FORM OF INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [•], 202_, by and among Griid Infrastructure Inc. (f/k/a Adit EdTech Acquisition Corp.), a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the parties listed as Investors on Schedule I hereto (each, including any person or entity who hereinafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).
WHEREAS, the Company, ADEX Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub”), and Griid Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Griid”) have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 29, 2021 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub merged with and into Griid, with Griid being the surviving company (the “Merger”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, the Company, Adit EdTech Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”) and Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx (such individuals, collectively, the “ADEX Holders”) are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 11, 2021 (the “Prior ADEX Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Sponsor and the ADEX Holders currently hold, in the aggregate, 6,900,000 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”);
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased warrants to purchase up to 7,270,000 shares of Common Stock, at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share, in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, all of which are currently outstanding and held by the Sponsor (the “Private Placement Warrants”);
WHEREAS, the Prior ADEX Agreement provided for, among other things, certain registration rights with respect to the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Warrants and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, which may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company (the “Working Capital Warrants”);
WHEREAS, certain investors in Griid (“Griid Investors”) held, immediately prior to the Effective Time under (and as defined in) the Merger Agreement (a) units of the Company designated as Class A Units under the Griid LLC Agreement (as defined below) (“Griid Class A Units”); (b) units of the Company designated as Class B Units under the Griid LLC Agreement (“Griid Class B Units”); and (c) units of the Company designated as Class C Units under the Griid LLC Agreement (“Griid Class C Units” and together with Griid Class A Units and Griid Class B Units, the “Griid Units”);
1
WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, the Griid Units were exchanged for shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company, the Sponsor and the ADEX Holders desire to terminate the Prior ADEX Agreement pursuant to Section 6.7 thereof to provide for the terms and conditions included herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:
“Addendum Agreement” is defined in Section 6.2.
“Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ADEX Holders” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ADEX Investors” shall mean the investors listed under such caption on Schedule I hereto.
“Block Trade” means any non-marketed underwritten offering taking the form of a block trade to financial institutions, QIBs or Institutional Accredited Investors, bought deals, over-night deals or similar transactions that do not include “road show” presentations to potential investors requiring marketing effort from management over multiple days.
“Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks in New York, New York are open for the general transaction of business.
“Common Stock” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Closing Date” is the date of the closing of the Merger.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Effectiveness Period” is defined in Section 3.1.2.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Form 10 Disclosure Filing Date” means the date on which the Company shall file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K that includes current “Form 10 information” (within the meaning of Rule 144) reflecting the Company’s status as an entity that is no longer an issuer described in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of Rule 144.
2
“Form S-1” means a Registration Statement on Form S-1.
“Form S-3” means a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration that may be available at such time.
“Founder Shares” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Griid Class A Units” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Griid Class B Units” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Griid Class C Units” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Griid Investors” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Griid LLC Agreement” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Griid, dated as of November 23, 2021, by and among Griid and the Holders party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the applicable provisions thereof.
“Griid Units” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Holders” means all Persons who hold one or more Griid Units prior to the Closing Date.
“Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institutional “accredited” investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
“Investor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.
“Merger” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Merger Agreement” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“New Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.1.4.
“Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.
“Permitted Transferee” means (i) the members of an Investor’s immediate family (for purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean with respect to any natural person, any of the following: such person’s spouse, the siblings of such person and his or her spouse, and the direct descendants and ascendants (including adopted and step children and parents) of such person and his or her spouses and siblings); (ii) any trust or family limited liability company or partnership for the direct or indirect benefit of an Investor or the immediate family of an Investor; (iii) if an Investor is a trust, to the trustor or beneficiary of such trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; (iv) any officer, director, general partner, limited partner, shareholder, member, or owner of similar equity interests in an Investor; or (v) any affiliate of an Investor.
3
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated organization or association, trust, joint venture or other similar entity, whether or not a legal entity.
“Prior ADEX Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Private Placement Warrants” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“QIB” means “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
“Registration” means a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) all shares of Common Stock held by the Investors as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) the Private Placement Warrants (and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (iii) the Working Capital Warrants, if any (and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Working Capital Warrants) and (iv) all shares of Common Stock issued to any Investor with respect to the securities referenced in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) by way of any share split, share dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, share exchange, share re-designation, share reconstruction, amalgamation, contractual control arrangement or similar event. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (d) such securities shall have become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without regard to volume, manner of sale or information requirements thereunder.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).
