T1 Energy Inc 8-K, filed Jun 6, 2024
T1 Energy Inc. (TE)
8-K
2024-06-06
For: 2024-05-31
View Original
Added on
April 07, 2026
About this 8-K
T1 Energy Inc filed this 8-K on June 6, 2024, reporting on events of May 31, 2024.
Items reported
- Item 5.02: Director or officer change, or executive pay
- Item 7.01: Regulation FD disclosure
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 31, 2024
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | ||||||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (678) 632-3112
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Birger K. Steen’s Departure as Chief Executive Officer and as a Director
On June 6, 2024, FREYR Battery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “FREYR”), announced that Birger K. Steen, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), would be leaving the Company effective as of June 6, 2024, and that he will not stand for re-election as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Mr. Steen’s departure is not related to any disagreements with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies, practices (financial or otherwise) or any issues regarding financial disclosures, accounting, or legal matters. In connection with Mr. Steen’s departure, FREYR Battery Norway AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the “CEO Separation Agreement”) with Mr. Steen, pursuant to which Mr. Steen will be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 12 months base salary, less any applicable withholding and authorized deductions, subject to his execution of a release of claims.
The foregoing description of the CEO Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the CEO Separation Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Appointment of New Chief Executive Officer
In connection with Mr. Steen’s departure, on June 6, 2024, the Board appointed Tom Einar Jensen as its CEO, effective immediately. Mr. Jensen is currently a member of the Board and will continue to hold this position until the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and at such time as his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal. Additionally, in connection with Mr. Jensen’s appointment as the Company’s CEO, effective June 6, 2024, Mr. Jensen resigned from his current position as Executive Chair of the Board, and the Board has appointed Daniel Barcelo as Chair of the Board, effective on the same day.
Tom Einar Jensen, 53, has served as Executive Chair of FREYR since August 2023 and director since May 2023. He previously served as CEO of FREYR from July 2021 to August 2023. Mr. Jensen was a co-founder of FREYR AS (“FREYR Legacy”) and served as FREYR Legacy’s CEO from October 2018. Prior to and concurrently with FREYR Legacy, Mr. Jensen has served as co-founder and Partner of EDGE Global LLC since September 2017. Prior to EDGE Global LLC and FREYR Legacy, Mr. Jensen served in multiple positions, most recently as Partner and Senior Advisor, at SYSTEMIQ Ltd. from April 2016 to September 2017. Prior to SYSTEMIQ Ltd., Mr. Jensen was Executive Vice President Head at Joule Unlimited Technologies, Inc. (“Joule Unlimited”) from April 2014 to March 2016. Prior to Joule Unlimited, Mr. Jensen was CEO at Agrinos AS from September 2009 to September 2013. Prior to Agrinos AS, Mr. Jensen held various positions in finance, strategy, and business development at Norsk Hydro. Mr. Jensen holds a M.Sc. in Finance and Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics.
The Company and Mr. Jensen are still finalizing the terms of his compensation for his new role as CEO of the Company and such arrangements will be separately announced when finalized. The Company expects that Mr. Jensen’s compensation will be in line with the departing CEO’s compensation terms.
As previously disclosed in the Company’s SEC filings, on August 10, 2023, the Company entered into a consultancy agreement with Mr. Jensen (the “Jensen Consultancy Agreement”) related to the provision of transitional and other services by Mr. Jensen. The Jensen Consultancy Agreement provides for payment of $30,000 per month, the grant of 250,000 non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company with a market condition related to the Company’s stock price. In connection with Mr. Jensen’s appointment as the Company’s CEO, the Jensen Consultancy Agreement will be terminated.
As FREYR’s CEO, Mr. Jensen will not be considered independent under the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards and applicable federal and state securities laws. There are no family relationships between Mr. Jensen and any director or other executive officer, nor are there any transactions to which the Company was or is a participant and in which Mr. Jensen has a material interest subject to disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, except for the Jensen Consultancy Agreement described herein, which will be terminated in connection with Mr. Jensen’s appointment as the Company’s CEO. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Jensen and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as an officer.
Transition of Role of Group Chief Financial Officer
On May 31, 2024, Oscar K. Brown notified the Board of his intention to leave his role as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), effective June 13, 2024.
