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false 0001540684 0001540684 2024-03-28 2024-03-28 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

 

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 28, 2024

 

ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   001-41552   39-2078861

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

Rua Buenos Aires, 10 – 14th Floor

Sion, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 30.315-570

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(833) 661-7900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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 Stock, $0.001 par value   ATLX   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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.

 

Registered Offering

 

On March 28, 2024, Atlas Lithium Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), with an accredited investor (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue an aggregate of 1,871,250 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Registered Shares”) in a registered direct offering (the “Registered Offering”) at a purchase price of $16.0321 per share. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and indemnification rights and obligations of the Company and the Investor. The closing for the sale of Registered Shares is expected to occur on or about April 4, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions (the “Closing”).

 

The gross proceeds from the Registered Offering are expected to be approximately $30.0 million before deducting related offering expenses. The Company estimates that the net proceeds from the Registered Offering will be approximately $29.6 million, after deducting offering expenses of $0.4 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Registered Offering primarily for general corporate purposes, including the development and commercialization of our products, general and administrative expenses, and working capital and capital expenditures.

 

The Registered Shares are being offered pursuant to a prospectus supplement, and a base prospectus dated September 18, 2023, which is part of a registration statement (“Registration Statement”) on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-274223) that was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 18, 2023. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the Registered Shares will be available on EDGAR by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

At Closing, the Company and the Investor plan to enter into an investor rights agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Investor Rights Agreements”), pursuant to which, and in connection with the purchase of the Registered Shares, the Company will agree to provide the Investor, among other rights, (i) a pro-rata participation right in future offerings of common stock or equity securities by the Company, and (ii) certain information rights.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Purchase Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the agreements, which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein and into the Registration Statement by this reference. The legal opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, counsel to the Company, relating to the validity of the Registered Shares to be sold in the Registered Offering is filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein and into the Registration Statement by this reference.

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

Offtake Agreement

 

In connection with the Closing, our subsidiary Atlas Lítio Brasil Ltda. (hereinafter “Atlas Brazil”) and the Investor intend to enter into an Offtake and Sales Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Offtake Agreement”), pursuant to which Atlas Brazil will agree to sell and deliver to the Investor, and the Investor will agree to purchase and take delivery of, (i) the spot quantity of fifteen thousand (15,000) dry metric tons of Atlas Brazil’s product, and, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, (ii) up to sixty thousand (60,000) dry metric tons of Atlas Brazil’s product for each year, up to a total of three hundred thousand (300,000) dry metric tons.

 

 

 

The foregoing description of the terms of the Offtake Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Offtake Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein and into the Registration Statement by reference. Unless the context otherwise indicates, references to the “Company” are to Atlas Lithium Corporation and/or its subsidiaries.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On March 28, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the Registered Offering. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

This information and the information contained in Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and 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 in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as may be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing, regardless of any general incorporation language in the filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  Description
     
5.1   Opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
10.1   Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 28, 2024
10.2†   Form of Investor Rights Agreement
10.3†   Form of Offtake and Sales Agreement
23.1   Consent of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
99.1   Press Release dated March 28, 2024
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XRBL document)

 

† Certain portions of the exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish on a supplemental basis an unredacted copy of the exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analyses to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
     
Dated: April 1, 2024 By: /s/ Marc Fogassa
  Name: Marc Fogassa
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

EX-5.1 2 ex5-1.htm

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

702.382.2101 main

100 North City Parkway, Suite 1600
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106

 

April 1, 2024

 

Atlas Lithium Corporation

Rua Buenos Aires, 10-14th Floor

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil 30.315-570

 

To the addressee set forth above:

 

We have acted as local Nevada counsel to Atlas Lithium Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of 1,871,250 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2024 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Company and Mitsui & Co., Ltd, a corporation organized under the laws of Japan, as the purchaser, all as more fully described in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274223) (as amended through the date hereof, the “Registration Statement”), including the base prospectus dated September 18, 2023, contained therein (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated April 1, 2024 (the Base Prospectus, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus”), each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). This opinion letter is being furnished at your request in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

In our capacity as such counsel, we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares, as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. For purposes of this opinion letter, and except to the extent set forth in the opinions below, we have assumed that all such proceedings have been or will be timely completed in the manner presently proposed in the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

For purposes of issuing this opinion letter, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies of (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) the Purchase Agreement; (iii) the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company; and (iv) such agreements, instruments, resolutions of the board of directors of the Company and committees thereof and other corporate records and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of issuing this opinion letter, and we have obtained from officers and other representatives and agents of the Company and from public officials, and have relied upon, such certificates, representations, assurances and public filings, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate.

 

 
Atlas Lithium Corporation
April 1, 2024
Page 2

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in our examination, we have, with your permission, assumed without independent verification: (i) the statements of fact and all representations and warranties set forth in the documents we have reviewed are true and correct as to factual matters, in each case as of the date or dates of such documents and as of the date hereof; (ii) each natural person executing any of the documents we have reviewed has sufficient legal capacity to do so; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, the signatures on all documents that we have reviewed are genuine and all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, facsimile or electronic copies conform to the original document; (iv) all corporate records made available to us by the Company, and all public records we have reviewed, are accurate and complete; and (v) after the issuance of any Shares, the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, together with the total number of shares of Common Stock then reserved for issuance or obligated to be issued by the Company pursuant to any agreement or arrangement or otherwise, will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then authorized under the Company’s articles of incorporation.

 

We are qualified to practice law in the State of Nevada. The opinions set forth herein are expressly limited to and based exclusively on the general corporate laws of the State of Nevada, and we do not purport to be experts on, or to express any opinion with respect to the applicability or effect of, the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion concerning, and we assume no responsibility as to laws or judicial decisions related to, or any orders, consents or other authorizations or approvals as may be required by, any federal laws, rules or regulations, including, without limitation, any federal securities laws, rules or regulations, or any state securities or “blue sky” laws, rules or regulations.

 

Based upon the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and having regard to legal considerations and other information that we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. The Shares have been duly authorized by the Company.

 

2. If, when and to the extent any Shares are issued and sold in accordance with all applicable terms and conditions set forth in, and in the manner contemplated by, the Purchase Agreement (including payment in full of any and all consideration required for such Shares as prescribed thereunder), and as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The opinions expressed herein are also based upon the facts in existence on the date hereof. In delivering this opinion letter to you, we disclaim any obligation to update or supplement the opinions set forth herein or to apprise you of any changes in any laws or facts after the later of the date hereof and the filing date of the Prospectus Supplement. No opinion is offered or implied as to any matter, and no inference may be drawn, beyond the strict scope of the specific issues expressly addressed by the opinions set forth herein.

 

We hereby consent to the filing, and/or the incorporation by reference, of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and to the reference to our firm therein under the heading “Legal Matters”. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

 

 

EX-10.1 3 ex10-1.htm

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of March 28, 2024 between ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (NASDAQ: ATLX) (the “Company”), and MITSUI & CO., LTD., a corporation organized under the laws of Japan (the “Purchaser”). Each of the Company and Purchaser may be referred to herein as, individually, a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company certain shares of Common Stock as more fully described in this Agreement (the “Transaction”);

 

WHEREAS the Board of Directors has (i) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders of the Company that the Company enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in Section 1.1 herein) and consummate the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein, and (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser has approved its entry into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the Transaction, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

 

“AAA” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.8.

 

“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

“Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(t).

 

“Apollo Resources” means and Apollo Resources Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

 

 

 

“Atlas Brasil” means Atlas Lítio Brasil Ltda., a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil.

 

“Base Prospectus” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(w)(i).

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by Law to be closed in Boca Raton, Florida or Tokyo, Japan.

 

“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to Section 2.2.

 

“Closing Date” means the Trading Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchaser’s obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Shares, in each case, have been satisfied or waived.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, preferred stock, or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

“Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1(a)(i) (Organization and Qualification); Section 3.1(b) (Authorization; Enforcement); Section 3.1(c) (No Conflicts); Section 3.1(f)(i) (Capitalization); and Section 3.1(x) (Brokers).

 

“Company Properties” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(p)(i).

 

“DRS” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(a)(iv).

 

“Environmental Law” means any federal, national, state, county, municipal, provincial, local, foreign, supranational or multinational law, act, regulation, ordinance, code, statute currently in effect in Brazil relating to public or worker health and safety (to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials), the protection of the environment (including, without limitation, ambient or indoor air, surface water, groundwater, land, wildlife, vegetation and landscape) and environmental conservation units (whether full protection or sustainable use), the preservation areas of local or traditional communities of cultural or historic heritage, or pollution, including, without limitation, any such law relating to Hazardous Materials (and including, without limitation, any Laws relating to Hazardous Materials in lithium spodumene concentrate mined, manufactured or sold by the Company and Atlas Brasil and associated labeling or packaging content requirements or restrictions relating to environmental attributes or as respects product takeback or end-of life requirements).

 

2

 

“Environmental Permits” means authorizations, approvals, licenses, franchises, clearances, permits, certificates, required under Environmental Laws.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, in the United States.

 

“Government Official” means: (a) any director, officer, employee, or representative of any Governmental Authority; (b) any Person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Authority; or (c) any political party, party official, or candidate for political office.

 

“Governmental Authority” (a) any U.S. or foreign national, federal, state, provincial, county municipal, or local government entity, or other subdivision thereof; (b) any public international or multinational organization or authority; (c) any authority, agency, commission, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, police, tribal, taxing, or administrative functions, power or authority of or pertaining to government; or (d) any state-owned or controlled enterprise.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means any pollutant, contaminant, waste or chemical or any toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous substance or material, and any substance, waste, or material that is regulated by or for which standards of conduct or liability may be imposed pursuant to Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, petroleum and petroleum byproducts, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, asbestos, noise, radiation, toxic mold, odor and pesticides.

 

“Indemnitee” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.3(c).

 

“Indemnitor” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.3(c).

 

“Investor Rights Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(a)(i).

 

“Knowledge” of the Company, with respect to any matter in question, means the actual knowledge of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Geological Officer, Vice President of Business Development and the Vice President of Corporate Strategy, in each case, after due inquiry.

 

“Law” means any U.S. or foreign federal, state, local law, statute, code, constitution, treaty, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, writ, stipulation, award, injunction, decree or arbitration award or finding.

 

3

 

“Liens” means any lien, security interest, right of first refusal, deed of trust, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, restriction on transfer, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, hypothecation, assignment, claim, right of way, defect in title, encroachment, easement, restrictive covenant, charge, deposit arrangement or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any restriction on the voting interest of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security (except for those imposed by applicable securities Laws) or other asset or any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, effect, occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company and Atlas Brasil, taken as a whole, (ii) prevents or materially impairs or materially delays, or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or materially delay, the consummation of the Transaction, or (iii) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s or Atlas Brasil’s ability to develop the lithium project in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil or undertake the production of 270,000 metric tons per year or more of lithium spodumene concentrate by the Company and Atlas Brasil.

 

“Material Contract” means, with respect to the Company or Atlas Brasil (other than employee benefit plans), any “material contract” (as defined in Item 601(b)(10) of the Regulation S-K promulgated by the Commission) that was filed or is required to be filed with respect to the SEC Reports.

 

“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Capital Market and any successor stock exchange or inter- dealer quotation system operated by the Nasdaq Capital Market or any successor thereto.

 

“Neves Project” means the project of Atlas Brasil currently under development within the boundaries of the Mining Rights No. 832.925/2008, 833.331/2006 and 833.356/2007, or any similar rights that replaces or succeeds the above referenced mining rights and cover that same area that is currently represented by Mining Rights No. 832.925/2008, 833.331/2006 and 833.356/2007.

 

“Offtake Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(a)(ii).

 

“Per Share Purchase Price” equals $16.0321 per share.

 

“Permit” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(q)(ii).

 

“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens securing liabilities which are reflected or reserved against in the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company to the extent so reflected or reserved; (ii) statutory Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established on the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP; (iii) landlord’s, mechanic’s, materialmen’s, and other similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith if adequate reserves with respect thereto have been established on the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP; (iv) purchase money Liens and Liens securing rental payments under capital lease arrangements; (v) zoning, building codes and other land use Laws regulating the use or occupancy of real property or the activities conducted thereon which are imposed by any Governmental Authority, any violation of which would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (vi) easements, rights, covenants, conditions and restrictions of record that do not or would not materially impair the use or occupancy of the real property in the operation of the Company’s or Atlas Brasil’s businesses; and (vii) Liens in the form of security deposits or otherwise collateralized with letters of credit or similar instruments.

 

4

 

“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f)(i).

 

“Proceeding” means any civil, criminal or administrative action, claim, suit, arbitration or proceeding, including, without limitation, any appeal therefrom, including any formal investigation that is reasonably expected to result on an action or proceeding as enumerated above.

 

“Prospectus” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(w)(i).

 

“Purchaser Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2(a) (Organization; Authority); Section 3.2(f) (No Conflicts); and Section 3.2(h) (Brokers).

 

“Registration Statement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(w)(i).

 

“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(d).

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“Rules and Regulations” means the respective rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

“Sanctions” means U.S. Laws governing economic sanctions, including those administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control codified at 31 C.F.R. Part 500 et. seq., and the U.S. Department of State.

 

“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(g).

 

5

 

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

 

“Series A Preferred Stock” means the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Series D Preferred Stock” means the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include locating and/or borrowing shares of Common Stock).

 

“Stock Incentive Plan” means the Company’s 2023 Stock Incentive Plan as duly adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the Company’s issued and outstanding voting capital stock pursuant to which consultants, employees, officers or directors of the Company have been or may be granted from time to time shares of Common Stock, options and/or other securities of the Company exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock for services rendered to the Company.

 

“Subscription Amount” means, as to the Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for Shares purchased hereunder, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds. The Subscription Amount shall be equivalent to USD $30 million.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation of which a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees 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 or any partnership, association or other business entity of which a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof. For purposes of this definition, a Person is deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person is allocated a majority of the gains or losses of such partnership, association or other business entity or is or controls the managing director, managing member or general (or equivalent) partner of such partnership, association or other business entity.

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any taxes and similar assessments, fees, and other governmental charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, income, profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, ad valorem, value added, turnover, sales, use, property, personal property (tangible and intangible), stamp, excise, duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, payroll, employment, severance, and estimated tax, and any unclaimed property or escheat obligations, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Authority, whether disputed or not, and any secondary liabilities for any of the foregoing amounts payable as a transferee or successor, by assumption or by contract or by operation of law.

 

6

 

“Trade Compliance Laws” means (a) U.S. Laws governing the exportation of goods, technology, software, and services, including the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 730 et seq.); and (b) Sanctions.

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the Nasdaq Capital Market, the New York Stock Exchange or OTC (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Offtake Agreement and all exhibits and schedules thereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the Transaction.

 

“Transfer Agent” means VStock Transfer, LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, NY 11598, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

“U.S. Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.2(b).

 

ARTICLE II.

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1 Sale and Purchase. On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company, the Shares. At Closing, the Purchaser’s Subscription Amount shall be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.4(a)(iii) below, and the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser the Shares as determined pursuant to Section 2.4(a). The Company shall issue the Shares and cause the Shares to be delivered by the Transfer Agent to a designee of the Purchaser via DRS (as defined below).

 

2.2 Closing. The Closing shall occur virtually at the offices of the Company or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree on the Closing Date, which shall be no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted hereunder) of the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Section 2.4 and Section 2.5 (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver to the extent permitted hereunder of such conditions) or such other time and date as the parties mutually agree in writing.

 

2.3 Adjustments. If between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a different class by reason of the occurrence of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including, without limitation, any dividend or other distribution of securities convertible into Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change, the Per Share Purchase Price, Subscription Amount and Shares to be delivered pursuant to this Article II shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including, without limitation, any dividend or other distribution of securities convertible into Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change.

 

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2.4 Deliveries.

 

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Purchaser the following:

 

(i) the Investor Rights Agreement duly executed by the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Investor Rights Agreement”);

 

(ii) the Offtake Agreement duly executed by Atlas Brasil in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Offtake Agreement”);

 

(iii) the Company’s wire instructions, on Company letterhead and executed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer;

 

(iv) a copy of the irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent instructing the Transfer Agent to deliver on an expedited basis via The Depository Trust Company Direct Registration System (“DRS”) a number of Shares equal to the Subscription Amount divided by the Per Share Purchase Price, registered in the name of the Purchaser;

 

(v) a certificate of the Company, validly executed for and on behalf of the Company and in its name by a duly authorized officer thereof, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 2.5(b) have been satisfied; and

 

(vi) a certificate executed by the Secretary of the Company, signing in such capacity (i) certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of the resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the Transaction), which authorization shall be in full force and effect on and as of the date of such certificate, and (ii) certifying and attesting to the office, incumbency, due authority and specimen signatures of each Person who executed this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents for or on behalf of the Company.