“Resale Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.1.1.
4
“Rule 415 Notice” is defined in Section 2.14.
“SEC Guidance” is defined in Section 2.1.4.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Transactions” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Working Capital Warrants” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
2.1 Resale Shelf Registration Rights.
2.1.1 Registration Statement Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. Provided compliance by the Investors with Section 3.4, the Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the Commission, no later than thirty (30) days following the Closing Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or its successor form, or, if the Company is ineligible to use Form S-3, a Registration Statement on Form S-1, for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act registering the resale from time to time by Investors of all of the Registrable Securities then held by such Investors that are not covered by an effective resale registration statement (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as possible after filing, and in no event later than ninety (90) days after the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is filed with the Commission, and once effective, to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act at all times until the expiration of the Effectiveness Period. In the event that the Company files a Form S-1 pursuant to this Section 2.1, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to File a Form S-3 with the purpose of replacing the Form S-1 promptly after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. The Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall provide that the Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Investors. Without limiting the foregoing, subject to any comments from the Commission, each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1.1 shall include a “plan of distribution” approved by Griid Investors holding a majority of the shares held by the Griid Investors.
2.1.2 Notification and Distribution of Materials. The Company shall promptly notify the Investors in writing of the effectiveness of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and shall furnish to them, without charge, such number of copies of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (including any amendments, supplements and exhibits), the prospectus contained therein (including each preliminary prospectus and all related amendments and supplements) and any documents incorporated by reference in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or such other documents as the Investors may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale of the Registrable Securities in the manner described in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement.
2.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1.1 above, the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission from time to time such amendments and supplements to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all the Registrable Securities during the Effectiveness Period.
5
2.1.4 Reduction of Shelf Offering. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2.1, in the event the Commission informs the Company (the “Rule 415 Notice”) that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file an amendment or amendments to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”), in either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S-1, Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff, including, without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09 (the “SEC Guidance”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced on a pro rata basis, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Investors must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Investors. In the event the Company amends the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-1, Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement.
No Investor shall be named as an “underwriter” in any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2 without the Investor’s prior written consent; provided that if the Commission requests that an Investor be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, then such Investor will have the option, in its sole and absolute discretion, to either (i) have the opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement upon its prompt written request to the Company, in which case the Company’s obligation to register such Investor’s Registrable Securities shall be deemed satisfied or (ii) be included as such in the Registration Statement. Each Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to (and shall be subject to the approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, of) the Investors prior to its filing with, or other submission to, the Commission.
6
2.1.5 Notice of Certain Events. The Company shall promptly notify the Investors in writing of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to, or additional information in connection with, the Resale Shelf Registration Statement required to be prepared and filed hereunder (or prospectus relating thereto). The Company shall promptly notify each Investor in writing of the filing of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or any prospectus, amendment or supplement related thereto or any post-effective amendment to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment.
2.1.6 Block Trade. If the Company shall receive a request from the holders of Registrable Securities with an estimated market value of at least $10,000,000 that the Company effect the sale of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities in a Block Trade, then the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, initiate the offering in such Block Trade of the Registrable Securities for which such requesting holder has requested such offering under Section 2.1.6.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as reasonably possible, and in connection with any such request:
3.1.1 Copies. The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such holders’ legal counsel, copies (which may be via e-mail) of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case, including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus), and such other documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.
3.1.2 Amendments and Supplements. The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until the date on which no Registrable Securities remain outstanding (the “Effectiveness Period”).
3.1.3 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) Business Days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) Business Days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration
7
Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an 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 promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon.
3.1.4 Securities Laws Compliance. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may reasonably request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.
3.1.5 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering, the preparation of a comfort letter, if applicable, and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.
3.1.6 Transfer Agent. The Company shall provide and maintain a transfer agent and registrar for the Registrable Securities.