In connection with Mr. Brown’s departure, FREYR, FREYR Battery US Holding, Inc. (a subsidiary of FREYR), and Mr. Brown entered into a Separation Agreement on June 5, 2024 (the “CFO Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the CFO Separation Agreement, the employment relationship between the Company and Mr. Brown will terminate on June 21, 2024 (the “Termination Date”). Mr. Brown will, in addition to the base salary up until the Termination Date, receive a lump sum payment equivalent to one month’s base salary calculated to equal $50,000, less any applicable withholding and
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authorized deductions. Mr. Brown will not be entitled to any cash bonus for 2024. Any stock options awarded to Mr. Brown that have vested as of the Termination Date must be exercised within three months of the Termination Date. Mr. Brown’s granted but unvested equity awards will be forfeited on the Termination Date. Furthermore, the CFO Separation Agreement includes a customary release of claims.
The foregoing description of the CFO Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the CFO Separation Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
On June 5, 2024, in connection with Mr. Brown’s departure, the Board appointed Evan Calio as CFO of the Company, who is expected to commence employment on June 13, 2024 (the “Start Date”).
Evan Calio, 57, has served as a Managing Director within Energy and Infrastructure Investment Banking at BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”). Prior to BTIG, he spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley, most recently as a Managing Director within Equity Research, covering U.S. exploration and production companies, refiners, and integrated oils. Mr. Calio was ranked by Institutional Investor’s Annual All-America Research Survey in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. Earlier in his career, he held a role within the Energy Investment Banking division at Morgan Stanley and the Energy Proprietary Trading business at JP Morgan. Mr. Calio began his career as a Special Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He earned a BS from Lehigh University, a JD from Widener University School of Law, and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center.
In connection with Mr. Calio’s appointment as CFO, Mr. Calio entered into an employment agreement with FREYR Battery US Holding, Inc., dated June 3, 2024 (the “CFO Employment Agreement”). The CFO Employment Agreement provides that, during his employment, Mr. Calio will be eligible to receive an annual base salary of $600,000, a target annual cash bonus equal to 100% of Mr. Calio’s base salary, equity awards (as described below), and customary paid vacation and health benefits.
Subject to the approval of the Board, Mr. Calio will receive a one‑time award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with respect to a number of shares of common stock of the Company (the “Sign-On RSUs”). The number of Sign-On RSUs to be awarded will be equal to a nominal value of $3.0 million divided by the volume weighted average price of the common stock of the Company for a 15 trading day period ending on the Start Date. The Sign-On RSUs will be subject to the terms of the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Equity Plan”), and any applicable award agreement issued thereunder. The Sign-On RSUs will vest in three equal tranches over a period of three years from the grant date, subject to Mr. Calio’s continued active employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date.
Mr. Calio is also eligible to receive annual options granted under the Equity Plan. Subject to Board approval, Mr. Calio will receive an award of 300,000 options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “LTIP Options”), to be granted for 2024, 2025, and 2026, in each case, subject to the Mr. Calio’s continued employment on the date of grant. The LTIP Options will vest in three equal tranches over a period of three years from the grant date and once vested will remain exercisable for a term not to exceed five years from the grant date under the Equity Plan, subject in each case to Mr. Calio’s continued active employment with the Company. Subject to Board approval, Mr. Calio will also receive RSUs with respect to a number of shares of common stock of the Company with a fair market value at the time of the grant equal to $600,000 per year (the “LTIP RSUs”) issued pursuant to the Equity Plan, with respect to 2024, 2025, and 2026, in each case, subject to the Mr. Calio’s continued active employment on the date of grant. The LTIP RSUs shall vest in three equal tranches over a period of three years from the grant date, subject to Mr. Calio’s continued active employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date.
In the event Mr. Calio’s employment is terminated by FREYR Battery US Holding, Inc. without cause or by Mr. Calio for good reason (a “Qualifying Termination”), then Mr. Calio will be entitled to receive severance of one year base salary and reimbursement for the full cost of premiums under COBRA for a period of six months following the date of termination. Furthermore, if, during the twelve months immediately following a change in control, Mr. Calio experiences a Qualifying Termination, then Mr. Calio would be entitled to full vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by Mr. Calio.
There are no family relationships between Mr. Calio and any director or other executive officer, nor are there any transactions to which the Company was or is a participant and in which Mr. Calio has a material interest subject to disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Calio and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as an officer.