 

(b) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:

 

(i) the Investor Rights Agreement duly executed by the Purchaser;

 

(ii) the Offtake Agreement duly executed by the Purchaser;

 

(iii) the Subscription Amount, which shall be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company’s bank account set forth on the Company’s wire transfer instructions referenced in Section 2.4(a)(iii) above; and

 

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(iv) a certificate of the Purchaser, validly executed for and on behalf of the Purchaser and in its name by the authorized signatory of this Agreement, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 2.5(a) have been satisfied.

 

2.5 Closing Conditions.

 

(a) The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i) Other than the Purchaser Fundamental Representations, the Purchaser’s representations and warranties contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii) the Purchaser Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(iii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed;

 

(iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no Proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act, shall have been instituted or, to the Knowledge of the Company or the knowledge of the Purchaser, shall be contemplated by the Commission; and

 

(v) the delivery by the Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement.

 

(b) The respective obligations of the Purchaser hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i) other than the Company Fundamental Representations, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(i) the Company Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no Proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act, shall have been instituted or, to the Knowledge of the Company or the knowledge of the Purchaser, shall be contemplated by the Commission;

 

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(iii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Shares on Nasdaq prior to the Closing;

 

(iv) all filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of the Shares shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424;

 

(v) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed;

 

(vi) the Company shall have delivered the items set forth in Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement;

 

(vii) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof;

 

(viii) all Required Approvals shall have been obtained; and

 

(ix) from the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the Company’s principal Trading Market, and, at any time prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on any Trading Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities.

 

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Purchaser as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(a) Organization and Qualification.

 

(i) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. The Company is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ii) A true and complete list of the Company’s Subsidiaries is set forth on Schedule 3.1(a)(ii). Atlas Brasil is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Atlas Brasil is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Prior to the date hereof, the Purchaser has been provided with complete and correct copies of each of the Company’s and Atlas Brasil’s organizational documents, and each as so delivered is in full force and effect.

 

(b) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the Transaction, and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company, the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and the consummation by it of the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents have been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitute or, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable.

 

(c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract to which the Company is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any applicable Law or other restriction of any court or Governmental Authority to which the Company is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Filings, Consents and Approvals. Neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other Governmental Authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents, other than such filings as are required to be made under applicable federal and state securities Laws and in compliance with any applicable requirements of Nasdaq (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

(e) Issuance of the Shares. The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(f) Capitalization.

 

(i) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), one of which is designated as Series A Preferred Stock and 1,000,000 of which are designated as Series D Preferred Stock. As of the date of this Agreement: (A) 12,769,581 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding; (B) one share of Series A Preferred Stock was issued and outstanding; (C) no shares of Series D Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (D) up to 2,074,373 shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of the issued and outstanding Common Stock Equivalents, including those committed under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan, and (E) no shares of Common Stock were held by the Company as treasury shares. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has no shares of capital stock reserved for or otherwise subject to issuance, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options and/or the issuance of shares of Common Stock to qualified participants pursuant to the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan, or pursuant to agreements with certain advisors and consultants set forth on Schedule 3.1(f)(i) and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan and the agreements listed in Schedule 3.1(f)(i), there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Shares will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents, shares of Preferred Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchaser). There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company with any provision that adjusts the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of such security or instrument upon an issuance of securities by the Company. There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with applicable federal securities Laws in all material respects, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(f)(i), there are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party.

 

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(ii) Schedule 3.1(a)(ii) sets forth the percentage interest owned by the Company in each of its significant Subsidiaries (as defined under Regulation S-X of the Securities Act). The Company owns, directly or indirectly, the capital stock or equity interests of each of the Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 3.1(a)(ii) free and clear of any Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil has any arrangement, agreement or contract pursuant to which it is obligated to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person (other than the Company with respect to its Subsidiaries).

 

(g) SEC Reports. The Company has filed or furnished all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, and other applicable securities Laws, since January 10, 2023 (the foregoing materials, including, without limitation, the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has never been an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act. True, correct and complete copies of all SEC Reports have been publicly filed in the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval database of the Commission.

 

(h) No Rights Agreement. Except as contemplated under the agreements listed in Schedule 3.1(h), no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company.

 

(i) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the twelve (12) months preceding the date hereof, received written notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market.

 

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(j) Company Financial Statements.

 

(i) The consolidated financial statements (including, without limitation, any related notes and schedules) of the Company filed with the SEC Reports: (i) were prepared in accordance Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act and with GAAP (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or as otherwise permitted by Form 10-Q with respect to any financial statements filed on Form 10-Q); (ii) complied, as of their respective date of filing with the Commission in all material respects, with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto; and (iii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company on a consolidated basis as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end and audit adjustments). Except as have been described in the SEC Reports, there are no off-balance sheet arrangements of the type required to be disclosed pursuant to Instruction 8 to Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K.

 

(ii) Except as is not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of the Company’s status as a “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Exchange Act, at all times since October 20, 2023, the Company has established and maintained, “disclosure controls and procedures” and “internal control over financial reporting” (in each case as defined pursuant to Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act) that (i) are with respect to disclosure controls and procedures, reasonably designed to ensure that all material information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission and that all such material information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to the management of the Company to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to enable the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company to make the certifications required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (ii) with respect to internal control over financial reporting, sufficient in all material respects to provide reasonable assurance (A) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, (B) that transactions are executed only in accordance with the authorization of management and (C) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the properties or assets of the Company and Atlas Brasil, in each case, that could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

(iii) The Company has established and maintains a system of internal accounting controls that are effective in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Company nor the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of: (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal control over financial reporting used by the Company on a consolidated basis that has not been subsequently remediated; or (ii) any fraud that involves the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal control over financial reporting utilized by the Company on a consolidated basis. Since [October 20], 2023, neither the Company nor any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of the Company or Atlas Brasil has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion, or claim (or otherwise has been informed) that the Company has engaged in improper or illegal accounting or auditing practices or maintains improper or inadequate internal accounting controls.

 

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(k) Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company has no liabilities of a nature required to be reflected or reserved against on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP or notes thereto, other than liabilities: (a) reflected or otherwise reserved against in the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company (including, without limitation, the notes thereto) included in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, (b) arising pursuant to this Agreement or incurred in connection with the Transaction; or (c) incurred in the ordinary course of business; in each case that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(l) Material Contracts.

 

(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(l), neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil, is a party to any of the following contracts:

 

(1) any material joint venture, partnership or similar contract with respect to lithium exploration or mining or the development of a lithium project in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil in partnership with any Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(2) any offtake with respect to lithium exploration or mining or the development of a lithium project in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil;

 

(3) any contract containing any covenant (i) limiting the right of the Company or Atlas Brasil to engage in any line of business or any geographic area that is material to the Company and Atlas Brasil, including, without limitation, the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil or (ii) materially limiting the rights of the Company or Atlas Brasil pursuant to any “minimum requirement,” “most favored nation” or “exclusivity” provisions;

 

(4) any contract that is a settlement agreement imposing material future limitations on the operation of Company or Atlas Brasil or that includes the admission of wrongdoing by the Company or Atlas Brasil or any of their respective officers or directors;

 

(5) any material contract with any Governmental Authority; or

 

(6) any contract that relates to the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or properties (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise), for aggregate consideration under such contract in excess of $10 million other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

(ii) (A) each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Company or Atlas Brasil, as applicable, and to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except where the failure to be valid, binding or in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (B) the Company and Atlas Brasil, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, have performed all obligations required to be performed by it under each Material Contract, except where such nonperformance would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (C) neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil have received written notice of the existence of any breach or default on the part of the Company or Atlas Brasil under any Material Contract and (D) to the Knowledge of the Company, the counterparty under such Material Contract is not in breach or default thereof that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(m) Environmental Matters. Except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect: (a) the Company and Atlas Brasil are and, since January 1, 2021 (or earlier if unresolved), have been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining and renewing, as applicable, all Environmental Permits to develop and operate the lithium project in State of Minas Gerais, Brazil; (b) since January 1, 2021 (or earlier if unresolved), no notice of violation or other notice, report, order, directive or other information has been received by the Company or Atlas Brasil related to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) no Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or Atlas Brasil relating to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material; (d) neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil has transported, manufactured, distributed, handled, stored, treated, released, disposed or arranged for disposal of, or exposed any Person to, any Hazardous Materials, in a manner that has resulted in an investigation or required cleanup by, or otherwise resulted in the liability of, the Company or Atlas Brasil; (e) since the date the Company or Atlas Brasil, as applicable, became the owner or exclusive lessor of a certain property, no Hazardous Material has been discharged, disposed of, dumped, injected, pumped, deposited, spilled, leaked, emitted or released at, on, under, to, in or from (A) any property now owned or leased by or (B) any property to which any Hazardous Material has been transported for disposal, recycling or treatment by or on behalf of, in each case the Company or Atlas Brasil; and (f) neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil have assumed, provided an indemnity with respect to or otherwise become subject to the liability of any other Person under Environmental Laws.

 

(n) Employment Law. Except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and Atlas Brasil are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws with respect to employment and labor practices (including applicable Laws regarding wage and hour requirements, immigration status, discrimination in employment, employee health and safety, collective bargaining, terms and conditions of employment, classification of independent contractors and exempt and non-exempt employees, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity, plant closures and layoffs, employee trainings and notices, workers’ compensation, labor relations, employee leave issues, COVID-19, affirmative action and unemployment insurance).

 

(o) Litigation. Except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, there are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or involving the Company or Atlas Brasil, or affecting the business, including the development and operation of the Neves Project, properties or other assets of the Company or Atlas Brasil, or that could prevent, delay or materially adversely affect the consummation of the Transaction.

 

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(p) Interest in Properties.

 

(i) Each of the Company and Atlas Brasil, as the case may be, (i) is the sole legal and beneficial owner, and has valid and sufficient right, title and interest free and clear of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) to the mining rights (excepting the paramount title of the relevant Governmental Authority in any mining rights) to the interest in, or exploration for minerals on the Neves Project, as are necessary to perform the operations of the business of Atlas Brasil as presently owned and conducted or contemplated to be conducted on the Neves Project, which mining rights are in force, regular, in good standing and in compliance with applicable Laws, and have been validly applied for or acquired by Atlas Brasil; (ii) has valid and sufficient right, title and interest free and clear of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) to the surface rights that are necessary to perform the operations of the business of Atlas Brasil on the Neves Project as presently owned and conducted or contemplated to be conducted, which surface rights are in force, regular and have been validly acquired by Atlas Brasil; and (iii) is the sole legal and beneficial owner, and has valid and sufficient right, title and interest free and clear of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) to the other mining rights (excepting the paramount title of the relevant Governmental Authority in any mining rights) listed in Schedule 3.1(p)(i), which mining rights have been validly applied for or acquired by Atlas Brasil and are in force, regular, in good standing and in compliance with applicable Laws, except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (the rights and assets described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “Company Properties”).

 

(ii) Except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and Atlas Brasil has duly and timely satisfied all of the obligations required to be satisfied, performed and observed by it under, and there exists no default or event of default or event, occurrence, debt, condition or act which has happened, occurred or was due, as applicable, and is or would become a default or event of default by the Company or Atlas Brasil under any agreement or applicable Law pertaining to their respective Company Properties (whether or not notice of default has been delivered) and each such lease, contract or other agreement is enforceable and in full force and effect.

 

(iii) (A) the Company and Atlas Brasil have the exclusive right to deal with the Company Properties; (B) other than as set forth on Schedule 3.1(p)(iii), no Person of any nature whatsoever other than the Company or Atlas Brasil has any interest in the Company Properties or the production or profits therefrom or any right to acquire or otherwise obtain any such interest in the Company Properties from the Company or Atlas Brasil; (C) other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Offtake Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(p)(iii), there are no options, back-in rights, earn-in rights, rights of first refusal, off-take rights or obligations, royalty rights, streaming rights, or other rights of any nature whatsoever which would affect the Company’s or Atlas Brasil’s interests in the Company Properties, and no such rights are, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened; (D) neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil has received any notice, whether written or oral, from any Governmental Authority or any other Person of any revocation or intention to revoke, diminish or challenge its interest in the Company Properties; and (E) the Company Properties are in good standing under and comply with all Laws and all work required to be performed has been performed and all Taxes, fees, statutory or contractual royalties, expenditures and all other payments in respect thereof have been paid or incurred and all filings in respect thereof have been made.

 

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(iv) There are no adverse Proceedings that have been commenced or are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, that are threatened, affecting or which could affect the Company’s or Atlas Brasil’s right, title or interest in the Company Properties or the ability of the Company or Atlas Brasil to explore or develop the Company Properties and the Neves Project, including, without limitation, the title to or ownership by the Company or Atlas Brasil of the foregoing, or which might involve the possibility of any judgment or liability affecting the Company Properties or the Neves Project.

 

(v) None of the directors or officers of the Company or Atlas Brasil holds any right, title or interest in, nor has taken any action to obtain, directly or indirectly, any right, title and interest in any of Company Properties or in any permit, surface right, mineral right, water right, lease, license or other right to explore for, exploit, develop, mine or produce minerals from or in any manner in relation to the Company Properties.

 

(vi) No Person has any written or oral agreement or option or any right or privilege capable of becoming an agreement or option for the purchase from the Company or Atlas Brasil of any of the assets of the Company or Atlas Brasil. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(p)(vi), neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil is obligated under any prepayment contract or other prepayment arrangement to deliver mineral products at some future time without then receiving full payment therefor.

 

(q) Compliance with Laws.

 

(i) Each of the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources is in compliance in all material respects with all Laws that are applicable to the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources or to the conduct of the business or operations of the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources, except for such noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii) Except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, as of the date of this Agreement: (i) the Company and Atlas Brasil have all licenses, franchises, permits, certificates, consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, waivers, exemptions, deviations and registrations from Governmental Authorities (collectively, “Permits”) necessary for the ownership and operation of its business as presently conducted, and each such Permits is in full force and effect; (ii) the Company and Atlas Brasil are in compliance with the terms of all Permits necessary for the ownership and operation of its businesses; and (iii) since January 1, 2021 to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil has received written notice from any Governmental Authority alleging any conflict with or breach of any such Permits.

 

(r) Related Party Transactions. Except as described in the annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on March 27, 2024, there are no agreements, commitments, contracts, transactions, arrangements or understandings between the Company or Atlas Brasil, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Company (including, without limitation, any director or executive officer) thereof, but not including, without limitation, any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Commission in the Company’s Form 10-K or proxy statement pertaining to an annual meeting of stockholders or information statement, as applicable, that have not been disclosed in the SEC Reports.

 

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(s) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchaser’s Purchase of Shares. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby. The Company further acknowledges that the Purchaser is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by the Purchaser or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchaser’s purchase of the Shares. The Company further represents to the Purchaser that the Company’s decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company and its representatives.

 

(t) CFIUS. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a “U.S. business” that designs, develops, fabricates, manufactures, produces, or tests one or more “critical technologies” as defined in Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. § 4565), including all implementing regulations thereof.

 

(u) Anti-Bribery. Each of the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources, and their respective directors, officers, managing members, employees, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, their respective agents, representatives, or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources, are, and have been for the past five (5) years, in compliance with the anti-bribery and anti-corruption Laws of each jurisdiction in which the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources operate or have operated, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and Brazilian Laws Nos. 8492/1992, 12846/2013 and Articles 332 to 337 of the Brazilian Criminal Code (Decree-law No. 2848/1940), as amended (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”). In the past five (5) years, the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources, and their respective directors, officers, managing members, employees, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, their respective agents, representatives, or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources, have not paid, given, offered or promised to pay, authorized the payment or transfer, any monies or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official or any other Person for the purpose of corruptly influencing any act or decision of such Government Official, any Governmental Authority, or any other Person, to obtain or retain business, to direct business to any Person, or to secure any other improper benefit or advantage. In the past five (5) years, there have been no false or fictitious entries made in the books or records of the Company, Atlas Brasil and Apollo Resources, relating to any illegal payment or secret or unrecorded fund and none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates has established or maintained a secret or unrecorded fund. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Company, Atlas Brasil or Apollo Resources is, or in the past five (5) years has been, subject to any Proceeding, or made any disclosures to any Governmental Authority related to any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

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(v) Trade Control Compliance. In the past five (5) years, neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil, nor their respective directors, officers, managing members, employees, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, their respective agents, representatives, or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company or Atlas Brasil, has been the target of any Sanctions. In the past five (5) years, neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil has engaged in any unlawful dealings or transactions, directly or indirectly: (i) with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction was the subject of Sanctions; or (ii) in any jurisdiction that is, or in the last five (5) years was, the subject of comprehensive Sanctions at the time of the dealing or transaction, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Russian-occupied Crimea, Donetsk, or Luhansk regions of Ukraine. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor Atlas Brasil is, or in the past five (5) years has been, subject to any Proceeding, or made any disclosures to any Governmental Authority relating to any applicable Trade Compliance Laws.

