts banking activities according to the Swiss Guidelines.

(x) Multiple Notes/Noteholders. For purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, from and after the date of consummation of any sale, assignment or transfer of the Note (or any portion thereof) pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 5(d) that results in more than one Person being a Noteholder:

 

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(A) unless otherwise specified herein or in the applicable Transaction Document or the context otherwise requires, each reference to (A) a “Note” or the “Note” shall mean “Notes” or “each Note”, as the case may be and (B) a “Noteholder” or the “Noteholder” shall mean “Noteholders” or “each Noteholder”, as the case may be;

(B) each Note shall be deemed to be one of a series of Notes originally issued pursuant to this Agreement and shall be entitled to the benefits hereof;

(C) if the Company elects to pay Interest in cash, in kind by capitalizing the applicable interest to the outstanding principal of the Note (by “PIK”) or a combination thereof with respect to any Note for any Interest Period, all Notes issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be entitled to receive Interest in the same form and combination;

(D) any adjustment to the Conversion Price of any Note pursuant to Section 9 thereof shall apply to all Notes issued pursuant to this Agreement (unless any Noteholder declines such application with respect to its Note only); and

(E) any Optional Redemption, ECF Mandatory Redemption, repurchase or exchange of the Notes by the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof shall be made on a pro rata basis and upon the same terms and conditions to all Noteholders at the time based on their respective outstanding principal amounts at such time; it being understood and agreed that in the case of each partial redemption, repurchase or exchange of the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, repurchased or exchanged shall be allocated among all of the Notes outstanding at the time of such partial redemption, repurchase or exchange, in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for partial redemption, repurchase or exchange; provided that in the event any Noteholder’s entitlement to redemption shall have been suspended pursuant to the terms hereof or of the applicable Note, the unpaid principal amount of such Noteholder’s Note shall be included in the calculation of the Noteholders’ proportion of aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes but such Noteholder shall not (and shall not be entitled to) receive the redemption amount that it is otherwise entitled to unless and until such suspension is no longer effective and then only to the extent such suspension does not apply pursuant to the terms hereof or of the applicable Note; and provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, in the event that any Noteholder converts its Note pursuant to Section 6(c)(iv) of the Note or 8(b)(iv) of its Note, the principal amount of such Noteholder’s Note so converted shall be excluded from the calculation of the Noteholders’ proportion of unpaid principal amounts of Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the exchange of any Note and/or the return and reissuance of any Note in connection with a conversion and/or transfer by any Noteholder of less than its entire outstanding principal amount of its Note constitute a repurchase or exchange for purposes of this clause (E).

 

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(e) Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information. The Company shall, on or before 9 a.m., New York time, on or about March 12, 2024, issue a press release (the “Press Release”) reasonably acceptable to Purchaser disclosing all the material terms of the Transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents; provided that nothing contained herein will restrict the ability of the Company to issue the Press Release in order to comply with Applicable Law. After the Closing, the Company will file (i) a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC and a material change report with the OSC, in each case describing all the material terms of the Transactions, and (ii) the Press Release with the OSC.

(f) Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Closing to occur as promptly as practicable following March 11, 2024, including by using such efforts to satisfy each of the conditions to Closing; provided, such obligation shall not require any party hereto to waive any such condition;

(g) Reservation of Shares. So long as the Note or any Redemption Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall take all action necessary to at all times have authorized and reserved for the purpose of issuance, the maximum number of Common Shares to provide for the full conversion of the Note (or exercise of such Redemption Warrants, as applicable) and any payment of accrued and unpaid interest thereon. At no time shall the number of Common Shares reserved pursuant to this Section 5(g) be reduced other than in connection with any stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction or proportionally in connection with any conversion and/or redemption, as applicable, of the Note;

(h) Antitrust Approval. The Company and the Purchaser acknowledge that one or more filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) or antitrust laws of other jurisdictions and/or foreign investment laws may be necessary in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon conversion of the Note. The Purchaser will promptly notify the Company if any such filing is required on the part of the Purchaser or the Company. The Company, the Purchaser and any other applicable Purchaser Affiliate will use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in making or causing to be made all applications and filings under the HSR Act or any antitrust laws of other jurisdictions or any foreign investment laws required in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares upon conversion of the Note held by the Purchaser or any Purchaser Affiliate in a timely manner and as required by the law of the applicable jurisdiction; provided, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not have any responsibility or liability for failure of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates to comply with any Applicable Law. For as long as the Note is outstanding, the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable provide (no more than four (4) times per calendar year) such information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Purchaser may reasonably request in order to determine what antitrust or foreign investment requirements may exist with respect to any potential conversion of the Note. Promptly upon request by the Purchaser, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to make all such filings and obtain all approvals and clearances as required under applicable antitrust or foreign investment laws in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares and investment in the Common Shares upon conversion of the Note. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed that: (i) neither the Purchaser nor the Company shall have any obligation to litigate or contest any administrative or judicial action or proceeding or any decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent; and (ii) neither the Purchaser nor the Company shall be under any obligation to make proposals, execute or carry out agreements, enter into consent decrees or submit to orders providing for (A) the sale, divestiture, license or other disposition or holding separate (through the establishment of a trust or otherwise) of any assets or categories of assets of the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (B) the imposition of any limitation or regulation on the ability of the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to freely conduct their business or own such assets, or (C) the holding separate of the Common Shares or any limitation or regulation on the ability of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates to exercise full rights of ownership of the Common Shares.

 

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The Company and Purchaser will cooperate, provide all necessary information, and keep each other fully apprised with respect to such filing and regulatory processes. The Purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the filing fees associated with any such applications or filings.

(i) Compliance with Laws. Until the Reference Date, the Company shall comply, in all material respects, with all Applicable Laws, including applicable Sanctions Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws; provided, that any failure to comply with this Section 5(j) that primarily arises or results from the Purchaser or its Affiliates’ actions or omissions shall not constitute a breach of this Section 5(j). Until the Reference Date, if an instance of corruption, bribery or fraud is alleged or detected by the Company and known by its executive officers, it shall be promptly reported to the Board of Directors, and/or in accordance with the adequate procedures, in the discretion of the Company, to any competent authorities.

(j) Compliance Program. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain the Compliance Program. If the Purchaser’s ownership of the Common Shares of the Company exceeds 20% as a result of conversion by it of its interest in the Note, the A&R Note or as a result of exercise of Redemption Warrants, the Company agrees that so long as the Purchaser’s ownership of the Common Shares of the Company continues to exceed 20%, the Compliance Program will be maintained in accordance with the minimum requirements (“Minimum Compliance Program Requirements”), with the scope of the Minimum Compliance Program Requirements being in accordance with the Compliance Program requirements described in Section 3(n)(vii)(A) and Section 3(n)(vii)(B) of this Agreement and including, in addition, any other reasonable requirements Glencore is required to include.

(k) Monitoring. If the Purchaser’s ownership of the Common Shares of the Company exceeds 20% as a result of conversion by it of its interest in the Note, the A&R Note or as a result of exercise of Redemption Warrants, the Purchaser may, at reasonable times and on reasonable notice, and at the Purchaser’s sole expense, audit the Company and its Subsidiaries’ compliance with the Company’s obligations under Clause 5(i) and Clause 5(j). The Company shall during the pendency of any such audit right during any period during which the Purchaser’s ownership of the Common Shares of the Company continues to exceed 20% procure that it and its Subsidiaries cooperates with and promptly provides any information reasonably requested by the Purchaser during the course of such audit; provided that Purchaser shall be subject to customary confidentiality obligations in respect to information obtained as a result of any such audit which shall prevent it from disclosing any such information unless required by Applicable Law.

(l) Acknowledgement and Undertaking.

 

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The Company agrees and acknowledges that the acquisition of the Note and A&R Notes (collectively, the “Specified Notes”), disposition of the Specified Notes upon the conversion thereof, any acquisition of Common Shares upon conversion of the Specified Notes, any deemed acquisition or disposition in connection therewith, and all transactions with the Company related thereto or contemplated thereby, now or in the future (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any actual or deemed acquisition, disposition, or exercise of the Specified Notes, the Redemption Warrants and/or Common Shares, as applicable, issued or to be issued in accordance with or as contemplated by the terms of the Agreement, the Specified Notes and/or the Redemption Warrants) are intended to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to one or more rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act), applicable law and the SEC’s releases and interpretations, and the Company will, and will cause its successors and assigns (whether as a result of consolidation, merger, other similar transaction or otherwise) to, from time to time as and when requested by the Purchaser, adopt appropriate resolutions of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof composed solely of two or more “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, to the extent it may lawfully do so, all such documents and instruments (including any such resolutions of the Board of Directors or such committee thereof) and take, or cause to be taken, to the extent it may lawfully do so, all such further actions as the Purchaser may reasonably deem necessary and desirable, in each case to facilitate and effect any such exemption.

(m) Amendment of Note on Project Financing Closing Date. The Company and the Required Noteholders agree to negotiate in good faith to amend Section 7(a) of the Note, substantially concurrently with the Project Financing Closing Date, to include a customary cross-default provision with respect to the applicable Project Financing which is in form and substance reasonably acceptable to each of the Project Lender (as defined in the Note), the Company and the Required Noteholders.