The foregoing description of the CFO Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the CFO Employment Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure
A copy of the press release announcing this leadership transition is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
| FREYR BATTERY, INC. | ||||||||
| Date: June 6, 2024 | By: | /s/ Are L. Brautaset | ||||||
| Name: | Are L. Brautaset | |||||||
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer | |||||||
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT
(the Separation Agreement)
(the Separation Agreement)
between
FREYR Battery Norway AS (the “Company”);
FREYR Battery, Inc. (the “Parent Company”);
and
Birger K. Steen (the “CEO”)
(jointly referred to as the “Parties”)
The Parties agree that the employment of the CEO contemplated by the employment agreement dated September 29, 2023 (the “Employment Agreement”) shall terminate/expire on June 30, 2024 with release of work on June 6, 2024. The departure from the CEO’s position shall be governed by the provision of this Separation Agreement, supplemented by the provisions of the Employment Agreement as applicable, mutatis mutandis:
1.The CEO will leave his roles as Chief Executive Officer and Director of FREYR Battery, Inc. (the “Parent Company”) and any other position that the CEO holds with the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries (including all officerships, directorships and committee memberships thereof), including the Employment Agreement with the Company, in each case with effect from June 6, 2024. The board of directors of the Parent Company (the “Board”) acknowledges and agrees with such departure. If required, the CEO shall sign and contribute with all necessary documentation in order to facilitate a smooth transition and departure from any of the aforementioned officerships, directorships etc.
2.Due to the CEO’s departure, he shall with immediate effect be released from the duties and rights to perform the role as Chief Executive Officer and Director according to the Employment Agreement and shall not perform his regular duties pertaining to such positions within the FREYR Battery Group (which includes any company which is for the time being a subsidiary of the Parent Company) from June 6, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (the “Transition Period”). During the Transition Period, the CEO agrees to serve as a special advisor to the incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Parent Company (the “Incoming CEO”) by providing certain transitional services to assist the Incoming CEO in preparing for such position, as requested by such individual and/or the Parent Company.
3.The CEO is eligible to participate in the insurance and pension schemes until the expiry of the Transition Period on 30 June 2024. An offer of continuation insurance will be issued in accordance with applicable law.
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
4.In accordance with Section 17 of the Employment Agreement, the Company shall continue to pay to the CEO remuneration for the role as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Parent Company as set out in clause 4 of the Employment Agreement through June 30, 2024 (inclusive). Additionally, the CEO shall receive a payment corresponding to 12 months base salary as described under Clause 4.1 of the Employment Agreement, in total NOK 7 000 000 (seven million), as severance pay from the Company (the “Severance Pay”) The Severance Pay shall be paid to the CEO as a lump sum payment (less withholding taxes) on June 7, 2024. No holiday allowance or pension contribution shall be calculated on the Severance Pay.
5.The CEO shall receive accrued, but previously unpaid, holiday allowance until the end of the Transition Period. The holiday allowance shall be paid on June 20, 2024. Any accrued holiday shall be considered taken out by the CEO prior to the expiry of the Transition Period and the CEO is not entitled to any additional compensation in this regard.
6.Each party shall be responsible for taxes, duties etc. for which such party is liable to pay as a result of this Separation Agreement. Tax deductions are made pursuant to ordinary rules, and the amount will be reported to the tax authorities subsequent to applicable law.
7.The Company also agrees to bear all reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses, including but not limited to any legal fees incurred in Norway and the US, incurred by the CEO solely in connection with the review of the agreements entered into between the CEO, the Parent Company and the Company (and other entities within the FREYR Battery Group) in connection with his departure, up to a maximum of NOK 250 000 excl. VAT.
8.The CEO represents, warrants and confirms that the CEO has been properly paid all salary, wages, commissions, bonuses and other compensation due to the CEO and the Company and Parent Company owe the CEO no wages, overtime pay, commissions, bonuses, sick pay, personal leave pay, severance pay, vacation pay or other compensation or benefits or payments or form of remuneration of any kind or nature, other than that specifically provided for in this Separation Agreement.
