Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Copy

  

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is made as of this 2nd day of May 2018, by and among David L. Kanen, Kanen Wealth Management LLC (“Kanen
Wealth Management”) (collectively, together with their respective affiliates and the other participants in their
pending proxy solicitation and members of their “group” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the “Kanen Group”, and
each individually, a “member” of the Kanen Group), and Aqua Metals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Kanen
Group, directly and indirectly, beneficially owns 2,167,596 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the “Common
Stock”), which represents approximately 8.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, as disclosed by
the Kanen Group in Amendment No. 4 to its statement on Schedule 13D jointly filed by the Kanen Group with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) on April 25, 2018.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to various correspondences
and public announcements and filings with the SEC, the Kanen Group commenced a solicitation of proxies in opposition to the election
of the director-candidates heretofore nominated by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”)
for election at the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be convened on June 5, 2018 (as
such meeting may be postponed or adjourned as required by applicable law or as otherwise may be desired by the Company and the
Kanen Group in order to facilitate the matters set forth in the Agreement, the “2018 Annual Meeting”)
and identified as such in the Company’s definitive proxy materials first disseminated to the Company’s stockholders
on April 18, 2018;

 

WHEREAS, the Board and the Kanen Group believe
that the continuation of a protracted and adversarial contested election in respect of the 2018 Annual Meeting is not in the best
interests of the Company’s stockholders and the Company, and in order to eliminate the continuation of such costly, time
consuming and distracting proceedings the Board and the Kanen Group desire to reach a prompt, fair and equitable settlement with
respect to the recomposition of the Board and certain other matters hereafter set forth which the Board has determined to be in
the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and the Company;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and
reliance upon the mutual premises, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

		1.	Board Matters; Board Appointments; 2018 Annual Meeting.

 

(a)           The
Company agrees that the Board and all applicable committees of the Board shall, effective as of the date of this Agreement, take
all necessary actions to (i) increase the size of the Board from five (5) to six (6) members; and (ii) appoint S. Shariq Yosufzai
and Sushil (“Sam”) Kapoor (the “Kanen Designees”), or any replacement nominees in accordance with
Section 1(i) below, as directors of the Company and to the applicable Board committees pursuant to Section 1(d) below. Messrs.
Yosufzai and Kapoor shall fill the vacancies created by the expansion of the Board and the resignation of Selwyn Mould, who the
Company hereby represents has submitted a letter of resignation to the Board that will become effective upon the execution and
delivery of this Agreement. Subject to Section 1(b) and Section 1(c) below, the Kanen Group and the Company agree that, until the
earlier of (x) the second anniversary of the date hereof and (y) such date on which the Kanen Group no longer, directly or indirectly,
beneficially owns at least 4.0% (subject to adjustment for share issuances, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations and similar
actions by the Company that increase the number of outstanding shares) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (the earlier
of such events described in clauses (x) and (y) above being hereafter referred to as the “Nomination Right Expiration
Date”), the Kanen Group shall have the right to submit to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board
(the “Nominating Committee”) two (2) nominees for inclusion as Board-recommended director candidates (the “Kanen
Nominees”) in the Company’s definitive proxy materials disseminated to the Company’s stockholders for their
consideration with respect to (i) the 2018 Annual Meeting and (ii) each annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders subsequently
convened prior to the Nomination Right Expiration Date at which directors of the Company are to be elected (each such subsequent
annual meeting being hereafter referred to as a “Post-2018 Annual Meeting”). Each Kanen Nominee submitted to
the Nominating Committee pursuant to this Section 1(a) shall qualify as an “independent director” under applicable
Nasdaq Stock Market rules.

 

     

     

    

 

(b)           Prior
to the date of this Agreement, the Nominating Committee has reviewed and evaluated the background and qualifications of each of
the Kanen Designees, has determined that the appointment of the Kanen Designees as directors of the Company, and the Company’s
nomination of the Kanen Designees for election as directors of the Company at the 2018 Annual Meeting, would be in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders, and has recommended that the Board appoint the Kanen Designees as directors of the Company
and include each of them as Board-recommended director candidates in the Company’s definitive proxy materials disseminated
to the Company’s stockholders for their consideration with respect to the 2018 Annual Meeting. The Kanen Group acknowledges
that each Kanen Nominee has submitted to the Company a fully completed copy of the Company’s standard director and officer
questionnaire and other reasonable and customary director onboarding documentation required by the Company in connection with their
appointment and election as new Board members. Any substitute director recommended by the Kanen Group in accordance with Section
1(i) to replace a Kanen Nominee shall also promptly (but in any event prior to being appointed to the Board in accordance with
this Agreement) submit to the Company a fully completed copy of the Company’s standard director & officer questionnaire
and other reasonable and customary director onboarding documentation required by the Company in connection with the appointment
or election of new Board members.

 

(c)           The
Company agrees that it shall (i) promptly amend and/or supplement its definitive proxy materials heretofore disseminated to the
Company’s stockholders in respect of the 2018 Annual Meeting to include therein, among other things, the Kanen Designees
as Board-approved and recommended director candidates for election by the Company’s stockholders at the 2018 Annual Meeting,
file such additional definitive proxy materials with the SEC and commence mailing on the date of such filing such additional materials
to all holders of record of Common Stock as of April 25, 2018 (it being hereby acknowledged and agreed that the date for convening
the Annual Meeting shall be reset to June 12, 2018 from June 5, 2018), (ii) recommend, support and solicit proxies for the Kanen
Designees at the 2018 Annual Meeting in the same manner as it recommends, supports, and solicits proxies for the election of the
other nominees nominated by the Board for election as directors at the 2018 Annual Meeting and (iii) to the extent required under
applicable law or as otherwise mutually desired by the Kanen Group and the Company, take all necessary corporate action to postpone
the 2018 Annual Meeting, including, without limitation, reestablishing the record date for the 2018 Annual Meeting in accordance
with the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), and conducting a new broker search under
Rule 14a-13 under the Exchange Act.

