Exhibit 10.3


 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


 


THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”), dated as of December 9, 2021, is made and entered into by and among Athena Technology Acquisition
Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Athena Technology Sponsor II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the “Sponsor”) and the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under “Holders”
(each such party together with the Sponsor and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section
5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, the Company
has 10,062,500 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”), issued and
outstanding, up to 1,312,500 of which will be forfeited to the Company for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriters
of the Company’s initial public offering exercise their over-allotment option;


 


WHEREAS, the Founder
Shares are convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”),
on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation;


 


WHEREAS, on December
9, 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement (the “Private Placement
Units Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase up to 950,000 Units (or up to 987,500 private
placement units depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) (the “Private
Placement Units”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial
public offering;


 


WHEREAS, in order to
finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with its search for and consummation of an initial Business Combination (as
defined below), the Sponsor, an affiliate of the Sponsor, certain of the Company’s officers and directors or other third parties
may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent
units (“Working Capital Units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender; and


 


WHEREAS, the Company
and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights
with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


 


ARTICLE I


 


DEFINITIONS


 


1.1 Definitions. The
terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:


 


“Adverse Disclosure”
shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in
any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus
and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required
to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for
not making such information public.


 






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”Agreement” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.


 


“Board”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.


 


“Business Combination”
shall mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination
with one or more businesses, involving the Company.


 


“Commission”
shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 


“Common Stock”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.


 


“Company”
shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.


 


“Demand Registration”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.


 


“Demanding Holder”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.


 


“Exchange Act”
shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.


 


“Form S-1”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.


 


“Form S-3”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.


 


“Founder Shares”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof.


 


“Founder Shares
Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) one year after the
completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the closing price
of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations
and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial
Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other
similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock
for cash, securities or other property.


 


“Holders”
shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.


 


“Insider Letter”
shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of December 9, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s
officers, directors and director nominees.


 


“Maximum Number
of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.


 


“Misstatement”
shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement
or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading.


 


“Permitted Transferees”
shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior
to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Private Placement Lock-up Period or any other lock-up period, as the case may
be, under the Insider Letter, the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, this Agreement and any other applicable agreement between
such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.


 


“Piggyback Registration”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.


 


“Private Placement
Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Units that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private
Placement Units or their Permitted Transferees, the Private Placement Units and the underlying shares of Common Stock, private placement
warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) and shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private
Placement Warrants, and that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Units or their Permitted Transferees, the period
ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.


 




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“Private Placement
Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.


 


“Private Placement
Units Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.


 


“Pro Rata”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.


 


“Prospectus”
shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended
by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.


 


“Registrable Security”
shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of the Founder Shares, (b) the
Private Placement Units (including any underlying shares of Common Stock, the Private Placement Warrants and shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants), (c) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including
the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the
date of this Agreement, (d) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such
equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company
by a Holder (including the Working Capital Units and their underlying securities) and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued
or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination
of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security,
such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities
shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in
accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities
not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such
securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such
securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or
through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.


 


“Registration”
shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements
of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.


 


“Registration
Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:


 


		(A)	all
registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority,
Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;


 


	 	(B)	fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);


 


	 	(C)	printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;


 


	 	(D)	reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;


 


	 	(E)	reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and


 


	 	(F)	reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.


 




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“Registration
Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements
to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.


 


“Requesting Holder”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.


 


“Securities Act”
shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.


 


“Sponsor”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.


 


“Underwriter”
shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such
dealer’s market-making activities.


 


“Underwritten
Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the
Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.


 


“Working Capital
Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.


 


ARTICLE II


REGISTRATIONS


 


2.1 Demand Registration.


 


2.1.1 Request for Registration.
Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the
date the Company consummates the Business Combination, the Holders of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the then-outstanding number of
Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of
their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration
and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company
shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable
Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing,
within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification
from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included
in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than
forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities
requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company
be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1
with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted for such
purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”)
has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting
Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.


 


2.1.2 Effective Registration.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand
Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect
to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with
all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement
has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently
interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration
Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, 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 initiating such
Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but
in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or
required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration
pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.


 




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2.1.3 Underwritten Offering.
Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders
so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration
shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of 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 Offering
and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such
Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest
of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.


 


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


 


2.1.5 Demand Registration
Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting
Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant
to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters
(if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the
Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration
pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.


 






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2.2 Piggyback Registration.


 


2.2.1 Piggyback Rights.
If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement
under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable
for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and
by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), 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 give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of
Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration
Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of
distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the
Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request
in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”).
The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best
efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested
by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as
any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities
in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities
through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with
the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.


 


2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback
Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration,
in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that
the dollar amount or number of the shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common
Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities
other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested
pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant
to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, 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 (A) first, the Common Stock or other
equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second,
to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of
Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof (pro rata based on
the respective number of Registrable Securities that such Holder has requested be included in such Registration), which can be sold without
exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under
the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual
piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;


 


(b) If the Registration
is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any
such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the
Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that
the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising
their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata based on the number of Registrable
Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the
Holders have requested to be included in such Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C)
third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock
or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the
Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant
to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of
Securities.