9.All options granted to the CEO and vested as of June 5, 2024, shall be exercisable for three (3) months after June 5, 2024 (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such options). With respect to any options granted that are not vested on June 5, 2024, the shares of the Parent Company’s common stock covered by the unvested portion of the options will revert to the Parent Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”). The Parties further agree that if after termination the CEO does not exercise his vested options within the specified time period described herein, the options will automatically terminate and are forfeited without payment of any consideration on June 5, 2024, and the CEO shall not receive (or be entitled to receive) any additional equity incentive awards as of June 5, 2024. The CEO shall not be entitled to payment of any cash bonus under the Parent Company’s short-term incentive plan for 2024.
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
10.The CEO shall be relieved from his non-compete obligations according to the Employment Agreement section 13.1, and will accordingly not receive any payment in accordance with clause 13.7 of the Employment Agreement.
11.Any provision of the Employment Agreement that pursuant to its terms survives termination of the Employment Agreement and regulates rights and obligations of the Parties following the termination of the Employment Agreement, shall continue to apply after termination in accordance with its terms, mutatis mutandis, i.e., Confidentiality (section 12), Non-Solicitation (section 13) and Intellectual Property (section 15). The restrictive covenants (section 13), with exception of the Non-Competition provisions in section 13.1, shall apply until June 30, 2025. The CEO shall in accordance with clause 16.5 of the Employment Agreement promptly return all Parent Company property in his possession by June 6, 2024 (including any property pertaining to FREYR Battery Group as a whole).
12.Indemnification from liability arising from the role as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Parent Company and any other positions with the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries (including all officerships, directorships and committee memberships thereof) shall not be affected by the CEO leaving his positions as Chief Executive Officer and Director or the terms of this Separation Agreement and shall continue in accordance with its terms.
13.The CEO, on behalf of himself, the CEO’s spouse, heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, assigns, and all other persons claiming through the CEO (collectively, the “CEO Releasers”), does hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and willingly release, waive, and forever discharge the Company, the Parent Company, the group companies together with each of their respective affiliates, together with each of their current, former or future directors, officers, partners, agents, members, employees, trustees, stockholders, investors, joint ventures, representatives, and attorneys, and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, predecessors, successors and assigns, both individually and in their official capacities (each, individually, a “Company Releasee” and collectively, the “Company Releasees”) from, and does fully waive any obligations of any of the Company Releasees to CEO Releasers for, any and all rights, actions, charges, causes of action, demands, damages, claims for relief, complaints, remuneration, sums of money, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, obligations, demands, accounts, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) or liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, contingent or absolute (collectively, “Claims”), which the CEO or any other CEO Releaser ever had, now has, or may hereafter claim to have by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever: (i) arising from the beginning of time up to the date the CEO executes this Agreement, including, but not limited to, (A) any such Claims relating in any way to the CEO’s employment with the Company, the Parent Company or any other Company Releasee, including, but not limited to, the CEO’s relationship as a special advisor to the Incoming CEO, and (B) any such Claims arising under any Norwegian or US federal, local, or state statute or regulation, or any other foreign law (statutory, regulatory, or otherwise) that may be legally waived or released; (ii) arising out of or relating to the termination of the CEO’s employment with the Company, the Parent Company or any other Company
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
Releasee, including, but not limited to, the CEO’s relationship as a special advisor to the Incoming CEO; or (iii) arising under or relating to any policy, agreement, understanding, or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between the Company, the Parent Company or any other Company Releasee and the CEO (including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement).
14.Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, CEO Releasers do not release, and this release and waiver does not apply to and shall not be construed to apply to: (A) any Claims the CEO may have that cannot be waived under applicable law; (B) rights under this Separation Agreement; (C) any rights the CEO may have to vested benefits under qualified retirement and welfare programs; (D) any rights the CEO has or may have as a shareholder with respect to any shares of the Parent Company owned outright by the CEO; and (E) any claims or rights relating to indemnification of the CEO by the Company and Parent Company or to benefits under any directors or officers insurance policy maintained by the Company and/or Parent Company.
15.The Company, the Parent Company, and the Group Companies (each, individually, a “Company Releaser” and collectively, the “Company Releasers”) hereby release and discharge to the extent allowed by applicable law, the CEO from any and all Claims against the CEO any of the Company Releasers ever had, now has, or may hereafter claim to have by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, including, without limitation, claims relating to or arising from the CEO’s employment by or termination of employment with the Company, the Parent Company or any Group Company, or from any other positions that the CEO holds or have held with the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries (including all officerships, directorships and committee memberships thereof). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Company Releasers do not release, and this release and waiver does not apply to and shall not be construed to apply to potential Claims, if any, that are based on fraud or misappropriation by the CEO, which the Company Releasers were not aware of or should not have been aware of at the date of this Separation Agreement.