 

(w) Registration Statement; Effectiveness.

 

(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. A registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-274223) relating to the Shares has been filed with the Commission and has been declared effective. Such Registration Statement (including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness and all documents incorporated therein by reference) is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” As used herein, “Base Prospectus” means the prospectus (including all documents incorporated therein by reference) relating to the Registration Statement, in the form in which such prospectus has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof (but without regard to any prospectus supplements relating specifically to securities other than the Shares); and “Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus together with the prospectus supplement (including all documents incorporated therein by reference) specifically relating to the Shares, as such prospectus supplement is first filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof pursuant to Rule 424.

 

(ii) No Misstatement or Omission. As of the effective date, the Registration Statement conformed, and as of the date hereof, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including any amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, conform, in all respects, to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations. The Registration Statement and Prospectus do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made); provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply specifically to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by Purchaser expressly for use in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, relating to the Shares.

 

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(iii) No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

 

(iv) Ineligible Issuer. The Company is not an ineligible issuer as defined under the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company has paid the registration fee for the issuance of the Shares pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act, as applicable.

 

(v) Statistical and Market Data. All statistical, demographic and market- related data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate in all material respects. To the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

 

(x) Broker. There is no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, in connection with the Transaction based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, for which the Company or its Subsidiaries will be solely liable.

 

3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein, in which case they shall be accurate as of such date):

 

(a) Organization; Authority. The Purchaser is an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of the Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by the Purchaser, and when delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

 

(b) Regulation S Representations and Restrictions. The Purchaser is not a United States Person as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S under the Securities Act (a “U.S. Person”). The offer and sale of the Shares to the Purchaser was made in an offshore transaction (as defined in Rule 902(h) of Regulation S), no directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902(c) of Regulation S) were made in the United States, and the Purchaser is not acquiring the Shares for the account or benefit of any U.S. Person and will offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Shares (or create or maintain any derivative position equivalent thereto) only pursuant to registration under the Securities Act or any available exemption therefrom such as Rule 144 and, in any case, in accordance with applicable state securities Laws. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not register the transfer of the Shares in violation of these restrictions.

 

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(c) General Solicitation. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Shares as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Shares published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or, to the Purchaser’s knowledge, any other general solicitation or general advertisement.

 

(d) Access to Information. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, all exhibits and schedules thereto) and the SEC Reports and has been afforded, (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares and the merits and risks of investing in the Shares; (ii) access to information about the Company and its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment.

 

(e) Independent Investigation. The Purchaser has conducted its own independent review and analysis of the Company and Atlas Brasil. In entering into this Agreement, the Purchaser has relied solely upon its own investigation and analysis, and the Purchaser acknowledges that, except for the representations and warranties of the Company expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents and/or the SEC Reports, none of the Company or Atlas Brasil nor any of their respective representatives makes any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information provided or made available to the Purchaser or any of its representatives. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of the Company or Atlas Brasil nor any of their respective representatives or any other person has made a representation or warranty to the Purchaser with respect to (i) projections, estimates or budgets for the Company or Atlas Brasil or (ii) except as expressly and specifically covered by a representation or warranty set forth in Section 3.1, any material, documents or information relating to the Company or Atlas Brasil made available to the Purchaser or its representatives. Nothing in this Section 3.2(e) shall be construed to limit any remedies that may be available to the Purchaser in connection with fraud.

 

(f) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, the purchase of the Shares and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Purchaser’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Purchaser, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any material contract to which the Purchaser is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, or (iii) conflict with or result in a violation of any Law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or Governmental Authority to which the Purchaser is subject (including, without limitation, federal and state securities Laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Purchaser is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(g) Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, the Purchaser has not, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with the Purchaser, directly or indirectly executed any purchases or sales, including, without limitation, Short Sales, of the securities of the Company during the period commencing as of the time that the Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the Company or any other Person representing the Company setting forth the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending immediately prior to the execution hereof. Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement or to the Purchaser’s representatives, including, without limitation, its officers, directors, partners, legal and other advisors, employees, agents and Affiliates, the Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including, without limitation, the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to locating or borrowing shares in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.

 

(h) Brokers. There is no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, in connection with the Transaction based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, for which the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries will be solely liable.

 

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

 

4.2 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including the Transaction Documents required to be filed as exhibits thereto, with the Commission within the time required by the Exchange Act. The initial press releases with respect to the execution of this Agreement shall be made by each party, which shall be coordinated with and approved in writing by the other party prior to the release thereof. Following such initial press releases, the Company and the Purchaser shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the Transaction and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as such Party may reasonably conclude may be required by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system (and then only after as much advance notice and consultation as is feasible); provided, however, that the Company or the Purchaser shall not be obligated to engage in such consultation with respect to communications that are (a) principally directed to employees, suppliers, customers, partners or vendors or (b) not materially inconsistent with public statements previously made in accordance with this Section 4.2.

 

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4.3 Indemnification of the Parties.

 

(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser, the directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of Purchaser and each person, if any, who (i) controls Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with Purchaser from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable and documented investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with Section 4.3(c)) of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), as and when incurred, to which Purchaser, or any such person, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (A) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement, (B) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any free writing prospectus or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, or (C) the omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement and Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in the Registration Statement and Prospectus not misleading; provided, however, that the indemnification obligation under clause (B) of this Section 4.3(a) shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage is caused directly or indirectly by an untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information provided by the Purchaser. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have under applicable Law.

 

(b) Purchaser Indemnification. Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company that signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (A) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Purchaser in this Agreement, or (B) any untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information provided by the Purchaser.

 

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(c) Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 4.3 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party (the “Indemnitee”) in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 4.3 (the “Indemnitor”), notify each such Indemnitor of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor from (i) any liability that it might have to any Indemnitee otherwise than under this Section 4.3 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any Indemnitee under the foregoing provision of this Section 4.3 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the Indemnitor. If any such action is brought against any Indemnitee and it notifies the Indemnitor of its commencement, the Indemnitor will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the Indemnitee promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the Indemnitee, jointly with any other Indemnitors similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, and after notice from the Indemnitor to the Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense, the Indemnitor will not be liable to the Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable and documented costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense. The Indemnitee will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such Indemnitee unless (1) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized in writing by the Indemnitor, (2) a conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to each Party) between the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor (in which case the Indemnitor will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnitee) or (3) the Indemnitor has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the Indemnitor. It is understood that the Indemnitor shall not, in connection with any Proceeding or related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such Indemnitees. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the Indemnitor promptly as they are incurred. An Indemnitor will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No Indemnitor shall, without the prior written consent of each Indemnitee, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 4.3 (whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnitee from all liability arising or that may arise out of such Proceeding.

 

4.4 Reservation of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE V.

TERMINATION

 

5.1 Termination. This Agreement may be validly terminated only as follows (it being understood and agreed that this Agreement may not be terminated for any other reason or on any other basis):

 

(a) At any time prior to the Closing by mutual written agreement of the Purchaser and the Company.

 

(b) By the Purchaser or the Company, at any time prior to the Closing if:

 

(i) any permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Transaction is in effect, or any action has been taken by any Governmental Authority, that, in each case, prohibits, makes illegal or enjoins the consummation of the Transaction and has become final and nonappealable; or

 

(ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order has been enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Transaction that permanently prohibits, makes illegal or enjoins the consummation of the Transaction, except that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5.1(b)(ii) will not be available to any party that has breached its obligations to the right to appeal, obtain consent pursuant to, resolve or lift, as applicable, such Law;

 

(c) By the Purchaser or the Company, at any time prior to the Closing if the Company fails to obtain the Required Approvals, except that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5.1(c) will not be available to any party whose action or failure to act (which action or failure to act constitutes a breach by such party of this Agreement) has been the primary cause of, or primarily resulted in, the failure to obtain the Required Approvals;

 

(d) By the Purchaser or the Company, if the non-terminating party has breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 2.5(a) or Section 2.5(b), as the case may be, except that (i) if such breach is capable of being cured within fourteen (14) days of written notice to the non- terminating party of such breach or (ii) the terminating party is then in breach or failed to perform in any material respect any of its respective representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, such terminating party will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement.

 

(e) By the Company, if the Closing does not take place within ten (10) Business Days of the date of this Agreement or such later date as may be mutually agreed between the Parties in writing.

 

5.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided for in Section 5.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force and effect without any liability or obligation on the part of the Company or the Purchaser, except that the Confidentiality Agreement, Section 4.3, this Section 5.2 and Article VI shall each survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VI.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.1 Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and any exercise notice delivered by the Purchaser), stamp taxes and other Taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Shares to the Purchaser.

 

6.2 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. Accordingly, the Parties agree that the Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the Parties in December 2022 shall be deemed terminated.

 

6.3 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto or (b) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

(i)

if to the Purchaser to:

 

MITSUI & CO., LTD.

[***]

[***]

Attn: [***]

Email: [***]

 

with copies (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

2801 North Harwood St, Suite 1600

Dallas, TX 75201

Attn: Jack Jacobsen; Monica Hwang

Email: jjacobsen @omm.com; mhwang@omm.com

 

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(ii) if to the Company to:

 

Atlas Lithium Corporation

Attn: [***]

Email: [***]

 

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

 

DLA Piper LLP (US)

500 Eighth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Attn: Era Anagnosti

Email: era.anagnosti@us.dlapiper.com

 

or to such other address or email address as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Party.

 

6.4 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Purchaser. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

6.5 Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

6.6 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (other than by merger). The Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom the Purchaser assigns or transfers any Shares, provided that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Shares, by the provisions of the Transaction Documents that apply to the “Purchaser”.

 

6.7 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal Laws of the State of New York, as applied to agreements among New York residents to be performed entirely within New York, without regard to the conflicts of law of such jurisdiction.

 

6.8 Dispute Resolution. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any dispute, controversy or claim relating to a breach of this Agreement, arbitrability or scope of this Section 6.8 (a “Dispute”), shall be finally settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. All Disputes will be heard by a panel of three arbitrators, with one arbitrator appointed by each party and the two appointed arbitrators will appoint the third arbitrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Dispute involves a claim amount of less than $75,000, then the Dispute will be heard by a single arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties, and if no agreement can be reached within 30 days after names of potential arbitrators have been proposed by the AAA, then AAA shall appoint an arbitrator with reasonable experience in corporate finance transactions of the type provided for in this Agreement. The arbitration shall take place in New York City, New York and the arbitrators shall comply with Section 6.8. 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: (a) exchange of witness lists and copies of documentary evidence and documents relating to or arising out of the issues to be arbitrated, (b) depositions of all party witnesses and (c) such other depositions as may be allowed by the arbitrator upon a showing of good cause. No party to this Agreement will challenge the jurisdiction or venue provisions as provided in this section. No party to this Agreement will challenge the jurisdiction or venue provisions as provided in this section. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the party from obtaining an injunction. The award of the arbitrators shall be accompanied by a reasoned opinion. Except as may be required by Law, neither a party nor any arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties.

 

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6.9 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature 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 facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

6.10 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including, without limitation, any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

6.11 Replacement of Certificates. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction. The applicant for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including, without limitation, customary indemnity) associated with the issuance of such replacement Shares.

 

6.12 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by Law, including, without limitation, recovery of damages, the Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any Proceeding for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

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6.13 Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

6.14 Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement. Given the different time zones in which each of the Company and Purchaser is headquartered, for purposes of determining an applicable timeframe governing each Party’s performance under this Agreement, each day or Business Day shall be determined based on the jurisdiction in which the applicable Party operates. In the event of a sequence of deadlines, the counting of days or Business Days shall be based on the time zone in which the Party that initiates the action subject to the applicable sequence of deadlines is located. For illustration purposes only, if Purchaser delivers written notice of a breach pursuant to Section 5.1(d), the applicable fourteen (14) day cure period shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of such notice in Tokyo, Japan.

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION

 

By: /s/ Marc Fogassa  
Name: Marc Fogassa  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

MITSUI & CO., LTD.

 

By: /s/ AkinobuHashimoto  
Name: Akinobu Hashimoto  
Title: General Manager, New Metals & Aluminium Division  

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

31

EX-10.2 4 ex10-2.htm

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [●], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and between

 

ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION

 

and

 

MITSUI & CO., LTD.

 

Dated as of          , 2024

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

    Page
ARTICLE I Definitions 1
     
Section 1.01. Definitions 1
Section 1.02. Certain Interpretations 5
     
ARTICLE II Governance and Other Rights 7
     
Section 2.01. Anti-Dilution Rights 7
Section 2.02. Visitation 8
Section 2.03. Secondee 8
     
ARTICLE III Additional Agreements 9
     
Section 3.01. Information and Access 9
Section 3.02. Investor Meetings 10
Section 3.03. Dividend Policy 11
Section 3.04. Confidentiality 11
     
ARTICLE IV Miscellaneous 12
     
Section 4.01. Notices 12
Section 4.02. Amendments; Waivers 13
Section 4.03. Governing Law; Specific Performance; Consent to Jurisdiction. 13
Section 4.04. Severability 14
Section 4.05. Third Party Beneficiaries 14
Section 4.06. Assignment 14
Section 4.07. Effectiveness and Termination 15
Section 4.08. Entire Agreement, etc 15
Section 4.09. Construction 15
Section 4.10. Counterparts 15

  

i

 

This INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of           , 2024, by and between ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and MITSUI & CO., LTD., a corporation organized under the Laws of Japan (the “Investor”). The Investor and the Company are sometimes referred to herein individually, as a “Party” and collectively, as the “Parties.” All capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement have the respective meanings given to them in Section 1.01.

 

RECITALS

 

A. The Company and the Investor are parties to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2024 (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investor, and the Investor agreed to purchase and acquire from the Company, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, an aggregate of            shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock” and the Common Stock acquired by the Investor the “Shares”);

 

B. The Company and the Investor desire to establish in this Agreement certain terms and conditions concerning the rights of and restrictions on the Investor with respect to the Investor’s ownership of the Shares, and it is a condition of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement that the Company and the Investor execute and deliver this Agreement; and

 

C. In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01. Definitions.

 

(a) As used in this Agreement (including the recitals hereto), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person.

 

Any Person shall be deemed to “beneficially own”, to have “beneficial ownership” of, or to be “beneficially owning” any securities (which securities shall also be deemed “beneficially owned” by such Person) that such Person is deemed to “beneficially own” within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided that any Person shall be deemed to beneficially own any securities that such Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately, within 60 calendar days.

 

 

 

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday or Sunday or a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by Law to be closed in Boca Raton, Florida, or Tokyo, Japan.

 

“Closing” means the closing of the Purchase.

 

“Closing Date” means the date on which the Closing occurs.

 

“Company Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Company Securities” means (a) issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company; (b) outstanding securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company; (c) outstanding options, warrants or other rights or binding arrangements to acquire from the Company, or that obligate the Company to issue, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company; (d) obligations of the Company to grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or exchangeable security, or other similar contract relating to any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest (including any voting debt) in, the Company; (e) outstanding restricted shares, restricted share units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any capital stock of, or other securities or ownership interests in, the Company; and (f) other obligations of the Company to make any payment based on the price or value of any of the items in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) solely to the extent that the terms of such securities or rights entitle the beneficial owner thereof to the right to vote generally for the election of any member of the Company Board.

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” means the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2023, [●].

 

“control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise; provided that none of the Company or the Investor (or their respective Affiliates) shall be deemed to be Affiliates of one another.

 

“Equity-Linked Securities” means any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or rights, options or warrants to purchase or otherwise acquire (whether immediately, during specified times, upon the satisfaction of any conditions or otherwise) any shares of Common Stock.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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“Excluded Issuance” means an issuance of Company Securities pursuant to (i) a registration relating to the sale or grant of securities to directors, officers, employees or services providers of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase, equity incentive or similar plan; (ii) a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto, filed to effectuate an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan; (iii) a registration relating to an SEC Rule 145 transaction; (iv) any registration (including any registration statement on Form S-1, Form S-3 or any successor forms thereto) solely registering equity securities of the Company pursuant to contractual obligations existing on the date hereof; (v) a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities; (vi) a registration statement on Form S-1, Form S-3 or any successor forms thereto solely registering equity securities of the Company for purposes of an equity capital line of credit entered into by the Company with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company; (vii) a registration made in the context of a merger, consolidation, securities exchange, reorganization, spin-off, arrangement or amalgamation involving the Group Companies; (viii) Public Offering; or (ix) any Material Transaction.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, in the United States.