(n) [Reserved]

(o) Certain Pre-Closing Transactions. Prior to the Closing and the execution of the A&R Notes, each Purchaser Party shall, or shall effectuate, as applicable (i) the valid assignment or transfer of the Existing Note (including each payment-in-kind note (the “PIK Notes”) issued thereunder) from Glencore Intermediate to the Purchaser, (ii) following such assignment, the Purchaser shall return the Existing Note (other than the PIK Notes) to the Company for reissuance of two separate notes in equal principal amount, (iii) the consolidation of any amounts pursuant to any issued PIK Notes into the outstanding principal of the Existing Note (which may occur by way of the amendment and restatement of the Existing Note, the “Consolidation”), and (iv) following the Consolidation, the surrender of the Existing Note by the Purchaser in exchange for the A&R Notes.

(p) Third-Party Agent. Promptly following the reasonably written request therefor from the Purchaser or upon the Company’s written election to the Purchaser and the Required Noteholders, (a) the Company and the Required Noteholders agree to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to appoint registrar and/or a paying/fiscal/administrative agent, in each case, that is not an affiliate of any Noteholder or the Company and that is (or are) reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Required Noteholders and (b) the Company and Required Noteholders agree to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to enter into such agreements, or amendments to the Finance Documents, that are reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Required Noteholders and the Collateral Agent and such paying/fiscal/administrative agent to provide for such appointment and the rights and responsibilities of such person in connection therewith. The Company or its Subsidiaries will be required to pay the reasonable and customary servicing fees of any such third party registrar and/or paying/fiscal/administrative agent and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of any such third party registrar and/or paying/fiscal/administrative agent in connection with the foregoing.

 

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6.

THE CLOSING.

(a) Closing Deliverables by the Purchaser. At the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company:

(i) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser;

(ii) the Allocation Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser;

(iii) the Note Guaranty and each Closing Date Collateral Document (as defined in the Note), in each case, duly executed by the Purchaser (in its capacity as Noteholder);

(iv) the certificate required by Section 4(c)(ii), duly executed by the Purchaser;

(v) the Side Letter, duly executed by the Purchaser, Glencore Intermediate and Glencore plc;

(vi) the Assignment and Assumption Agreement required by Section 4(c)(iv), evidencing the assignment to the Purchaser of the Existing Note;

(vii) the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds; and

(viii) such other documents, instruments or certificates relating to the Transactions as the Company or its counsel may have reasonably requested, duly executed by the Purchaser (or, as applicable, in its capacity as Noteholder).

(b) Closing Deliverables by the Company. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Purchaser:

(i) the Note, duly executed by the Company;

(ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

(iii) the A&R Notes, duly executed by the Company;

(iv) the Allocation Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

(v) the Note Guaranty and each Closing Date Collateral Document, duly executed by each of the relevant Note Parties (as defined in the Note) party thereto at Closing;

(vi) the certificate required by Section 4(b)(iv), duly executed by the Company;

(vii) the Side Letter, duly executed by the Company;

(viii) the opinions of outside counsel to the Company required by Section 4(b)(v); (ix) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser of the conditional acceptance of the NYSE for the listing of the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note on the NYSE;

 

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(x) (A) a certificate of each of the Company, Li-Cycle Corp., Li-Cycle Americas Corp., Li-Cycle U.S. Inc., Li-Cycle Inc., and Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc. (each a “Closing Date Note Party” on the Closing Date, dated the Closing Date and executed by a Responsible Officer, which shall (1) certify that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the resolutions, written consents or extracts of minutes of a meeting, as applicable, of its board of directors, board of managers, supervisory board, shareholders, members or other governing body (as the case may be and in each case, to the extent required) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of each Transaction Document to which it is a party and, in the case of the Company, the sale and issuance of the Note hereunder, and that such resolutions or written consents have not been modified, rescinded or amended since the applicable date of approval and are in full force and effect, (2) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Responsible Officer or authorized signatory of such Closing Date Note Party on the Closing Date that is authorized to sign the Transaction Documents to which it is a party on the Closing Date, as applicable and (3) certify (I) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation, amalgamation or organization (or memorandum of association, articles of association or other equivalent thereof) of each Closing Date Note Party on the Closing Date (certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Note Party) and a true and correct copy of its by-laws or operating, management, partnership or similar agreement (to the extent applicable) and (II) that such documents or agreements have not been amended (except as otherwise attached to such certificate and certified therein as being the only amendments thereto as of such date) and (ii) in respect of each such Note Party organized or incorporated under the laws of (x) the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, a good standing certificate, dated as of a recent date for each such Note Party from its jurisdiction of organization, and (y) the Province of Ontario, a certificate of status, dated as of a recent date for each such Note Party from its jurisdiction of organization; and

(xi) each document (including any UCC or PPSA financing statement) required by any Collateral Documents or under applicable Requirements of Law to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Collateral Agent a perfected Lien on the Collateral in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

(c) For purposes of determining whether the conditions specified in this Section 6 have been satisfied at Closing, by the Company issuing the Note and the Purchaser purchasing the Note and paying the Purchase Price, each of the Company and the Purchaser (individually and in its capacity as Noteholder) shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted, or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to it, as the case may be, and all such conditions shall be deemed to be satisfied.

 

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7.

TERMINATION

(a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date:

(i) Prior to the Closing, by mutual written agreement of Company and the Purchaser, and after the Closing by mutual written agreement of the Company and each Noteholder party hereto;

(ii) if any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the Transactions illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions, and such judgment, order, law, rule or regulation shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7(a)(ii) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the principal cause of, or primarily resulted in, the issuance, promulgation, enforcement or entry of any such law or order;

(iii) by the Purchaser, if (A) there shall have been a breach by the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein that would result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 4(b) to be satisfied, (B) the Purchaser is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Side Letter and (C) such breach by the Company shall not have been cured on or prior to the earlier of (1) the Outside Date (as defined below) and (2) twenty (20) Business Days after receipt by the Company of written notice of such breach from the Purchaser; provided, that (I) no such cure period shall be available with respect to any such breach by the Company if such breach was intentional and (II) any such cure period shall terminate at any time the Company is not exercising reasonable efforts to cure such breach;

(iv) by the Company, if (A) there shall have been a breach by a Purchaser Party of (x) any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein that would result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 4(c) to be satisfied or (y) the Side Letter, (B) the Company is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and (C) such breach by the Purchaser shall not have been cured on or prior to the earlier of (1) the Outside Date (as defined below) and (2) twenty (20) days after receipt by the Purchaser of written notice of such breach from the Company; provided, that (I) no such cure period shall be available with respect to any such breach by the Purchaser if such breach was intentional and (II) any such cure period shall terminate at any time the Purchaser is not exercising reasonable efforts to cure such breach; and

(v) by either the Purchaser or the Company if the Closing shall not have been consummated on or before April 15, 2024 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7(a)(v) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the principal cause of, or primarily resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to the Outside Date.

The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall give written notice of such termination to the other party.

(b) If this Agreement is terminated as permitted by Section 7(a), this Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force or effect, and such termination shall relieve each party to this Agreement from any liability or obligation under this Agreement except that nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability or obligation for any willful breach of this Agreement or fraud that occurred prior to such termination.

 

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8.

NOTE PARTY INDEMNITY.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Section 8, (i) each Note Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and its Related Parties (as defined below) (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses as they are incurred by such Indemnitee (but in the case of legal fees and expenses, (x) excluding the costs of internal counsel to any Indemnitee and (y) limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole, plus, in each case, one special or local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to all Indemnities taken as a whole and, in the case of an actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitees affected by such conflict inform the Company of such conflict and, thereafter, retain their own counsel, of another firm of counsel for all such affected Indemnitees taken as a whole) arising out of or resulting from (i) the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company or any amendment, amendment and restatement, modification or waiver of the provisions hereof or thereof, (ii) the issuance of the Note and the performance of the Note Parties of their obligations thereunder and the other Transaction Documents, or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by the third party or by the Company or its affiliates, and to which such Indemnitee is a party; provided that the foregoing indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment to have arisen out of or resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (or such Indemnitee’s Related Parties), (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment to have arisen out of or resulted from the Purchaser’s acts, omissions or failures to act in its capacity as a beneficial owner of the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Note or the A&R Notes (including any allegation or finding that the Purchaser or any of its Related Parties is a related party or controlling shareholder of the Company), (y) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment to have arisen out of or resulted from a material breach by any Indemnitee (or any Indemnitee’s Related Parties) of its (or their) obligations under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (z) have arisen out of or resulted from any dispute, claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding among or between any Indemnitees, whether brought by a third party, the Company or its affiliates; provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing indemnity in this Section 8(a) shall not apply to, and shall not include, any Taxes (as such term is defined in the Note). For the purposes of this Section 8, “Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and its Affiliates (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will not include any Note Party or any Note Party’s directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors). For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 8(a) shall be deemed to amend, modify or supersede the Company’s (or an Affiliate thereof) existing indemnification arrangements with any member of the board of directors of the Company and any claims, including claims relating to or arising from this Agreement and/or any of the other Transaction Documents brought against any director, officer or employee of the Purchaser (or an Affiliate thereof) serving on the board of directors of the Company, in his or her capacity as a member of such board, shall be indemnified in accordance with such existing indemnification arrangements and shall not be indemnified pursuant to this Section 8.

