EXHIBIT 10.1

 

INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of January 30, 2018, by and among Lightbridge Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the investors listed on the signature page hereto (the “Investors”) and any other Permitted Transferee (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) that becomes a party to this Agreement, each of which is referred to in this Agreement as a “Holder” and collectively as the “Holders”.

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company to enter into the Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 18, 2017 (the “SPA”), and to induce the Investors to invest funds in the Company pursuant to the SPA, the Company and the Investors hereby agree that this Agreement shall govern the rights of the Holders to cause the Company to register shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holders, to receive certain information from the Company, and to participate in future equity offerings by the Company, and shall govern certain other matters as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Holders agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations filed January 29, 2018 by the Company with the Secretary of State of Nevada.

 

Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Conversion Rights” shall mean the rights of the Holder to convert Series B Preferred Stock into Common Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designation.

 

Damages” means any loss, damage, claim or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such loss, damage, claim or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any state securities law.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 
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Financial Investor” means a person that (i) does not have any strategic or commercial relationship with the Company, (ii) does not compete in the Company’s line of business or line of business that could generally be considered competitive with the Company, and (iii) is not a utility or a company in the business of processing nuclear fuel.

 

Form S-1” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC.

 

Form S-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

 

Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including, adoptive relationships, of a natural person referred to herein.

 

Nasdaq Rules” means the rules promulgated by the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

 

New Securities” means, collectively, newly issued equity securities of the Company, whether or not currently authorized, as well as rights, options, or warrants to purchase such equity securities, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock; (ii) the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Warrants, and (iii) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares referenced in clauses (i) or (ii) above; excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which the applicable rights under this Agreement are not assigned pursuant to Section 8.1.

 

Registrable Securities then outstanding” means the number of shares determined by adding the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable (directly or indirectly) pursuant to then exercisable and/or convertible securities that are Registrable Securities.

 

Restricted Securities” means the securities of the Company required to be notated with the legend set forth in Section 2.10(b) hereof.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SEC Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

 
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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder.

 

Series B Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s Non-Voting Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Warrants” means warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued to the Investors on the date hereof.

 

Warrant Expiration Date” means the Expiration Date of the Warrants as defined in the Warrant.

 

2. Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

2.1 Registration Rights. Within thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock, the Company shall file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities. The Company shall determine in its sole discretion whether to implement the registration using Form S-1 or Form S-3. The Company shall seek to have the registration statement declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as possible and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement while the Investors hold shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any Common Stock issued upon the conversion thereof.

 

2.2 Underwriting Requirements.

 

(a) If following the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities, pursuant to Section 2.1, the Holders determine that it is in their best interest to distribute the Registrable Securities by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to any intended sale of Registrable Securities (the “Underwriting Notice”). The underwriter(s), if any, will be selected by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to a majority in interest of the Holders. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause an amendment to the registration statement to be filed identifying the underwriter within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the Underwriting Notice. In such event, the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company as provided in Section 2.3(e)) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.2, if the underwriter(s) advise(s) the Holders in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that otherwise would be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated among such Holders of Registrable Securities in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of Registrable Securities owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders; provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders to be included in such underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares.

 

 
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2.3 Obligations of the Company. In connection with the registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to one year or, if earlier, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such one year period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains, at the request of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, from selling any securities included in such registration, and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 that are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, subject to compliance with applicable SEC rules, such one year period shall be extended for up to one hundred eighty (180) days, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold;

 

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement, as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

 

(c) furnish to the selling Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, as required by the Securities Act, and such other documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate their disposition of their Registrable Securities;

 

(d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue-sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Holders; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act;

 

(e) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the underwriter(s) of such offering;

 

 
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(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on a national securities exchange or trading system and each securities exchange and trading system (if any) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

(g) promptly make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith;

 

(h) notify each selling Holder, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed; and

 

(i) after such registration statement becomes effective, notify each selling Holder of any request by the SEC that the Company amend or supplement such registration statement or prospectus.

 

In addition, the Company shall ensure that, at all times after any registration statement covering a public offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act shall have become effective, its insider trading policy shall provide that the Company’s directors may implement a trading program under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act.

 

2.4 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as is reasonably required to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities.

 

2.5 Expenses of Registration. All expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Section 2, including all registration, filing, and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, shall be borne and paid by the Company. All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 2 shall be borne and paid by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities registered on their behalf.

 

2.6 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration pursuant to this Agreement as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.

 

 
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2.7 Indemnification.

 

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each selling Holder, and the partners, members, officers, directors, and stockholders of each such Holder; legal counsel and accountants for each such Holder; any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for each such Holder; and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any Damages, and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable for any Damages to the extent that they arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of any such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person expressly for use in connection with such registration.