 

“Governmental Authority” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Group Companies” means the Company, Apollo Resources Corporation and Jupiter Gold Corporation, each incorporated under the Laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as well as their respective Affiliates.

 

“Key Employees” means the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Geological Officer, a senior management level employee in a position similar to a chief operating officer (if any), the Vice President of Business Development and, the Vice President of Corporate Strategy; provided, if there is a vacancy in any of the foregoing positions, any senior management level employee with similar responsibilities shall be deemed as a Key Employee.

 

“Law” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Material Transaction” means the occurrence of any of the following, in one transaction or a series of related transactions: (a) any Person (or group of Persons) becomes the beneficial owner(s), directly or indirectly, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock that ensure to such Person(s) control or co-control over the Company; (b) a consolidation, securities exchange, spin-off, arrangement or amalgamation involving the Company resulting in the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction not beneficially owning a controlling interest in the surviving entity immediately following such transaction; or(c) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; provided, that any transfer or conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company beneficially owned by Marc Fogassa to a trust or entity in which Marc Fogassa or one or more of his family members are the sole beneficiaries shall not be deemed a “Material Transaction” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

3

 

“NASDAQ” means the Nasdaq Capital Market and any successor stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system operated by the Nasdaq Capital Market or any successor thereto.

 

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange and any successor stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system operated by the New York Stock Exchange or any successor thereto.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), limited liability company, joint stock company, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, firm, Governmental Authority or other enterprise, association, organization or entity.

 

“Public Offering” means an underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act on Form S-1 or Form S-3 or any similar or successor form.

 

“Purchase” means the purchase of Shares by the Investor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“register”, “registered” and “registration” shall refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement by the SEC or the automatic effectiveness of such registration statement, as applicable.

 

“Representatives” means, with respect to any Party, its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors or representatives.

 

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

 

“Signing Date” means         , 2024.

 

“Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Transaction Documents” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

4

 

(b) In addition to the terms defined in Section 1.01(a), the following terms have the meanings assigned thereto in the Sections set forth below:

 

Term   Section
AAA   4.03(c)
Annual Profit   3.03
Available Profit   3.03
Agreement   Preamble
Common Stock   Recitals
Company   Preamble
Company Confidential Information   3.04(a)
Dispute   4.03(c)
Electronic Delivery   4.10
Investor   Preamble
Management Presentation   3.01(c)
Offer Notice   2.01(b)
Offeree   2.01(a)
Party or Parties   Preamble
Pro Rata Share   2.01(a)
Purchase Agreement   Recitals
Reserves   3.03

 

Section 1.02. Certain Interpretations.

 

(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or a Section, such reference is to an Article or a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Schedule or Exhibit, such reference is to a Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement, as applicable, unless otherwise indicated.

 

(b) When used herein, (i) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import will, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and (ii) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

(c) Unless the context otherwise requires, “neither,” “nor,” “any,” “either” and “or” are not exclusive.

 

(d) The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and does not simply mean “if.”

 

(e) When used in this Agreement, references to “$” or “Dollars” are references to U.S. dollars.

 

(f) The meaning assigned to each capitalized term defined and used in this Agreement is equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of such term, and words denoting any gender include all genders. Where a word or phrase is defined in this Agreement, each of its other grammatical forms has a corresponding meaning.

 

5

 

(g) When reference is made to any Party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document, such reference includes such Party’s successors and permitted assigns. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person.

 

(h) Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Agreement to the Subsidiaries of a Person will be deemed to include all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

(i) A reference to any specific Law or to any provision of any Law includes any amendment to, and any modification, re-enactment or successor thereof, any legislative provision substituted therefor, and all rules, regulations and statutory instruments issued thereunder or pursuant thereto.

 

(j) References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented (including by waiver or consent) from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

(k) All accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all accounting determinations hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP.

 

(l) The table of contents and headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of reference purposes only and will not affect or be deemed to affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any term or provision hereof.

 

(m) The Parties agree that they have been represented by legal counsel during the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and therefore waive the application of any Law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the Party drafting such agreement or document.

 

(n) No summary of this Agreement or any Exhibit or Schedule delivered herewith prepared by or on behalf of any Party will affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or such Exhibit or Schedule.

 

(o) All references to time shall refer to Boca Raton, Florida, time unless otherwise specified.

 

(p) For purposes of determining beneficial ownership, the Investor may rely on the Company’s most recent publicly-available Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K, or proxy statement on Schedule 14A to determine the number of issued and outstanding Company Securities at any given time, unless the Company provides written notice to the Investor with an updated number of Company Securities then issued and outstanding.

 

6

 

ARTICLE II

Governance and Other Rights

 

Section 2.01. Anti-Dilution Rights.

 

(a) Except for any Company Securities issued in an Excluded Issuance, if, following the date hereof, the Company authorizes the issuance or sale of any Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities to any Person or Persons (the “Offeree”), the Company shall also offer to sell to the Investor a number of shares of Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, required for the Investor to keep a percentage equal to the quotient (the “Pro Rata Share”) determined by dividing (x) the number of shares of Shares beneficially owned by the Investor immediately prior to such issuance (which, for purposes of this Section 2.01, shall also include the number of shares of Common Stock acquired by the Investor pursuant to the this Section 2.01, but excluding shares of Common Stock acquired by the Investor in the open market), by (y) the total number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding immediately prior to such issuance (including any shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable, of any Equity-Linked Securities beneficially owned by any Person at such time even if not convertible, exchangeable or exercisable at such time). The Investor shall be entitled to purchase such Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as such Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, is offered to the Offeree. The Investor, if it elects to purchase the Pro Rata Share of the Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, authorized for issuance or sale to the Offeree, will take all necessary actions in connection with the consummation of the purchase transactions contemplated by this Section 2.01 as reasonably requested by the Company Board, including the execution of all agreements, documents and instruments in connection therewith in the form presented by the Company, so long as such agreements, documents and instruments are substantially similar to the forms presented to the Offeree and do not require the Investor to make or agree to any representation, warranty, covenant or indemnity that is more burdensome than that required of the Offeree in the agreements, documents or instruments in connection with such transaction, except for such representations, warranties and covenants that are required to be made by the Investor as a result of it being an existing shareholder of the Company.

 

(b) In order for the Investor to exercise its purchase rights hereunder, within three (3) Business Days following an offer of Company Securities to any Offeree, the Company shall submit to the Investor a written notice describing the Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, being offered, the purchase price thereof and the payment terms (the “Offer Notice”). Within twenty (20) Business Days after receipt of an Offer Notice, the Investor must deliver a written notice to the Company describing the number of Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, it elects to purchase hereunder, not to exceed its Pro Rata Share.

 

7

 

(c) Subject to the procedures set forth in this Section 2.01, the Company shall be entitled to sell the shares of Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, to the Offeree at no less than the purchase price, and upon other terms no more favorable than those, stated in the Offer Notice provided under Section 2.01(b). The closing of the transactions contemplated under this Section 2.01, including the sale of Company Securities to the Offeree and the Investor if so elected, shall occur upon the terms stated in the Offer Notice provided under Section 2.01(b) within ninety (90) calendar days following the expiration of the 20-Business Day offer period described above. Any Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities, as applicable, proposed to be offered or sold by the Company to the Offeree after such 90-day period, or at a price not complying with the price set forth in the Offer Notice, must be reoffered to the Investor pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.01. For the sake of clarity, the Company may consummate the transaction with the Offeree in accordance with the Offer Notice prior to receipt by the Company of any notice that the Investor elects to purchase its Pro Rata Share of Common Stock or Equity-Linked Securities pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

 

(d) The provisions of this Section 2.01 shall not apply in the event of Company Securities issued in an Excluded Issuance.

 

(e) In the event of a Public Offering, the Company shall not be required to follow the procedure set forth in this Section 2.01; however, the Investor may notify the underwriter of such Public Offering and the Company during the book building period that the Investor intends to acquire the Pro Rata Share of Common Stock or Equity- Linked Securities offered in the Public Offering and the Company shall ensure that the Investor is able to acquire the Pro Rata Share under the Public Offering, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Public Offering.

 

Section 2.02. Visitation. The Company shall permit the Investor, at the Investor’s expense, to visit the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ properties and discuss the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ affairs with its senior officers, during normal business hours of the Company as may be reasonably requested by the Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Section 2.02 to provide access to any information that it reasonably and in good faith considers to be material non-public information or information the disclosure of which would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel. Such right to visit the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ properties cannot be exercised more than two (2) times each 12-month period unless otherwise agreed between the Parties.

 

Section 2.03. Secondee. In order to foster the exchange of know-how and opportunity for future commercial co-operation, the Investor shall have the option to second up to one employee of the Investor or its Affiliate at a time to a certain position of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and to work at the offices of the Company or such Subsidiary. The Parties agree that the detailed terms of such secondment shall be more fully set out in a secondment agreement mutually agreed in writing by the Parties, including the circumstances where the Investor may appoint an alternate. The Company shall have no obligation to disclose, and may refrain from disclosing, to the secondee any information of the Company or the relevant Subsidiary (i) that is reasonably considered to be material non-public information or (ii) to the extent such disclosure would adversely affect the Company or the Subsidiary and/or the attorney-client privilege between the Company or the relevant Subsidiary and its counsel. Furthermore, the secondee shall enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Company in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Parties and pursuant to the terms thereof shall not disclose to the Investor any of the information mentioned in items (i) and (ii) above. It is hereby agreed that in the event the Investor and the Company, acting reasonably, cannot agree on the terms for the secondee to work at the Company, the Company shall not be required to receive such secondee to work on its premises. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 2.03 shall limit or otherwise restrict the Investor’s access to information provided pursuant to this Agreement, including any information provided in accordance with Article III.

 

8

 

ARTICLE III

Additional Agreements

 

Section 3.01. Information and Access. From time to time, upon reasonable written request by the Investor, the Company agrees to provide the Investor with the following:

 

(a) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, (i) an audited balance sheet of the Company on a consolidated basis as of the end of such fiscal year and (ii) audited statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of the Company on a consolidated basis for such fiscal year; provided that this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year with the SEC and notifies the Investor of the completion of such filing, together with a URL to such filed report, as soon as practicable after such filing (for the sake of clarity, the right under this Section 3.01(a) shall be applicable only if and when the Company is no longer required to file its annual report on Form 10-K);

 

(b) as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, (i) a reviewed balance sheet of the Company on a consolidated basis as of the end of such fiscal quarter and (ii) reviewed statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company on a consolidated basis for such fiscal quarter; provided that this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the Company files its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the applicable fiscal quarter with the SEC and notifies the Investor of the completion of such filing, together with a URL to such filed report, as soon as practicable after such filing (for the sake of clarity, the right under this Section 3.01(b) shall be applicable only if and when the Company is no longer required to file its annual report on Form 10-Q);

 

(c) as soon as practicable after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year of the Company, a presentation on financial and operational status [●] of the Company and its Subsidiaries (“Management Presentation”); further, upon submission of the Management Presentation, the Company shall hold a meeting with the Investor and the senior management of the Company contemplated by Section 3.02; provided that the Company shall not be required to include in the Management Presentation any information that it reasonably and in good faith considers to be a material non-public information or trade secret or confidential information or the disclosure of which would adversely affect the Company or its Subsidiaries and/or the attorney-client privilege between the Company or the relevant Subsidiary and its counsel;

 

9

 

(d) [●], provide a monthly written report on certain operating metrics to be reasonably agreed upon between the Parties, [●]; provided, that the Company shall have no obligation to disclose, and may refrain from disclosing, any information that is reasonably considered to be material non-public information of the Company or would adversely affect attorney-client privilege;

 

(e) any development plan, report, assessment or study required to be filed by the Company with the SEC (including but not limited to those required to disclose under applicable professional code or standard on disclosure of mining-related information), provided that the Company shall only be required to provide the Investor with such development plan, report, assessment or study upon filing with the SEC and not before; and

 

(f) any other information that, upon advice of counsel in writing, is required for the Investor to prepare any of its financial statements in accordance with the Japanese generally accepted accounting principles for each fiscal year of the Investor, provided that the Company shall not be required to include any information that it reasonably and in good faith considers to be a material non-public information or trade secret or confidential information or the disclosure of which would adversely affect the Company or its Subsidiaries and/or the attorney-client privilege between the Company or the relevant Subsidiary and its counsel.

 

Section 3.02. Investor Meetings. The Investor, through one or more Representatives designated by the Investor from time to time, [●]. The Key Employees will meet with the Investor’s Representatives on a [●] basis each [●] following the delivery of the Management Presentation, beginning the [●] following the Signing Date, at mutually agreeable times and places (including via video conference) for such consultation and to review progress in achieving operating plans.

 

10

 

Section 3.03. Dividend Policy. In the event that in respect of any fiscal year the Company has any profit available for distribution to shareholders, in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the Company shall procure a certification from the independent registered auditors of the Company that there are sufficient profits available for the declaration of dividends to the holders of Common Stock (the “Annual Profit”). Any declaration of dividend by the Company for each fiscal year shall be determined by the Company Board as contemplated under the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, considering the Annual Profit as a starting value and subtracting from it reasonable and adequate reserves, as determined by the Company Board in good faith, including allowance for a budget of working capital, capital expenditures, debt service, provision for tax, investments (including acquisitions) and other uses the Company Board may see fit for each fiscal year, in each case, in amounts reasonably necessary to cover potential liabilities as determined by the Company Board (the “Reserves”). The resulting value of subtracting the Reserves from the Annual Profit, if a positive number, shall be referred to as the “Available Profit”. During each fiscal year, following the filing of the annual report on Form 10-K of the Company with the SEC, the Company undertakes to take all necessary corporate actions to submit for the Company Board’s consideration the topic of dividend distribution based on the Available Profit. The Parties acknowledge that the Company Board shall determine whether to declare dividends from the Available Profit and the amount of such dividends in its sole discretion.

 

Section 3.04. Confidentiality.

 

(a) The Investor shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to, keep confidential any information (including oral, written and electronic information) concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries that may be furnished to the Investor or their respective Affiliates or Representatives by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Article III (collectively referred to as the “Company Confidential Information”); provided that the Company Confidential Information shall not include information that (i) was or becomes available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Investor or its Affiliates or Representatives in violation of this Section 3.04, (ii) was or becomes available to the Investor or any of its Affiliates or Representatives from a source other than the Company or its Representatives; provided that such source is, to the Investor’s actual knowledge, not to be disclosing such information in violation of an obligation of confidentiality (whether by agreement or otherwise) to the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (iii) at the time of disclosure is already in the possession of the Investor or any of its Affiliates or Representatives; provided that such information is, to the Investor’s actual knowledge, not to be subject to an obligation of confidentiality (whether by agreement or otherwise) to the Company. The Investor and the Company agree that Company Confidential Information may be disclosed solely to the Investor’s Affiliates and their respective Representatives on a need to know basis and in the event that the Investor, any of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective Representatives are requested or required by applicable Law, judgment or by a Governmental Authority (including by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, summons or similar process) to disclose any Company Confidential Information, in each of which instances, to the extent permissible by applicable Law and reasonably practicable, the Investor, its Affiliates, and their respective Representatives, as the case may be, shall provide notice to the Company sufficiently in advance of any such disclosure so that the Company shall have a reasonable opportunity to timely seek to limit, condition or quash such disclosure; and, provided, that, with respect to any Affiliate of the Investor receiving Company Confidential Information hereunder (i) such Affiliate of the Investor, as applicable, will agree to keep such information confidential in accordance with this Section 3.04 as though it were a party hereto and (ii) the Investor will remain liable for any breaches by their respective Affiliates of this Section 3.04.

 

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(b) The Company and the Investor further acknowledge and agree that, for the avoidance of doubt, the confidentiality obligation with respect to any Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement), whether disclosed prior to or on and after the date hereof, shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect after the date hereof until the expiration or termination thereof in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE IV

Miscellaneous

 

Section 4.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to a Party shall be in writing (including email transmission) and shall be given,

 

(i) if to the Investor to:

 

MITSUI & CO., LTD.

[***]

[***]

Attn: [***]

Email: [***]

 

with copies (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

2801 North Harwood St, Suite 1600

Dallas, TX 75201

Attn: Jack Jacobsen

Email: jjacobsen @omm.com

 

(ii) if to the Company to:

 

Atlas Lithium Corporation

Attn: [***]

Email: [***]

 

with copies (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

DLA Piper LLP (US)

500 Eighth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Attn: Era Anagnosti

Email: era.anagnosti@us.dlapiper.com

 

12

 

or to such other address or email address as such Party may hereafter specify, pursuant to a notice in accordance with this Section 4.01, for the purpose by notice to the other Party.