16.The CEO agrees that neither this Separation Agreement, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this general release of claims, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any other Company Releasee or the CEO of any improper or unlawful conduct. The CEO further acknowledges and agrees that the Company and the other Company Releasees have fully satisfied any and all obligations owed to the CEO arising out of or relating to the CEO’s employment with the Company or any other Company Releasees, and no further sums, payments, or benefits are owed to the CEO by the Company or any of the other Company Releasees arising out of or relating to the CEO’s employment with the Company or any of the other Company Releasees, except as expressly provided in this Separation Agreement.
17.The Company Releasers hereby acknowledges and confirms that as of the date of this Separation Agreement, the Company Releasers are not aware of any circumstances implying or that might suggest that the CEO has acted inappropriately in the performance of his duties. Specifically, the Company Releasers confirms they have no reason to believe the CEO has withheld relevant information from the board of directors or has
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
otherwise engaged in any mismanagement of the Company. The Company Releasers further acknowledges that throughout the term of employment, the CEO has fulfilled his role in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies and has duly executed his obligations and responsibilities as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Parent Company and any other positions that the CEO holds or have held with the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries (including all officerships, directorships and committee memberships thereof). In the event it comes to the Company Releasers’ attention, subsequent to the execution of this Separation Agreement, that the CEO’s conduct met the standards expected of an executive in its position and that no evidence supporting a contrary belief exists, the Company Releasers shall take all necessary steps to correct any previous implications or indications otherwise, made by Company Releasers, including the issuance of a public retraction or correction.
18.The Company Releasers represents and warrants that the confirmation of conduct as stated in this Separation Agreement is true and accurate and acknowledges that the CEO has relied upon this representation and warranty in executing this Separation Agreement.
19.This Separation Agreement implies a full and final settlement between the Parties in connection with the employment relationship, as well as any other positions that the CEO holds or have held with the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries (including all officerships, directorships and committee memberships thereof) and the termination thereof. Through this Separation Agreement, the Parties waive the right to bring any further claims against each other, except for the terms of this Separation Agreement.
20.The CEO confirms that, except for the terms of this Separation Agreement, he has no claims or any other rights whatsoever against the Parent Company or its affiliates and subsidiaries, and the Parent Company confirms that, except for the terms of this Separation Agreement, it and its affiliates and subsidiaries have no claims or any other rights whatsoever against the CEO. Each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and dismisses any such claims and rights with respect to the Parent Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries. Consequently, the agreement implies that the CEO cannot invoke the employment protection right under the Norwegian Working Environment Act or any other applicable law against the Parent Company or its affiliates and subsidiaries.
21.The CEO shall continue to be covered by the Parent Company’s D&O insurance policy and other insurance policies in accordance with their terms with respect to former directors and officers of the Parent Company. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Parent Company shall also indemnify and hold the CEO harmless from and against any claims from its subsidiaries and affiliates, and from third party claims relating to his position as Chief Executive Officer or Director or any other positions with the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries (including all officerships, directorships and committee memberships thereof), and shall offer all required assistance and access to information in connection with any potential claims.
22.Subject to applicable law and regulations, including the Parent Company’s disclosure obligations as a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, this Separation Agreement is confidential. Subject to the Parent Company’s disclosure obligations, the
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
Parties shall in good faith agree any required public communication concerning the departure of the CEO and this Separation Agreement.
23.The Parties agree to issue a mutually agreed-upon statement regarding the CEO's departure and to use this statement exclusively in response to any inquiries from the public or press, and for internal communication, regarding the CEO’s departure. The Parties shall refrain from making public statements about each other that will damage the reputation of the other Party.
24.This Separation Agreement has been duly approved by the Board.
25.This Separation Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Norwegian law and the Parties give exclusive jurisdiction to the Norwegian Courts.
This Separation Agreement has been prepared and signed in two original copies, one copy having been delivered to and to be retained by each of the Parties.