 

(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person (if any), who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act), any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement, and any controlling Person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any Damages, in each case only to the extent that such Damages arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of such selling Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such selling Holder will pay to the Company and each other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that in no event shall the aggregate amounts payable by any Holder by way of indemnity or contribution under Sections 2.7(b) and 2.7(d) exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.7 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action) for which a party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 2.7, give the indemnifying party notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in such action and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, participate jointly with any other indemnifying party to which notice has been given, and to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such action.

 

 
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(d) To provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either: (i) any party otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 2.7 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that this Section 2.7 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any party hereto for which indemnification is provided under this Section 2.7, then, and in each such case, such parties will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements, omissions, or other actions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or expense, as well as to reflect any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case (x) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement, and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and provided further that in no event shall a Holder’s liability pursuant to this Section 2.7(d), when combined with the amounts paid or payable by such Holder pursuant to Section 2.7(b), exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by such Holder.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

(f) Unless otherwise superseded by an underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering, the obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 2.7 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration under this Section 2, and otherwise shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 
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2.8 Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company shall:

 

(a) use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times;

 

(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144, the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time at which the Company so qualifies); (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company; and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form).

 

2.9 “Market Stand-off” Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, during the period commencing on the date of the final prospectus relating to the registration by the Company for its own behalf of shares of its Common Stock or any other equity securities under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3 and ending on the date specified by the Company and the managing underwriter (such period not to exceed 120 days, or such other period as may be requested by the Company or an underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (1) the publication or other distribution of research reports, and (2) analyst recommendations and opinions, including, but not limited to, the restrictions contained in FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4) or NYSE Rule 472(f)(4), or any successor provisions or amendments thereto), (i) lend; offer; pledge; sell; contract to sell; sell any option or contract to purchase; purchase any option or contract to sell; grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase; or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable (directly or indirectly) for Common Stock (whether such shares or any such securities are then owned by the Holder or are thereafter acquired) or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash, or otherwise. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.9 shall not apply to the sale of any shares to an underwriter pursuant to an underwriting agreement, or the transfer of any shares to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Holder or the Immediate Family Member of the Holder, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, and shall be applicable to the Holders only if all officers and directors are subject to the same restrictions. The underwriters in connection with such registration are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Section 2.9 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto. Each Holder further agrees to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters in connection with such registration that are consistent with this Section 2.9 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.

 

 
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2.10 Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a) The Series B Preferred Stock and the Registrable Securities shall not be sold, pledged, or otherwise transferred, and the Company shall not recognize and shall issue stop-transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to any such sale, pledge, or transfer, except upon the conditions specified in this Agreement, which conditions are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. A transferring Holder will cause any proposed purchaser, pledgee, or transferee of the Series B Preferred Stock and, if required by applicable law, the Registrable Securities held by such Holder to agree to take and hold such securities subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Agreement.

 

(b) Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing (i) the Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) the Registrable Securities, and (iii) any other securities issued in respect of the securities referenced in clauses (i) and (ii), upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Section 2.10(c)) be notated with a legend substantially in the following form:

 

 

[NEITHER] THIS SECURITY [NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE] HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY [AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY] MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

 

 

[THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDER, AND THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.]

 

 

 
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The Holders consent to the Company making a notation in its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Restricted Securities in order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.10.

 

(c) The holder of such Restricted Securities, by acceptance of ownership thereof, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 2. Before any proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of any Restricted Securities, unless there is in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the proposed transaction, the Holder thereof shall give notice to the Company of such Holder’s intention to effect such sale, pledge, or transfer. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer in sufficient detail and, if reasonably requested by the Company, shall be accompanied at such Holder’s expense by either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel who shall, and whose legal opinion shall, be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company, to the effect that the proposed transaction may be effected without registration under the Securities Act; (ii) a “no action” letter from the SEC to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of such Restricted Securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the SEC that action be taken with respect thereto; or (iii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Company to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, whereupon the Holder of such Restricted Securities shall be entitled to sell, pledge, or transfer such Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice given by the Holder to the Company. The Company will not require such a legal opinion or “no action” letter (x) in any transaction in compliance with SEC Rule 144; or (y) in any transaction in which such Holder distributes Restricted Securities to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration, provided that each such Affiliate agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Section 2.10. Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing the Restricted Securities transferred as above provided shall be notated with, except if such transfer is made pursuant to SEC Rule 144, the appropriate restrictive legend set forth in Section 2.10(b), except that such certificate instrument, or book entry shall not be notated with such restrictive legend if, in the opinion of counsel for such Holder and the Company, such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act.

