Document

Exhibit 4.4


INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT


THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of September 29, 2021, by and among Benson Hill, Inc. (f/k/a Star Peak Corp II), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the parties listed as Investors on Schedule I hereto (each, including any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.2, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).


WHEREAS, the Company, Benson Hill Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Benson Hill, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“BHI”), and STPC II Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 8, 2021 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into BHI (the “Merger”), with BHI surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;


WHEREAS, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the pre-existing holders of BHI securities received shares of common stock, par value
$0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) upon the closing of such transactions;


WHEREAS, prior to the Merger, Star Peak Sponsor II, LLC (including any successor entity thereto, the “Sponsor”) held 9,982,500 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”) and other holders held an aggregate of 80,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, which were received from the Sponsor;


WHEREAS, on January 5, 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased 6,553,454 warrants in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Private Placement Warrants”);


WHEREAS, upon consummation of the Merger and immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, each share of Class B Common Stock automatically converted into one share of Common Stock, on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”); and


WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of January 8, 2021 (the “Prior Agreement”), by and among the Company and the Existing Investors (as defined below) pursuant to which the Company granted the Existing Investors certain registration and stockholder rights with respect to certain securities of the Company.


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 7.2.


“Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement. 
“BHI” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Block Trade” means any non-marketed underwritten offering taking the form of a block trade to a financial institution, QIB or Institutional Accredited Investor, bought deal, over-night deal or similar transaction 
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that does not include “road show” presentations to potential investors requiring substantial marketing effort from management over multiple days, the issuance of a “comfort letter” by the Company’s auditors, and the issuance of legal opinions by the Company’s legal counsel.


“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.


“Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time.


“Certificate of Incorporation” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
 “Class B Common Stock” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement. 
“Closing Date” is defined in the Merger Agreement.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.


“Common Stock” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement. 
“Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement. 
“Company Board” is defined in Section 3.1.1.
“Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.


“Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.2.1.


“Effectiveness Period” is defined in Section 3.1.3.


“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.


“Existing Investors” means any holders of Founder Shares or Private Placement Warrants prior to the Merger and party hereto or any such holder’s Permitted Transferees.


“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” means those shares of Class B Common Stock granted to Existing Investors prior to the date hereof and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Sponsor Earn Out Shares (as defined in that certain Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2021 by and among the Company, BHI, Sponsor and the other parties thereto).


“Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.


“Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.


“Insider Letter” means that certain letter agreement, dated January 8, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees.
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“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.


“Joint Nominee” is defined in Section 6.1.1.


“Maximum Number of Securities” is defined in Section 2.2.4.


“Merger Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement. 
“Merger Sub” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“New Investors” means any Investors party to this Agreement, other than the Existing Investors. 
“New Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.1.4.
“Nominee” is defined in Section 6.1.1.


“Notices” is defined in Section 7.5.


“Permitted Transferee” means any person or entity to whom an Investor is permitted to transfer Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of any applicable lock-up period under the Insider Letter and/or any other applicable agreement between such Investor and the Company, and any transferee thereafter.


“Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.3.1.


“Prior Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.


“Private Placement Warrants” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
 “Pro Rata” is defined in Section 2.2.4.
“QIB” means “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.


“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Founder Shares, (ii) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any Private Placement Warrants), (iii) any outstanding shares of the Common Stock or any other equity security of the Company held by an Investor as of the date of this Agreement and (iv) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the securities referenced in clauses (i) through (iii), including by way of any share split, share dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, share exchange, 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 pursuant to 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 shall not require registration under the Securities Act; or (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.


“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.
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“Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company or its successor 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).


“Requesting Holder” is defined in Section 2.2.1.


“Resale Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.1.1.


“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
 “SEC Guidance” is defined in Section 2.1.4.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.


“Sponsor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.


“Sponsor Director” means an individual elected to the Company Board that has been nominated by the Sponsor pursuant to this Agreement.


“Underwriter” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.


“Underwritten Demand Registration” shall mean an underwritten public offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration, as amended or supplemented, that is a fully marketed underwritten offering for which management of the Company is obligated to, if required by Section 3.1.13 hereof, participate in “road show” presentations to potential investors requiring substantial marketing effort from management, and subject to diligence customary in underwritten offerings, including the issuance of a “comfort letter” by the Company’s auditors and the issuance of legal opinions by the Company’s legal counsel.