 




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2.2.3 Piggyback Registration
Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason
whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw
from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such
Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons
pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with
a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration
prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.


 


2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback
Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted
as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.


 


2.3 Registrations on Form
S-3. The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all
of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form
S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten
Offering. Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities
for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders
of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt
by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s
initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other
Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a
Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity
securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity
securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000.


 


2.4 Restrictions on Registration
Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date
of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration
and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection
2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to
become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the
commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously
detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement
at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that
in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in
the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall
have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company
shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.


 






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ARTICLE III


COMPANY PROCEDURES


 


3.1 General Procedures.
If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration
of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities
in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:


 


3.1.1 prepare and file with
the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold;


 


3.1.2 prepare and file with
the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as
may be requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration
Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan
of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;


 


3.1.3 prior to filing a
Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and
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 Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel
for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;


 


3.1.4 prior to any public
offering of Registrable Securities, use its 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 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 or take any action to which
it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;


 


3.1.5 cause all such Registrable
Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are
then listed;


 


3.1.6 provide a transfer
agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration
Statement;


 


3.1.7 advise each seller
of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order
by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop
order should be issued;


 


3.1.8 at least five (5)
days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, furnish
a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities and its counsel, including, without limitation, providing copies promptly
upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;


 


3.1.9 notify the Holders
at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening
of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement,
and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;


 




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3.1.10 permit a representative
of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney
or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the
Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested
by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however,
that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided further, the Company may not include the name
of any Holder or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment
or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration
Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder or Underwriter and providing
each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company
shall include unless contrary to applicable law;


 


3.1.11 obtain a “cold
comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration
which the participating Holders may rely on, 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;


 


3.1.12 on the date the Registrable
Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company
for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if
any, covering such legal matters with respect to the 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 negative assurance letters,
and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;


 


3.1.13 in the event of any
Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing
Underwriter of such offering;


 


3.1.14 make available to
its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning
with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by
the Commission);


 


3.1.15 if the Registration
involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make
available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested
by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and


 


3.1.16 otherwise, in good
faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such
Registration.


 


3.2 Registration Expenses.
The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall
bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts,
brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all
reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.


 


3.3 Requirements for Participation
in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to
a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided
in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of
such underwriting arrangements.


 




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3.4 Suspension of Sales;
Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement,
each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until such Holder has received copies of a supplemented
or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement
or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the
use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of
any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration
Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may,
upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such
Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company
to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend,
immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection
with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period
during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.


 


3.5 Reporting Obligations.
As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange
Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required
to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly
furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action
as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock
held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon
the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.


 


ARTICLE IV


INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION


 


4.1 Indemnification.


 


4.1.1 The Company agrees
to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls
such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’
fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary
Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers
and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided
in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.


 


4.1.2 In connection with
any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing
such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the
Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation
reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus
or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained
in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that
the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of
each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the
sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters,
their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent
as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.


 




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4.1.3 Any person entitled
to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification
(provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent
such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment
a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying
party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the
indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim
shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such
indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist
between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without
the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all
respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which
settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release
from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.


 


4.1.4 The indemnification
provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified
party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company
and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested
by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable
for any reason.


 


4.1.5 If the indemnification
provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying
the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying
party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection
4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses
reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant
to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.


 


ARTICLE V


MISCELLANEOUS


 


5.1 Notices. Any notice
or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to
be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service
providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice
or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent,
and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices
delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the
addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation.
Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: 442 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10018,
and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any
party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change
of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.


 






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5.2 Assignment; No Third
Party Beneficiaries.


 


5.2.1 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.


 


5.2.2 Prior to the expiration
of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such
Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable
Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions
set forth in this Agreement.


 


5.2.3 This Agreement and
the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted
assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.


 


5.2.4 This Agreement shall
not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and
Section 5.2 hereof.


 


5.2.5 No assignment by any
party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until
the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement
of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may
be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in
this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.


 


5.3 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original,
and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.


 


5.4 Governing Law; Venue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS
ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OF SUCH JURISDICTION, AND (II)
THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.


 


5.5 Amendments and Modifications.
Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in
question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions,
covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment
hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in such Holder’s capacity as a holder of the shares of capital
stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of
the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the
part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies
of any Holder 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.


 


5.6 Other Registration
Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require
the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed
by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents
and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and
in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.


 


5.7 Term. This Agreement
shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all of the
Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to
in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or
(B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities without registration pursuant to Rule 144
(or any similar provision) under the Securities Act with no volume or other restrictions or limitations. The provisions of Section
3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.


 


	 	COMPANY:
	 	 
	 	ATHENA TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION CORP. II, a Delaware corporation
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Kirthiga Reddy
	 	 	Name: 	Kirthiga Reddy           
	 	 	Title:	President
	 	 
	 	HOLDER:
	 	 
	 	ATHENA TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Isabelle Freidheim
	 	 	Name: 	Isabelle Freidheim
	 	 	Title: 	Managing Member


 


[Signature
Page to Registration Rights Agreement]