 

Section 4.02. Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by the Company and the Investor. The failure of any Party to exercise any right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other Party with its obligations hereunder, shall not constitute a waiver by such Party of its right to exercise any such other right, power or remedy or to demand such compliance.

 

Section 4.03. Governing Law; Specific Performance; Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

(a) This Agreement and all actions, proceedings or counterclaims (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any transaction contemplated hereby or the actions of the Investor or the Company in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, including its statute of limitations, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of Laws provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

(b) The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement and agree that the arbitrators described in Section 4.03(c) shall have the power to grant such relief, without proof of damages or otherwise (in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of this clause (b)) (and each Party acknowledges and agrees that any other Party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this clause (b) shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. The Parties agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to Law or inequitable for any reason, or that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy or that the Parties otherwise have an adequate remedy at law.

 

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(c) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any dispute, controversy or claim relating to a breach of this Agreement, arbitrability or scope of this Section 4.03(c) (a “Dispute”), shall be finally settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. All Disputes will be heard by a panel of three arbitrators, with one arbitrator appointed by each Party and the two appointed arbitrators will appoint the third arbitrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Dispute involves a claim amount of less than $75,000, then the Dispute will be heard by a single arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the Parties, and if no agreement can be reached within thirty (30) calendar days after names of potential arbitrators have been proposed by the AAA, then AAA shall appoint an arbitrator with reasonable experience in corporate finance transactions of the type provided for in this Agreement. The arbitration shall take place in New York City, New York and the arbitrators shall comply with Section 4.03(a). Judgment upon any award rendered in such arbitration will be binding and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the Party from obtaining an injunction. The award of the arbitrators shall be accompanied by a reasoned opinion. Except as may be required by Law, neither a Party nor any arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both Parties.

 

Section 4.04. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the Parties. Upon such a determination, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision will be interpreted to be only so broad as it is enforceable.

 

Section 4.05. Third Party Beneficiaries. Unless expressly set forth herein, this Agreement is not intended to and shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties, their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 4.06. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by any Party (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Investor shall be permitted to assign this Agreement and its rights, interests and obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company to any Affiliate of the Investor to whom the Investor transfers the Shares and (ii) with due observance of Section 4.07(b), the Company shall be permitted to assign this Agreement, without the prior consent of the Investor, to any member of the Group Companies in connection with a reorganization or consolidation among such Group Companies or a sale of the Company’s business or assets, whether by merger, sale of assets or otherwise, to the extent that the Company causes such third party in advance to agree in a written instrument delivered to the Company to assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

14

 

Section 4.07. Effectiveness and Termination.

 

(a) Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become valid, effective and enforceable on the Closing Date, upon consummation of all transactions set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(b) Automatic Termination. Other than the termination provisions applicable to particular Sections of this Agreement that are specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate, subject to Section 4.07(c), (i) upon the mutual written agreement of the Company and the Investor, (ii) in the event that the Shares beneficially owned by the Investor and its Affiliates represent less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the Company, and/or (iii) the Material Transaction takes place. For the purposes of Section 4.07(b)(ii), this Agreement shall be deemed terminated on the date that Investor has sold or otherwise disposed such number of Shares such that its beneficial ownership represents less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the Company. For the purposes of Section 4.07(b)(iii), this Agreement shall be deemed terminated on the date (x) the Material Transaction is actually consummated by its relevant parties, or (y) should the termination of this Agreement be an express condition precedent for the consummation of the Material Transaction, all other conditions precedent for the consummation of the Material Transaction are fulfilled or waived pursuant to the terms of the Material Transaction (thus, the termination of this Agreement being the last condition precedent for the consummation of such Material Transaction).

 

(c) Survival. In the event that this Agreement shall terminate, all provisions of this Agreement shall terminate and shall be void, except Article I and IV shall survive any such termination indefinitely. The termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any Party from any liability for any breach by such Party of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.08. Entire Agreement, etc. This Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, between the Parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, that nothing herein shall limit, restrict, prevent or supersede the other Transaction Documents, or serve as a consent or waiver thereunder.

 

Section 4.09. Construction. Given the different time zones in which each of the Company and Investor is headquartered, for purposes of determining an applicable timeframe governing each Party’s performance under this Agreement, each day or Business Day shall be determined based on the jurisdiction in which the applicable Party operates. In the event of a sequence of deadlines, the counting of days or Business Days shall be based on the time zone in which the Party that initiates the action subject to the applicable sequence of deadlines is located. For illustration purposes only, if the Company receives or extends an offer to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.01(a), the applicable three (3) Business Day notice period shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of such offer is made or received by the Company based on the time zone in Boca Raton, Florida.

 

Section 4.10. Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which will be considered one and the same agreement and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Any such counterpart, to the extent delivered by fax or .pdf to electronic mail (any such delivery, an “Electronic Delivery”), will be treated in all manner and respects as an original executed counterpart and will be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No Party may raise the use of an Electronic Delivery to deliver a signature, or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of an Electronic Delivery, as a defense to the formation of a contract, and each Party forever waives any such defense, except to the extent such defense relates to lack of authenticity.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

15

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

  ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
   
  By:
  Name: Marc Fogassa
  Title: CEO

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

  MITSUI & CO., LTD.
   
  By:
  Name: Akinobu Hashimoto
  Title: General Manager, New Metals & Aluminum Division

 

 

 

EX-10.3 5 ex10-3.htm

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [●], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

 

OFFTAKE AND SALES AGREEMENT

 

This Offtake and Sales Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made on [—] (the “Execution Date”), by and between:

 

(1) ATLAS LÍTIO BRASIL LTDA., a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil, enrolled with the National Taxpayers’ Registry under No. 17.789.890/0001-65, with offices at Rua Buenos Aires, 10, 14th floor, city of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil (the “Seller”); and

 

(2) MITSUI & CO., LTD., a company incorporated under the laws of Japan, with offices at [●] (the “Buyer”).

 

WHEREAS:

 

(A) The Seller is seeking to develop a lithium project in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil (the “Project”), from which it or its Affiliates will produce the Product (as defined below);

 

(B) The Seller and its Affiliates have or will have the rights to conduct mining operations and sell the Product from the Project;

 

(C) The Buyer desires to purchase the Product from the Seller, and the Seller has the intention to sell the Product to a buyer that is interested in investing directly or indirectly into the Project; and

 

(D) In attention to the above, the Buyer has agreed to invest in the Seller’s parent company, Atlas Lithium Corporation (“Atlas Corp”), pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement (as defined below), being such undertaking a material inducement for the Seller entering into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1. INTERPRETATION
   
1.1. Definitions.

 

  The following definitions apply in this Agreement:
   
  “Affected Obligations” has the meaning given in Clause 18.2.
   
  “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person: (a) any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person; or (b) a company in which the Person beneficially owns at least fifty percent (50%) of the shares in that company.
   
  “Agreement” means this Offtake and Sales Agreement and including the schedules attached hereto.
   
  “Applicable Law” means: (a) any domestic or foreign statute, law (including common and civil law), treaty, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, restriction of by-law (zoning or otherwise); (b) any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decision, ruling, decree or award; (c) any regulatory policy, practice, request, guideline or directive; or (d) any franchise, licence, qualification, authorization, consent, exemption, waiver, right, permit or other approval of any governmental authority, binding on or affecting the Person referred to in the context in which the term is used or binding on or affecting the property of that Person.

 

1

 

  “Benchmark Price” has the meaning given in Schedule 2 of this Agreement.
   
  “Atlas Corp” has the meaning given in Whereas (D).
   
  “Bill of Lading” means the bill of lading signed by the carrier of the shipment that evidences receipt of the shipment at the Port of Loading for delivery to the Port of Discharge.
   
  “Business Day” means:

 

  (a) for receiving Notices under this Agreement, a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday or bank holiday in the place where the Notice is sent and the place where the Notice is received;
     
  (b) for the purpose of Clause 7, a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday or bank holiday in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in Tokyo, or in the country where the Port of Discharge is located;
     
  (c) for making any payments under this Agreement, a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday or bank holiday in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, or in Tokyo, Japan; and
     
  (d) for all other purposes, a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday or bank holiday in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the City of New York, State of New York, USA, or in Tokyo, Japan.

 

  “Buyer” has the meaning set out in the preamble.
   
  “Buyer’s Certificate of Analysis” has the meaning set out in Schedule 2.
   
  “Certificate of Analysis” has the meaning given in Clause 2(b) of Schedule 2.
   
  “Certificate of Origin” means the document attesting that the Product the subject of the shipment has been wholly obtained, produced, or processed in Brazil.
   
  “Certificate of Weight” has the meaning given in Clause 1(a) of Schedule 2.
   
  “Change in Control of Atlas Corp” means the occurrence of any of the following, in one transaction or a series of related transactions: (a) any Person (or group of Persons) becomes the beneficial owner(s), directly or indirectly, of the outstanding shares of common stock of Atlas Corp that ensure to such Person(s) control or co-control over Atlas Corp; (b) a consolidation, securities exchange, spin-off, arrangement or amalgamation involving Atlas Corp resulting in the shareholders of Atlas Corp immediately prior to such transaction not beneficially owning a controlling interest in the surviving entity immediately following such transaction; (c) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of Atlas Corp (other than a transfer of financial assets made in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of securitization or other ordinary course activities), including the sale of the subsidiary that holds the relevant lithium mining rights; or (d) a liquidation or dissolution of Atlas Corp; provided, that any transfer or conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Atlas Corp beneficially owned by Marc Fogassa to a trust or entity in which Marc Fogassa or one or more of his family members are the sole beneficiaries shall not be deemed a “Change in Control of Atlas Corp” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

2

 

  “CiC Termination” has the meaning given in Clause 4.2.
   
  [●]
   
  “Conditions Precedent” has the meaning given in Clause 3.2.1.
   
  “Confidential Information” means all information relating to a Party that is not in the public domain (other than as a result of breach of this Agreement), including trade secrets, know-how, scientific, technical, product, market or pricing information relating to:

 

  (a) the Product, but excluding any quality specifications therefor;
     
  (b) the Project;
     
  (c) a Party’s business; or
     
  (d) this Agreement, but excluding the Shipment Schedule or other scheduling information.

 

  “Consequential Loss” means any loss, damage, cost, expense or liability suffered or incurred by any Person (including under an indemnity) whether arising in contract, tort (including for negligence), under statute or on any other basis in law or equity which is indirect or consequential, including and without being limited by the meaning of “indirect or consequential”, loss of revenue, loss of contract, loss of production, loss of goodwill, loss of use, loss of business opportunity, loss of profit, loss of anticipated profit or any similar loss or cost.
   
  “Continuous Offtake” has the meaning given in Clause 3.2.
   
  “Contract Year” means a period of twelve (12) consecutive Months during the Term beginning on January 1st and ending on the immediately following December 31st, with the first Contract Year beginning on the date of satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent, which applies to count the delivery period for the Continuous Offtake. For the sake of clarity, a Contract Year does not apply to the Spot Sale.
   
  “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.
   
  “Dispute” means a dispute, difference, controversy or claim between the Parties arising out of or in relation to or in connection with this Agreement, including any dispute, difference, controversy or claim as to arbitrability or the formation, validity, existence, or termination of this Agreement.
   
  “DMT” means dry metric tonnes.
   
  “Event of Default” has the meaning given in Clause 17.1.
   
  “Execution Date” has the meaning set out in the preamble.
   
  “Extended Term” has the meaning set out in Clause 4.1.
   
  “Final Invoice” has the meaning given in Clause 7.2(a).
   
  “Final Invoice Benchmark Price” has the meaning given in Clause 7.2(b).

 

3

 

  “Force Majeure” has the meaning given in Clause 18.1.

 

  “Incoterms 2020” means the 2020 edition of the International Chamber of Commerce rules for the use of domestic and international trade terms.
   
  “Independent Testing Agency” means SGS or such other internationally independent industry recognised testing agency of similar level determined by the Seller at the Port of Loading or the Buyer at the Port of Discharge (each acting reasonably).
   
  “Independent Umpire” means the analyst selected in accordance with Clause 5 of Schedule 2.
   
  “Insolvency Event” in respect of a Party means:

 

  (a) it informs the other Party in writing or its creditors generally that it is insolvent, it is unable to pay its debts generally as they become due or is financially unable to proceed with this Agreement;
     
  (b) execution is levied against it by a creditor and is not stayed or discharged within twenty (20) Business Days;
     
  (c) it fails to comply with, or have set aside, a statutory demand within ten (10) Business Days of the time for compliance;
     
  (d) a meeting of creditors is called with a view to the Party entering a compromise or arrangement with its creditors;
     
  (e) it enters a deed of company arrangement with its creditors;
     
  (f) a receiver, trustee, controller or administrator is appointed to it;
     
  (g) an application is made to a court for its winding up and not stayed or discontinued within ten (10) Business Days;
     
  (h) a winding up order is made in respect of it;
     
  (i) a resolution is made that it be wound up;
     
  (j) any analogous or equivalent event to any of the events described in paragraphs (a) to (i) happens in any jurisdiction; or
     
  (k) any of the things described in paragraphs (a) to (j) happens to an Affiliate of the Party.

 

  “Laycan” means the period of time during which a shipment of Product is scheduled to be delivered at the Port of Loading.
   
  “Li2O” means lithium oxide.
   
  “Limit Date” has the meaning given in Clause 6.2.
   
  “Minimum Quantity” has the meaning given in Clause 3.2.
   
  “Month” means a calendar month.

 

“Net Proceeds” has the meaning given in Clause 11.3.

 

4

 

  “Neves Phase 1” means the phase 1 of the Project, within the boundaries of the Mining Rights No. 832.925/2008, 833.331/2006 and 833.356/2007, for the mining and processing of up to [●] metric tons of spodumene concentrate per year.
   
  [●]
   
  “Neves Phase 2” means the phase 2 of the Project, within the boundaries of the Mining Rights No. 832.925/2008, 833.331/2006 and 833.356/2007, for the mining and processing of approximately [●] metric tons of spodumene concentrate per year. For the avoidance of doubt, the Neves Phase 2 is a mining and production capacity in addition to the Neves Phase 1.
   
  “Neves Phase 2 Expected Commencement Date” has the meaning given in Clause 6.3.
   
  “Notice” has the meaning given in Clause 22.1.
   
  “Parties” means both the Buyer and the Seller and Party means either one of them.
   
  “Person” means a natural person, any company, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, or other body corporate, or any government agency.
   
  “Port of Discharge” means the port agreed between the Parties upon the finalization of the Shipment Schedule, provided that the Buyer may change such agreed port by giving Notice to the Seller [●] in advance of the start of the applicable Laycan, unless such change will be unreasonably burdensome to the Seller.
   
  “Port of Loading” means the [●] or any other port notified in writing by the Seller to the Buyer [●] in advance of the start of the applicable Laycan.
   
  “Precluded Extent” has the meaning given in Clause 18.2.
   
  “Price Adjustment Mechanism” has the meaning given in Schedule 2 of this Agreement.
   
  “Product” means lithium spodumene concentrate produced at the Project.
   
  “Product Incompatibility” has the meaning given in Clause 5.2.
   
  “Project” has the meaning given in Whereas (A).
   
  “Ready Date Notice” has the meaning given in Clause 8.1(a).
   
  “Rolling Forecast” has the meaning given in Clause 6.4.
   
  “Sanctioned Person” means any Person that is: (a) designated under, listed on, or owned or controlled by a Person designated under or listed on, or acting directly or indirectly on behalf of a Person designated under or listed on, any list of Persons who are subject to Sanctions under Applicable Law that is binding on the Buyer or the Seller or any of their Affiliates; (b) located in, ordinarily resident in, organized under the laws of, or owned or controlled (directly or indirectly) by, or acting on behalf of a Person located in, ordinarily resident in, or organized under the laws of a country or territory that is the target of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions; or (c) with whom the Buyer or the Seller would not be permitted to make a loan, continue to make a loan or provide financial accommodation to pursuant to any Sanctions.
   
  “Sanctions” means any Applicable Law governing transactions in controlled goods or technologies or dealings with countries, entities, organizations, or individuals subject to embargoes, economic, financial or trade sanctions or restrictions and similar measures administered or enforced by applicable governments, including the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, or Brazil.

 

5

 

  “Securities Purchase Agreement” means the agreement entered into between the Buyer and Atlas Corp dated as of [—], 2024, whereby the Buyer agreed to purchase and Atlas Corp agreed to sell Atlas Corp’s common stock to the Buyer, under the terms and conditions therein.
   
  “Seller” has the meaning set out in the preamble.
   
  “Seller’s Certificate of Analysis” has the meaning set out in Schedule 2.
   
  “Shipment Invoice” has the meaning given in Clause 7.1(a).
   
  “Shipment Invoice Benchmark Price” has the meaning given in Clause 7.1(b).
   