“Underwritten Takedown” shall mean an underwritten public offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, that is a fully marketed underwritten offering for which management of the Company is obligated to, if required by Section 3.1.13 hereof, participate in “road show” presentations to potential investors requiring substantial marketing effort from management, and subject to diligence customary in underwritten offerings, including the issuance of a “comfort letter” by the Company’s auditors and the issuance of legal opinions by the Company’s legal counsel.


2.REGISTRATION RIGHTS.


2.1Resale Shelf Registration Rights.


2.1.1Registration Statement Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. Provided compliance by the Investors with Section 3.4, to the extent no such Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission prior to the date hereof, the Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the Commission, as soon as practicable 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 (such Registration Statement, or any such Registration Statement filed with the Commission prior to the date hereof, the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as possible after filing, and 
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in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date of this Agreement, 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 convert the Form S-1 to a Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.


2.1.2Notification and Distribution of Materials. The Company shall 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.


2.1.3Amendments 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 Registrable Securities during the Effectiveness Period.


2.1.4Registration of Additional Registrable Securities.


(i)    If a Resale Shelf Registration Statement is then effective, within ten (10) Business Days after written request therefore by a Permitted Transferee holding Registrable Securities not covered by an effective Resale Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall file a post-effective amendment, prospectus supplement or current report on Form 8-K to add such Permitted Transferee as a selling stockholder in such Resale Shelf Registration Statement to the extent permitted under the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.


(ii)    The registration rights granted pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.1.4 shall be in addition to the registration rights granted pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 and  Section 2.3.


2.1.5Reduction of Shelf Offering. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2.1, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”), 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 (the “SEC Guidance”), including, without limitation, the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations D.29. 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 
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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.


2.1.6Notice 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.


2.1.7Underwritten Takedown. If the Company shall receive a request from either (x) Existing Investors that hold at least a majority-in-interest of the outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Existing Investors, or (y) New Investors that hold at least a majority-in-interest of the outstanding Registrable Securities held by all New Investors, that the Company effect an Underwritten Takedown of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities of the requesting Investor(s), then the Company shall promptly give notice of such requested Underwritten Takedown at least seven (7) Business Days prior to the anticipated filing date of the prospectus or supplement relating to such Underwritten Takedown to the other Investors and thereupon shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect, as expeditiously as possible, the offering in such Underwritten Takedown of:


(i)subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.2.4, all Registrable Securities for which the requesting holder has requested such offering under Section 2.1.7, and


(ii)subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.2.4, all other Registrable Securities that any holders of Registrable Securities have requested the Company to offer by request received by the Company within two (2) Business Days after such holders receive the Company’s notice of the Underwritten Takedown, all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be offered.


(a)Promptly after the expiration of the two-Business Day-period referred to in Section 2.1.7(ii), the Company will notify all selling holders of the identities of the other selling holders and the number of shares of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein.


(b)the Company shall only be required to effectuate three Underwritten Takedowns by the Investors within any 12-month period after giving effect to Section 2.2.1(i).


2.1.8Block 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, effect the offering in such Block Trade of the Registrable Securities for which such requesting holder has requested such offering under Section 2.1.7.


2.1.9Selection of Underwriters. Selling holders holding a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities requested to be sold in an Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select an Underwriter or Underwriters in connection with such Underwritten Takedown, which Underwriter or Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. In connection with an Underwritten Takedown, the Company shall enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Takedown, including, if necessary, the engagement of a “qualified independent underwriter” in connection with the qualification of the underwriting arrangements with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.


2.1.10Underwritten Takedowns effected pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.2.
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2.2Demand Registration.