 

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(d)           The
Company agrees that effective immediately upon their appointment to the Board as directors of the Company in accordance with Section
1(a), (i) one (1) of the Kanen Designees shall be appointed by the Board to each of the Nominating Committee and the Compensation
Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), with such committees thereafter consisting of four (4)
and three (3) directors, respectively, and (ii) both of the Kanen Designees shall be appointed by the Board, together with Messrs.
Vincent L. DiVito and Mark Stevenson, to a newly constituted CEO Search Committee of the Board (the “CEO Search Committee”),
which shall be vested with the authority to engage and work directly with a recognized external executive search and consulting
firm to identify highly qualified permanent Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) candidates and to evaluate and interview
such candidates and make recommendations to the full Board with respect to the potential hiring of such candidates.

 

(e)           The
Company further agrees that effective immediately upon his appointment to the Board as a director of the Company in accordance
with Section 1(a), Mr. Yosufzai shall be appointed by the Board to serve as Non-Executive Chairman (and the lead independent director)
of the Board.

 

(f)            The
Company agrees that the Kanen Group Designees shall receive (i) the same benefits of director and officer insurance, and any indemnity
arrangements available generally to all directors then serving on the Board, (ii) the same compensation for service as a director
as the compensation received by other non-employee directors then serving on the Board and as established by the Compensation Committee,
subject to any modification of the amount and form of such compensation as hereafter may be determined by the Compensation Committee,
and (iii) such other health, welfare and other similar benefits on the same basis as are available to all other non-employee directors
then serving on the Board.

 

(g)           In
order to exercise its right pursuant to Section 1(a) to deliver and submit to the Nominating Committee two (2) Kanen Nominees for
inclusion as Board-recommended director candidates in the Company’s definitive proxy materials disseminated to the Company’s
stockholders for their consideration with respect to each Post-2018 Annual Meeting, the Kanen Group shall either (i) confirm that
the Kanen Designees will serve as the Kanen Nominees or (ii) submit such other Kanen Nominee(s) to the Nominating Committee in
writing no more than 120 days nor less than 90 days prior to the date on which the Company’s definitive proxy materials were
first released to the Company’s stockholders in respect of the prior year’s annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders,
together with such information as the Nominating Committee may reasonably require to evaluate and investigate the background, reputation,
business experience, education and professional credentials, and overall qualifications, of such Kanen Nominees. If, after completion
of its evaluation and investigation of such other Kanen Nominee(s), the Nominating Committee determines that the Company’s
nomination of the Kanen Nominees (to serve as Company directors) would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
then not later than 24 hours after such determination, the Nominating Committee shall submit to the full Board the names of such
Kanen Nominees, together with the Nominating Committee’s recommendation that such persons should be included in the Company’s
definitive proxy materials as Board-approved and recommended director candidates for election by the Company’s stockholders
at the applicable Post-2018 Annual Meeting.

 

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(h)           If
(i) after completion of its evaluation of any Kanen Nominee, the Nominating Committee determines that the Board’s nomination
of such Kanen Nominee (to serve as a Company director) would not be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
or (ii) any Kanen Nominee previously nominated by the Board and elected by the Company’s stockholders determines not to stand
for re-election at any Post-2018 Annual Meeting, the Kanen Group shall have the right to submit to the Nominating Committee a substitute
nominee, in lieu and stead of such Kanen Nominee, for inclusion as a Board-recommended director candidate in the Company’s
definitive proxy materials disseminated to the Company’s stockholders for their consideration with respect to the 2018 Annual
Meeting or such applicable Post-2018 Annual Meeting.

 

(i)            If
any Kanen Designee included in the Company’s definitive proxy materials as a Board-approved and recommended director candidate
for election by the Company’s stockholders at the 2018 Annual Meeting or any Kanen Nominee included in the Company’s
definitive proxy materials as a Board-approved and recommended director candidate for election by the Company’s stockholders
at any Post-2018 Annual Meeting (i) is not elected to serve as a Company director by the Company’s stockholders at such annual
meeting (other than in the case of any such non-election resulting from a contested election) or (ii) is elected to serve as a
Company director by the Company’s stockholders at such annual meeting and subsequently resigns, is removed by the Company’s
stockholders or otherwise becomes unable or unavailable to serve during the term for which such Kanen Designee was theretofore
elected, the Kanen Group shall have the right to submit to the Nominating Committee a substitute nominee to be appointed by the
Board to fill the vacancy resulting from such resignation, removal or inability or unavailability to serve. If the Nominating Committee
or the Board does not appoint such substitute recommended by the Kanen Group to the Board for any reason, the Kanen Group shall
be permitted to continue to recommend substitute nominee(s) until a substitute director is elected to the Board. The Board and
all applicable committees of the Board shall take all necessary actions to appoint such substitute Kanen Designee to any applicable
committee of the Board of which the replaced director was a member, as applicable.

 

2.             Standstill. The Kanen Group agrees that until the expiration of the Standstill Period, it
shall not, and shall cause its controlled Affiliates and Associates (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange
Act) and its and their respective principals, directors, general partners, members, officers, employees, and agents and representatives
acting on their behalf (collectively, the “Kanen Affiliates”) not to, directly or indirectly, without the prior
express written invitation or authorization by the Board:

 

(a)             purchase or otherwise acquire, or agree to purchase or otherwise acquire, including through swap or hedging transactions
or otherwise, any shares of Common Stock if, immediately after such purchase or acquisition, the Kanen Group, together with the
Kanen Affiliates, would own, control or otherwise have any beneficial or other ownership interest in the aggregate of more than
9.9% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, provided that any shares of Common Stock granted or awarded to any
of the Kanen Group Designees in their capacities as directors of the Company shall not be counted toward the 9.9% ownership limitation
set forth in this Section 2(a);