  “Shipment Payment” has the meaning given in Clause 7.1(e).
   
  “Shipment Quantity” has the meaning given in Clause 7.1(b).
   
  “Shipment Schedule” means an annual shipment schedule of the delivery of the Product for the Spot Sale or the Minimum Quantity.
   
  “SIAC Arbitration Rules” has the meaning given in Clause 19.1.
   
  “Specifications” means the specifications for the Product.
   
  “Spot Sale” has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.
   
  “Stable Production” means in respect of each of Neves Phase 1 and Neves Phase 2, when the Seller (a) obtains all licenses and permits required to produce and market the Product and (b) reaches a stable production output equivalent to at [●] of the nameplate capacity for the relevant Project phase [●].
   
  “Target Specification 1” has the meaning as set out in Schedule 1.
   
  “Target Specification 2” has the meaning as set out in Schedule 1.
   
  “Target Specifications” means the Target Specification 1 and the Target Specification 2.
   
  “Term” has the meaning given in Clause 4.1.
   
  “Umpire Analysis” means the analysis undertaken by the Independent Umpire in accordance with Clause 5 of Schedule 2.
   
  “US Dollar”, “USD” and “$” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.
   
  “Vessel” means the vessel, arranged by the Seller, to transport a shipment of Product from the Port of Loading to the Port of Discharge.
   
  “Vessel Arrival Date” has the meaning given in Clause 8.1(b).
   
  “WMT” means a wet metric tonne.

 

1.2. Interpretation.

 

  In this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise:

 

  (a) headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

6

 

  (b) words written in their singular form include the plural and vice versa, and words referring to a gender include any gender;
     
  (c) a reference to “including” is deemed to be followed by “without limitation”;
     
  (d) a reference to anything (including, any right) includes a part of that thing;
     
  (e) a reference to a right includes a power, authority, discretion, benefit, or remedy conferred on a Party by this Agreement or any Applicable Law;
     
  (f) a reference to “or” is not exclusive unless preceded by “either”;
     
  (g) a reference to a clause, Party, attachment, exhibit, or schedule is a reference to a clause of, and a Party, attachment, exhibit, and schedule to, this Agreement and reference to this Agreement includes any attachment, exhibit, and schedule;
     
  (h) a reference to a law, statute, regulation, proclamation, ordinance, or by-law includes all laws, statutes, regulations, proclamations, ordinances, or by-laws amending, consolidating, or replacing it, whether passed by the same or another governmental agency with legal power to do so, and includes all regulations, proclamations, ordinances, and by-laws issued under that statute;
     
  (i) a reference to a party to a document includes that party’s successors and permitted assigns thereto;
     
  (j) no rule of construction applies to the disadvantage of a Party solely because that Party was responsible for the preparation of this Agreement or any part of it;
     
  (k) a reference to time is to the time in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil or in Tokyo, Japan; and
     
  (l) a reference to currency is to be construed as references to US Dollars and unless otherwise specifically provided all amounts which are required to be paid under this Agreement shall be paid in US Dollars.

 

1.3. Intentionally Omitted.
   
2. SALE AND PURCHASE
   
  The Seller shall sell the Product to the Buyer at the Benchmark Price and the Buyer shall purchase that Product for that Benchmark Price (subject to any discounts or adjustments applicable to the relevant shipment) in accordance with this Agreement.
   
3. QUANTITY
   
3.1. Spot Sale. The Seller shall sell and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer shall purchase and take delivery of, the spot quantity of fifteen thousand (15,000) DMT of the Product from Neves Phase 1 (the “Spot Sale”). For the sake of clarity, the Spot Sale shall be made from and limited to the Product produced at Neves Phase 1 only and delivered in one single shipment.
   
3.2. Continuous Offtake. Notwithstanding Clause 3.1 and subject to the satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent, the Seller shall sell and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer shall purchase and take delivery of, a minimum quantity of sixty thousand (60,000) DMT of the Product from Neves Phase 2 for each Contract Year (each a “Minimum Quantity”) (the “Continuous Offtake”). For the sake of clarity, the Continuous Offtake shall be made from and limited to the Product produced at Neves Phase 2 only.

 

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  3.2.1. The delivery and purchase obligations of the Parties in respect of the Continuous Offtake are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (the “Conditions Precedent”): (i) the board of directors of Atlas Corp has approved the implementation of the Neves Phase 2 Project; (ii) the Seller, either directly or indirectly through Atlas Corp, has secured the financial resources required to implement the Neves Phase 2 Project; and (iii) the Seller has reached Stable Production in respect of Neves Phase 2. The Seller shall keep the Buyer updated at least quarterly on its progress in satisfying the Conditions Precedent. [●].
     
  3.2.2. Notwithstanding the Rolling Forecast and the shipping tolerance in Clause 6.5 of this Agreement, the quantities sold and delivered by the Seller for any Contract Year may vary from the Minimum Quantity by [●]. In the event the Seller elects to reduce the Minimum Quantity in a given Contract Year pursuant to this Clause 3.2.2, the difference [●] shall be either delivered (i) as an increment to the Minimum Quantity during the subsequent Contract Years or (ii) as part of a new Contract Year subsequent to the last Contract Year in which a full Minimum Amount has been delivered, until the total supply of Product delivered to the Buyer under this Agreement reaches three hundred thousand (300,000) DMT. The Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the quantities delivered to the Buyer in any Contract Year (including any election by the Seller pursuant to this Clause 3.2.2 and any shipping tolerance in Clause 6.5) vary from the Minimum Quantity [●].
     
  3.2.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case the quantities sold and delivered are less than the Minimum Quantity, as may be revised pursuant to Clause 3.2.2 above (for any reason except due to the shipping tolerance in Clause 6.5) in any Contract Year, then such shortage shall carry over and the Seller agrees to further arrange an additional shipment or increase the quantity of the other shipments in the next Contract Year to ensure delivery of such shortage in the next Contract Year.
     
  3.2.4. In the event that the Seller fails to deliver the Minimum Quantity for the Contract Year for any reason other than the shipment tolerance in Clause 6.5 (and subject to Clause 3.2.5), the Buyer shall, without prejudice to any other rights and remedies, have a right to (i) cancel such undelivered part of the Minimum Quantity or (ii) carry over such undelivered part to the following Contract Year. If the Buyer rejects or refuses a carryover of any such shortage, the Buyer may request and, if so requested, the Seller agrees to further arrange an additional shipment or increase the quantity of the other shipments within the same Contract Year to ensure that Minimum Quantity of the Contract Year will be delivered to the Buyer, subject to any adjustments pursuant to this Agreement or the shipment tolerance in Clause 6.5.
     
  3.2.5. Where the sale and purchase of the Product in relation to Neves Phase 2 commences on a date that is not the beginning of a Contract Year then the Minimum Quantity shall be pro-rated in proportion to the time left in that Contract Year.

 

4. TERM
   
4.1. This Agreement commences on the Execution Date and, unless terminated earlier in accordance with this Agreement, ends on the day five (5) years after the date of the first shipment of Product to the Buyer from Neves Phase 2 or on the last day of the Month during which three hundred thousand (300,000) DMT of Product from Neves Phase 2 have been sold and delivered to the Buyer under this Agreement, whichever is later (the “Term”). The Term can be extended subject to both Parties’ agreement in writing (the “Extended Term”).

 

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4.2. In the event that there is a Change in Control of Atlas Corp during the Term or Extended Term of this Agreement, the Seller shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement (the “CiC Termination”).

 

  4.2.1. The Seller shall be entitled to elect for a CiC Termination [●] after (i) the Change in Control of Atlas Corp is consummated by its relevant parties, or (ii) should the termination of this Agreement be an express condition precedent for the consummation of the Change in Control of Atlas Corp, all other conditions precedent for the consummation of the Change in Control of Atlas Corp are fulfilled or waived pursuant to the terms agreed under such Change in Control of Atlas Corp (thus, the termination of this Agreement being the last condition precedent for the consummation of such Change in Control of Atlas Corp). To exercise a CiC Termination, Seller shall [●].
     
  4.2.2. In the event the Seller notifies the Buyer to elect a CiC Termination, the Seller shall remain obliged to deliver Product to the Buyer for the shipments that are scheduled to take place during [●], subject to the variations permitted in this Agreement. For such purpose, the Parties shall consider the latest Rolling Forecast issued prior to the CiC Termination notice. The Seller shall not be subject to any additional supply obligation and this Agreement shall be deemed automatically terminated upon the elapsing of the [●] referred to in this Clause 4.2.2.
     
  4.2.3. Without limitation of Clause 4.2.2, the CiC Termination will not constitute a breach or require any remediation under this Agreement, and neither of the Parties shall be entitled to any indemnification as a result of the Seller’s exercise of the CiC Termination.

 

4.3. The expiration of the Term or the Extended Term, as applicable, will not affect any accrued rights, obligations or liabilities of either Party existing at such time.
   
5. SPECIFICATIONS
   
5.1. The Seller shall use its best endeavours to ensure that Product sold and delivered to the Buyer in accordance with this Agreement meets the Target Specifications. The Buyer may reject the Product which does not meet the Target Specification 1. In the event the Product meets the Target Specification 1 but does not meet the Target Specification 2, the Buyer shall not be entitled to reject the Product (as otherwise provided in this Agreement) and shall purchase the Product at a discount rate agreed between the Parties therefor in Schedule 2.
   
5.2. Before the first shipment from each of Neves Phase 1 and Neves Phase 2, the Seller shall notify the Buyer as soon as it becomes aware that that the Product from such phase is not expected to meet the Target Specification 1 once Stable Production is reached, and the Seller shall also notify the Buyer as soon as it becomes aware that any subsequent shipment of Product will not meet the Target Specification 1 (“Product Incompatibility”). Likewise, the Seller shall promptly notify the Buyer if it becomes aware that any shipment meets the Target Specification 1 but not the Target Specification 2.

 

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5.3. The Buyer shall be entitled to cancel the Spot Sale, the Continuous Offtake and/or this Agreement (i) when it is notified by the Seller of the Product Incompatibility in respect of Neves Phase 1 or Neves Phase 2; or (ii) by notifying the Seller that it has reasonable grounds to believe that Product Incompatibility will occur in respect to each phase. In respect of clause (ii), in the event that the Seller does not agree with the Buyer’s assessment of the Product, the Buyer shall provide reasonably satisfactory evidence to the Seller or the Parties shall conduct the Umpire Analysis pursuant to Clause 5 of Schedule 2 on samples of the Product to determine the Product Incompatibility. In any case, the Buyer’s right to terminate this Agreement shall be exercised within thirty (30) days after the date on which either clause (i) or (ii) has occurred.

 

5.4. If any shipment does not meet the Target Specification 1 following a determination pursuant to Schedule 2, the Buyer is entitled to either (i) reject the shipment without making any payment to the Seller; or (ii) accept the shipment while the Benchmark Price shall be adjusted in accordance with Schedule 2, where applicable.
   
5.5. If the shipment meets the Target Specification 1 but does not meet the Target Specification 2 following a determination in accordance with Schedule 2:

 

  (a) The Buyer will not be entitled to reject the shipment; however, the Benchmark Price will be adjusted in accordance with Schedule 2 where applicable; and
     
  (b) the Seller’s liability for failure to deliver such Product conforming to the Target Specification 2 is limited to an adjustment to the Benchmark Price as provided in Schedule 2 and the Buyer’s right to such Benchmark Price adjustment is, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive remedy of the Buyer for such failure to meet the Target Specification 2.

 

6. SHIPMENT SCHEDULE AND COMMENCEMENT OF SUPPLY
   
6.1. Shipment Schedules. Each Shipment Schedule shall include:

 

  (a) the number of shipments which the Seller will provide to the Buyer in the relevant Contract Year on a [●] basis;
     
  (b) the quantity of Product to be contained in each shipment and loaded on board each Vessel in accordance with [●] delivery requirements and, in respect of the Continuous Offtake, the requirements of Clause 6.3.2; and
     
  (c) the proposed ten (10)-day Laycan range for each shipment, with the first shipment to occur no later than the Limit Date.

 

6.2. Spot Sale Supply Date and Shipment Schedule. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Project is expected to reach a Stable Production for Neves Phase 1 by [●] (“Neves Phase 1 Expected Stable Production Date”) and that the shipment for the Spot Sale from Neves Phase 1 shall take place between [●] (as may be postponed by the Seller in accordance with Clause 6.2.2, the “Limit Date”).

 

  6.2.1. The Shipment Schedule for the Spot Sale shall be prepared by the Seller and provided to the Buyer no later than [●] prior to the Neves Phase 1 Expected Stable Production Date considering the assumptions set forth in Clause 6.2 and the Buyer shall confirm whether the Shipment Schedule for the Spot Sale is acceptable or not, [●] after the receipt of the Shipment Schedule. In the event such Shipment Schedule prepared by the Seller is not acceptable to the Buyer, the Seller shall use reasonable endeavours aiming at revising the Shipment Schedule to accommodate the Buyer’s requests.

 

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  6.2.2. If, for any reason, the Seller cannot reach a Stable Production for Neves Phase 1 by the Neves Phase 1 Expected Stable Production Date, the Seller shall be entitled to postpone and adjust the Shipment Schedule and the Limit Date accordingly, provided that the Seller notifies the Buyer of such postponement at least [●] in advance and such postponement does not exceed [●]. If the postponement of the Limit Date exceeds [●], the Buyer shall be entitled to cancel the purchase of the Spot Sale portion of this Agreement without any penalty or liability to both Parties as a result of such postponement by the Seller or the exercise of the rights under this Clause 6.2.2 by the Buyer.

 

6.3. Continuous Offtake Commencement of Supply and Shipment Schedule. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Continuous Offtake shall only take place after the satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent, which the Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to satisfy but otherwise has no certain date to occur as the satisfaction of such Conditions Precedent depend on different aspects. For informational purposes only, the Seller anticipates commencing production at Neves Phase 2 by the indicative date of [●] (“Neves Phase 2 Expected Commencement Date”).

 

  6.3.1. Following the Seller’s completion of a feasibility study on Neves Phase 2, the Seller shall provide the Buyer with the following information in order to enable the Parties to agree on the Benchmark Price applicable to the Continuous Offtake:

 

  (a) a [●] plan of projected production at Neves Phase 2, including [●] from such phase that the Seller reasonably expects;
     
  (b) the details of the specifications of the Product to be produced at Neves Phase 2 based on the result of the feasibility study on Neves Phase 2; and
     
  (c) the draft Shipment Schedule for the first Contract Year.

 

  6.3.2. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Shipment Schedule for the Continuous Offtake shall be determined on the principle that, with non-substantial adjustments, the Minimum Quantity will be split evenly within the Contract Year.
     
  6.3.3. If the Seller becomes aware, for any reason, that the Seller cannot start production at Neves Phase 2 on or before the Neves Phase 2 Expected Commencement Date, the Seller shall notify the Buyer of such fact and any updates thereafter as soon as reasonably possible, considering Atlas Corp’s limitations on disclosure of non-public material information. If production at Neves Phase 2 will be or is delayed beyond the Neves Phase 2 Expected Commencement Date, the Seller shall be entitled to [●]. If the postponement of the commencement of production at Neves Phase 2 exceeds [●], then the Buyer shall be entitled to either (i) cancel the purchase of the Continuous Offtake portion of this Agreement; or (ii) agree in writing to postpone the commencement of the first Contract Year (and the shipments of the Continuous Offtake), without any penalty or liability to both Parties as a result of such postponement by the Seller or the exercise of the rights under this Clause 6.3.3 by the Buyer.

 

6.4. Rolling Forecast. Without prejudice to the above, no later than on the first Business Day of each Month of a Contract Year (“M”), the Seller shall provide the Buyer with a rolling forecast for the three (3) following Months, i.e., for the first (“M+1”), the second (“M+2”) and the third (“M+3”) following M (the “Rolling Forecast”), which shall reflect the relevant portion of the Shipment Schedule with any updated quantities for each shipment.

 

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  6.4.1. If the quantities of Product defined in the Rolling Forecast is no more or less than [●] of the Monthly quantities set forth in the Shipment Schedule, the Rolling Forecast shall be binding upon the Parties.
     
  6.4.2. On the other hand, if the quantities of Product defined in the Rolling Forecast exceed the range of more or less than [●] of the quantities set forth in the Shipment Schedule, the Rolling Forecast shall be subject to the Buyer’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably denied. In the event of a Rolling Forecast not approved by the Buyer pursuant this Clause 6.4.2, the Parties shall discuss in good faith and agree on the best alternative to accommodate the quantities of Product out of the range set forth above.
     
  6.4.3. Without prejudice to the above, within any given Contract Year, the Seller shall sell and deliver and the Buyer shall purchase and take delivery of the Minimum Quantity unless otherwise provided in this Agreement.