 

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(b) Any Indemnitee seeking indemnification under Section 8(a) agrees to give prompt notice in writing to the Note Parties of the threatened or actual assertion of any claim or the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding by any third party (a “Third Party Claim”) in respect of which indemnity may be sought under Section 8(a). Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail such Third Party Claim and the basis for indemnification (taking into account the information then available to the Indemnitee). The failure to so notify the Note Parties shall not relieve the Note Parties of their respective obligations hereunder, except to the extent the Note Parties did not otherwise receive written notice of such action in another manner and such failure shall have actually prejudiced the Note Parties. The Note Parties shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim and, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 8(b), shall be entitled to control and appoint lead counsel for such defense, in each case, at its own expense; provided that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitees. After any Note Party elects to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Note Parties shall not, so long as any such Note Party conducts such defense, be liable to the Indemnitees under Section 8(a), for any fees of other counsel or any other expenses with respect to the defense of such Third Party Claim subsequently incurred by the Indemnitees in connection with the defense of such Third Party Claim; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitees shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel, if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Note Parties to represent the Indemnitees would present such counsel with a conflict of interest (based on the written advice of counsel to the Indemnitees); (ii) such action or claim includes both the Note Parties and the Indemnitees, and the Indemnitees shall have reasonably concluded (based on the written advice of counsel to the Indemnitees) that there may be legal defenses available to the Indemnitees that are different from or additional to, and in conflict with, those available to the Note Parties; (iii) the Note Parties shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitees to represent the Indemnitees within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the Note Parties shall authorize the Indemnitees to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Note Parties. If any Note Party assumes the control of the defense of any Third Party Claim in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8(b), such Note Party shall obtain the prior written consent of the affected Indemnitee(s) (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) before entering into any settlement of such Third Party Claim, if the settlement (i) does not expressly unconditionally release the affected Indemnitee(s) from all liabilities and obligations with respect to such Third Party Claim, (ii) involves any admission of fault, culpability or wrongdoing, (iii) provides for any monetary damages that will not be paid in full by the Note Parties, or (iv) imposes any injunctive or other equitable relief against the affected Indemnitee(s). Each party shall cooperate, and cause their respective Affiliates to cooperate, in the defense or prosecution of any Third Party Claim and shall furnish or cause to be furnished such records, information and testimony, and attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials or appeals, as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith, with the Note Parties bearing any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Indemnitees in connection with such cooperation.

 

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(c) No Note Party shall be liable for any settlement of any claim, suit, action or proceeding effected without the prior written consent of the Company or any other losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred in connection therewith, but if any proceeding is settled with the written consent of the Company, or if there is a final judgment against any Indemnitee in any claim, suit, action or proceeding, the Note Parties agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee to the extent and in the manner set forth above. The Note Parties shall not, without the prior written consent of the affected Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) enter into any settlement of any pending or threatened claim, suit, action or proceeding in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee if the settlement (i) does not expressly unconditionally release the affected Indemnitee(s) from all liabilities and obligations with respect to such claim, suit, action or proceeding, (ii) involves any admission of fault, culpability or wrongdoing, (iii) provides for any monetary damages that will not be paid in full by the Note Parties, or (iv) imposes any injunctive or other equitable relief against the affected Indemnitee(s).

(d) In the event an Indemnitee has a claim for indemnity under Section 8(a) against a Note Party that does not involve a Third Party Claim, the Indemnitee agrees to give prompt notice in writing of such claim to such Note Party. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail such claim and the basis for indemnification (taking into account the information then available to the Indemnitee). The failure to so notify the Note Parties shall not relieve any Note Party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent such failure shall have actually prejudiced the Note Parties.

(e) To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no party to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document nor any Indemnitee shall assert, and each hereby waives on behalf of itself, its Related Parties and its related Indemnities, and by seeking the benefit of the provisions of this Section 8, each Indemnitee shall be deemed to have waived, any claim against any other party hereto, any Note Party and/or any Related Party thereof on any theory of liability for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the issuance and purchase of the Note or any of the other Transactions or the transactions contemplated thereby; provided, that nothing contained in this sentence shall, as to any Indemnitee, limit the Note Parties’ indemnification obligations set forth in Section 8(a) above to the extent that such special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are payable to a third party in connection with any Third Party Claim with respect to which such Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification as and to the extent set forth in Section 8(a).

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by any Note Party pursuant to this Section 8 to such Indemnitee for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction, by final and non-appealable judgment, subsequently determines that such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof.

(g) The obligations of the parties under this Section 8 will survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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9.

COLLATERAL AGENT APPOINTMENT; AUTHORIZATION; RIGHT TO ENFORCE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

(a) The Purchaser, each Noteholder and each other Secured Party (as defined in the Note)) hereby irrevocably (i) designates and appoints Glencore Canada (or any successor appointed in accordance with this Section 9) as its collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) hereunder and in respect of this Agreement, the Note and each other Finance Document (as defined in the Note) and (ii) authorizes Glencore Canada (or any successor appointed pursuant hereto) as the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Note and each other Finance Document, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of each of the Finance Documents to which it is a party, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In such capacity, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to:

(i) act as agent (and with respect to any German Security (as defined below) as trustee (Treuhänder)) of the Purchaser Parties, the Noteholder(s) and the other Secured Parties with respect to the security interest in the Collateral and the guaranty under the Note Guaranty; and

(ii) subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Finance Documents to which it is a party, take other actions as set forth herein or therein.

(b) The Collateral Agent is hereby authorized by the Purchaser Parties, each Noteholder and the other Secured Parties to execute, deliver and perform each of the Finance Documents (including any Intercreditor Agreement to which the Collateral Agent is a party or is intended to be a party), and each holder (by its acceptance of the benefits hereunder) agrees to be bound by all of the agreements of the Collateral Agent contained in the Finance Documents and approves any self-contracting (Selbstkontrahieren) and/or double representation (Doppelvertretung) by the Collateral Agent and, to the extent legally permissible, unconditionally releases the Collateral Agent from any restriction under Swiss law in connection therewith..

(c) In relation to the Collateral Documents that are governed by Swiss law (the “Swiss Collateral Documents”) (i) the Collateral Agent holds: (A) any security created or evidenced or expressed to be created under or pursuant to a Swiss Collateral Document by way of a security assignment (Sicherungsabtretung) or transfer for security purposes (Sicherungsübereignung) or any other non-accessory (nicht akzessorische) security, and (B) any proceeds and other benefits of such security, as fiduciary (treuhänderisch) in its own name but for the account of all relevant Secured Parties (as defined in the Note) which have the benefit of such security in accordance with this Agreement, the Note and the respective Swiss Collateral Document, (ii) each present and future Secured Party hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent (A) to accept and execute as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) any Swiss law pledge or any other Swiss law accessory (akzessorische) security created or evidenced or expressed to be created under or pursuant to a Swiss Collateral Document for the benefit of such Secured Party and hold, administer and, if necessary, enforce any such security for and on behalf of each relevant Secured Party which has the benefit of such security, (B) to agree as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) to amendments and alterations to any Swiss Collateral Document which creates or evidences or expresses to create a pledge or any other Swiss law accessory (akzessorische) security, (C) to effect as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) any release of a security created or evidenced or expressed to be created under a Swiss Collateral Document in accordance with this Agreement and the Note; and (D) to exercise as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) such other rights granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder or under the relevant Swiss Collateral Document.

 

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In this Agreement and any other Finance Document all references to the Collateral Agent acting as agent of the Purchaser, the Noteholder(s) and the other Secured Parties shall be deemed to be references to the Collateral Agent acting as direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) as the context requires.

(d) In relation to the Collateral Documents that are governed by German law (the “German Security”: (i) the Collateral Agent shall (A) hold and administer any German Security which is security assigned (Sicherungseigentum/Sicherungsabtretung) or otherwise transferred under a non-accessory security right (nichtakzessorische Sicherheit) to it as trustee (treuhänderisch) for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and (B) hold and/or administer (as applicable) any German Security which is pledged (Verpfändung) or otherwise transferred to the Secured Parties under an accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) as agent; (ii) each of the Secured Parties hereby authorises the Collateral Agent (whether or not by or through employees or agents): (A) to exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to or conferred upon the Collateral Agent under the German Security together with such powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto; (B) to take such action on its behalf as may from time to time be authorised under or in accordance with the German Security; and (C) to accept as its representative (Stellvertreter) any pledge or other creation of any accessory security right granted in favour of such Secured Parties in connection with the Transaction Documents and to agree to and execute on its behalf as its representative (Stellvertreter) any amendments and/or alterations to any German Security which creates a pledge or any other accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) including the release or confirmation of release of such German Security; (iii) each of the Secured Parties hereby releases the Collateral Agent from any restrictions on representing several persons and self-dealing under any applicable law, and in particular from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch), to make use of any authorisation granted under this Agreement and to perform its duties and obligations as Collateral Agent hereunder and under the German Security; and (iv) if and to the extent that the Collateral Agent has already made any statements or declarations or taken any other actions (including, but not limited to, the granting of sub-powers of attorney (including any indemnifications, waivers and consents on behalf of each Secured Party as reasonably agreed upon by the Collateral Agent) and the release of any sub-representatives from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code and similar restrictions applicable to it pursuant to any other applicable law) which fall within the scope of this Section 9, such statements, declarations and actions are hereby ratified and approved (genehmigt).