2.2.1Request for Registration. At any time and from time to time after the expiration of any lock-up period to which a Demanding Holder’s shares are subject, if any, provided compliance by the Demanding Holders with Section 3.4, and provided further there is not an effective Resale Shelf Registration Statement available for the resale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, (x) Existing Investors that hold at least a majority- in-interest of the outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Existing Investors or (y) New Investors that hold at least a majority-in-interest of the outstanding Registrable Securities held by all New Investors, in each case (the “Demanding Holders”), may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form Registration or, if then available, on Form S-3. Each Registration requested pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 is referred to herein as a “Demand Registration”. Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will notify all Investors that are holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, and each such holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.2.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company shall not be obligated to effect: (i) more than three Demand Registration during any 12-month period or (ii) any Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 at any time there is an effective Resale Shelf Registration Statement on file with the Commission pursuant to Section 2.1 that is available for resale of the Registrable Securities subject to Demand Registration.


2.2.2Effective Registration. A Registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.


2.2.3Underwritten Demand Registration. If the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Demand Registration. In such event, the right of any such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such Underwritten Demand Registration and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Demand Registration to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders or Requesting Holders (if any) proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Demand Registration under this Section 2.2.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Underwritten Demand Registration by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration. The parties agree that, in order to be effected, any Underwritten Demand Registration must be reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds to the selling stockholders of at least $10,000,000.


2.2.4Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for an Underwritten Demand Registration advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that, in such Underwriter’s or Underwriters’ opinion, the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back 
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registration rights held by other stockholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of securities that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1 (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder has requested be included in such Demand Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders together have requested be included in such Demand Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, as to which “piggy-back” registration has been requested by the holders thereof that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.


2.2.5Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such Demand Registration by giving written notice to Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering, then either the Demanding Holders shall reimburse Company for the costs associated with the withdrawn registration (in which case such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.2.1) or the withdrawn registration shall count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.2.1.


2.3Piggy-Back Registration.


2.3.1Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time after the expiration of any applicable lock-up period to which an Investor’s shares are subject, if any, provided compliance by the Investors with Section 3.4, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for stockholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.2.1), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (a) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (b) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.


2.3.2Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock which the Company desires to sell, taken together with Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual 
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arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder and the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.3, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:


(a)If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such registration: (i) first, the Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, Pro Rata; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, as to which “piggy-back” registration has been requested by the holders thereof that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(b)If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, the Company shall include in any such registration: (i) first, the Common Stock or other securities for the account of the demanding persons and the Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.


2.3.3Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, if such offering is pursuant to a Demand Registration, or prior to the public announcement of the offering, if such offering is pursuant to an Underwritten Takedown. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggy-Back Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.


3.REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.


3.1Filings; 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 best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:


3.1.1Filing Registration Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its reasonable best efforts to keep it effective for the Effectiveness Period; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to sixty (60) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any Demand Registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time.
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3.1.2Copies. 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 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 request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.


3.1.3Amendments 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 all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn (the “Effectiveness Period”).


3.1.4Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than three (3) 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 three (3) 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 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.


3.1.5Securities Laws Compliance. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders 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.


3.1.6Agreements for Disposition. The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement, and the representations, warranties and covenants of 
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the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the Company.


3.1.7Comfort Letter. In the event of an Underwritten Takedown or an Underwritten Demand Registration, the Company shall obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an underwritten offering, and a customary “bring-down” thereof, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters, as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating holders. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.1.7 shall not apply to Block Trades.


3.1.8Opinions and Negative Assurance Letters. In the event of an Underwritten Takedown or an Underwritten Demand Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to any Registration, the Company shall obtain an opinion and negative assurances letter, each dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, including an opinion of local counsel if applicable, addressed to the holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to such Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating holders. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.1.8 shall not apply to Block Trades.


3.1.9Cooperation. 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 and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.


3.1.10Transfer Agent. The Company shall provide and maintain a transfer agent and registrar for the Registrable Securities.


3.1.11Records. Upon execution of confidentiality agreements, the Company shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.


3.1.12Earnings Statement. The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its stockholders, 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.


3.1.13Road Show. If an offering pursuant to this Agreement is conducted as an Underwritten Takedown or Underwritten Demand Registration and involves Registrable Securities with an aggregate offering price (before deduction of underwriting discounts) expected to exceed $50,000,000, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such offering.


3.1.14Listing. The Company shall use its reasonable best 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.


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3.2Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Company Board, of the ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to transact in the Company’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, 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 3.1.4(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 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 for no longer than 180 days in any consecutive 12-month period.