 

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(b)             make, engage in or in any way participate in any “solicitation” (as such term is used in the proxy rules of
the SEC, but without regard to the exclusion set forth in Rule 14a-1(1)(2)(iv) under the Exchange Act) of proxies, consents or
voting authorizations with respect to the election or removal of directors of the Company or any other matter or proposal in respect
of which the Company’s stockholders are requested or required to vote on, or become a “participant” (as such
term is used in the proxy rules of the SEC) or assist any “participant” in any such solicitation of proxies, consents
or voting authorizations from the Company’s stockholders;

 

(c)             encourage, influence, induce or advise or assist any Person in so encouraging, influencing, inducing or advising any Person
with respect to the giving, revocation or withholding of any proxy, consent or other authorization to vote any shares of Common
Stock (other than solicitation activity that is consistent with the recommendation of and expressly authorized by the Board in
connection with any matter submitted to the Company’s stockholders for their consideration and vote);

 

(d)             form, join, encourage, influence, advise, act in concert with or in any way participate in any “group” (as defined
pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), with respect to any Voting Securities (as defined below), other than solely with
controlled Kanen Affiliates with respect to Voting Securities now or hereafter owned by them;

 

(e)             (i) engage in, or become a party or counterparty to, any swap or hedging transaction or other derivative agreement of any
nature with respect to Voting Securities or (ii) acquire, or offer, seek or agree to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, or direct
any third party in the acquisition of, any Voting Securities, or rights or options to acquire any Voting Securities of the Company,
or engage in any swap or hedging transactions or other derivative agreements of any nature with respect to Voting Securities, in
each case of clause (i) or (ii) above;

 

(f)              sell, offer or agree to sell, through swap or hedging transactions or otherwise, voting rights decoupled from the underlying
Common Stock held by the Kanen Group or any Kanen Affiliate to any Third Party (as defined below);

 

(g)             knowingly sell, offer or agree to sell to a Third Party, including through swap or hedging transactions or otherwise, any
securities of the Company held by the Kanen Group or a Kanen Affiliate that would result in such Third Party, together with its
affiliates and associates, owning, controlling or otherwise having any beneficial or other ownership interest in the aggregate
of more than 4.9% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (including due to such Third Party, together with its affiliates
and associates, owning, controlling or otherwise having any beneficial or other ownership interest of more than 4.9% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock prior to such sale, offer or agreement to sell), except in a transaction previously authorized and approved
by the Board;

 

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(h)             effect or seek, offer or propose to effect, cause, make or participate in any tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation,
acquisition, business combination, recapitalization, business reorganization, spin-off/split-off, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution
or other extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Company’s securities or a material
amount of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Extraordinary Transaction”),
or frustrate or seek to frustrate the pendency or consummation of any Extraordinary Transaction approved, recommended, proposed
or endorsed by the Board, or make any public statement with respect to an Extraordinary Transaction (it being understood and agreed
that the foregoing shall not restrict the Kanen Group from tendering shares, receiving payment for shares or otherwise participating
in any such transaction, pro rata, on the same basis as all other stockholders of the Company, or from participating in any such
transaction that previously has been approved and recommended by the Board), or make any proposal, either alone or in concert with
others, to the Company or the Board that would reasonably be expected to require or result in a public announcement regarding any
of the types of matters set forth above in this Section 2;

 

(i)              enter into a voting trust or proxy, arrangement or agreement or subject any Voting Securities to any voting trust or proxy,
arrangement or agreement, in each case other than solely with other controlled Kanen Affiliates, with respect to Voting Securities
now or hereafter owned by them and other than granting proxies in solicitations approved with respect to matters recommended and
submitted by the Board to the Company’s stockholders;

 

(j)              engage in any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation
right, or other similar right (including any put or call option or “swap” transaction) with respect to any security
(other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from a
decline in the market price or value of the securities of the Company;

 

(k)             make or be the proponent of any stockholder proposal (pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or otherwise);

 

(l)              alone or in concert with others, (i) call or seek to call or convene any meeting of stockholders, including any proposed
action by written consent, (ii) except as set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement, seek election or appointment to, or representation
on, the Board, or nominate or propose the nomination of, or recommend the nomination of, any candidate to, the Board, (iii) seek
the removal or resignation of any member of the Board, (iv) solicit consents from stockholders or otherwise act to seek or act
by written consent, or (v) conduct a referendum (irrespective of whether binding or precatory) of stockholders;

 

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(m)            make any request for a stockholder list or for any other Company materials, books or records under Section 220 of the DGCL
or other statutory or regulatory provisions providing for stockholder access to stockholder lists or Company books and records;

 

(n)             make any public statement, announcement, or public proposal or request with respect to or take any action in support of
(i) any change in the number or term of directors or the filling of any vacancies on the Board, (ii) any change in the capitalization
or dividend policy of the Company, (iii) any change in the Company’s management, business, operating strategy, governance
policies or corporate structure, (iv) any waiver, amendment or modification to the Company’s certificate of incorporation
or By-Laws, or other actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Company by any person, (v) causing any class or
series of securities of the Company to be delisted from, or to cease to be authorized to be quoted on, any securities exchange
or (vi) causing a class or series of equity securities of the Company to become eligible for termination of registration pursuant
to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act;

 

(o)             institute, solicit, assist, opt into, or join (or threaten to do so) any litigation, action, complaint, arbitration or other
proceeding against or involving the Company or any of its current former or future directors, officers, employees, stockholders
or Affiliates (including derivative actions, direct class actions or otherwise), in order to effect or take any of the actions
expressly prohibited by this Section 2 or to assert any claims against the Company or any of its current or former or future directors,
officers, employees, stockholders or Affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty, U.S. federal securities law disclosure violations
or otherwise;

 

(p)             make any statement or announcement that constitutes an ad hominem attack on, or otherwise disparages or causes to
be disparaged, the Company, any of the Company’s known Affiliates, or any of the Company’s past, present or future
officers or directors appointed during the term of this Agreement, or take any action that would reasonably be expected to result
in any such statement or announcement being publicly made by the Company or any Third Party (including in order to comply with
any disclosure obligations under the applicable SEC rules);

 

(q)             make any public disclosure, announcement or statement regarding any intent, purpose, plan or proposal with respect to the
Board, the Company, its management, policies or affairs, any of its securities or assets or this Agreement that is inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(r)              enter into any discussions, negotiations, agreements or understandings with any Third Party to take any action that the
Kanen Group is prohibited from taking pursuant to this Section 2;

 

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(s)             make any request or submit any proposal to amend or waive the terms of this Agreement, in each case which would reasonably
be expected to result in a public announcement of such request or proposal; or

 

(t)              disclose any intention, plan, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.