 

3. Confidentiality. Each Holder agrees that such Holder will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge, or use for any purpose (other than to monitor its investment in the Company) any confidential information obtained from the Company (including notice of the Company’s intention to file a registration statement), unless such confidential information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 3 by such Holder), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by the Holder without use of the Company’s confidential information, or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to the Holder by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company; provided, however, that a Holder may disclose confidential information (i) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company; (ii) to any prospective purchaser of any Registrable Securities from such Holder, if such prospective purchaser agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 3; (iii) to any existing or prospective Affiliate, partner, member, stockholder, or wholly owned subsidiary of such Holder in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Holder informs such Person that such information is confidential and directs such Person to maintain the confidentiality of such information; or (iv) as may otherwise be required by law, provided that the Holder promptly notifies the Company of such disclosure and takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure.

 

 
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4. Investor Participation in Future Equity Financings. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 4 and applicable securities laws, if the Company proposes to offer or sell any New Securities, the Company shall first offer such New Securities to the Investors.

 

(a) The Company shall give notice (the “Offer Notice”) to the Investors, stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such New Securities, (ii) the number of such New Securities to be offered, and (iii) the price and terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such New Securities.

 

(b) By notification to the Company within twenty (20) days after the Offer Notice is given, each Investor may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire a number of New Securities in proportion to such Investor’s proportional ownership of the Series B Preferred Stock, at the price and on the terms specified in the Offer Notice. The closing of any sale pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall occur within the later of thirty (30) days of the date that the Offer Notice is given and the date of initial sale of New Securities pursuant to Section 4(c).

 

(c) If all New Securities referred to in the Offer Notice are not elected to be purchased or acquired as provided in Section 4(b), the Company may, during the ninety (90) day period following the expiration of the periods provided in Section 4(b), offer and sell such New Securities to any Person or Persons at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than, those specified in the Offer Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of the New Securities within such period, or if such agreement is not consummated within thirty (30) days of the execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such New Securities shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Investor in accordance with this Section 4.

 

(d) The right of first offer in this Section 4 shall not be applicable to (i) any equity securities issued in connection with the conversion of any convertible security outstanding as of the Original Issue Date, as defined in the Certificate of Designation, (ii) any exercise of a warrant or option outstanding as of the Original Issue Date, as defined in the Certificate of Designation, (iii) any options or shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any plan adopted by the Company for the benefit of its employees, executive officers, directors or consultants, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued in connection with an acquisition, asset purchase agreement or joint venture agreement, (v) any issuance of Common Stock to Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, B. Riley FBR, Inc. (successor to FBR Capital Markets & Co. and MLV & Co. LLC) or their affiliates, (vi) any issuance of Common Stock in connection with a stock split or in connection with a dividend payable in Common Stock and (vii) any issuance of Common Stock or preferred stock to any investor that is not a Financial Investor.

 

 
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(e) The covenants set forth in Section 4 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect immediately upon the earlier of (i) the third (3rd) anniversary of the date hereof or (ii) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Sections 4(b) or 4(c).

 

5. Investor Participation in Warrant Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5 and applicable securities laws, if any individual investor fails to exercise any of its Warrants (such non-exercised Warrants, the “Non-Exercised Warrants”) prior to the Warrant Expiration Date, each Investor that exercised all of its Warrants (the “Warrant Exercising Investors”) shall have the right to exercise its pro rata share of the Non-Exercised Warrants, as calculated pursuant to Section 5(d) below (the “Warrant Pro-Rata Share”).

 

(a) The Company agrees that the Expiration Date in each Non-Exercised Warrant shall be deemed extended until the period specified in Section 5(c) has completed.

 

(b) The Company shall give notice (the “Warrant Notice”) to the Warrant Exercising Investors, stating (i) the number of Non-Exercised Warrants and (ii) the number of Warrants that each Investor has a pro rata right to exercise within ten (10) days following the Warrant Expiration Date.

 

(c) Each Warrant Exercising Investor has ten (10) days following the Warrant Notice to notify the Company of its intention to exercise its Warrant Pro-Rata Share. The closing of any Warrant exercise pursuant to this Section 5(c) shall occur within the thirty (30) days of the date that the Warrant Notice is given.

 

(d) The Warrant Pro-Rata Share shall be calculated as follows:

 

X = (IW / EW) * NW

 

Where:

X = Warrant Pro-Rata Share for each investor

IW = Number of each Warrant Exercising Investor’s Warrants

EW = Total Number of the Warrant Exercising Investors’ Warrants

NW = Total Number of Non-Exercised Warrants

 

6. Voting Rights. The Investor hereby grants an irrevocable proxy (which proxy is coupled with an interest) to the Company’s Board of Directors authorizing and directing the Board of Directors to vote all Excess Shares (as defined below) at any stockholders’ meeting or in an action by written consent in the same proportion as the shares of Common Stock that are voted at such meeting or by such written consent which are not beneficially owned by the Investor on the record date for such meeting or such written consent. “Excess Shares” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock held or voted by the Investor and its Affiliates or any member of a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) including the Investor or its Affiliates or other parties acting in concert with the Investor or its Affiliates, in the aggregate, that is in excess of 4.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company.