(e) The Collateral Agent, solely in its capacity as such, will not be liable for any action taken by it in its capacity as Collateral Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, the Note, the Collateral Documents or any other Transaction Document, except those arising out of its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, or a material breach by it of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

 

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(f) Each Secured Party (other than the Collateral Agent), agrees whether an original party hereto or party hereto pursuant to execution and delivery of a Noteholder Joinder Agreement or otherwise to indemnify the Collateral Agent (in such capacity) within three (3) Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it (otherwise than by reason of its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, or a material breach by it of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document) in acting in its capacity as Collateral Agent.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any of the other Finance Documents or any Intercreditor Agreement:

(i) no Secured Party (other than the Collateral Agent) shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, the Note, the Note Guaranty, the Collateral Documents, any Intercreditor Agreement or any other Finance Document; it being understood that any right to enforce any such provision (including to realize upon the Collateral or enforce any Note Guaranty) against any Note Party pursuant hereto or pursuant to any other Finance Document may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, (ii) each Noteholder, the Purchaser Parties and each other Secured Party waives its right to commence any action, suit or litigation against any Note Party in connection with any Finance Document without the written consent of the Required Noteholders and (iii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or in the event of any other Disposition (including pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code), (A) the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties, shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale, to use and apply all or any portion of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other Disposition and (B) the Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of all or any portion of such Collateral at any such Disposition; and

(ii) the Purchaser, each Noteholder and each other Secured Party agrees that the Collateral Agent may in its sole discretion, but is under no obligation to credit bid any part of the Obligations or to purchase or retain or acquire any portion of the Collateral.

(h) Allocation of Proceeds: Subject in all respects to the provisions of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds of Collateral or amounts in respect of the guaranty under the Note Guaranty received by the Collateral Agent, shall be applied, first, to the payment of all costs and expenses then due incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with any collection, sale or realization on Collateral, second, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Collateral Agent (other than those covered in the clause first above) from the Company constituting Obligations under each of the Notes, third, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the aggregate principal amount outstanding under all of the Notes at such time, to the payment in full of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has yet been made) under each of the Notes owed to the Secured Parties on the date of any such application, fourth, as provided in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, and fifth, to, or at the direction of, the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

 

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(i) Resignation of the Collateral Agent; Successor Collateral Agent.

(i) The Collateral Agent may resign and appoint a successor Collateral Agent (which shall be a Person acceptable to the Company) with the Company’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). It is understood and agreed that the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries will be required to pay reasonable and customary agency, service or similar fees, or other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses of any successor Collateral Agent in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Finance Documents.

(ii) The Collateral Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon (i) the effective appointment of a successor Collateral Agent and (ii) the transfer of all of the security interests under the Secured Transaction Documents (including, in each case, any rights and claims of the Collateral Agent under Section 11 hereto) to such successor Collateral Agent (whether as trustee or as agent for the relevant Secured Parties).

(iii) Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder as a successor Collateral Agent and execution and delivery of any joinder agreement to any intercreditor agreement or subordination agreement reasonable requested by the Company, the successor Collateral Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed Collateral Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments hereunder owed to the resigning Collateral Agent), and the retiring, resigning Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder (if not already discharged therefrom as expressly provided above in this Section 9(i)) (other than any of its confidentiality obligations under each Transaction Document); provided, that, the provisions of this Section 9 shall continue in effect for the benefit of the resigning Collateral Agent in respect of any action take or omitted to be taken while the relevant Person was acting as Collateral Agent (including for this purpose holding any collateral security following the resignation of the Collateral Agent) and (ii) after such resignation, solely to the extent that such outgoing Collateral Agent takes any actions in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Collateral Agent. Its successor and each of the other parties shall have the same rights (including powers and authorities conferred on the Collateral Agent under this Agreement) and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if that successor had been an original party.

(iv) Other than as set forth in Section 9(i)(i), no fee shall be payable by any Note Party to the Collateral Agent or any successor Collateral Agent in respect of its appointment as Collateral Agent or successor Collateral Agent, as applicable, unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Company, in its sole discretion.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Person may be appointed as a successor Collateral Agent if it (or any of its affiliates) would be considered a Prohibited Transferee for the purposes of Section 5(d) of this Agreement.

(vi) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Finance Document, to the extent any security interest in the Collateral is lost or becomes unperfected (or loses any applicable priority) in connection with the appointment of any successor Collateral Agent, no misrepresentation, covenant breach or other Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred hereunder or under any other Finance Document.

 

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10.

RELEASE OF NOTE GUARANTORS AND COLLATERAL.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Note or any Financing Document to the contrary, (a) any Note Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Finance Documents (and its Note Guaranty and any Lien granted by such Note Guarantor pursuant to any Collateral Document shall be automatically released) (i) upon the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions permitted under the Note if as a result thereof such Note Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary or is an Excluded Subsidiary (as defined in the Note) (or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a single transaction or series of related transactions not prohibited under this Agreement or the Note), provided that if any Note Guarantor ceases to constitute a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, such Note Guarantor shall not be released from its Note Guaranty unless (A) such Note Guarantor is no longer a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or (B) after giving pro forma effect to such release and the consummation of the relevant transaction, the Company is deemed to have made a new Investment in such Person (as if such Person was then newly acquired) and such Investment is not otherwise prohibited pursuant to Section 4 of Annex A-2 of the Note as if such Investment were made at such time; it being understood that this proviso shall not limit the release of any Note Guarantor that otherwise constitutes an Excluded Subsidiary for any reason other than not constituting a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company (this proviso, the “Specified Guarantor Release Provision”) and/or (ii) upon the occurrence of the earlier of (x) the date on which the Notes have been fully converted in accordance with the terms hereof and (y) the Maturity Date and (b) any Note Guarantor that meets the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary” (subject to the Specified Guarantor Release Provision) shall be released by the Collateral Agent promptly following the request therefor by the Company, subject, if applicable, to the Specified Guarantor Release Provision. In the event that any Note Guarantor is released from its obligations under the Note Guaranty, at the time of such release, any Indebtedness of such released Subsidiary that remains outstanding at such time shall be deemed to be incurred at such time and shall only be permitted to remain outstanding to the extent it would be permitted to be incurred under Section 1 of Annex A-2 of the Note.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Note to the contrary, the Collateral Agent will release (and is hereby authorized by the Secured Parties to release) any Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral (A) upon the occurrence of the earlier of (i) the date on which the Notes have been fully converted in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) the Maturity Date, (B) constituting property sold or to be sold or otherwise Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted under the Note or under any other Finance Document or to which the Required Noteholders have consented, (C) that does not constitute (or ceases to constitute) Collateral, (D) in accordance with Section 12 of this Agreement, (E) otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of any applicable Finance Document or (F) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Noteholders.

(c) In connection with any such release, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to the relevant Note Party, at such Note Party’s expense, all documents that such Note Party shall reasonably request to evidence such Party’s termination or release; provided, that upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Company shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the relevant transaction has been consummated in compliance with the terms of this Agreement. Any execution and delivery of any document pursuant to the preceding sentence of this Section 10(c) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent (other than as to the Collateral Agent’s authority to execute and deliver such documents).

 

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(d) Capitalized terms used in this Section 10 and not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to such term in the Note.

 

11.

PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT).

(a) For the purposes of any German Security:

(i) notwithstanding any other provision of the Note or any other Finance Documents , each Note Party, by way of an independent payment obligation, irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent, as creditor in its own right and not as representative of the other Secured Parties, sums equal to and in the currency of each amount payable by such Note Party to each of the Secured Parties under the Finance Documents as and when that amount falls due for payment under the relevant document or would have fallen due but for any discharge from failure of another Secured Party to take appropriate steps, in insolvency proceedings affecting such Note Party, to preserve its entitlement to be paid that amount.

(ii) Each Note Party and the Collateral Agent acknowledge that the obligations of a Note Party under paragraph (a) are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of that Note Party to any Secured Party under any Finance Document (its “Corresponding Debt”) nor shall the amounts for which a Note Party is liable under paragraph (a) (its “Parallel Debt”) be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt; provided that (x) the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment with regard to the Parallel Debt of any Note Party to the extent that such Note Party’s Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guaranty obligations) discharged and (y) neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall demand payment with regard to the Corresponding Debt of the Note Party to the extent that such Note Party’s Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guaranty obligations) discharged.

(iii) The Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as trustee and it shall have its own independent right to demand payment of the amounts payable by each Note Party under this Section 11 (including, without limitation, through any suit, execution, enforcement of security, recovery of guaranties and applications for and voting in any kind of insolvency proceeding), irrespective of any discharge of such Note Party’s obligation to pay those amounts to the other Secured Parties resulting from failure by them to take appropriate steps, in insolvency proceedings affecting the respective Note Party, to preserve their entitlement to be paid those amounts.

(iv) Any amount due and payable by a Note Party to the Collateral Agent under this Section 11 shall be decreased to the extent that the other Secured Parties have received (and are able to retain) payment of the Corresponding Debt under the other provisions of the Finance Documents and any amount due and payable by the Note Party to the other Secured Parties under those provisions shall be decreased to the extent that the Collateral Agent has received (and is able to retain) payment of the corresponding amount under this Section 11.

 

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12.

PROJECT FINANCING SUBORDINATION.