3.1.7 Earnings Statement. The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.
8
3.1.8 Listing. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated.
3.2 Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.3(iv), or, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a good faith reasonable determination of the board of directors of the Company that (i) the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would require the Company to disclose any material nonpublic information which would reasonably be likely to be detrimental to the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) the disposition of the Registrable Securities would otherwise be reasonably likely to be detrimental to the Company and its subsidiaries, each holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.3(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in the Company’s securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company or destroy all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. The foregoing right to delay or suspend may be exercised by the Company only twice for no longer than sixty (60) days each and for no longer than ninety (90) days in total in any consecutive 12-month period.
3.3 Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Resale Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1, any Block Trade pursuant to Section 2.1.6 (other than expenses set forth below in clause (ix) of this Section 3.3), and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company; (viii) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; and (ix) the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration not to exceed $35,000. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders, but the Company shall pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the securities it sells for its own account.
3.4 Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with Federal and applicable state securities laws.
9
3.5 Other Obligations.
3.5.1 At any time and from time to time after the expiration of any lock-up to which such shares are subject, if any, in connection with a sale or transfer of Registrable Securities exempt from registration under the Securities Act or through any broker-dealer transactions described in the plan of distribution set forth within any prospectus and pursuant to the Registration Statement of which such prospectus forms a part, the Company shall, subject to the receipt of customary documentation required from the applicable holders in connection therewith, (i) promptly instruct its transfer agent to remove any restrictive legends applicable to the Registrable Securities being sold or transferred and (ii) cause its legal counsel to deliver the necessary legal opinions, if any, to the transfer agent in connection with the instruction under subclause (i). In addition, the Company shall cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by such holders in connection with the aforementioned sales or transfers.
3.5.2 The stock certificates evidencing the Registrable Securities (and/or book entries representing the Registrable Securities) held by each Investor shall not contain or be subject to any legend restricting the transfer thereof (and the Registrable Securities shall not be subject to any stop transfer or similar instructions or notations): (A) while a Registration Statement covering the sale or resale of such securities is effective under the Securities Act, or (B) if such Investor provides customary paperwork to the effect that it has sold such shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (C) if such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144(b)(1) as set forth in customary non-affiliate paperwork provided by such Investor, or (D) if at any time on or after the date that is one year after the Form 10 Disclosure Filing Date such Investor certifies that it is not an affiliate of the Company and that such Investor’s holding period for purposes of Rule 144 in respect of such Registrable Securities is at least six (6) months, or (E) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) as determined in good faith by counsel to the Company or set forth in a legal opinion delivered by nationally recognized counsel to the Investor (collectively, the “Unrestricted Conditions”). The Company agrees that following the date that the Resale Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission (the “Registration Date”) or at such time as any of the Unrestricted Conditions is met or such legend is otherwise no longer required it will, no later than two (2) Business Days following the delivery by an Investor to the Company or its transfer agent of a certificate representing any Registrable Securities, issued with a restrictive legend, (or, in the case of Registrable Securities represented by book entries, delivery by an Investor to the Company or its transfer agent of a legend removal request) deliver or cause to be delivered to such Investor a certificate or, at the request of such Investor, deliver or cause to be delivered such Registrable Securities to such Investor by crediting the account of such Investor’s prime broker with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (DWAC) system, in each case, free from all restrictive and other legends and stop transfer or similar instructions or notations. If any of the Unrestricted Conditions is met at the time of issuance of any Registrable Securities (e.g., upon exercise of warrants), then such securities shall be issued free of all legends. Each Investor shall have the right to pursue any remedies available to it hereunder, or otherwise at law or in equity, including a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief, with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock without legend as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
10
3.5.3 As long as Registrable Securities remain outstanding the Company shall (a) cause the Common Stock to be eligible for clearing through DTC, through its DWAC system; (b) be eligible and participating in the Direct Registration System (DRS) of DTC with respect to the Common Stock; (c) ensure that the transfer agent for the Common Stock is a participant in, and that the Common Stock is eligible for transfer pursuant to, DTC’s Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (or successor thereto); and (d) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Common Stock not to at any time be subject to any DTC “chill,” “freeze” or similar restriction with respect to any DTC services, including the clearing of shares of Common Stock through DTC, and, in the event the Common Stock becomes subject to any DTC “chill,” “freeze” or similar restriction with respect to any DTC services, use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such “chill,” “freeze” or similar restriction to be removed at the earliest possible time.
4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein or to the extent relates to any selling holder’s or failure to sell the Registrable Securities in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the prospectus.