 

As used in this Section 2, the following
terms shall have the following meanings: (i) “Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under
the Exchange Act and shall include Persons who become Affiliates of any Person subsequent to the date of this Agreement; (ii) “Person”
shall be interpreted broadly to include, among others, any individual, general or limited partnership, corporation, limited liability
or unlimited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, group, association or other entity of any kind or structure; (iii)
“Standstill Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and terminating at 11:59
p.m., Eastern time, on December 31, 2019; provided that the Company shall not set a nomination deadline for stockholders
to submit director candidates for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for a date earlier than January 15, 2020;
(iv) “Third Party” means any Person that is not the Kanen Group or an Affiliate of Associate of the Kanen
Group; and (v) “Voting Securities” means the shares of Common Stock and any other securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such
shares or other securities, whether or not subject to the passage of time or other contingencies.

 

		3.	Chief Executive Officer; Chief Financial Officer;
Observer Rights; Corporate Governance.

 

(a)           Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement the Board has hired and appointed Steve Cotton to serve as the Company’s
President. Mr. Cotton will be invited and entitled to submit to the CEO Search Committee his candidacy as permanent CEO, together
with, and on the same basis as, all other permanent CEO candidates who are identified and evaluated for such position by the CEO
Search Committee. It is hereby agreed that Selwyn Mould will resign from his current position as interim CEO of the Company immediately
following the Company’s filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 and will continue
to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Once a permanent CEO has been appointed by the Board, upon the recommendation
of the CEO Search Committee and in accordance with this Section 3(a), he or she promptly shall be appointed by the Board to serve
as a seventh (7th) director of the Company. The Company further agrees that at any time prior to the Nomination Right
Expiration Date, the Board shall not take any action to increase the size of the Board to more than seven (7) members unless the
Kanen Designees then serving on the Board consent to such action. It is hereby further agreed that Thomas M. Murphy shall resign
as the Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and shall be succeeded by Frank Knuettel
II as successor and permanent CFO of the Company on the first business day next following the Company’s public announcement
of its earnings for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018.

 

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(b)           The Company agrees that during the period commencing on the first day next following the final tabulation and certification
(by the Company’s inspector of elections) of voting results for the election of Company directors at the 2018 Annual Meeting
and through the first anniversary of such date, David L. Kanen, upon each express invitation of the Board, shall have the right
to attend all or any portions of meetings of the Board as an observer (with no voting rights), subject to Mr. Kanen’s prior
written agreement to comply with all of the Company’s policies applicable to the directors and officers of the Company (including,
without limitation, the Company’s insider trading and other applicable policies ) and the execution of and/or agreement by
Mr. Kanen to be bound by all applicable confidentiality, U.S. federal securities law trading, “no hedge/no pledge/no short,
no share loan,” standstill, ethics and other agreements, policies and Company corporate governance and best practice directives
to which the Company’s directors are a party or otherwise subject.

 

(c)           The Company agrees that within three (3) business days after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall publicly announce
that (i) the Board will adopt a policy whereby, commencing with respect to the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders
(and at each subsequent annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders at which directors of the Company are to be elected),
any director who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast by the Company’s stockholders at such meeting “for”
his or her election as a Company director immediately shall (after the final tabulation and certification by the Company’s
inspector of elections of voting results), tender his or her resignation to the Nominating Committee for its consideration and
acceptance or rejection (it being hereby agreed and acknowledged that any subsequent amendment or modification to such policy at
any time prior to the Nomination Right Expiration Date shall require the consent of each of the Kanen Group Designees) and (ii)
the Company shall continue to work with the independent executive search firm and corporate governance consultant referred to in
clause (ii) of Section 1(d) hereof to address matters of Board diversity, including the addition of a new Board member within six
(6) months after the date of this Agreement, who will replace one of the Board members who is serving on the Board prior to the
date of this Agreement.

 

		4.	Withdrawal of Nomination; Voting of Shares.

 

(a)           The
Kanen Group hereby irrevocably withdraws its letter dated March 23, 2018 (as supplemented by its letter dated April 3, 2018 and
its public announcement made on April 23, 2018) providing, in each case, notice to the Company of its intention to nominate certain
individuals designated by it for election to the Board at the 2018 Annual Meeting (the “Kanen Nomination”).
The Kanen Group also hereby agrees to immediately cease and terminate all mailing activities by it and its Affiliates, Associates,
agents and representatives, and by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., of its definitive opposition proxy materials, and to immediately
cease and cause its Affiliates and Associates to cease all efforts, direct or indirect, in furtherance of the Kanen Nomination
and all related solicitation activities in connection with the Kanen Nomination.