June 5, 2024
| For the Company | The CEO | |||||||
| /s/ Tom Einar Jensen | /s/ Birger K. Steen | |||||||
| Tom Einar Jensen | Birger K. Steen | |||||||
For the Parent Company | ||
| /s/ Tom Einar Jensen | ||
| Tom Einar Jensen | ||
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EXECUTION VERSION
June ____5_____, 2024
(A) Freyr Battery US Holding, Inc.
(B) FREYR Battery, Inc.
and
(C) Oscar K. Brown
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is between:
(i)FREYR Battery US Holding, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”);
(ii)FREYR Battery, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Parent Company”); and
(iii)Oscar K. Brown (the “Employee”).
RECITALS
(A)The Employee was employed by the Company as the Group Chief Financial Officer of the Parent Company and its subsidiaries (including the Company) under the terms of an employment agreement made and entered into as of May 9, 2022 (the “Employment Agreement”).
(B)The Company and the Parent Company are entering into this Agreement for themselves and as agents for all Group Companies and are duly authorized to act on their behalf. A “Group Company” is any company which is for the time being a subsidiary of the Parent Company.
(C)The Employee decided to voluntarily resign from his employment with the Parent Company and each Group Company (including the Company) pursuant to clause (v) of the introductory paragraph of Section 6 and Section 6(a) of the Employment Agreement.
(D)The Employee provided notice to the Company on Friday, May 31, 2024, that he would be resigning.
(E)Effective as of the date the new Chief Financial Officer commences employment, which is expected to occur on June 13, 2024 (the “Transition Date”), the Employee will cease serving in the role of Group Chief Financial Officer and commence serving as a special advisor to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Parent Company.
(F)Executive’s employment with the Company and each Group Company, and his role as special advisor to the CEO, shall terminate effective as of June 21, 2024 (such date, the “Termination Date”, and the period from the Transition Date through the Termination Date, the “Transition Period”).
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1.TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; TRANSITION DUTIES
1.1The employment relationship between the Employee, the Parent Company, the Company, and each other Group Company shall terminate on the Termination Date.
1.2During the Transition Period, subject to Section 1.3, the Employee is no longer required to perform the Employee’s regular duties pertaining to the Employee’s position as Group Chief Financial Officer of the Parent Company and each Group Company.
1.3During the Transition Period, the Employee shall have the role of special advisor to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Parent Company to ensure efficient knowledge transfer and hand-over of tasks and assist the new Group Chief Financial Officer with transition matters, as requested by the CEO or new Group Chief Financial Officer.
1.4During the Transition Period, the Employee is not permitted to take on other employment, duty or commission without the Parent Company’s prior written consent. As of the Transition Date, the Employee is no longer expected to perform the Employee’s regular duties pertaining to the position as Group Chief Financial Officer of the Parent Company and each Group Company.
1.5The Employee’s obligations to act in good faith and in the best interests of the Company, the Parent Company and all Group Companies and the Employee’s other obligations under the Employment Agreement remains in full force and effect until the Termination Date. The
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Employee remains bound by all policies and procedures of the Company, the Parent Company, and all Group Companies through the Termination Date.
2.OFFICERSHIPS AND DIRECTORSHIP IN GROUP COMPANIES
2.1Effective as of the Termination Date, the Employee is deemed to have automatically resigned from all officerships and directorships of the Parent Company, the Company and any Group Company (including the board position in Nidec Energy AS) and, if required or requested by the Parent Company or any Group Company, the Employee shall promptly take any action to formalize such resignation.
3.PAYMENT OF SALARY AND BENEFITS UNTIL TERMINATION DATE; ON-GOING TAX EQUALIZATION PAYMENTS
3.1The Company will pay and provide the Employee with Employee’s current Base Salary and employee benefits until the Termination Date, less applicable tax withholding and other authorized deductions. In addition, notwithstanding the termination of the Employment Agreement or Employee’s employment with the Group Company, the Company will continue to pay all amounts due and owing under Section 3(f) of the Employment Agreement for so long as any such payments are necessary to ensure that Employee receives the full benefit of Section 3(f) of the Employment Agreement solely with respect to payments pursuant to this Section 3.1 (i.e., the Company will continue to make payments under this Section 3.1 pursuant to Section 3(f) of the Employment Agreement so long as Employee has any tax liability (including any tax liability on any such payment) in any country relating to compensation paid to the Employee from the Company, if, and only if, the Company has requested that the Employee perform work in such country, such that the Employee will be, from an economic perspective, no worse off than if the Employee had lived, worked and incurred tax liabilities only in the United States).