11
4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each selling holder of Registrable Securities will, in the event that any Registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers, and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made expressly in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent it relates to any selling holder’s or failure to sell the Registrable Securities in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the prospectus, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.
4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel, which counsel is reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Party) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of
12
both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.
4.4 Contribution.
4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 4.4.1.
4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
5. UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION.
5.1 Rule 144. The Company covenants that it shall timely file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the scope of the safe harbor provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
13
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
6.1 Other Registration Rights and Arrangements. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (a) a holder of the Registrable Securities and holders of the Company’s warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share, issued in the Company’s initial public offering, and (b) the lenders from time to time under that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2021, by and among Griid Infrastructure LLC, Griid Holdings LLC, the lenders from time to time a party thereto, and Blockchain Access UK Limited, has any right to require the Company to register any of the Company’s capital stock for sale or to include the Company’s capital stock in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other person. The parties hereby terminate the Prior ADEX Agreement, which shall be of no further force and effect and is hereby superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement. The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement and in the event of any conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
6.2 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any permitted transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder to a Permitted Transferee. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the holders of Registrable Securities and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Section 4 and this Section 6.2. The rights of a holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement may be transferred by such a holder to a transferee who acquires or holds Registrable Securities; provided, however, that such transferee has executed and delivered to the Company a properly completed agreement to be bound by the terms of this Agreement substantially in form attached hereto as Exhibit A (an “Addendum Agreement”), and the transferor shall have delivered to the Company no later than thirty (30) days following the date of the transfer, written notification of such transfer setting forth the name of the transferor, the name and address of the transferee, and the number of Registrable Securities so transferred. The execution of an Addendum Agreement shall constitute a permitted amendment of this Agreement.
14
6.3 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects an Investor, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from other Investors (in such capacity) shall require the consent of such Investor so affected. No course of dealing between any Investor or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of an Investor or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Investor or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
6.4 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the date as of which there shall be no Registrable Securities outstanding; provided, however, that such termination as to an Investor shall not apply to the following provisions until such Investor no longer holds any Registrable Securities: Sections 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.6, 3.1.7, 3.1.8, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4, 5, 6.3 and 6.5.
6.5 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given) by delivery in person, by facsimile (having obtained electronic delivery confirmation thereof), e-mail (having obtained electronic delivery confirmation thereof), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) (upon receipt thereof) to the other parties hereto as follows:
If to the Company, to:
Attention: [•]
Facsimile: [•]
E-mail: [•]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
New York, NY 10022
Attention: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxxx Xxxxx |
E-mail: | xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx |
xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx |
xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx; |
If to an Investor, to:
the address set forth under such Investor’s signature to this Agreement or to such Investor’s address as found in the Company’s books and records or to such other address as the party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
15
6.6 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.
6.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
6.8 Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions, including the applicable statute of limitations, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
6.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written, including, without limitation the Prior Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Investor Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
GRIID INFRASTRUCTURE INC. |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Investor Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
INVESTORS: |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
Addendum Agreement
This Addendum Agreement (“Addendum Agreement”) is executed on __________________, 20___, by the undersigned (the “New Holder”) pursuant to the terms of that certain Investor Rights Agreement dated as of [•], 2021 (the “Agreement”), by and among the Company and the Investors identified therein, as such Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Addendum Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement. By the execution of this Addendum Agreement, the New Holder agrees as follows:
1. Acknowledgment. New Holder acknowledges that New Holder is acquiring certain shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) as a transferee of such shares of Common Stock from a party in such party’s capacity as a holder of Registrable Securities under the Agreement, and after such transfer, New Holder shall be considered an “Investor” and a holder of Registrable Securities for all purposes under the Agreement.
2. Agreement. New Holder hereby (a) agrees that the shares of Common Stock shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Agreement and (b) adopts the Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Holder were originally a party thereto.
3. Notice. Any notice required or permitted by the Agreement shall be given to New Holder at the address or facsimile number listed below New Holder’s signature below.
NEW HOLDER: | ACCEPTED AND AGREED: | |||||||
Print Name: | GRIID INFRASTRUCTURE INC. | |||||||
By: | By: |
SCHEDULE I
ADEX Investors
[•]
Griid Investors
[•]