 

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(b)           Voting
Commitment. From and after the date hereof and until the Nomination Right Expiration Date, the Kanen Group shall, and shall
cause each of its Affiliates to, (i) appear at the 2018 Annual Meeting and each Post-2018 Annual Meeting or to otherwise cause
all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Kanen Group to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing
a quorum; (ii) vote, or cause to be voted, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Kanen Group on the Company’s
proxy card or voting instruction form in favor of each of the nominees for election as directors nominated by the Board and recommended
by the Board (and not in favor of any other nominees to serve on the Board), and, except in connection with any Opposition Matter
(as defined below) or Other Voting Recommendation (as defined below), each of the proposals listed on the Company’s proxy
card or voting instruction form as identified in the Company’s definitive proxy statement or supplement thereto in accordance
with the Board’s recommendations, including in favor of all matters recommended by the Board for stockholder approval and
against all matters that the Board recommends against stockholder approval; provided, however, in the event that either
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) or Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”)
issues a recommendation with respect to any matter (other than with respect to the election of nominees as directors to the Board
or the removal of directors from the Board) that is different from the recommendation of the Board, the Kanen Group shall have
the right to vote its shares of Common Stock on the Company’s proxy card or voting instruction form in accordance with either
the ISS or Glass Lewis recommendation (the “Other Voting Recommendation”); and (C) not execute any proxy
card or voting instruction form in respect of such stockholders’ meeting other than the proxy card and related voting instruction
form being solicited by or on behalf of the Company or the Board. No later than five (5) business days prior to the 2018 Annual
Meeting and each Post-2018 Annual Meeting held prior to the expiration of the Standstill Period, the Kanen Group shall vote any
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Kanen Group in accordance with this Section 4(b). The Kanen Group shall not take
any position, make any statement or take any action inconsistent with this Section 4(b). For purposes of this Agreement, “Opposition
Matter” shall mean any of the following transactions, but only to the extent submitted by the Board to the Company’s
stockholders for approval: (A) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one or a series
of transactions; (B) the sale or transfer of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock (through
a merger, stock purchase, or otherwise); (C) any merger, consolidation, acquisition of control or other business combination; (D)
any tender or exchange offer; or (E) any dissolution, liquidation, or reorganization; (F) any changes in the Company’s capital
structure.

 

5.             Regulation
FD. The Kanen Group hereby acknowledges and confirms that it is aware and that the Kanen Affiliates
have been advised that the U.S. federal securities laws prohibit any person who is in possession of any material non-public information
about an Exchange Act reporting company from purchasing, selling or trading securities of such issuer-company. The Kanen Group
acknowledges that the provisions of the SEC’s Regulation FD require the public announcement of previously non-public material
information if that information is disclosed to anyone who has not agreed with an Exchange Act reporting issuer to maintain the
confidentiality of that information. The Kanen Group agrees not to take, directly or indirectly, any action that would require
the Company to make a public announcement pursuant to the requirements of Regulation FD.

 

		5.	Representations and Covenants.

 

(a)           Representations
and Covenants of the Kanen Group. The Kanen Group, jointly and severally, represent, warrant to and agree with the Company,
as follows: (i) each member of the Kanen Group that is an entity is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) each member of the Kanen Group has the requisite power and authority (and,
in the case of any natural person, legal capacity) to execute, deliver and perform the terms and provisions of this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and
delivered by each member of the Kanen Group, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of each member of the Kanen
Group and is enforceable against each member of the Kanen Group in accordance with its terms; (iv) the Kanen Group, together with
the Kanen Affiliates, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 2,167,596 shares of Common Stock and such shares
of Common Stock constitute all of the Common Stock, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by the Kanen Group and the Kanen
Affiliates or in which the Kanen Group or the Kanen Affiliates have any interest or right to acquire, whether through derivative
securities, voting agreements or otherwise; (v) Kanen and its Affiliates shall inform each party with shared voting or dispositive
power over such securities of the terms of this Agreement; and (vi) as of the date of this Agreement, Kanen Wealth Management
and its Affiliates beneficially own in the aggregate less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

    10

     

    

 

(b)           Representations
and Covenants of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Kanen Group that (i) the Company is a corporation
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) the Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, and (iii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of the Company and is enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms. The Company agrees that, during the Standstill Period, neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors
or employees shall make any statement or announcement that constitutes an ad hominem attack on, or otherwise disparages
or causes to be disparaged, the Kanen Group or any member of the Kanen Group.

 

6.             Public Announcements. The parties shall make the following public announcements and/or filings
with the SEC (which need not be jointly made):

 

(a)           Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) issue a press release, in form and substance
mutually acceptable to the Company and the Kanen Group, announcing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, and (ii) file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”) reporting
the execution and delivery and material terms of this Agreement and appending or incorporating therein by reference this Agreement
as an exhibit thereto.

 

(b)           The Kanen Group shall promptly, but in no case prior to the date of the filing of the Form 8-K by the Company pursuant to
Section 7(a) hereof, prepare and file an amendment to its Schedule 13D with respect to the Company, reporting the beneficial ownership
reflected in this Agreement and the execution and delivery of this Agreement, withdrawing the Kanen Nomination and the cessation
of the other activities referred to in Section 4(a) hereof, and amending the applicable items of its Schedule 13D to conform to
the obligations hereunder.

 

(c)           None of the Kanen Group or the Kanen Affiliates shall (i) issue a press release or make any public announcement or filing
in connection with this Agreement or the actions contemplated hereby or (ii) except as contemplated by this Section 7, otherwise
make any public statement, filing, disclosure or announcement with respect to this Agreement or the actions contemplated hereby,
other than as mutually agreed to by the Company and the Kanen Group.