(a) On a substantially concurrent basis with the occurrence of the Project Financing Closing Date, each of the Company (on behalf of itself and the other Note Parties), the Purchaser, the Noteholders, all the other Secured Parties and the Collateral Agent agree that (i) the Obligations of each member of the U.S. Project Finance Group pursuant to the Note Guaranty (the “Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations”) shall automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably be subordinated to the Guarantee provided by such Persons to any Project Lender in connection with a Project Financing and (ii) the Liens on any property of any Note Party that constitutes Project Loan Collateral granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under or pursuant to any Collateral Document or any other Transaction Document (such property, the “Applicable Project Collateral”) shall automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably be subordinated to the Liens on such Project Loan Collateral that are granted to or held by any Project Lender in connection with a Project Financing, in each case, (x) subject to clause (b) below and (y) in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) The Required Noteholders agree that they will, and the Collateral Agent expressly agrees that it will (and each Secured Party hereby authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to), promptly upon request by the Company, negotiate in good faith the terms of an intercreditor agreement with the Project Lender with respect to the subordination matters described in clause (a) above and use commercially reasonable efforts to agree to the terms of an intercreditor agreement that is acceptable to the Project Lender (and each Secured Party agrees to acknowledge and accept such Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement to the extent requested by the Company or the Project Lender) and to consider in good faith any technical or other amendments to this Agreement, the Note or the other Finance Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Project Lender in connection with the consummation of the Project Financing. The Collateral Agent, the Noteholder and each other Secured Party further expressly acknowledges and agrees that in the event that the Project Lender, the Collateral Agent and the Required Noteholders are unable to reach agreement on the terms of an intercreditor arrangement that is acceptable to the Project Lender, the Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations and the Liens granted to, or held by, the Collateral Agent on the Applicable Project Collateral, shall in each case be automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably released. In furtherance of (but without limiting) the foregoing, if the Company determines in good faith that the Collateral Agent, the Initial Noteholder and the Project Lender have not reached agreement on the terms of an intercreditor arrangement that is acceptable to the Project Lender and that continued negotiation of such intercreditor arrangement could reasonably be expected to delay or impede the ability of the U.S. Project Finance Group to obtain the applicable Project Financing, the Company may deliver written notice of such determination to the Collateral Agent and the Required Noteholders and unless a Project Financing Intercreditor Agreement is agreed between the Collateral Agent, the Required Noteholders and the Project Lender within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice, the Applicable Note Guaranty Obligations and the Liens granted to, or held by, the Collateral Agent (or any other Secured Party) on the Applicable Project Collateral, shall in each case be automatically, unconditionally, immediately and irrevocably released on such fifth (5th) Business Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Note or any other Finance Document, upon the occurrence of such release and for so long as the applicable Project Financing is outstanding (x) each member of the U.S. Project Finance Group will be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary and (y) any asset belonging to any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group and any equity interests held from time to time by any other Subsidiary in any member of the U.S. Project Finance Group will be deemed to be Excluded Assets, in each case, for all purposes of the Transaction Documents.

 

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(c) In connection with any such subordination and/or release pursuant to this Section 12, the Collateral Agent (and, to the extent requested by the Company, any other Secured Party) shall (and is hereby authorized and instructed by each Noteholder to) promptly execute and deliver to the relevant Note Party, at such Note Party’s expense, all documents that such Note Party or the Project Lender shall reasonably request to evidence such subordination and/or release (as applicable); provided, that upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Company shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the Project Financing has been consummated in compliance with the terms of this Agreement. Any execution and delivery of any document pursuant to the preceding sentence of this Section 12(c) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent (other than as to the Collateral Agent’s authority to execute and deliver such documents).

(d) The Collateral Agent (and, to the extent requested by the Company, any other Secured Party) shall also take such additional steps, including filing an amendment to or termination of any UCC financing statement and/or any PPSA financing statement and/or returning to the Company any Project Loan Collateral in its possession, as may from time to time reasonably be requested by or on behalf of the Company or the Project Lender to evidence such subordination and/or release contemplated by this Section 12.

(e) Capitalized terms used in this Section 12 and not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to such term in the Note.

 

13.

INTERCREDITOR MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURED A&R NOTES.

On the First Modification Date, the Collateral Agent agrees (and the Secured Parties authorize and direct the Collateral Agent) to enter into a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement with the Existing GC Noteholder (as defined in the Note) to set forth the relative priorities, rights and remedies as between the Collateral Agent and Existing GC Noteholder in its capacity as holder of the First A&R Note. On the Second Modification Date, the Collateral Agent agrees (and the Secured Parties authorize and direct the Collateral Agent) to enter into a new, or join to the existing, Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement with the Existing GC Noteholder to set forth the relative priorities, rights and remedies as between the Collateral Agent and Existing GC Noteholder in its capacity as holder of the Secured A&R Notes.

 

14.

MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any conflict of law that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

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Each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Transaction Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF EITHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

(b) Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof. A party’s electronic signature (complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other Applicable Law) of this Agreement shall have the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by the party’s hand.

(c) Headings; Gender. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.

 

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(d) Severability; Maximum Payment Amounts. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (and without implication that the following is required or applicable), it is the intention of the parties that in no event shall amounts and value paid by the Company, or payable to or received by Purchaser or the Noteholders, under the Transaction Documents (including without limitation, any amounts that would be characterized as “interest” under Applicable Law) exceed amounts permitted under any Applicable Law. Accordingly, if any obligation to pay, payment made to Purchaser or the Noteholders, or collection by Purchaser or the Noteholders pursuant the Transaction Documents is finally judicially determined to be contrary to any such Applicable Law, such obligation to pay, payment or collection shall be deemed to have been made by mutual mistake of Purchaser or the Noteholders, as applicable, the Company and such amount shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by Applicable Law. Such adjustment shall be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing or refunding, at the option of Purchaser or the Noteholders, as applicable, the amount of interest or any other amounts which would constitute unlawful amounts required to be paid or actually paid (or deemed to be paid) to Purchaser or the Noteholders, as applicable, under the Transaction Documents. For greater certainty, to the extent that any interest, charges, fees, expenses or other amounts required to be paid to or received by Purchaser or the Noteholder, as applicable, under any of the Transaction Documents or related thereto are held to be within the meaning of “interest” or another applicable term to otherwise be violative of Applicable Law, such amounts shall be pro-rated over the period of time to which they relate.

(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between Purchaser, the Noteholders, the Company and their Affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf, including any transactions by Purchaser or the Noteholders with respect to Common Shares or the securities of the Company, and the other matters contained herein and therein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties solely with respect to the matters covered herein and therein. Except as expressly set forth herein or therein, neither the Company, the Purchaser nor the Noteholders makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. For clarification purposes, the Recitals are part of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Required Noteholders party hereto; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 11, Section 12(c) and Section 12(d) may be amended by a writing signed by the Company and the Collateral Agent (and no other consent shall be necessary). No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

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(f) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt by the recipient, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt by the recipient, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

 

  (i)

If to the Company:

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

Attention: Ajay Kochhar

Email: ajay.kochhar@li-cycle.com

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street

New York NY 10007

Attention: Andrea M. Basham, Allison R. Liff

Email: Andrea.Basham@Freshfields.com

 Allison.Liff@Freshfields.com

and

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

66 Wellington St W

Suite 5300

Toronto, ON M5K 1E6

Attention: Jonathan Grant, Fraser Bourne

Email: jgrant@mccarthy.ca, fbourne@mccarthy.ca

 

  (ii)

If to the Purchaser:

Glencore Canada Corporation

100 King Street West, Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Attention: Legal Department

E-Mail: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

 

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

Attention: David Avery Gee, Heather Emmel, Nitin Konchady, Justin Lee

 

  Email:

David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

Heather.Emmel@weil.com

Nitin.Konchady@weil.com

Justin.D.Lee@weil.com

and

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attn: General Counsel

 

  Email:

general.counsel@glencore.com

and

Glencore Ltd.

330 Madison Ave.

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Legal Department

E-Mail: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

 

  (iii)

If to the Collateral Agent:

Glencore Canada Corporation

100 King Street West, Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

Attention: Legal Department

E-Mail: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

Attention: David Avery Gee, Heather Emmel, Nitin Konchady, Justin Lee

Email: David.Avery-Gee@weil.com

Heather.Emmel@weil.com

Nitin.Konchady@weil.com

Justin.D.Lee@weil.com

 

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and

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH – 6340 Baar

Switzerland

Attn: General Counsel

Email: general.counsel@glencore.com

and

Glencore Ltd.

330 Madison Ave.

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Legal Department

E-Mail: legalnotices@glencore-us.com

or to such other address or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time and date or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

(g) INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS. REFERENCE IS MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. EACH NOTEHOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL BE BOUND BY AND WILL TAKE NO ACTION CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZES AND INSTRUCTS THE COLLATERAL AGENT TO ENTER INTO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AS “FIRST LIEN REPRESENTATIVE” (OR EQUIVALENT) AND ON BEHALF OF SUCH NOTEHOLDER. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CLAUSE (G) ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUMMARIZE ALL RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. REFERENCE MUST BE MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT ITSELF TO UNDERSTAND ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF. EACH NOTEHOLDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ITS OWN ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS THEREOF, AND NEITHER THE COLLATERAL AGENT NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION TO ANY NOTEHOLDER AS TO THE SUFFICIENCY OR ADVISABILITY OF THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN SUCH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS ARE INTENDED AS AN INDUCEMENT TO THE NOTEHOLDER AND/OR HOLDER OF ANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBJECT TO ANY INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT TO EXTEND CREDIT THEREUNDER AND SUCH NOTEHOLDERS AND/OR HOLDERS OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH PROVISIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT.

