sdmi-ex105_430.htm



Exhibit 10.5

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 1, 2021, by and among Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the investors identified on Schedule A hereto (each, including their respective successors and assigns, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).

WHEREAS, in connection with the Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto dated as of April 1, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Investor shares of its Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”); and

WHEREAS, in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “Securities Act”), and applicable state securities laws.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Investors hereby agree as follows:

1.Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement will have the respective meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1 and other terms are defined throughout this Agreement:

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

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

“Effective Date” means, as to a Registration Statement, the date on which such Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.

“Effectiveness Deadline” means the 240th day following the Initial Closing.

“Effectiveness Period” means, as to any Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement, the period commencing on the Effective Date of such Registration Statement and ending on (a) the date that all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holders of the Registrable Securities included therein, or (b) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold by the Holders without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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Exhibit 10.5

“Filing Deadline” means the 120th day following the Initial Closing.

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

“Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities and, if other than an Investor, a Person to whom the rights hereunder have been properly assigned pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

“Investment Amount” means, with respect to each Investor, the Investment Amount indicated on Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement, which is also reflected on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto as Schedule A. 

“New York Courts” means the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan.

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

“Registrable Securities” means: (i) any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock issued to Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event, or any price adjustment as a result of such stock splits, reverse stock splits or similar events with respect to any of the securities referenced in clause (i) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security for purposes of this Agreement from and after such time as the Holder of such security may resell such security without restriction under Rule 144, as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders.

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed or confidentially submitted with the Commission under the Securities Act that covers the resale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such registration statement.

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Exhibit 10.5

“Required Holders” means the Holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or, if the Series A Preferred Stock has been converted into Common Stock, the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities.

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

“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

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

“Selling Holder Questionnaire” means the selling security holder notice and questionnaire attached as Annex B hereto.

“Trading Market” means any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

2.Registration.

(a)On or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, the Company shall prepare and file or confidentially submit with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 (a “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be filed on Form S-1 (or on such other form appropriate for such purpose) and contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Resale Shelf Registration Statement, other than as to the characterization of any Holder as an underwriter, which shall not occur unless such characterization is consistent with written information provided by the Holder in the Selling Holder Questionnaire) a “Plan of Distribution” in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably practicable but, in any event, no later than the Effectiveness Deadline, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such Resale Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective during its entire Effectiveness Period. By 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately following the Effective Date of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Resale Shelf Registration Statement (whether or not such filing is technically required under such Rule). 

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Exhibit 10.5

(b)Promptly following any date on which the Company becomes eligible to use a registration statement on Form S-3 to register Registrable Securities for resale, the Company shall file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering all securities that are then deemed Registrable Securities (or a post-effective amendment on Form S-3 to the then effective Registration Statement) for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 (an “S-3 Resale Shelf Registration Statement”) and shall cause such S-3 Shelf Resale Registration Statement to be filed as soon as commercially reasonable and declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably possible thereafter. Such S-3 Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such S-3 Resale Shelf Registration Statement, other than as to the characterization of any Holder as an underwriter, which shall not occur unless such characterization is consistent with written information provided by the Holder in the Selling Holder Questionnaire) a “Plan of Distribution” in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such S-3 Resale Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act during the entire Effectiveness Period. By 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately following the Effective Date of such S-3 Resale Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such S-3 Resale Shelf Registration Statement (whether or not such filing is technically required under such Rule).

(c)If: (i) the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Deadline covering the Registrable Securities required under this Agreement to be included therein pursuant to Section 2(a), or (ii) the Resale Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline and the Registrable Securities are not listed on a Trading Market (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event,” and the date on which such Event occurs being referred to as “Event Date”), then in addition to any other rights the Investors may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date PIK Dividends (as defined in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation) shall accrue and be payable on the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, until the applicable Event is cured. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if within 180 days of the Initial Closing, the Company enters into a binding definitive agreement or binding instrument relating to a Significant Transaction Event (a “Definitive Instrument”), then the Company shall have no obligation to pay any PIK Dividends accrued or payable through such date and any PIK Dividends that have accrued prior to such date shall be cancelled, and (ii) if the Company has entered into a Definitive Instrument within 180 days of the Initial Closing and has consummated the Significant Transaction Event within 300 days of the Initial Closing, then the Company shall have no obligation to pay any PIK Dividends accrued or payable through such date and any PIK Dividends accrued prior to such date shall be cancelled. A “Significant Transaction Event” means the date that the Company enters into a Definitive Instrument, as applicable, with a third party relating to a merger, share exchange, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or shares of the Company or other business combination, restructuring or change of control transaction, including any such transaction intended to result in the Company becoming subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or becoming a voluntary filer under the Exchange Act), a business combination intended to increase the number of shareholders of the Company to facilitate listing on a Trading Market, a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company, or a business combination with a company that is listed on a Trading Market.