4.TERMINATION BY VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION; FINAL PAY
4.1The Employee, the Company and the Parent Company agree that the Employment Agreement shall, effective as of the Termination Date, terminate as a result of the Employee’s voluntary resignation pursuant to clause (v) of the introductory paragraph of Section 6 and Section 6(a) of the Employment Agreement, and that Employee is not entitled to any severance pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Employment Agreement (or equity acceleration pursuant to Sections 3(c)-(e) of the Employment Agreement) in connection with the Employee’s voluntary resignation of employment.
4.2Regardless of the Employee’s execution of this Agreement, Employee will receive the Employee’s base salary at the current rate through the Termination Date, payable no later than the first regularly scheduled payroll date following the Termination Date, less applicable withholdings and deductions.
4.3Pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Employment Agreement, the Employee will not be entitled to payment of any cash bonus under the Parent Company’s short- term incentive plan for 2024.
4.4The Company will reimburse the Employee for all expenses reasonably and properly incurred and reported by the Employee prior to the Termination Date in accordance with Section 4 of the Employment Agreement, payable on the Company’s first regularly scheduled payroll date which occurs at least ten (10) business days after the Termination Date, provided all supporting documents were properly submitted in advance.
4.5The Employee represents, warrants and confirms that the Employee has been properly paid all salary, wages, commissions, bonuses and other compensation due to the Employee and the Company and Parent Company owe Employee no wages, overtime pay, commissions, bonuses, sick pay, personal leave pay, severance pay, vacation pay or other compensation or benefits or
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payments or form of remuneration of any kind or nature, other than that specifically provided for in this Agreement.
4.6The Company waives any claims against the Employee for reimbursement of personal income taxes or similar taxes or contributions that the Company or any Group Company have paid on behalf of the Employee in Luxembourg and/or Norway for 2022, 2023 and/or 2024. The Employee shall be solely responsible to correctly reflect any benefit obtained through such waiver in his tax filings and for any resulting tax payments.
5.SEPARATION PAYMENT
5.1Notwithstanding that the Employee is not entitled to any severance under the Employee’s Employment Agreement, subject to the Employee fulfilling the Employee’s obligations hereunder and the conditions set forth herein, and the Employee’s timely execution and non-revocation of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, the Company shall pay the Employee a lump sum payment in the gross amount of $50,000, less all applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes and any other authorized or legally-required deductions, payable on the Company’s first regularly scheduled payroll date following the Effective Date (the “Separation Payment”).
6.STOCK OPTIONS AND RSUs
6.1All of the Employee’s Sign-On Options and LTIP Options that have vested as of the Termination Date must be exercised within three (3) months of the Termination Date.
6.2All of the Employee’s granted but unvested Sign-On Options, LTIP Options, and LTIP RSUs were automatically forfeited without payment of any consideration on the Termination Date.
6.3Employee shall not receive (or be entitled to receive) any additional equity incentive awards as of the Termination Date.
7.MUTUAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS.
7.1The Employee, on behalf of himself, the Employee’s spouse, heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, assigns, and all other persons claiming through the Employee (collectively, the “Employee Releasers”), does hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and willingly release, waive, and forever discharge the Company, the Parent Company, the Group Companies together with each of their respective affiliates, together with each of their current, former or future directors, officers, partners, agents, members, employees, trustees, stockholders, investors, joint ventures, representatives, and attorneys, and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, predecessors, successors and assigns, each in their official capacities as representatives of the Company, the Parent Company or any Group Company (each, individually, a “Company Releasee” and collectively, the “Company Releasees”) from, and does fully waive any obligations of any of the Company Releasees to Employee Releasers for, any and all rights, actions, charges, causes of action, demands, damages, claims for relief, complaints, remuneration, sums of money, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, obligations, demands, accounts, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) or liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, contingent or absolute (collectively, “Claims”), which the Employee or any other Employee Releaser ever had, now has, or may hereafter claim to have by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever: (i) arising from the beginning of time up to the date the Employee executes this Agreement, including, but not limited to, (A) any such Claims relating in any way to the Employee’s employment with the Company, the Parent Company or any other Company Releasee, including, but not limited to, the Employee’s relationship as a special advisor to the CEO, and (B) any such Claims arising under any federal, local, or state statute or regulation, including, without limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
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(as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871 (42 U.S.C. § 1981), the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the National Labor Relations Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Texas Anti-Retaliation Act, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code (specifically including the Texas Payday Law and the Texas Whistleblower Act) and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, each as amended and including each of their respective implementing regulations and/or any other federal, state, local, or foreign law (statutory, regulatory, or otherwise) that may be legally waived or released; (ii) arising out of or relating to the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company, the Parent Company or any other Company Releasee, including, but not limited to, the Employee’s relationship as a special advisor to the CEO; or (iii) arising under or relating to any policy, agreement, understanding, or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between the Company, the Parent Company or any other Company Releasee and the Employee (including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement).