 

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(h) Conflicts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Transaction Document, the terms of this Agreement shall govern and control; provided, that in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between any Intercreditor Agreement and any Transaction Document, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

(i) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Purchaser, including by way of a Change of Control Transaction (as defined in the Note) (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Change of Control Transactions set forth in the Note). No Noteholder shall assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder other than as permitted by Section 5(d) and Section 14 of the Note. The Collateral Agent shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder other than as permitted by Section 9(i).

(j) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

(k) Survival. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants shall survive the Closing.

(l) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(m) Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. No specific representation or warranty shall limit the generality or applicability of a more general representation or warranty. Each and every reference to share prices, Common Shares and any other numbers in this Agreement that relate to the Common Shares shall be automatically adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions that occur with respect to the Common Shares after March 11, 2024. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty against, or a prohibition of, any actions with respect to the borrowing of, arrangement to borrow, identification of the availability of, and/or securing of, securities of the Company in order for Purchaser or any Noteholder (or their respective brokers or other financial representatives) to effect short sales or similar transactions in the future. Each capitalized term used in Sections 9 through 13 (inclusive) of this Agreement and not defined herein has the meaning given to such term in the Note.

 

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(n) Remedies. Each party hereto shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which it has have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which it has under any Applicable Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, each party hereto recognizes that in the event that it fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its obligations under any Transaction Document to which it is a party, any remedy at law would be inadequate relief to the other party hereto. Each party hereto therefore agrees that the other party hereto shall be entitled to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The remedies provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief).

(o) Currency; Payments.

(i) Currency. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”).

(ii) Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in U.S. Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of the Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

(p) Effect of Amendment and Restatement. This Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement amends, restates and supersedes in its entirety the Existing Note Purchase Agreement, and from and after the date hereof, the Existing Note Purchase Agreement shall be of no further force and effect.

 

15.

CANADIAN WITHHOLDING TAX INDEMNITY.

(a) Each Noteholder that is a non-resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act (each, a “Tax Indemnitor”) agrees to severally indemnify and hold harmless the Note Parties and their respective directors (each, a “Tax Indemnitee”), from and against any Taxes that are payable and required under Applicable Laws to be deducted or withheld or remitted in respect of any payment made (or deemed under the Tax Act to be made) by or on account of any obligation of any Note Party under any Note Document (including the transfer or delivery of shares or Redemption Warrants in connection with a Conversion or Redemption of any of the Covered Notes) to the Tax Indemnitor. Each Tax Indemnitor hereby authorizes each Note Party to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Tax Indemnitor under any Note Document (or otherwise) against any amount due to such Note Party by such Tax Indemnitor under this Section 15. The rights in this Section 15 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

46


Any payments made by a Tax Indemnitor under this Section 15 shall be made on or before the day that is 2 Business Days prior to the date such amount is required to be remitted by the applicable Tax Indemnitee to the relevant governmental authority in immediately available Canadian dollars and free and clear from any withholdings or deductions, except for any such withholdings or deductions as may be required by Applicable Law and where such withholdings or deductions are required, the Tax Indemnitor shall pay additional amounts under this Section 15 so that the net amount received by the Tax Indemnitee (after such withholdings and deductions but excluding any withholdings and deductions of Excluded (2) Taxes) shall be not less than it would have been absent any such withholdings or deductions.

(b) For greater certainty, the provisions of this Section 15 shall apply to the Covered Notes and shall apply to the Noteholders (in the case of the Notes) and each holder of each other Covered Note, in each case, from time to time.

(c) Should the Tax Indemnitor not pay the required amounts to the Company at the time of a proposed Conversion or Redemption of any of the Covered Notes, the Company will have the right to defer the relevant proposed Conversion or Redemption pending the cure of the default by the Tax Indemnitor. For greater certainty, upon the payment by the Tax Indemnitor of any amounts payable under this Section 15 with respect to a Conversion or Redemption of the Covered Notes, the Company shall transfer the full amount of shares (or Redemption Warrants, as applicable), without withholding or deduction, to such Tax Indemnitor.

(d) Should there be a material breach of this Section 15 by the Tax Indemnitor then interest will cease to accrue on the relevant Covered Notes to which the default relates and the Company will have no obligation in respect thereof (it being agreed that following the cure of any such default by the Tax Indemnitor, interest will once again begin to accrue).

(e) Cooperation 1. The Note Parties will cooperate on a commercially reasonable basis with the Tax Indemnitor to: (1) prepare and provide to the Tax Indemnitor for its review, a draft of the calculation of the amount of Taxes that are payable in accordance with this Section 15; and (2) to take into account any forms, certificates, or documents provided to the Note Parties by a Tax Indemnitor in order to determine any withholding or other relevant tax matters, to avoid or to reduce any such withholding or deduction for any tax pursuant to the provisions of Applicable Law or of an applicable income tax treaty. The Note Parties will timely provide the Tax Indemnitor with a receipt or other written evidence of funds remitted pursuant to this Section 15 to the applicable governmental authority.

(f) Cooperation 2. The Note Parties will cooperate on a commercially reasonable basis with the Tax Indemnitor to: (1) facilitate the remittance of funds paid by the Tax Indemnitor pursuant to this Section 15 to the relevant governmental authority; (2) to minimize the time that the Note Parties hold funds paid by the Tax Indemnitor (pursuant to this Section 15) prior to the remittance thereof to the relevant governmental authority; (3) to hold funds paid by the Tax Indemnitor (pursuant to this Section 15) in a dedicated escrow bank account (which shall not be commingled with other assets) prior to the remittance thereof to the relevant governmental authority.

 

47


(g) Cooperation 3. The Note Parties will cooperate on a commercially reasonable basis with the Tax Indemnitor to minimize the amounts payable by it under this Section 15, by applying the cash component of any payment (or deemed payment) by a Note Party in respect of the Covered Notes to the amounts due pursuant to this Section 15. The Note Parties will timely remit any such withheld amounts to the relevant governmental authority.

(h) In the event that a claim for indemnification is made under this Section 15, the Company and the Purchaser Parties acknowledge and agree that they have entered into the Tax Indemnity Side Letter to confirm their mutual understanding with respect to certain interpretative matters relating to this Section 15.

(i) For purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Canadian Tax Indemnity” refers to the rights and obligations set forth in this Section 15.

“Conversion” means (i) in the case of the Note, a conversion of the Note (or any part thereof) pursuant to Section 5 of the Note; and (ii) in the case of an A&R Note, a conversion of such A&R Note (or any part thereof) pursuant to Section 4 of such A&R Note.

“Covered Notes” means the Notes and the A&R Notes.

“Excluded (2) Taxes” means (a) any Taxes imposed on (or measured by) the recipient’s net income or overall gross income, franchise Taxes and capital Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office located in the taxing jurisdiction and (b) any branch profits Taxes or any similar Tax imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (a).

“Redemption” means (i) in the case of the Note, an Optional Redemption or an ECF Mandatory Redemption, as applicable, pursuant to Section 6 of the Note; and (ii) in the case of an A&R Note, an Optional Redemption or an ECF Mandatory Redemption, as applicable, pursuant to Section 5 of such A&R Note.

“Tax Indemnity Side Letter” means the side letter entered into by and among Glencore Canada Corporation, Glencore Intermediate and Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. in respect of the Canadian withholding tax indemnity dated on or about the date of this Agreement.

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any governmental authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

[signature page follows]

 

48


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

 

PURCHASER:
GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

  Name: Adam Luckie
  Title: Authorised Signatory
GLENCORE INTERMEDIATE:
GLENCORE LTD.
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

  Name: Adam Luckie
  Title: Authorised Signatory
COLLATERAL AGENT:
GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

  Name: Adam Luckie
  Title: Authorised Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT]


COMPANY:
LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

  Name: Ajay Kochhar
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT]


Exhibit A

Form of Note

See attached.


Exhibit B

Form of Registration Rights Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit C

Forms of A&R Notes

See attached.


Exhibit D

Form of Side Letter

See attached.


Exhibit E

Allocation Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit F

Form of Note Guaranty

See attached.


Exhibit G -1

Form of U.S. Security Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit G -2

Form of U.S. Pledge Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit G -3

Form of Canadian Security Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit G-4

Form of Canadian Pledge Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit G-5

Form of Perfection Certificate (Canada)

See attached.


Exhibit H

Company Disclosure Schedule

See attached.


EXHIBIT I

Form of Noteholder Joinder Agreement

EX-10.9 15 d797686dex109.htm EX-10.9 EX-10.9

Exhibit 10.9

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

207 Queens Quay West, Suite 590

Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7

March 25, 2024

Glencore Canada Corporation

100 King Street West, Suite 6900

Toronto, ON, M5X 1E3

 

  Re:

Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement – Canadian Withholding Tax Indemnity

Dear Mesdames/Sirs:

Reference is made to Section 15 (Canadian Withholding Tax Indemnity) of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Purchase Agreement”) between Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (the “Company”), Glencore Ltd. (“Glencore Intermediate”) and Glencore Canada Corporation (the “Purchaser”). The Company, Glencore Intermediate and the Purchaser wish to confirm their mutual understanding with respect to certain interpretative matters relating to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, Glencore Intermediate and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

 

  1.

Interpretation. Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement, and, when used herein:

“Indemnified Withholding Taxes” means any Taxes that are required under Applicable Law to be deducted or withheld and remitted in respect of any payment made (or deemed under the Tax Act to be made) by or on account of any obligation of any Note Party under any Note Document (including the transfer or delivery of Common Shares or Redemption Warrants in connection with a Conversion or Redemption of any of the Covered Notes) to the Tax Indemnitor.

 

  2.