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Exhibit 10.5

(d)Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling Holder Questionnaire”). The Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Holder in any Registration Statement and shall not be required to pay any PIK Dividends under Section 2(c) and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to any Holder who fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed Selling Holder Questionnaire at least two Business Days prior to the Filing Deadline (subject to the requirements set forth in Section 3(a)).

3.Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder:

(a) The Company shall not file a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in which the “Selling Stockholder” section thereof differs from the disclosure received from a Holder in its Selling Holder Questionnaire (as amended or supplemented). The Company shall not file a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in which it (i) characterizes any Holder as an underwriter, unless such characterization is consistent with written information provided by the Holder in the Selling Holder Questionnaire, (ii) excludes a particular Holder due to such Holder refusing to be named as an underwriter, or (iii) reduces the number of Registrable Securities being registered on behalf of a Holder without such Holder’s express written authorization. The Company shall also ensure that each Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading.

(b)The Company shall (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for its Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the Registration Statement(s) and the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement.

(c)The Company shall notify the Holders as promptly as reasonably possible (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; and (B) with respect to each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (iv) of the occurrence of any event 

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Exhibit 10.5

or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(d)The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify the Holders of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

(e)The Company shall promptly deliver to the Holders, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as the Holders may reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

(f)Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, the Company shall register or qualify such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of all jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder may request, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements; provided, however, in connection with any such registration or qualification, the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where the Company would not otherwise be required to qualify, (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction, or (iv) make any change to the Company’s articles of incorporation or bylaws.

(g)Except to the extent the Registrable Securities are eligible to be transferred in book-entry form through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company or the book-entry system of the Company’s transfer agent, the Company shall cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement(s). Such book-entry securities or  certificates, as applicable, shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement and by applicable federal securities laws, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.

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Exhibit 10.5

(h)As promptly as reasonably possible upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(iv), the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(i)For so long as the Registrable Securities that have been registered under a Registration Statement remain Registrable Securities, the Company shall notify the Holders thereof in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and shall promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission. The Company shall also notify the Holders of Registrable Securities that have been registered under a Registration Statement in writing as promptly as reasonably possible when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment relating to such Registrable Securities has become effective.

 

(j)If any Holder is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter, at the reasonable request of such Holder, the Company shall furnish to such Holder, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as a Holder may reasonably request: (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Holders, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance reasonably acceptable to such counsel and as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Holders.

(k)Other than the information regarding a Holder provided by such Holder to the Company for inclusion in a Registration Statement, the Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning a Holder provided to the Company unless: (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning a Holder is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Holder and allow such Holder, at the Holder’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.

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Exhibit 10.5

 

(l)The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(l).

 

(m)The Company shall cooperate with the Holders who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates or book-entry securities (not bearing any restrictive legend to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement and the federal securities laws) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates or book-entry securities to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Holders may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Holders may request. 

 

(n)If requested by a Holder and to the extent legally required for the Holder to offer and sell Registrable Securities, the Company shall as soon as practicable: (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as a Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by a Holder holding any Registrable Securities.

4.Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted for trading, (B) with respect to filings with FINRA by any underwriter’s counsel for compensation review pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, and (C) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by a Holder), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be 

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Exhibit 10.5

responsible for any broker or similar commissions incurred by any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Agreements, any legal fees or other cost of the Holders in connection with this Agreement.

5.Indemnification.

(a)Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, investment advisors, partners, members and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b)Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent that, such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

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Exhibit 10.5

Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party); provided, that, the Indemnifying Party shall pay for no more than two separate sets of counsel for all Indemnified Parties and such legal counsel shall be selected by the Required Holders who are named as parties in the same Proceeding. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).

(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each 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 Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in 

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Exhibit 10.5

connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), (i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

6.Reports Under the Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Holders to sell Registrable Securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company agrees, for so long as Registrable Securities are outstanding and held by the Holders, to:

(a)make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood, defined and required in Rule 144;

(b)file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

(c)furnish to each Holder so long as such Holder owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, such information as may be reasonably and customarily requested to permit the Holders to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

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Exhibit 10.5

7.Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any permitted transferee of all or any portion of such Investor’s Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and such transferee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within five (5) Business Days after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within five (5) Business Days after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement.