 

    11

     

    

 

7.             Miscellaneous. The parties agree that irreparable damage could occur in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that such damage may not be adequately
compensable in monetary damages. Accordingly, the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches
of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement exclusively in the federal or state courts
in Delaware, in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, and each party agrees it will not take any action, directly
or indirectly, in opposition to another party seeking relief. Each of the parties hereto agrees to waive any bonding requirement
under any applicable law, in the case any other party seeks to enforce the terms by way of equitable relief. Furthermore, each
of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of such federal or state courts in Delaware in
the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it shall
not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (c) agrees that
it shall not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other
than such federal or state courts in Delaware. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION
AND EFFECT, BY THE INTERNAL SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS EXECUTED AND TO BE
PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH STATE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT MAY RESULT IN THE APPLICATION
OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

8.             Expenses. The Company will reimburse the Kanen Group for its reasonable, documented fees and
expenses (including legal expenses and proxy solicitation expenses) in an amount up to $200,000 incurred in connection with matters
relating to the 2018 Annual Meeting and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement. Such expense reimbursement, together with
all legal, proxy solicitation, investor relations, printing and mailing and other fees and expenses incurred by the Company with
respect to its professional advisors and consultants in connection with Company matters relating to the 2018 Annual Meeting and
the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, shall be paid in full by the Company not later than May 31, 2018. In the event
that any legal action becomes necessary to enforce the Company’s rights under this Agreement, the Company, if successful,
shall be entitled, in addition to its court costs, to its reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees and legal expenses.

 

9.             Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements, memoranda,
arrangements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This Agreement may be amended only by an agreement in writing executed by the parties hereto, and no waiver of compliance
with any provision or condition of this Agreement and no consent provided for in this Agreement shall be effective unless evidenced
by a written instrument executed by the party against whom such waiver or consent is to be effective. No failure or delay by a
party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder.

 

    12

     

    

 

10.           Notices. All notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals and other communications
provided for herein and all legal process in regard hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed validly given, made or served,
if (a) delivered in person or sent by overnight courier, when actually received during normal business hours at the address specified
in this subsection, or (b) if given by e-mail, when such e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address set forth below and the appropriate
confirmation is received:

 

if to the Company, to:                          Aqua Metals,
Inc.

1010 Atlantic Avenue

Alameda, CA 94501

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

With copies (which shall not constitute notice pursuant
to this Section 11) to:

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

MetLife Building

200 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10166

Attention: Clifford E. Neimeth, Esq.

E-mail: neimethc@gtlaw.com

 

and

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

3161 Michelson Drive, Suite 1000

Irvine, CA 92612

Attention: Daniel Donahue, Esq.

E-mail: donahued@gtlaw.com

 

if to the Kanen Group, to:                   Kanen
Wealth Management LLC

5850 Coral Ridge Drive Suite 309

Coral Springs, FL 33076

Attention: David Kanen

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice pursuant
to this Section11) to:

 

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Andrew Freedman, Esq.

E-mail: afreedman@olshanlaw.com

 

    13

     

    

 

11.           Severability. If at any time subsequent to the date hereof, any provision of this Agreement
shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force
and effect, but the illegality or unenforceability of such provision shall have no effect upon the legality or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement.

 

12.           Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts either manually or
by electronic or digital signature (including by facsimile or electronic mail transmission), each of which shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which together shall constitute a single binding agreement on the parties, notwithstanding that not all
parties are signatories to the same counterpart.

 

13.           No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Assignment. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the
parties hereto and is not binding upon or enforceable by any other persons. No party to this Agreement may assign its rights or
delegate its obligations under this Agreement, whether by operation of law or otherwise, and any assignment in contravention hereof
shall be null and void. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to or shall confer any rights, benefits
or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the parties hereto, nor is anything in this Agreement
intended to relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third persons to any party.

 

14.           Interpretation and Construction. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section,
such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
“include,” “includes” and “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof, “herein” and “hereunder”
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision
of this Agreement. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning as the word “shall.” The
words “dates hereof” will refer to the date of this Agreement. The word “or” is not exclusive. The definitions
contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. Any agreement, instrument,
law, rule or statute defined or referred to herein means, unless otherwise indicated, such agreement, instrument, law, rule or
statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it has been represented
by counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement, and that it has executed
the same with the advice of said independent counsel. Each party cooperated and participated in the drafting and preparation of
this Agreement and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto exchanged among the parties shall
be deemed the work product of all of the parties and may not be construed against any party by reason of its drafting or preparation.
Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against
any party that drafted or prepared it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived by each of the parties hereto, and any
controversy over interpretations of this Agreement shall be decided without regards to events of drafting or preparation.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

    14

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

	 	 	 	 
	 	AQUA METALS, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Thomas Murphy	 
	 	 	Name:
Thomas Murphy
	 	 	Title:
Chief Financial Officer
	 	 	 
	 	/s/ David L. Kanen	 
	 	 	David
L. Kanen
	 	 	 
	 	KANEN WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ David L. Kanen	 
	 	 	Name:
David L. Kanen
	 	 	Title:
Managing Member

 

[Signature page to Settlement Agreement]Exhibit 10.2

 

AQUA METALS, INC.

 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT is entered into effective as of May 2, 2018 between AQUA METALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Company”),
and STEPHEN COTTON (“Employee”).

 

		1.	EMPLOYMENT.

 

1.1       General.
Company hereby employs Employee in the capacity of President, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Amended and Restated
Bylaws of the Company, as further amended from time to time (“Bylaws”), and all the policies and procedures
set forth in the Company’s employee handbook as in effect as of the date of this Agreement and as it may be modified or amended
in the future (“Employee Manual”), and other Company policies or procedures currently in effect or subsequently
implemented. Employee acknowledges that Employee is not employed for a specific term but is an at-will employee who may resign
at any time without notice. Likewise, the Company may terminate the Employee at any time, with or without notice, and with or without
cause or reason, provided that the Company may not terminate the Employee without Cause (as defined below) except upon the approval
of the the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”), which approval must include the affirnative vote
of at least one Kanen Nominee (as such term is defined in that Setllement Agreement dated May 2, 2018 by and among the Company,
David L. Kanen and Kanen Wealth Management LLC) to the Board

 

1.2       Effective
Time of Appointment. Employee shall commence his full-time employment by the Company effective as of May 7, 2018, however,
Employee shall not assume the position or duties of President of the Company until immediately following the Company’s filing
with the Securities Exchange Commission of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018, which is expected
to take place on or about May 9, 2018. Pending Employee’s formal assumption of the position and duties of President of the
Company, Employee shall devote his services hereunder to familiarizing himself with the Company’s operations and finance
and other matters relative to his assumption of the office of President.