 

 
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7. Additional Covenants.

 

7.1 Volume Limitations. Until the earlier of (i) June 30, 2018 or (ii) the date upon which the Company shall have first received stockholder approval for the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock into Common Stock, each Holder (together with its Affiliates) shall be prohibited from lending, offering, pledging, selling, contracting to sell, or otherwise transferring or disposing of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, except that the Holders may sell up to 4.99% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in any ninety (90) consecutive day period.

 

7.2 Compliance with Nasdaq Rules.

 

(a) No Holder shall exercise its Conversion Rights at any time, if the exercise of the Conversion Rights would cause such Holder (together with its Affiliates) to own greater than 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock prior to the time that the Company shall have received stockholder approval in accordance with Nasdaq Rules. The limitation set forth in this Section 7.2(a) shall apply as long as any Series B Preferred Stock remains outstanding regardless of whether the Company’s securities are listed with the Nasdaq.

 

(b) The Company shall seek stockholder approval for the issuance of Common Stock to the Holders in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at the earlier of (i) the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders, or (ii) any earlier special meeting of stockholders unless the Company’s Board of Directors determines that soliciting approval at such special meeting in connection with this Section 7.2 would be materially detrimental to the approval of the other proposals to be considered thereat.

 

7.3 Reverse Stock Split. On or before June 30, 2018, the Company may effect a reverse stock split of its capital stock that would result in a per share price for its Common Stock of between $8.00 and $12.00 per share, as determined at the time that the reverse stock split ratio is established by reference to the most recent closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and the Holders hereby consent to such reverse stock split. In the event that such reverse stock split would result in less than 1,000,000 shares remaining in the Company’s public float, the Company may cause a reverse stock split at the highest ratio that would result in at least 1,000,000 shares remaining in the public float.

 

7.4 Termination of Equity Line. Following the date that the Company has raised a cumulative of $4,000,000 from (i) the sale of Series B Preferred Stock and (ii) proceeds from the Company’s other equity capital raising activities, the Company shall immediately cease the use of and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to terminate the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 4, 2015, by and between the Company and Aspire Capital Fund, LLC.

 

8. Miscellaneous.

 

8.1 Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee of Registrable Securities that is an Affiliate of a Holder; provided, however, that (x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and (y) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Section 2.10. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

 

 
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8.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law of the State of New York.

 

8.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

8.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

8.5 Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during the recipient’s normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses as set forth on Schedule A hereto (as may be updated from time to time), or to the principal office of the Company and to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, in the case of the Company, or to such email address, facsimile number, or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.5. If notice is given to the Company, a copy shall also be sent to Hogan Lovells US LLP, Attn: David Crandall, 1601 Wewatta Street, Suite 900, Denver, Colorado 80202.

 

8.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding; provided that the Company may in its sole discretion waive compliance with Section 2.10(c); and provided further that any provision hereof may be waived by any waiving party on such party’s own behalf, without the consent of any other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended or terminated and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Holder without the written consent of such Holder, unless such amendment, termination, or waiver applies to all Holders in the same fashion. The Company shall give prompt notice of any amendment or termination hereof or waiver hereunder to any party hereto that did not consent in writing to such amendment, termination, or waiver. Any amendment, termination, or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.6 shall be binding on all parties hereto, regardless of whether any such party has consented thereto. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.

 

 
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8.7 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

8.8 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement and such Affiliated persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.

 

8.9 Additional Investors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Permitted Transferee, as defined in the Certificate of Designation, may become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page to this Agreement, and thereafter shall be deemed a “Holder” for all purposes hereunder. No action or consent by the Holders shall be required for such joinder to this Agreement by such additional Holder, so long as such additional Holder has agreed in writing to be bound by all of the obligations as a “Holder” hereunder.

 

8.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules and Exhibits hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.

 

8.11 Dispute Resolution. The parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

 
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL: EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

 

8.12 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or nondefaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

(Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)

 

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

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Seth Grae

 

 

Name:

Seth Grae

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

(Signature Page to Investors Rights Agreement)

 

 
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INVESTOR:

 

 

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]*

 

 

 

By:

/s/ [Intentionally Omitted]*

 

 

Name:

[Intentionally Omitted]*

 

 

Title:

[Intentionally Omitted]*

 

________

*None of the investors are officers, directors, 5% shareholders or otherwise an affiliate of Lightbridge Corporation

 

(Signature Page to Investors Rights Agreement)

 

 
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SCHEDULE A

 

Holders

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]*

 

*None of the investors are officers, directors, 5% shareholders or otherwise an affiliate of Lightbridge Corporation

 

 

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