 

6.5. Shipment Tolerance. The Buyer and the Seller acknowledge that there will be a more or less [●] shipping tolerance that applies to each shipment, which tolerance shall be for operational reasons only.
   
7. PAYMENT TERMS
   
7.1. Shipment Invoice.

 

  (a) The Seller shall provide a shipment invoice to the Buyer after obtaining the Certificate of Analysis issued by the Independent Testing Agency and the Bill of Lading with the outstanding payment amount for the Product (which is to be paid by the Buyer) (the “Shipment Invoice”).
     
  (b) The Shipment Invoice shall set forth an amount calculated as follows: Product quantity indicated in the Bill of Lading and the Certificate of Weight, subject to reconciliation in accordance with Clause 1(c) in Schedule 2 (the “Shipment Quantity”) multiplied by [●] (the “Shipment Invoice Benchmark Price”).

 

    For reference:
     
    [●]
     
  (c) If applicable, the Shipment Invoice Benchmark Price may be adjusted in accordance with the Price Adjustment Mechanism provided in Schedule 2 of this Agreement.
     
  (d) The Seller shall notify the Buyer of the Shipment Invoice Benchmark Price and the Buyer shall confirm such Shipment Invoice Benchmark Price within five (5) Business Days after such notification; if not confirmed within this period, the Seller will carry on with the issuance of the Shipment Invoice.
     
  (e) The Buyer shall pay the amount equivalent to the [●] in USD within [●] Business Days after obtaining the Seller’s Certificate of Analysis issued by the Independent Testing Agency and the Bill of Lading and the submission to the Buyer by the Seller with the original and copy of the Certificate of Weight, Certificate of Analysis, Certificate of Origin and Bill of Lading (the “Shipment Payment”).

 

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7.2. Final Invoice.

 

  (a) The Seller shall provide a final invoice to the Buyer within five (5) Business Days of the first Month after the date on which the relevant shipment arrives at the Port of Discharge (the “Final Invoice”).
     
  (b) The amount indicated in the Final Invoice shall be calculated as follows: Shipment Quantity multiplied by [●] (the “Final Invoice Benchmark Price”).
     
    For reference:
     
    [●]

 

  (c) The Seller shall notify the Buyer of the Final Invoice Benchmark Price within five (5) Business Days after the last day of the Month during which the relevant shipment arrives at the Port of Discharge, and the Buyer shall confirm such Final Invoice Benchmark Price within five (5) Business Days after such notification; if not confirmed within this period, the Seller will carry on with the issuance of the Final Invoice.
     
    For the avoidance of doubt, if the Final Invoice Benchmark Price is lower than [●], then the Seller needs to pay the Buyer by [●]. an amount equal to the Final Invoice Benchmark Price within [●] Business Days; if the Final Invoice Benchmark Price is higher than [●], then the Buyer needs to pay the Seller by [●]. an amount equal to the Final Invoice Benchmark Price within [●] Business Days.

 

7.3. Other Documents.
   
  The following documents must be provided to the Buyer by the Seller as soon as practicable after the Bill of Lading date for the shipment:

 

  (i) the Certificate of Weight;
     
  (ii) the Certificate of Analysis;
     
  (iii) the Certificate of Origin;
     
  (iv) the Bill of Lading; and
     
  (v) additional copy of the Final Invoice.

 

7.4. Other Invoices. In the event that any sums are due from one Party to the other Party under this Agreement, other than for amounts covered by a Shipment Invoice or a Final Invoice, the Party to whom such sums are owed shall furnish the other Party with an invoice therefor, describing in reasonable detail the basis for such invoice and providing relevant documents supporting the calculation thereof. The due date for each such invoice shall be at least ten (10) Business Days from receipt of the invoice.
   
7.5. Payment Currency. All invoices must be denominated, and all payments must be made, in USD.

 

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8. EMPLOYMENT OF VESSELS AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS
   
8.1. Notification of Vessel.

 

  (a) For each shipment, the Seller will notify the Buyer of the Seller’s provided Vessel and the Laycan period (which shall be a [●] period within the Laycan range in the Shipment Schedule) at least [●] Business Days prior to the first day of such Laycan date (the “Ready Date Notice”). The Buyer must notify the Seller whether to approve the nominated Vessel or not within [●] Business Days after receipt of the Ready Date Notice, provided such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
     
  (b) The Seller will notify the Buyer at least [●] Business Days before the anticipated arrival date of the Vessel at the Port of Discharge (the “Vessel Arrival Date”) with the following details:

 

  (i) Vessel name, flag of registry, year built; and
     
  (ii) Vessel description (and accompanying photographs) including:

 

  (1) summer salt water draft;
     
  (2) length overall (LOA);
     
  (3) beam;
     
  (4) number of hatches/holds;
     
  (5) type of hatch covers and dimensions of same;
     
  (6) gross and net registered tonnages;
     
  (7) cargo gear;
     
  (8) intended stow plan;
     
  (9) intended itinerary and estimated time of arrival at the Port of Discharge; and
     
  (10) applicable demurrage rate for the Vessel.

 

  (c) For each shipment, the Seller must give notice to the Buyer (which may be given via the nominated port agents), at the following intervals, of the Vessel’s arrival at the Port of Discharge: [●] and [●].
     
  (d) The Seller must notify the Buyer in writing (which may be given via the Seller’s nominated port agents), as soon as possible, of any significant change in the estimated time of arrival of the Vessel at the Port of Discharge.
     
  (e) In the event that it becomes apparent that a Vessel will not arrive at the Port of Loading within the agreed Laycan period in the Ready Date Notice, the Seller will immediately notify the Buyer of a new Laycan period that will apply to the relevant shipment. The Parties shall discuss in good faith the treatment to be given to the Vessel under delay.
     
  (f) The Seller’s nominated carrier may provide the Notices required to be provided by the Seller under this Clause 8.1 to the Buyer on behalf of the Seller.
     
  (g) The Seller shall have the option to substitute another Vessel which must be renominated at least [●] prior to the first day of the agreed Laycan period in the Ready Date Notice.

 

9. UNLOADING TERMS, ETC.
   
9.1. The Buyer shall, at its own expense, unload each shipment of Product at the Port of Discharge and have necessary unloading facilities for the Vessel carrying the Product.

 

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9.2. The Port of Discharge shall be separately agreed between the Parties before the first shipment from each Project phase. Along with each Port of Discharge, the Parties shall agree to the period of laytime allowed for the Buyer at such Port of Discharge, dispatch/unloading rate, actual laytime calculation and permitted extensions thereto, and demurrage rate applicable if actual laytime exceeds allowed laytime, provided that all costs related to laytime, demurrage, time at the Port of Discharge and all port charges incurred by the Seller at the Port of Discharge shall be paid or reimbursed by the Buyer.
   
9.3. A Vessel may tender a notice of readiness upon arrival at the pilot boarding station at the Port of Discharge, whether the discharge berth is ready and available or not. A notice of readiness is to be tendered in writing or by fax, email or cable to port agents.
   
9.4. The Seller must submit its laytime calculations (with Vessel log and other supporting documentation) to the Buyer within [●] after completion of discharge at the Port of Discharge and the Buyer shall settle any demurrage claim within [●] after the receipt of such laytime calculations.
   
10. WEIGHING, SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
   
10.1. The Seller and the Buyer will comply with the procedures set out in Schedule 2 for the weighing, sampling and analysis of the Product at the Port of Loading and the Port of Discharge.
   
10.2. Intentionally Omitted.
   
11. DELIVERY, TITLE AND RISK
   
11.1. The Seller delivers the Product when the Seller makes the Product available to the Buyer on [●] basis. The Seller shall be solely responsible for all vessel arrangements and shall procure cargo insurance covering [●] of the Product value for each shipment and cooperate with the Buyer on any claims on such cargo insurance. If there is any inconsistency between Incoterms 2020 and the terms of this Agreement, this Agreement will prevail.
   
11.2. Title and risk in the Product shall pass from the Seller to the Buyer at the time of delivery of the Product (by being placed on board the Vessel at the Port of Loading) and upon issuance of the Bill of Lading.
   
11.3. The Buyer shall not be permitted to reject and/or refuse a shipment tendered for delivery in accordance with this Agreement, unless otherwise provided or excused in this Agreement. In the event that the Buyer fails to accept a shipment other than as permitted or excused under this Agreement, the Buyer shall nevertheless be obliged to effect payment of the Product in the shipment. The Seller and the Buyer are authorized to pursue the resale of the Product that the Buyer fails to accept a shipment to aim at mitigating the Buyer’s costs. If the Product not received by Buyer is resold, the resale buyer shall pay the Seller for the Product and the Seller shall credit to the Buyer the result of (i) the [●] (“Net Proceeds”) less (ii) any and all costs, fees, charges, losses incurred by Seller to resell the shipment, including incremental shipment costs (as compared to if Buyer had taken such shipment), dispatch/unloading, port charges, selling costs, costs to regularize the exportation of the Product, costs related to the change of the buyer, taxes and other governmental charges related to such change, and (iii) [●] the Net Proceeds.

 

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12. EXPORT & IMPORT LICENSES
   
12.1. The Seller is responsible for obtaining all export licenses required to export the Product under this Agreement and the Buyer is responsible for obtaining all import licenses required to import the Product under this Agreement.
   
12.2. The Buyer and the Seller shall comply with all applicable trade control compliance Laws, including export controls, import controls, and Sanctions, in connection with this Agreement.
   
13. SANCTIONS
   
13.1. On the date of this Agreement and throughout the term of this Agreement, each Party represents and warrants that it is not a Sanctioned Person and is not in violation of any Sanctions.
   
13.2. In the event that a Party reasonably believes that (i) the other Party has breached its obligations under Clause 13.1 or (ii) its performance of this Agreement may result in its own violation of Sanctions, such Party may terminate this Agreement (without prejudice to any other remedy available to the Party) by Notice to the other Party.
   
13.3. Each Party indemnifies and holds harmless the other Party from and against any claims, losses or damages arising from or in connection with a breach of Clause 13.1.
   
14. REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES
   
14.1. Each of the Parties represents and warrants that:

 

  (a) it is a company validly in existence and in good standing in the jurisdiction of its formation;
     
  (b) it has taken the proper corporate action, has full legal capacity and power, and holds necessary authorisations to enter into this Agreement and carry out relevant functions and perform relevant obligations under this Agreement; and
     
  (c) it has not suffered an Insolvency Event.

 

14.2. The Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer that, in respect of each shipment, immediately prior to the time of delivery of the Product at the Port of Loading:

 

  (a) it has the good and marketable title and exclusive right to sell the Product; and
     
  (b) the Product in the shipment will be transferred to the Buyer free and clear from any encumbrance on title created by through or under the Seller.

 

  The Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer and its Affiliates from and against any claims, losses or damages arising from or in connection with any breach of the representations and warranties in this Clause 14.2, with due observance of Clause 15.1.
   
14.3. Intentionally Omitted.
   
14.4. All other representations and warranties of the Parties not expressly stated in this Agreement are excluded to the extent permitted by the Applicable Law.
   
15. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY
   
15.1. Other than as expressly provided in this Agreement, under no circumstances will either Party be liable to the other Party for Consequential Losses of any nature.

 

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15.2. Each Party will defend, indemnify and hold the other Party harmless from and against any loss or damage arising from:

 

  (a) fines and penalties;
     
  (b) personal injury to, or damage to the property of, third persons (including the indemnified Party’s employees),

 

  incurred by or claimed against the indemnified Party, to the extent any such loss or damage is caused by the other Party’s negligence, wilful misconduct or violation of law in the performance or non-performance of its obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement.
   
15.3. For greater certainty, the exclusion of liability under Clause 15.1 does not apply to express amounts payable by a Party under Clauses 7 and 23.
   
15.4 This Clause 15 survives termination of this Agreement.
   
16. ASSIGNMENT
   
16.1. Except as allowed in Clauses 16.2 and 16.3, neither Party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party.
   
16.2. The Buyer may assign its right or obligations under this Agreement to its Affiliates (including but not limited to [●]) by giving written notice to the Seller. This Agreement shall enure to each Party’s successor and permitted assign.
   
16.3. The Seller may grant security (whether by way of charge, mortgage or otherwise) over all or any part of its right, title and interest in and to this Agreement (and all proceeds to be received under it) in favour of a financier (or a security trustee or agent on behalf of one or more financiers); provided that the financier and any security trustee or agent are not affected by any Applicable Law or Sanctions which would prevent the Buyer or its bank from dealing with the financier and any security trustee or agent or expose the Buyer or any of its Affiliates to a prohibition, penalty or punitive measure. Payment made by the Buyer to the payee specified in the Seller’s invoice of the full amount owed in respect of such invoice shall be in full discharge of the Buyer’s payment obligations to the Seller in respect of that invoice. Any such security grant will not affect the Seller’s obligations under this Agreement.
   
17. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION
   
17.1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following events each constitute an event of default in respect of the relevant Party (each an “Event of Default”):

 

  (a) the Buyer or the Seller is in breach of a material covenant, agreement or obligation under this Agreement (other than non-payment) and fails to remedy the breach within [●] of Notice from the non-defaulting Party specifying the breach and requiring it to be remedied;
     
  (b) the Buyer or the Seller suffers an Insolvency Event;
     
  (c) a delay by the Buyer in making any payment when due of any sum payable under this Agreement and such delay exceeds [●] Business Days. For clarity, this includes the payment by the Buyer of both the Shipment Invoice and the Final Invoice; or

 

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  (d) any shipment of Product is more than [●] behind the Shipment Schedule in the Rolling Forecast for any reason attributable to the Seller (including the Seller’s failure to perform due to fraud, wilful misconduct and gross negligence).

 

17.2. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default by the Buyer or the Seller (as applicable), in addition to any other rights or remedies the non-defaulting Party may have at common law, equity or otherwise, the non-defaulting Party may terminate this Agreement by Notice to the other Party.
   
17.3. Upon the occurrence of an event of default of the kind referred to in Clause 17.1(c) in respect of the Buyer, the Seller may, in addition to any other rights or remedies it may have at law, equity or otherwise, seek to repossess any Product which has been delivered but has not been paid for.
   
17.4. The termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever will be without prejudice to any obligations or rights on the part of a Party which have accrued prior to such termination and will not affect or prejudice any provision of this Agreement which is expressly or by implication provided to come into effect on, or continue in effect after such termination.
   
18. FORCE MAJEURE
   
18.1. For the purposes of this Clause 18, “Force Majeure” means any act, event or cause beyond the reasonable control of the Buyer or the Seller claiming relief under this Clause 18 which is not due to the fault or negligence of that Party and which that Party is not reasonably able to prevent or overcome and which includes (provided that the aforementioned requirements are met):

 

  (a) acts of God, pandemic, epidemic, terrorism, perils of sea, war, sabotage, riot, cyclone, earthquake, landslide, explosion, fire, strike and similar labor difficulties, or expropriation; or
     
  (b) significant change of government policies regulating the import and export of Product, compliance with any demand, order, direction or requirement of any government agency or authority, restraint by or of any government agency or authority;
     
  (c) loss of Product for the shipment due to a blockade at the Project, or curtailment of Product production by the operator under the Seller’s Product mining or crushing contract for the Project (provided that such curtailment, if occurred to the Seller, would qualify as Force Majeure in accordance with this Clause 18.1); or
     
  (d) inability to load or unload the shipment due to a blockage of the access channel at the Port of Loading, a blockage of the access channel at the Port of Discharge or inability to perform by the contractor under any haulage, stevedoring or port access contract entered into by the Seller for such shipment (provided that non-performance by the contractor, if occurred to the Seller, would qualify as Force Majeure in accordance with this Clause 18.1).
     
  Notwithstanding the above, the following shall not qualify as Force Majeure: (i) a Party’s ability to sell or purchase the Product at a more advantageous price than the price under this Agreement; (ii) change in a Party’s economic factors; or (iii) any event affecting facilities at or upstream of the Port of Loading or in respect of any vessel other than as would constitute Force Majeure pursuant to this Clause 18.1.

 

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18.2. If the Buyer or the Seller is or reasonably expects to be prevented from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement as a result of Force Majeure, after having knowledge of the act, event or cause constituting Force Majeure it must promptly give to the other Party notice of the nature of the Force Majeure, which obligations the notifying Party is precluded from performing (the “Affected Obligations”), the extent to which the Force Majeure precludes the notifying Party from performing its obligations (the “Precluded Extent”) and the likely duration of the disability resulting therefrom and must further notify the other Party forthwith upon cessation of any such disability.
   
18.3. The affected Party’s obligation to perform the Affected Obligations will, to the Precluded Extent, be suspended for the duration of the actual delay arising directly out of the Force Majeure.
   