3.3Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Resale Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1, any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.2.1, any Underwritten Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1.6, any Block Trade pursuant to Section 2.1.7, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.3, 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 3.1.12; (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. 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.


3.4Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, 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.


3.5Other Obligations. At any time and from time to time after the expiration of any lock-up period 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.


3.6Legend Removal Obligations. The Company shall, at the sole expense of the Company, remove any restrictive legend included on the certificates (or, in the case of book-entry shares, any other instrument or record) representing any Investor’s ownership of Registrable Securities, and the Company shall issue a certificate (or evidence of the issuance of such securities in book-entry form) without such restrictive legend or any other restrictive legend to such Investor, and shall cause the Company’s counsel to issue any legend removal opinion required by the transfer agent, if (i) such Registrable Securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act and the applicable Registration Statement has not been suspended pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange 
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Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, (ii) such Registrable Securities are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act or Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions.


4.INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.


4.1Indemnification 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 is based on any selling holder’s violation of the federal securities laws (including Regulation M) or failure to sell the Registrable Securities in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the prospectus.


4.2Indemnification 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 in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein 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.


4.3Conduct 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 
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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 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.


4.4Contribution.
4.4.1If 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.


4.4.2The 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.


4.4.3The 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.RULE 144. The Company covenants that it shall 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 limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.


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6.INVESTOR RIGHTS.


6.1Until the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement:


6.1.1The Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate two individuals (including any successor, each, a “Nominee”) to be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, for election to the Company Board by giving written notice to the Company on or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Company Board (or applicable committee thereof) for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of stockholders provided to the Sponsor; provided, that one such Nominee (the “Joint Nominee”) shall be subject to the consent of the Company.


6.1.2The Company shall, as promptly as practicable, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions (including, without limitation, calling special meetings of the Company Board and the stockholders and recommending, supporting and soliciting proxies) so that there are two Sponsor Directors serving on the Company Board at all times.


6.1.3The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, use its best efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that: (i) each Nominee is included in the Company Board’s slate of nominees to the stockholders of the Company for each election of directors; and (ii) each Nominee is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Company Board, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Company Board with respect to the election of members of the Company Board.
6.1.4If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal of a Sponsor Director or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor (subject, in the case of a Joint Nominee, to the consent of the Company), and the Company will, as promptly as practicable following such designation, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, within its control such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee.


6.1.5If a Nominee is not elected because of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate promptly another Nominee (subject, in the case of a Joint Nominee, to the consent of the Company) and the Company will take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation.


6.1.6As promptly as reasonably practicable following the request of any Sponsor Director, the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with such Sponsor Director, in the form entered into with the other members of the Company Board. The Company shall pay the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Sponsor Director in connection with his or her services provided to or on behalf of the Company, including attending meetings or events attended explicitly on behalf of the Company at the Company’s request.


6.1.7The Company shall (i) purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount determined by the Company Board to be reasonable and customary and (ii) for so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Sponsor Director; provided that upon removal or resignation of such Sponsor Director for any reason, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not less than six years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.


6.1.8For so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a director of the Company, the Company shall not amend, alter or repeal any right to indemnification or exculpation covering or benefiting any director nominated pursuant to this Agreement as and to the extent consistent with applicable law, whether such right is contained in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, each as amended, or another document (except to the 
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extent such amendment or alteration permits the Company to provide broader indemnification or exculpation rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto).


6.1.9The Joint Nominee shall qualify as “independent” pursuant to listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (or such other national securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are then listed).


6.1.10Any Nominee will be subject to the Company’s customary due diligence process, including its review of a completed questionnaire and a background check. Based on the foregoing, the Company may object to any Nominee provided (a) it does so in good faith, and (b) such objection is based upon any of the following: (i) such Nominee was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), (ii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such proposed director from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (A) engaging in any type of business practice, or (B) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws, (iii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in clause (ii)(B), or to be associated with persons engaged in such activity, (iv) such Nominee was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or (v) such Nominee was the subject of, or a party to any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to a violation of any federal or state securities laws or regulations. In the event the Company Board reasonably finds the Nominee to be unsuitable based upon one or more of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) and reasonably objects to the Nominee, Sponsor shall be entitled to propose a different nominee (subject, in the case of a Joint Nominee, to the consent of the Company) to the Company Board within 30 calendar days of the Company’s notice to Sponsor of its objection to the Nominee and such replacement Nominee shall be subject to the review process outlined above.