 

1.3       Work
Location. Employee shall provide his services hereunder from the Company’s facilities in Alameda, California or McCarran,
Nevada, as appropriate.

 

		2.	GENERAL WORK RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

2.1       General.
In the absence of a Chief Exective Officer appointed by the Board, Employee shall serve as the principal executive officer of the
Company and, except as otherwise provided by the Board, shall be responsible for the executive management and oversight of the
Company including all technical research and development, operations, marketing, finance and corporate governance pertaining to
all Company operations, including reporting all aspects of financial performance to investors and members of the Board as required
by federal and state law and other national and international regulatory agencies. At all other times, the Employee has the active
management of the business of the Company under the general supervison of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Board.

 

     Page 1 of 6

     

    

 

2.2       Assignments.
Work assignments are made at the exclusive discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and Board and the Chief Executive Officer
and Board have the absolute right to assign Employee new or different job duties as deemed appropriate by either.

 

3.             EMPLOYEE’S
OBLIGATIONS. Employee covenants and agrees, as a condition of accepting or continuing employment with the Company, to all the
terms and conditions in the Employee Manual, other agreements executed by Employee and all Company policies, procedures and other
agreements now in existence or hereafter implemented, including, without limitation, the duty to:

 

3.1       Comply
with all Company policies and procedures as set forth in the Employee Manual, policy and procedure manuals, safety manuals and
other sources (as amended from time to time);

 

3.2       Devote
his full time and attention to meet the requirements set forth in the job description which objectives or duties may change from
year to year;

 

3.3       Follow
the direction and recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board;

 

3.4       Refrain
from investing in any direct competitor of the Company except that Employee may at any time own beneficially up to one (1%) of
the stock of any competing corporation whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the
national over-the-counter-market; and

 

3.5       To
observe and comply at all times with the provisions of the Company’s insider trading policy (as amended, from time to time)
and with every rule of law and every regulation in force in relation to dealings in stock, shares, debentures or other securities
of the Company (including in relation to unpublished price sensitive information affecting such securities), in whatever jurisdiction,
and to observe and comply with all laws and regulations of any stock exchange, market or dealing system in which such dealings
take place.

 

		4.	COMPENSATION.

 

4.1       Salary.
The Employee will be paid an annual salary of Four Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($410,000). Salary shall be paid on a bi-weekly
basis as adjusted from time to time. During employment, the Company will pay Employee the base salary in accordance with the terms
of the Employee Manual, less state and federal withholding and authorized deductions.

 

4.2       Annual
Performance Bonuses. Employee shall be eligible to receive annual performance-based bonuses of up to 50% of his then current
salary based upon achievement of specific milestones established by the Compensation Committee (“Committee”)
of the Board in advance and at its discretion. The bonus shall be paid in restricted stock units (“RSUs”)
under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor
equity incentive plan (“Plan”). Each RSU shall entitle the Employee to receive one (1) share of the Company’s
$0.001 par value common stock (“Common Stock”) based on satisfaction of the performance milestones. Upon
the Committee’s determination of the bonus milestones for any annual bonus period, the Commitee shall provide the Employee
with an award of RSU’s, including terms of settlement of the RSUs based on satisfaction of the performance milestones, in
an amount equal to 50% of the Employee’s then current annual salary divided by the Fair Market Value (as such term is defined
in the Plan) as of the award date.

 

     Page 2 of 6

     

    

 

4.3       Contingent
Share Bonus. The Company agrees to issue to the Employee under the Plan 100,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment
for splits, combinations and the like) subject to and contingent upon upon the volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock
trading on its principal stock market or stock exchange equaling or exceeding $7.00 per share (subject to adjustment for splits,
combinations and the like) over any thirty (30) consecutive trading days during the first 12 months of the Employee’s
employment by the Company (or through the date of termination of Employee’s service to the Company if sooner).

 

4.4       Benefits.
Employee shall be entitled to the insurance and employee benefits set forth in the Employee Manual and such other benefits
that are made available generally to senior management of the Company (“Benefits”). The Company does
not warrant that it will continue to offer the same or similar medical insurance benefits or other related Benefits in the future
and reserves the right to modify, reduce or eliminate benefits at its sole discretion.

 

4.5       Equity
Awards. Concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, Employee shall be granted an award of options to purchase up to 840,000
shares of Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Stock Option Agreements of even date herewith
between the Company and Employee. The Employee may be eligible for such other equity awards granted by the Committee, at its discretion
from time to time, in each case subject to a written equity award agreement signed by the Company and Employee independent of this
Agreement. The execution of any such equity award agreements will not alter the at-will status of the Employee or the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and the rights of the Employee under this Agreement shall not be effected by virtue of the adoption,
amendment, termination or enforceability of any equity award agreement or other related documents.

 

4.6       Withholding.
The Employee shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to pay to the Company any federal, state or local income taxes
required to be withheld with respect to any equity awards. If the Employee shall fail to make such tax payments as are required,
the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Employee
any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any such equity award.

 

4.7       Severance
on Termination Without Cause Or For Good Reason. If the Company terminates the Employee for any reason without Cause (including
death or Disability) or Employee resigns from the Company for Good Reason, the Employee shall continue to receive the salary and
Benefits set forth in Section 4.1 and Section 4.4, respectively, less all federal and state withholding, for a period
of 12 months following the effective date of termination. The receipt of any severance pursuant to this Section 4.7 will
be subject to Employee signing, and not revoking, a customary separation agreement and release of claims in a form acceptable to
the Company in its reasonable discretion. No severance will be paid or provided until the separation agreement and release agreement
becomes effective.