8.Miscellaneous.

(a)Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b)Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(c)Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), (iii) or (iv), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.

(d)Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any 

12

 



Exhibit 10.5

entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen calendar days after receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights and other customary conditions of, and documentation required by, the underwriters of such offering.

(e)Amendments and Waivers. Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8(e) shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the Holders. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of certain Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates.

(f)Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered if delivered in accordance with Section 7.6 of the Purchase Agreement.

(g)Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.

(h)Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile or email transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or email signature were the original thereof.

(i)Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, employees or agents) will be commenced in the New York Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees 

13

 



Exhibit 10.5

not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.

(j)Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

(k)Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

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

(m)Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(n)Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Holder under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of each other Holder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder under this Agreement. Nothing contained herein or in any Transaction Agreement, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement. Each Holder acknowledges that no other Holder will be acting as agent of such Holder in enforcing its rights under 

14

 



Exhibit 10.5

this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Holders has been provided with the same Registration Rights Agreement for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Holders and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Holder.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

15

 



Exhibit 10.5

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 


			
	
COMPANY:

STRONGHOLD DIGITAL MINING, INC.

	
 

	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Gregory A. Beard

	
 
	
Name:
	
Gregory A. Beard

	
 
	
Title:
	
Chief Executive Officer and President

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
INVESTORS:

	
 

	
The Investors executing the Signature Page in the form attached hereto as Annex C and delivering the same to the Company or its agents shall be deemed to have executed this Agreement and agreed to the terms hereof.




 

 

16

 



Exhibit 10.5

 

Annex A

Plan of Distribution

The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or quoted or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:


	
 
	
•
	
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits Investors;





	
 
	
•
	
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;





	
 
	
•
	
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;





	
 
	
•
	
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;





	
 
	
•
	
privately negotiated transactions;





	
 
	
•
	
through the writing of options on the shares;





	
 
	
•
	
to cover short sales made after the date that this Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission;





	
 
	
•
	
broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; and





	
 
	
•
	
a combination of any such methods of sale.




The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus. The selling stockholders shall have the sole and absolute discretion not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of shares if it deems the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.

The selling stockholders or their respective pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, may also sell the shares directly to market makers acting as principals and/or broker-dealers acting as agents for themselves or their customers. Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders and/or the purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal or both, which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions. Market makers and block purchasers purchasing the shares will do so for their own account and at their own risk. It is possible that a selling stockholder will attempt to sell shares of common stock in block transactions to market makers or other purchasers at a price per share which may be below the then existing market price. We cannot assure that all or any of the 

 



Exhibit 10.5

shares offered in this prospectus will be issued to, or sold by, the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders and any brokers, dealers or agents, upon effecting the sale of any of the shares offered in this prospectus, may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of such acts. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the selling stockholders, but excluding brokerage commissions or underwriter discounts.

The selling stockholders, alternatively, may sell all or any part of the shares offered in this prospectus through an underwriter. The selling stockholders have not entered into any agreement with a prospective underwriter and there is no assurance that any such agreement will be entered into.

The selling stockholders may pledge their shares to their brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a selling stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the pledged shares. The selling stockholders and any other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the shares will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations under such act, including, without limitation, Regulation M. These provisions may restrict certain activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by, the selling stockholders or any other such person. In the event that any of the selling stockholders are deemed an affiliated purchaser or distribution participant within the meaning of Regulation M, then the selling stockholders will not be permitted to engage in short sales of common stock. Furthermore, under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and certain other activities with respect to such securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions, subject to specified exceptions or exemptions. In addition, if a short sale is deemed to be a stabilizing activity, then the selling stockholders will not be permitted to engage in a short sale of our common stock. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the shares.

If a selling stockholder notifies us that it has a material arrangement with a broker-dealer for the resale of the common stock, then we would be required to amend the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and file a prospectus supplement to describe the agreements between the selling stockholder and the broker-dealer.

 

 



Exhibit 10.5

 

Annex B

STRONGHOLD DIGITAL MINING, INC.

Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire

[Intentionally Omitted]

 



Exhibit 10.5

 

Annex C

Registration Rights Agreement

Investor Counterpart Signature Page

[Intentionally Omitted]

 

 



Exhibit 10.5

 

Schedule A

SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

[Intentionally Omitted]