6.1.11The Company shall take all necessary action to cause a Nominee chosen by the Sponsor, at the request of such Nominee to be elected to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each material operating subsidiary of the Company. The Nominee, as applicable, shall have the right to attend (in person or remotely) any meetings of the board of directors (or similar governing body or committee thereof) of each subsidiary of the Company.


6.1.12The Company shall not (i) solicit proxies or participate in a solicitation, (ii) assist any person in taking or planning any action, or (iii) cooperate in any way with, assist or participate in, knowingly encourage or otherwise facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt, in each case, that is reasonably likely to impair, delay, frustrate or otherwise serve to interfere with any provision of this Section 6.


7.MISCELLANEOUS.


7.1Other Registration Rights and Arrangements. Except for such sections that expressly survive termination, the parties hereby terminate the Prior 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.


7.2Assignment; 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. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit to a Permitted Transferee of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and 
16






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 7.2. The rights of a holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement may be transferred by such a holder to a Permitted Transferee; provided, however, that such Permitted 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.


7.3Amendments 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.


7.4Term. This Agreement shall terminate on the date as of which there shall be no Registrable Securities outstanding.
7.5Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by facsimile or email, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given (i) on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a Business Day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next Business Day or (ii) one Business Day after being deposited with a reputable courier service with an order for next-day delivery, to the parties as follows:


If to the Company:


Benson Hill, Inc.
1001 N Warson Rd., Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63132 
Attention: Legal Department 
E-mail: legal@bensonhill.com


with a copy to:


Winston & Strawn LLP 35 W. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601
Attention: Jason D. Osborn
David Sakowitz
Christina T. Roupas
Email:    josborn@winston.com
dsakowitz@winston.com croupas@winston.com


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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.


7.6Severability. 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.


7.7Counterparts. 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.


7.8Entire 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]
18







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.


BENSON HILL, INC. (f/k/a STAR PEAK CORP II):




By: /s/ Matthew Crisp    
Name: Matthew Crisp
Title: Chief Executive Officer
























































































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:


STAR PEAK SPONSOR II LLC:


By: MTP Energy Management LLC Jts: Sole Member


By: Magnetar Financial LLC
Its:  Sole Member




By: /s/ Eric Scheyer
      Name: Eric Scheyer
      Title: Authorized Signatory
































































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:




WHEATSHEAF GROUP US INC.




By: /s/ J. Stephan Dolezalek
Name: Stephan Dolezalek
Title: Executive Director
 Date: September 29, 2021
















































































SIGNATURE PAGE TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

















/s/ C. Park Shaper
C. Park Shaper




























































































SIGNATURE PAGE TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT









/s/ Desirée Rogers
Desirée Rogers




































































































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:




ARGONAUTIC VENTURES MASTER SPC
for and on behalf of Argonautic Vertical Series
Benson Hill SS Fund II SP


By: /s/ Rita Chiu 
Name: Rita Chiu
Title: Director 
Date: September 29, 2021




By: /s/ Chase Cho 
Name: Chase Cho
Title: Advisor 
Date: September 29, 2021


































































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:




MERCURY CAMELBACK FUND, LLC




By: /s/ Dan Watkins 
Name: Mercury Camelback Fund, LLC
Title: Managing Director
 Date: September 29, 2021




MERCURY FUND AFFILIATES III, L.P.




By: /s/ Dan Watkins 
Name: Mercury Camelback Fund, LLC
Title: Managing Director 
Date: September 29, 2021




MERCURY FUND VENTURES III, L.P.




By: /s/ Dan Watkins 
Name: Mercury Camelback Fund, LLC
Title: Managing Director 
Date: September 29, 2021














































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:




S2G VENTURES FUND I, L.P.
By: its General Partner S2G VENTURES, LLC


By: /s/ Sanjeev Krishnan 
Name: Sanjeev Krishnan
Title: Manager 
Date: September 29, 2021




S2G VENTURES FUND II, L.P.
By: its General Partner S2G VENTURES, LLC




By: /s/ Sanjeev Krishnan
Name: Sanjeev Krishnan
Title: Manager 
Date: September 29, 2021




S2G BUILDERS FOOD & AGRICULTURE FUND I, L.P.
By: its General Partner S2G VENTURES, LLC


By: /s/ Sanjeev Krishnan 
Name: Sanjeev Krishnan
Title: Manager 
Date: September 29, 2021


































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.