18.4. The other Party’s obligations to perform any obligations dependent on the Affected Obligations will be suspended until the affected Party resumes performance.
   
18.5. A Party notifying Force Majeure must use reasonable endeavours to overcome such Force Majeure or remedy their disability resulting therefrom as promptly as possible provided that a Party will not be obliged to settle any strike or other labour difficulty upon terms which are not satisfactory to that Party (in its absolute discretion). The notifying Party must resume performance of its obligations under this Agreement without delay when such Force Majeure event is removed.
   
18.6. If the Buyer is the affected Party and is unable to accept the shipment as a consequence of the event of Force Majeure fifteen (15) days after the shipment’s arrival of the nominated Port of Discharge:

 

  (a) the Buyer may request that the Seller deliver the shipment to another Port of Discharge, with the Buyer bearing the additional shipping costs reasonably incurred therefor; and
     
  (b) where the Buyer does not make the request in clause (a) within five (5) days after the abovementioned fifteen (15) days have passed, the Seller may resell the shipment to a third party and; in case of this clause (b), the Buyer will forego its entitlement to such shipment other than receipt of a refund from the Seller of any payment previously made by the Buyer in respect of the Shipment Invoice for such shipment.

 

18.7. If the Seller is the affected Party and is unable to deliver the shipment at the Port of Loading as a consequence of the event of Force Majeure fifteen [●] after the latest date therefor set out in the Shipment Schedule, the Buyer shall be entitled to reschedule such shipment.
   
18.8. If Force Majeure continues for a consecutive period of more than [●], then the Party not affected may, at any time after such period has elapsed until the Force Majeure ends, terminate this Agreement by notice to the affected Party.
   
18.9. The foregoing provisions of this Clause 18 will not apply to excuse performance by a Party in the case of failure of any Party in performing any obligation to pay money when due under this Agreement, except that the Buyer will be relieved of its obligation to pay for Product not taken to the extent the Buyer is relieved from its obligation to take Product under this Agreement.

 

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19. ARBITRATION
   
19.1. If any Dispute arises between the Parties, then the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith for a period of not less than thirty (30) days from the date of notification of the Dispute to attempt to resolve the Dispute. If the Parties are unable to resolve the Dispute within that period, any Party may refer the matter in Dispute to binding arbitration. The arbitration will be administered in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC Arbitration Rules”) in force at the time of commencement of the arbitration (which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Clause 19) by three (3) arbitrators appointed in accordance with those rules, except as may otherwise be agreed by the Parties. The seat of arbitration will be Singapore. The language of the arbitration will be English.
   
19.2. The decision of the arbitration will be final and binding on the Parties and may be enforced by the courts of any relevant country. Each Party may be legally represented at the arbitration.
   
19.3. The costs of the arbitration must be borne by the unsuccessful Party, however the arbitral tribunal may apportion costs amongst the Parties under the SIAC Arbitration Rules.
   
19.4. During the period when a Dispute is being resolved, the Parties must in all respects other than the issue(s) in Dispute, continue their performance of this Agreement.
   
20. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
   
20.1. Unless otherwise agreed by the disclosing Party, all Confidential Information must be kept confidential and must not be used or disclosed except as required pursuant to this Agreement or:

 

  (a) with the prior written consent of the disclosing Party;
     
  (b) to an Affiliate;
     
  (c) to the extent required pursuant to an Applicable Law, or the rules of a recognised stock exchange, or the requirements by other administrative or judicial authorities, having first given opportunity to the disclosing Party to review the proposed disclosure (where possible having regard to those laws or rules) if not prohibited by such Applicable Law, rules of a recognized stock exchange, or relevant authorities; and
     
  (d) to independent consultants, advisers, prospective financiers or investors, contractors and employees of the Parties whose duties reasonably require such disclosure, provided that such recipient shall be bound by confidentiality obligations of the same degree as those set forth in this Agreement.

 

20.2. Clause 20.1 will not apply to information which:

 

  (a) is or hereafter becomes publicly known through no breach of an obligation arising under this Agreement;
     
  (b) was known to the recipient at the time the information was made known;
     
  (c) becomes known to the recipient from a source other than a Party without a breach of this Agreement; or
     
  (d) is required to be disclosed pursuant to an Applicable Law or the rules of a recognised stock exchange.

 

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20.3. Each Party agrees not to issue any press release or otherwise make any public disclosure with respect to the execution of this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other Party, unless, and only to the extent, required pursuant to Applicable Law or the rules of a recognised stock exchange (in which case, to the extent practicable, the Party intending to make such disclosure shall give reasonable advance Notice thereof to the other Party and give effect to any changes reasonably requested by the other Party).
   
20.4. This Clause 20 survives termination of this Agreement.
   
21. EXCLUSION OF VIENNA CONVENTION
   
21.1. The Parties agree and acknowledge that the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall not apply to this Agreement or to the sale and purchase of Product pursuant to this Agreement, now and at all times hereafter.
   
22. NOTICE

 

22.1. Any notice or other communication in connection with this Agreement (“Notice”) is to be in writing, signed by the Party giving it and it may be:

 

  (a) left at the address of the addressee by hand or courier;
     
  (b) sent by prepaid registered post or airmail to the address of the addressee;
     
  (c) sent by facsimile to the facsimile number of the addressee; or
     
  (d) sent by e-mail to the email address of the addressee,
     
    the particulars of which are as follows:

 

Seller

 

Address:   Rua Buenos Aires, 10, 14th floor, city of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Attention:   Marc Fogassa
E-mail:   [●]

 

Buyer

 

Address:   [●]
Attention:   [●]
E-mail:   [●]
     
or any other address or number which is notified by one Party to the other Party on at least five (5) Business Days’ prior notice in accordance with this Clause 22.1.

 

22.2. A Notice given in accordance with Clause 22.1 takes effect when taken to be received (or at a later time specified in it), and is taken to be received:

 

  (a) if hand delivered, on delivery;
     
  (b) if sent by prepaid registered post or airmail, on the seventh (7th) Business Day after the date of posting;

 

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  (c) if sent by email:

 

  (i) at the time shown in the delivery confirmation report generated by the sender’s email system; or
     
  (ii) if the sender’s email system does not generate a delivery confirmation report within twelve (12) hours of the time the email is sent, unless the sender receives a return email notification that the email was not delivered, undeliverable or similar, at the time which is twelve (12) hours from the time the email was sent,

 

  but if the delivery, receipt or transmission is not on a Business Day or is after 5:00pm on a Business Day, the Notice is taken to be received at 9:00am at the recipient’s address on the next Business Day.
   
23. TAXES, DUTIES ETC
   
23.1. The Seller is responsible for payment of all taxes, duties, excise, charges and imposts whether now or in the future levied or charged on the Seller’s activities or the Product sold under this Agreement up to when risk in the Product passes to the Buyer. For the sake of clarity, the Seller is responsible for payment of all port charges incurred at the Port of Loading.
   
23.2. The Buyer is responsible for payment of all taxes, duties, excise, charges and imposts whether now or in the future levied or charged on the Buyer’s activities or the Product sold under this Agreement at the time or after risk in the Product passes to the Buyer.
   
23.3. Any and all payments by the Buyer to the Seller under or pursuant to this Agreement or on account of any obligation hereunder shall be made free and clear and without reduction for withholding for any taxes, provided that if the Buyer is required by Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Buyer) to deduct or withhold any taxes from such payments then (a) the amount payable by the Buyer shall be increased so that after making all required deductions or withholdings the Seller receives an amount equal to the amount it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made and (b) the Buyer shall make such deductions, timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with Applicable Law and provide the Seller with official receipts or other evidence satisfactory to the Seller of each such payment.
   
24. GOVERNING LAW
   
  This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
   
25. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
   
25.1. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement replaces all previous agreements and understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
   
26. VARIATION
   
26.1. No modification of this Agreement will be made except by mutual agreement of the Buyer and the Seller in writing.
   
26.2. Intentionally Omitted.

 

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27. RELATIONSHIP
   
  This Agreement does not create a relationship of employment, agency, joint venture, legal representation, or partnership between the Parties.
   
28. FURTHER ASSURANCES
   
  Each Party must do all things and execute all further documents necessary to give full effect to this Agreement and their obligations under it. The Parties agree to perform this Agreement in good faith.
   
29. SEVERABILITY
   
29.1. Any provision of, or the application of any provision of, this Agreement or any right, power, authority, discretion or remedy conferred by this Agreement that is prohibited in any jurisdiction is, in that jurisdiction, ineffective only to the extent of that prohibition.
   
29.2. Any provision of, or the application of any provision of, this Agreement that is void, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction does not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of that provision in any other jurisdiction or of the remaining provisions in that or any other jurisdiction.
   
30. COUNTERPARTS
   
  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by way of electronic signature), each of which shall be deemed for all purposes to be an original and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A copy of a signed counterpart:

 

  (a) shall be treated as an original counterpart;
     
  (b) is sufficient evidence of execution of the original; and
     
  (c) may be produced in evidence for all purposes in place of the original.

 

31. LIABILITY FOR EXPENSES
   
  Each Party must pay its own expenses incurred in negotiating and executing this Agreement.
   
32. ANTI-BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
   
32.1. Each Party represents and warrants to the other Party as follows:

 

  (a) it will comply with all Applicable Laws;
     
  (b) it will not engage in or tolerate any form of bribery or corruption whatsoever whether direct or indirect, including the making of (or authorisation of) an offer, payment or promise to pay anything of value to unlawfully influence any Person, including in the form of money, property, gifts, promises to give, or anything else of value;
     
  (c) it will not do, or omit to do, anything that may cause the other Party to be in breach of any Applicable Laws or, for avoidance of doubt, subject to or in violation of Sanctions;
     
  (d) from time to time, as required by the other Party, it will provide such information as reasonably required to establish that it has complied, and is complying, with all Applicable Laws; and

 

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  (e) it will otherwise comply with the other Party’s anti-bribery and corruption policy as advised from time to time.

 

32.2. Each Party shall:

 

  (a) maintain adequate internal controls over all transactions in relation to this Agreement, or made on behalf of the other Party;
     
  (b) properly record all transactions in relation to this Agreement or made on behalf of the other Party; and
     
  (c) maintain accurate books and records in relation to each transaction in relation to this Agreement for a period of no less than seven (7) years from the date of such transaction.

 

32.3. In the event that a Party reasonably believes that the other Party has breached any of its obligations under Clause 32.1 or Clause 32.2 or is subject to Sanctions, such Party may suspend performance of this Agreement (without prejudice to any other remedy available to the Party) by Notice to the other Party. In the event of such suspension, the breaching Party shall not be entitled to receive any compensation in respect of the suspension. For the avoidance of doubt, any breach of any of obligations under Clause 32.1 or Clause 32.2 by a Party shall be immediately deemed to be an Event of Default under Clause 17.1(a).
   
33. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
   
  This Agreement shall not create any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 2001 (2020 Revised Edition) of Singapore which is enforceable by any Person which is not a Party.
   
34. NO WAIVER
   
34.1. Save as otherwise expressly provided herein, no waiver by any Party of any defaults by the other in the performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or further default or defaults whether of a like or different character. Any waiver by a Party must be in writing.
   
34.2. No failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single partial exercise by that Party of any right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
   
35. EFFECTIVENESS OF CLOSING
   
35.1. The Parties acknowledge that, on or prior to the Execution Date, closing of the transaction contemplated under the Securities Purchase Agreement has occurred and the Buyer or its Affiliates have invested the Subscription Amount (as defined therein) in Atlas Corp.

 

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[Signature page of the Offtake and Sales Agreement between Atlas Lítio do Brasil Ltda. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd., dated [—]]

 

EXECUTED by Atlas Lítio do Brasil Ltda. by its duly authorised representative:   EXECUTED by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. by its duly authorised representative:
     
     
Signature of Authorised Representative:   Signature of Authorised Representative:
     
     
Signature of Witness    
     
     
Name    
     
     
Name    

 

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[●]

 

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EX-99.1 6 ex99-1.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

ATLAS LITHIUM SECURES US$ 30,000,000 STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND OFFTAKE AGREEMENT FROM MITSUI

 

BOCA RATON, Florida — (March 28, 2024) – Atlas Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ: ATLX), a lithium exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it has signed definitive investment and offtake agreements with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”) which the Company considers as strong validation of its project and team. Mitsui is purchasing US$ 30,000,000 in common shares of Atlas Lithium at a 10% premium to the 5-day VWAP (the “Strategic Investment”) and at the same time entering into an Offtake Agreement (the “Offtake”) for the future purchase of 15,000 tons of lithium concentrate from Phase 1 and 60,000 tons per year for five years from Phase 2 of Atlas Lithium’s soon to be producing Neves Project in Brazil’s Lithium Valley. The Strategic Investment provides Atlas Lithium with immediately available funds to continue its rapid development towards revenue generation with the production and sale of high-quality, low cost, environmentally sustainable lithium concentrate.

 

Mitsui and Atlas Lithium entered a Memorandum of Understanding as announced in January 2023 and the two companies have since developed a close rapport which has included multiple due diligence visits by Mitsui executives and technical experts to the Company’s project, and visits by Atlas Lithium’s management to several of Mitsui’s offices in Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Japan. The Strategic Investment is a culmination of the mutual interest in growing Atlas Lithium. It delivers additional financing to allow Atlas Lithium to continue to aggressively advance its development towards operation of an open pit lithium mine and spodumene concentrating facility by the fourth quarter of 2024. Mitsui has a strong presence in Brazil dating from 1960 and a long history of profitable mining investments in the country.

 

“Today marks a significant milestone for Atlas Lithium as we progress towards our goal of becoming a key lithium supplier to the global EV battery materials supply chain. Mitsui’s investment reflects confidence in our team, assets, and business model,” stated Marc Fogassa, CEO and Chairman of Atlas Lithium. “I am honored and humbled to be here in Tokyo signing this historical agreement for Atlas Lithium that will undoubtedly result in great value creation for our shareholders. I have watched the relationship of our companies grow and I believe that this partnership with Mitsui strengthens Atlas Lithium substantially.”

 

 

 

 

Figure 1: Signing Ceremony with Marc Fogassa, Atlas Lithium CEO and Chairman, and Akinobu Hashimoto, General Manager, Mitsui’s New Metals & Aluminum Division.

 

 

 

Figure 2: Atlas Lithium Management Joined by Mitsui Senior Executives, Including Tetsuya Fukuda, Chief Operating Officer, Mineral & Metal Resources Business Unit, and Masaya Inamuro, General Manager, Corporate Planning & Strategy Division.

 

Closing of the investment is expected within ten days, subject to customary approvals. Additional details are provided on a Form 8-K form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. Atlas Lithium’s advisor is Goldman Sachs & Co. and its legal counsel is DLA Piper U.S.

 

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About Atlas Lithium Corporation

 

Atlas Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ: ATLX) is focused on advancing and developing its 100%-owned hard-rock lithium project in Brazil’s Lithium Valley, a well-known lithium district in the state of Minas Gerais. In addition, Atlas Lithium has 100% ownership of mineral rights for other battery and critical metals including nickel, rare earths, titanium, graphite, and copper. The Company also owns equity stakes in Apollo Resources Corp. (private company; iron) and Jupiter Gold Corp. (OTCQB: JUPGF) (gold and quartzite).

 

About Mitsui

 

Mitsui & Co. is a global trading and investment company with a presence in more than 60 countries and a diverse business portfolio covering a wide range of industries. The company identifies, develops, and grows its businesses in partnership with a global network of trusted partners including world leading companies, combining its geographic and cross-industry strengths to create long-term sustainable value for its stakeholders. Mitsui has set three key strategic initiatives for its current Medium-term Management Plan: supporting industries to grow and evolve with stable supplies of resources and materials, and providing infrastructure; promoting a global transition to low-carbon and renewable energy; and empowering people to lead healthy lives through the delivery of quality healthcare and access to good nutrition. Visit www.mitsui.com for more information.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements are based upon the current plans, estimates and projections of Atlas Lithium and its subsidiaries and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the forward- looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning market and industry segment growth and demand and acceptance of new and existing products; any projections of production, reserves, sales, earnings, revenue, margins or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; uncertainties related to conducting business in Brazil, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: results from ongoing geotechnical analysis of projects; business conditions in Brazil; general economic conditions, geopolitical events, and regulatory changes; availability of capital; Atlas Lithium’s ability to maintain its competitive position; manipulative attempts by short sellers to drive down our stock price; and dependence on key management.

 

Additional risks related to the Company and its subsidiaries are more fully discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 27, 2024. Please also refer to the Company’s other filings with the SEC, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

Investor Relations:

 

Brian Bernier

Vice President, Investor Relations

+1 (833) 661-7900

bwb@atlas-lithium.com

https://www.atlas-lithium.com/

@Atlas_Lithium

 

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