Tax Indemnification Notice. At least 5 days prior to the date on which any Indemnified Withholding Tax is required to be remitted to the applicable governmental authority, the Company shall deliver to the Tax Indemnitor a notice (a “Tax Indemnification Notice”) stating the fact that such amounts will be payable and describing in reasonable detail (to the extent such information is reasonably available) calculations of the amount payable and the manner in which such computations were made, including the rate of withholding applied to determine such amount payable; provided that the failure to deliver a Tax Indemnification Notice within such 5-day will not relieve the Tax Indemnitor of any obligation to indemnify each Tax Indemnitee under Section 15 of the Purchase


  Agreement. In determining the amount of any Indemnified Withholding Tax, the Company shall take into account, in good faith, any reduction or exemption to which the Tax Indemnitor is entitled and the Tax Indemnitor agrees to furnish to the Company (or such other appropriate party, including, without limitation, any Tax Indemnitee) from time to time at Tax Indemnitor’s sole expense, such duly executed and properly completed forms as may be necessary or appropriate in order to claim any reduction of, or exemption from, any Indemnified Withholding Tax.

 

  3.

Disputes. The Tax Indemnitor shall have a period of 5 days following receipt of a Tax Indemnification Notice to review and dispute such Tax Indemnification Notice. If the Tax Indemnitor delivers a notice of a dispute (a “Dispute Notice”) to each of the applicable Tax Indemnitee and the Company via electronic mail prior to the end of such 5-day period, the applicable Tax Indemnitee and the Tax Indemnitor shall cooperate, each acting reasonably and in good faith, to resolve such dispute. If the Tax Indemnitor does not deliver the Dispute Notice within such 5-day period or if the Tax Indemnitor and the applicable Tax Indemnitee are unable to resolve the dispute prior to the day that is 2 Business Days (as defined in the applicable Covered Note) immediately before the Indemnified Withholding Tax is due to be remitted to the applicable relevant governmental authority, the Tax Indemnification Notice shall become final, binding, conclusive and determinative upon the Tax Indemnitor and the applicable Tax Indemnitee for purposes of the Tax Indemnitor’s indemnification obligation under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement as between the Tax Indemnitor and the Tax Indemnitee.

 

  4.

Cooperation. Each Tax Indemnitor and Tax Indemnitee agrees to cooperate on a commercially reasonable basis with each other (at no cost charged by either party to the other) and shall furnish or cause to be furnished to each other, upon written request, as promptly as practicable, such information, documents and assistance relating to such Tax Indemnitor and Tax Indemnitee as is reasonably requested in connection with any audit, litigation or other proceeding with the applicable governmental authority with respect to Indemnified Withholding Taxes paid by such Tax Indemnitor pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement (a “Tax Contest”), and shall retain, or shall cause to be retained, for the appropriate period, any records or information that may be relevant to any such Tax Contest. If a written claim is received by a Tax Indemnitee or if any proceeding is, to the knowledge of the applicable Tax Indemnitee, commenced against such Tax Indemnitee (including a written notice of such proceeding) for any Taxes with respect to which the Tax Indemnitor may be liable for payment or indemnity hereunder, such Tax Indemnitee shall promptly (and in any event within 15 days) after receipt of such written claim or after becoming aware of the commencement of such proceeding notify such Tax Indemnitor in writing and, except as required by Applicable Law, shall not pay such claims or take any action with respect to such claim, proceeding, or Tax without the consent of the Tax Indemnitor for 30 days after the receipt of such notice by the Tax Indemnitor; provided that the failure to so deliver such notice will not relieve the Tax Indemnitor of any obligation to indemnify each Tax Indemnitee under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement. If, within 30 days of


  receipt of such notice from such Tax Indemnitee (or such shorter period as such Tax Indemnitee has notified the Tax Indemnitor that it is required by Applicable Law for such Tax Indemnitee to commence such contest), the Tax Indemnitor requests in writing that such Tax Indemnitee contest the imposition of such Tax, such Tax Indemnitee shall, at the expense of the Tax Indemnitor on an as incurred basis, in good faith, contest such Tax (including, without limitation, by pursuit of appeals), and shall not settle such Tax Contest without the Tax Indemnitor’s consent. If such contestation shall require the payment of the Tax before the contestation or the payment of such Tax is not stayed by such contestation, the Tax Indemnitor shall pay or reimburse such Tax Indemnitee for such Taxes, and all such amounts shall be paid free and clear from any withholdings or deductions, except for any such withholdings or deductions as may be required by Applicable Law and where such withholdings or deductions are required, the Tax Indemnitor shall pay additional amounts under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement so that the net amount received by the Tax Indemnitee (after such withholdings and deductions but excluding any withholdings and deductions of Excluded (2) Taxes) shall be not less than it would have been absent any such withholdings or deductions.

 

  5.

Payments. Any payments required to be made by a Tax Indemnitor under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement shall be made on or before the day that is 2 Business Days (as defined in the applicable Covered Note) prior to the date such amount is required to be remitted to the relevant governmental authority in immediately available Canadian dollars and free and clear from any withholdings or deductions, except for any such withholdings or deductions as may be required by Applicable Law and where such withholdings or deductions are required, the Tax Indemnitor shall pay additional amounts under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement so that the net amount received by the Tax Indemnitee (after such withholdings and deductions but excluding any withholdings and deductions of Excluded (2) Taxes) shall be not less than it would have been absent any such withholdings or deductions. The Tax Indemnitor and Tax Indemnitee shall cooperate on a commercially reasonable basis to (a) facilitate the remittance of funds paid by the Tax Indemnitor pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement to the relevant governmental authority; (b) to minimize the time that the funds paid by the Tax Indemnitor (pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement) are held by the Tax Indemnitee prior to the remittance thereof to the relevant governmental authority; and (c) hold funds paid by the Tax Indemnitor (pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement) in a dedicated bank account (which shall not be commingled with other assets) prior to the remittance thereof to the relevant governmental authority. The Note Parties will cooperate on a commercially reasonable basis with the Tax Indemnitor to minimize the amounts payable by it under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement by applying the cash component of any payment (or deemed payment) by a Note Party in respect of the Covered Notes to the amounts due pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement and each Tax Indemnitor hereby authorizes each Note Party to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Tax Indemnitor under any Note Document (or otherwise) against any amount due to such Note Party by such Tax Indemnitor under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement.


  6.

Remittance/receipts. The applicable Tax Indemnitee shall timely remit all amounts paid by the Tax Indemnitor pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with Applicable Law. The applicable Tax Indemnitee will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain Tax receipts from the relevant governmental authority evidencing the payment of any amounts so remitted. The applicable Tax Indemnitee shall furnish to the Tax Indemnitor, within a reasonable time after the date the remittance is made, certified copies of such Tax receipts or other evidence of payment reasonably satisfactory to the Tax Indemnitor.

 

  7.

Refunds. If a Tax Indemnitee receives a refund or credit from a governmental authority with respect to an amount previously paid by the Tax Indemnitor pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement by reason of any amount with respect to which the Tax Indemnitor has indemnified such Tax Indemnitee pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement (a “Tax Saving”), and such Tax Saving was not taken into account in determining the amount payable by the Tax Indemnitor on account of such indemnity, such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to the Tax Indemnitor, promptly after (but no later than 15 days after) such Tax Indemnitee actually realizes such Tax Saving, the amount of such Tax Saving net of all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, Taxes) relating thereto, together with the amount of any Tax Saving resulting from any payment pursuant to this sentence; except that (i) the Tax Indemnitor shall not be entitled to receive an amount in excess of all amounts previously paid by the Tax Indemnitor pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement to such Tax Indemnitee or to the relevant governmental authority on behalf of such Tax Indemnitee (less the aggregate amount of all prior payments by such Tax Indemnitee to the Tax Indemnitor under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement), and (ii) any amount otherwise due to the Tax Indemnitor pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement) shall not be paid to the extent of any payment or indemnity then due and owing from the Tax Indemnitor to such Tax Indemnitee pursuant to the applicable Covered Note. If it is later determined that the Tax Indemnitee was not entitled to such Tax Savings, the portion of such Tax Savings that is re-paid, recaptured, or disallowed will be treated as Taxes for which the Tax Indemnitor must indemnify the Tax Indemnitee pursuant to Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

  8.

Deferral of Conversion or Redemption. In addition to, but without limiting, Section 15 (c) of the Purchase Agreement, the Company will have the right to defer the settlement of any relevant proposed Conversion or Redemption of a Covered Note until the Tax Indemnitor has fully satisfied its obligations under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement with respect to such Covered Note. For greater certainty, upon the payment by the Tax Indemnitor of any amounts payable under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement with respect to a Conversion or Redemption of a Covered Note, the Company shall transfer the full amount of Common Shares (or Redemption Warrants, as applicable), without withholding or deduction, to such Tax Indemnitor.


  9.

Conflicts. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this letter agreement and the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, the provisions of the Purchase Agreement shall govern and control. Notwithstanding any other provision of this letter agreement, in no event shall the Tax Indemnitor be entitled to refuse to fulfill any of the Tax Indemnitor’s obligations under Section 15 of the Purchase Agreement on the basis of any term of this letter agreement.

 

  10.

Confirmation. The Purchase Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 15 thereof, remains in full force and effect.

 

  11.

Incorporation of Terms. The following provisions from the Purchase Agreement shall be apply to this letter agreement, mutatis mutandis, as if set forth herein: Section 14(a) (Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial), Section 14(b) (Counterparts; Electronic Signatures); Section 14(f) (Notices); and the first sentence of Section 14(i) (Successors and Assigns).