INVESTOR:




/s/ Matthew B. Crisp
Name: Matthew B. Crisp
Date: September 29, 2021




















































































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:




PRELUDE FUND, LP




By: /s/ Mark Cupta 
Name: Mark Cupta
Title: Managing Director 
Date: September 29, 2021
















































































SIGNATURE PAGE TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT









PRELUDE FUND, LP


By: /s/ Mark Cupta 
Name: Mark Cupta
Its: Managing Director Authorized Representative: 
Address:
Email:
Telephone:


























































































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:




ISELECT FUND – ARGONAUTICS, LLC




By: /s/ Carter Williams
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO
 Date: September 29, 2021




ISELECT FUND – ST. LOUIS, LLC




By: /s/ Carter Williams
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO 
Date: September 29, 2021




ISELECT FUND B – ST. LOUIS, LLC




By: /s/ Carter Williams 
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO 
Date: September 29, 2021




ISELECT QUALIFIED PURCHASER FUND, LLC




By: /s/ Carter Williams
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO
 Date: September 29, 2021




MILLENNIUM TRUST COMPANY F/B/O ISELECT QUALIFIED PURCHASE FUND




By: /s/ Carter Williams 
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO 
Date: September 29, 2021








SIGNATURE PAGE TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT









MILLENNIUM TRUST COMPANY F/B/O ISELECT FUND B – ST. LOUIS, LLC




By: /s/ Carter Williams
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO 
Date: September 29, 2021




MILLENNIUM TRUST COMPANY F/B/O ACCOUNT OF ISELECT QUALIFIED PURCHASER FUND, LLC




By: /s/ Carter Williams
Name: Carter Williams
Title: CEO 
Date: September 29, 2021






































































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:




BUNGE VENTURES LTD.




By: /s/ Nanda Kumar Puthucode
Name: Nanda Kumar Puthucode
Title: Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director
Date: September 29, 2021
















































































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:




GV 2017, L.P.
By: GV 2017 GP, L.P., its General Partner 
By: GV 2017 GP, L.L.C., its General Partner




By: /s/ Inga Goldbard
Name: Inga Goldbard
Title: General Counsel 
Date: September 29, 2021




GV 2019, L.P.
By: GV 2019 GP, L.P., its General Partner By: GV 2019 GP, L.L.C., its General Partner




By: /s/ Inga Goldbard
Name: Inga Goldbard
Title: General Counsel
 Date: September 29, 2021
























































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 [●] (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”), by and among the Company and the Investors identified therein. 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 Common Stock of the Company (the “Shares”) as a transferee of such Shares 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 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: __________________________
	 [BENSON HILL, INC.]

	

By:  __________________________________
	

By:  ______________________________












SCHEDULE I


Prelude Fund, LP
iSelect Fund - Argonautics, LLC iSelect - St. Louis, LLC
iSelect Fund B - St. Louis, LLC 
iSelect Qualified Purchaser Fund, LLC
Millenium Trust Company F/B/O iSelect Qualified Purchase Fund 
Millenium Trust Company F/B/O iSelect Fund B - St. Louis, LLC
Millenium Trust Company F/B/O Account of iSelect Qualified Purchaser Fund, LLC 
Bunge Ventures Ltd.
Wheatsheaf Group US Inc.
Argonautics Vertical Series Benson Hill SS Fund II SP Mercury Camelback Fund, LLC
Mercury Fund Affiliates III, L.P. 
Mercury Fund Ventures III, L.P. 
S2G Ventures Fund I, L.P.
S2G Ventures Fund II, L.P.
S2G Builders Food & Agricultural Fund I, L.P.
Matthew B. Crisp
C. Park Shaper 
Desirée Rogers
G.V. 2017, L.P.
G.V. 2019, L.P.
Star Peak Sponsor II LLC