 

     Page 3 of 6

     

    

 

		5.	CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, NON DISCLOSURE, AND TRADE
SECRETS AGREEMENT.

 

5.1       Confidentiality.
Employee expressly agrees that he will never disclose to a third party or make unauthorized use of any “Confidential
Information” as defined in the Confidential Information, Non-Disclosure, and Trade Secrets Agreement attached hereto
as Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

5.2       Exclusivity.
Employee shall not during his employment directly or indirectly render any services of a business, commercial or professional nature
to any other person or organization, whether for compensation or otherwise, which would be in competition with the Company, or
which would prevent Employee from rendering the agreed services to Company during the tenure of his employment.

 

6.             TERMINATION.
Upon termination of employment, Employee shall return all Company’s property such as cell phones, lap tops, or other
tangible and intangible property including, without limitation, customer lists, manuals, contract forms, documents or any other
tangible or intangible documents or information used by the Company in the Employee’s possession at the time of termination,
in a manner consistent with Company policy.

 

7.             SURVIVAL
OF PROVISIONS OF AGREEMENT POST TERMINATION. All the obligations set forth in Sections 4, 5.1, 6 and 8
shall survive the termination of the Agreement and the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

		8.	MISCELLANEOUS.

 

8.1       Notices.
All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and deemed properly given when delivered in person to Employee
or to a corporation officer of Company, as the case may be, or when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid and properly
addressed to the party to be notified, if to Employee, to his residence, and if to Company, to its Secretary, at the home office,
Alameda, California, or to any such other address as shall have last been given by the party to be notified.

 

8.2       Parties
Benefited. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on Employee, his heirs, executors and administrators
and on Company, its successors and assigns.

 

8.3       Assignments.
This Agreement may be assigned at any time by Company to any related corporation or a successor corporation. In the event of
such an assignment, the assignee corporation to which the Agreement is assigned shall automatically be substituted for the assignor
Company for all intentions and purposes and to the same extent as if this assignee were the Company that had originally executed
this Agreement. This is a personal contract and the Employee cannot assign or transfer all or any portion of the contract, except
that in the event of the Employee’s death the compensation due and owing the Employee can be paid in accordance with any
assignment of death benefits.

 

     Page 4 of 6

     

    

 

8.4       Waiver.
The waiver by either party of a default or a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or
be construed as a waiver of any subsequent default or breach.

 

8.5       Modifications.
The provisions of this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties, with respect to the specific terms
set forth herein, and may only be modified by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. Modifications
to this Agreement do not change or alter the at-will status of the Employee.

 

8.6       Construction
of Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed consistently with the terms and conditions of all other Company policies and
procedures, which are referenced in this Agreement. If there is any conflict with the terms of this Agreement and Company policy
or procedure, this Agreement shall be interpreted to comply with Company policies or procedures.

 

8.7       Supersedes
Prior Agreements. This Agreement and all the terms thereof supersede all prior employment agreements executed by Employee but
shall be interpreted consistent with the Employee Manual and other policies and procedures of the Company. This Agreement will
be interpreted independently of any and all agreements executed by Employee pertaining to equity awards.

 

8.8       Attorneys
Fees. The prevailing party in any action brought to enforce this Agreement may recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and
costs including all costs and fees incurred in the preparation, trial and appeal of an action brought to enforce this Agreement.

 

8.9       Applicable
Law. It is the intent of the parties that all provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under
the law and public policy of the state of California, unless prohibited by law in which case this Agreement shall be enforced in
accordance with the laws where the action for enforcement is filed. If any section is determined by a court of law to be unenforceable,
that section shall be severed from the Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be enforced according to its terms.

 

9.             DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them as
follows:

 

 9.1       “Disability.”
The Employee shall be deemed to have a Disability for purposes of this Agreement if either (i) the Employee is deemed disabled
for purposes of any group or individual disability policy or (ii) in the good faith judgment of the Board, the Employee is substantially
unable to perform the Employee’s duties under this Agreement for more than ninety (90) days, whether or not consecutive,
in any twelve (12) month period, by reason of a physical or mental illness or injury.

 

9.2       “Cause”
shall mean (i) Employee’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony; (ii) a willful act by the Employee which
constitutes gross misconduct and which is injurious to the Company; (iii) any act or acts of dishonesty by Employee intended or
reasonable expected to result in any gain or personal enrichment of Employee at the expense of the Company; or (iv) if Employee
fails to perform the duties and responsibilities of his position after a written demand from the Board which describes the basis
for the Board’s belief that Employee has not substantially performed his duties and provides Employee with thirty (30) days
to take corrective action.

 

     Page 5 of 6

     

    

 

9.3       “Good
Reason” shall mean, in the context of a resignation by the Employee, a resignation that occurs within thirty (30) days
following the occurrence, without the written consent of the Employee, of one or more of the following events: (i) any adverse
change in the Employee’s base salary then in effect; (ii) a significant reduction of the Employees responsibilities relative
to Employee’s responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction; provided, however, that “Good Reason”
shall not be deemed to exist hereunder if such change in Base Salary or reduction of responsibilities occurs in connection with
(x) changes or reductions generally applicable to the Company’s management group, (y) Employee’s engagement in any
action or any inaction that would otherwise enable the Company to terminate the Employee for Cause or (z) the Board’s appointment
of a Chief Executive Officer.

 

10.           EMPLOYEE
CERTIFICATION. Employee hereby certifies that he has had an adequate opportunity to review, and understands all the terms and
conditions of, this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

	 	 	 	 
	 	EMPLOYEE
	 	 	 	 
	 	/s/
    Stephen Cotton	 
	 	Stephen Cotton
	 	 	 
	 	COMPANY
	 	 
	 	Aqua Metals, Inc.,
	 	A Delaware corporation
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Thomas
    Murphy	 
	 	 	Thomas Murphy,
	 	 	Chief Financial Officer

 

     Page 6 of 6

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