[Signature page follows.]


Please evidence your agreement with the foregoing by executing this letter and returning to the undersigned.

 

LI-CYCLE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Ajay Kochhar

Name: Ajay Kochhar
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Side Letter]


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED
This 25th day of March, 2024:
GLENCORE CANADA CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

Name: Adam Luckie
Title: Authorized Signatory
GLENCORE LTD.
By:  

/s/ Adam Luckie

Name: Adam Luckie
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Side Letter]

EX-99.1 16 d797686dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Li-Cycle Closes $75 Million Strategic Investment from Glencore

TORONTO, Canada (March 25, 2024) – Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LICY) (“Li-Cycle” or the “Company”), a leading global lithium-ion battery resource recovery company, is pleased to announce that an affiliate of Glencore plc (LON: GLEN) (“Glencore”), a leading producer, recycler, and marketer of nickel and cobalt for the production of lithium-ion batteries, has completed its previously announced $75 million investment in Li-Cycle through the purchase of a senior secured convertible note (the “Note”).

Ajay Kochhar, Li-Cycle co-founder and CEO, commented: “We are pleased to close the $75 million investment from Glencore, which enhances our liquidity position and is a key interim step in our funding strategy. As we continue our comprehensive review process, we look forward to expanding our existing long-term, strategic partnership with Glencore and are excited about the future opportunities for Li-Cycle. We remain focused on our key priorities of driving down costs through our cash preservation plan, reviewing our go-forward strategy for the paused Rochester Hub, and evaluating additional financing and strategic alternatives. We also continue to work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy on a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $375 million.”

Glencore completed its investment by purchasing the Note in the aggregate principal amount of $75 million. The Note has a five-year term and is convertible into common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) at an initial conversion price of $0.53 per Common Share. Li-Cycle will be entitled, at its election, to pay interest on the Note in cash or in-kind (“PIK”). Cash interest payments will be based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 5.0% per year, and PIK payments will be based on SOFR plus 6.0% per year.

Li-Cycle and Glencore have also agreed to amend and restate the terms of the existing Glencore convertible note issued by Li-Cycle to an affiliate of Glencore on May 31, 2022, along with the outstanding PIK notes issued in connection with the existing Glencore convertible note, (collectively, the “Existing Glencore Notes”), in two tranches, each of which will include new terms that come into effect upon the occurrence of future events. The aggregate amount outstanding under the Existing Glencore Notes is currently approximately $225 million. For more information, refer to our press release and Form 8-K dated March 12, 2024.

About Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Li-Cycle (NYSE: LICY) is a leading global lithium-ion battery resource recovery company. Established in 2016, and with major customers and partners around the world, Li-Cycle’s mission is to recover critical battery-grade materials to create a domestic closed-loop battery supply chain for a clean energy future. The Company leverages its innovative, sustainable and patent-protected Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to recycle all different types of lithium-ion batteries. At our Spokes, or pre-processing facilities, we recycle battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life batteries to produce black mass, a powder-like substance which contains a number of valuable metals, including lithium, nickel and cobalt. At our future Hubs, or post-processing facilities, we plan to process black mass to produce critical battery-grade materials, including lithium carbonate, for the lithium-ion battery supply chain. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/.

 

1


LOGO

Contacts

Investor Relations

Nahla A. Azmy

Sheldon D’souza

investors@li-cycle.com

Media

Louie Diaz

media@li-cycle.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “believe”, “may”, “will”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “plan”, “potential”, “future”, “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements about: the potential expansion of Li-Cycle’s existing partnership with Glencore; the future opportunities for Li-Cycle; the expectations regarding driving down costs, reviewing the go-forward strategy for the Rochester Hub, and evaluating additional financing and strategic alternatives; and the expectations regarding the conditional comment for a loan of up to $375 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, including but not limited to assumptions regarding the timing, scope and cost of Li-Cycle’s projects, including paused projects; the processing capacity and production of Li-Cycle’s facilities; Li-Cycle’s expectations regarding near-term significant workforce reductions and the ability to right-size and right-shape the organization; Li-Cycle’s ability to source feedstock and manage supply chain risk; Li-Cycle’s ability to increase recycling capacity and efficiency; Li-Cycle’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or execute any strategic transactions; Li-Cycle’s ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and other business partners; the success of the cash preservation plan, the outcome of the review of the go-forward strategy of the Rochester Hub; Li-Cycle’s ability to attract new suppliers or expand its supply pipeline from existing suppliers; general economic conditions; currency exchange and interest rates; compensation costs; and inflation. There can be no assurance that such estimates or assumptions will prove to be correct and, as a result, actual results or events may differ materially from expectations expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding certain key elements of Li-Cycle’s current objectives, goals, targets, strategic priorities, expectations and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of Li-Cycle’s business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes and is not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability.

 

2


LOGO

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Li-Cycle, and are not guarantees of future performance. Li-Cycle believes that these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: Li-Cycle’s inability to economically and efficiently source, recover and recycle lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap, as well as third party black mass, and to meet the market demand for an environmentally sound, closed-loop solution for manufacturing waste and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries; Li-Cycle’s inability to successfully implement its global growth strategy, on a timely basis or at all; Li-Cycle’s inability to manage future global growth effectively; Li-Cycle’s inability to develop the Rochester Hub as anticipated or at all, and other future projects including its Spoke network expansion projects in a timely manner or on budget or that those projects will not meet expectations with respect to their productivity or the specifications of their end products; Li-Cycle’s history of losses and expected significant expenses for the foreseeable future as well as additional funds required to meet Li-Cycle’s liquidity needs and capital requirements in the future not being available to Li-Cycle on acceptable terms or at all when it needs them; risk and uncertainties related to Li-Cycle’s ability to continue as a going concern; uncertainty related to the success of Li-Cycle’s cash preservation plan and related past and expected near-term further significant workforce reductions; Li-Cycle’s inability to attract, train and retain top talent who possess specialized knowledge and technical skills; Li-Cycle’s failure to oversee and supervise strategic review of all or any of Li-Cycle’s operations and capital project and obtain financing and other strategic alternatives; Li-Cycle’s ability to service its debt and the restrictive nature of the terms of its debt; Li-Cycle’s potential engagement in strategic transactions, including acquisitions, that could disrupt its business, cause dilution to its shareholders, reduce its financial resources, result in incurrence of debt, or prove not to be successful; one or more of Li-Cycle’s current or future facilities becoming inoperative, capacity constrained or disrupted, or lacking sufficient feed streams to remain in operation; the potential impact of the pause in construction of the Rochester Hub on the authorizations and permits granted to Li-Cycle for the operation of the Rochester Hub and the Spokes on pause; the risk that the New York state and municipal authorities determine that the permits granted to Li-Cycle for the production of metal sulphates at the Rochester Hub will be impacted by the change to MHP and the reduction in scope for the project; Li-Cycle’s failure to materially increase recycling capacity and efficiency; Li-Cycle expects to continue to incur significant expenses and may not achieve or sustain profitability; problems with the handling of lithium-ion battery cells that result in less usage of lithium-ion batteries or affect Li-Cycle’s operations; Li-Cycle’s inability to maintain and increase feedstock supply commitments as well as secure new customers and off-take agreements; a decline in the adoption rate of EVs, or a decline in the support by governments for “green” energy technologies; decreases in benchmark prices for the metals contained in Li-Cycle’s products; changes in the volume or composition of feedstock materials processed at Li-Cycle’s facilities; the development of an alternative chemical make-up of lithium-ion batteries or battery alternatives; Li-Cycle’s expected revenues for the Rochester Hub are expected to be derived significantly from a limited number of customers; uncertainty regarding the sublease agreement with Pike Conductor Dev 1, LLC related to the construction, financing and leasing of a warehouse and administrative building for the Rochester Hub; Li-Cycle’s insurance may not cover all liabilities and damages; Li-Cycle’s heavy reliance on the experience and expertise of its management; Li-Cycle’s reliance on third-party consultants for its regulatory compliance; Li-Cycle’s inability to complete its recycling processes as quickly as customers may require; Li-Cycle’s inability to compete successfully; increases in income tax rates, changes in income tax laws or disagreements with tax authorities; significant variance in Li-Cycle’s operating and financial results from period to period due to fluctuations in its operating costs and other factors; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates which could result in declines in reported sales and net earnings; unfavorable economic conditions, such as consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic; natural disasters, unusually adverse weather, epidemic or pandemic outbreaks, cyber incidents, boycotts and geo-political events; failure to protect or enforce Li-Cycle’s intellectual property; Li-Cycle may be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties; Li-Cycle may be subject to cybersecurity attacks, including, but not limited to, ransomware; Li-Cycle’s failure to effectively remediate the material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting that it has identified or its failure to develop and maintain a proper and effective internal control over financial reporting; the potential for Li-Cycle’s directors and officers who hold Company common shares to have interests that may differ from, or be in conflict with, the interests of other shareholders; and risks related to adoption of Li-Cycle’s shareholder rights plan and amendment to the shareholder rights plan and the volatility of the price of Li-Cycle’s common shares.

 

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LOGO

These and other risks and uncertainties related to Li-Cycle’s business are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Key Factors Affecting Li-Cycle’s Performance” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ontario Securities Commission in Canada. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Li-Cycle assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Li-Cycle’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

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