7.2Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Employee Releasers do not release, and this release and waiver does not apply to and shall not be construed to apply to: (A) any Claims the Employee may have that cannot be waived under applicable law; (B) rights under this Agreement; (C) any rights the Employee may have to vested benefits under qualified retirement and welfare programs; (D) any rights the Employee has or may have as a shareholder with respect to any shares of the Parent Company owned outright by the Employee; and (E) any claims or rights relating to indemnification of the Employee by the Company and Parent Company or to benefits under any directors or officers insurance policy maintained by the Company and/or Parent Company.
7.3The Company, the Parent Company, and the Group Companies, each on their own behalf and together on behalf of each of their respective controlled affiliates and together with each of their current, former or future directors, officers, partners, agents, members, employees, trustees, stockholders, investors, joint ventures, representatives, and attorneys, and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, predecessors, successors and assigns, each in their official capacities as representatives of the Company, the Parent Company or any Group Company (each, individually, a “Company Releaser” and collectively, the “Company Releasers”), hereby releases and discharges the Employee from any and all Claims that any of the Company Releasers now has or ever had relating to or arising from the Employee’s employment by or termination of employment with the Company, the Parent Company or any Group Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Company Releasers do not release, and this release and waiver does not apply to and shall not be construed to apply to potential Claims, if any, based on fraud or misappropriation by the Employee.
7.4The Company, the Parent Company, and the Group Companies may not, directly or indirectly, engage in any conduct or make any statement disparaging in any way the business or reputation of the Employee, or any goods or services offered by the Employee, nor shall the Company, the Parent Company or the Group Companies engage in any other conduct or make any other statement that could reasonably be expected to impair the goodwill or reputation of the Employee, in each case, except to the extent required by law.
7.5The Employee agrees that neither this Agreement, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this general release of claims, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any other Company Releasee or the Employee of any improper or unlawful conduct. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the Company and the other Company
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Releasees have fully satisfied any and all obligations owed to the Employee arising out of or relating to the Employee’s employment with the Company or any other Company Releasees, and no further sums, payments, or benefits are owed to the Employee by the Company or any of the other Company Releasees arising out of or relating to the Employee’s employment with the Company or any of the other Company Releasees, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
7.6The Employee acknowledges that the Company has advised the Employee to consult with an attorney of the Employee’s own choosing prior to executing this Agreement. The Employee represents that the Employee has had the opportunity to review this Agreement with an attorney of the Employee’s choosing. The Employee also agrees and acknowledges that the Employee is receiving benefits and payments to which the Employee would not otherwise be entitled unless the Employee signs this Agreement, that the Employee has read the Agreement in its entirety and understands the Agreement, and that the Employee has entered into this Agreement freely, knowingly and voluntarily.
8.CONSIDERATION PERIOD; REVOCATION.
8.1The Employee has twenty-one (21) calendar days to consider the terms of this Agreement. However, the Employee may sign and return this Agreement before the expiration of the twenty-one (21) calendar day period. The Employee agrees that changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the running of the twenty-one (21) calendar day period. Once signed, the Employee will have seven (7) additional calendar days from the date that the Employee signs this Agreement to revoke the Employee’s consent. Such revocation must be in writing and must be addressed and personally delivered or mailed by United States registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Strandveien 50,
1366 Lysaker
Norway
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
Email: contract-notifications@freyrbattery.com
8.2If the Employee revokes the Employee’s consent within such seven (7) calendar day period, this Agreement shall be of no force or effect and the Employee shall have no right to the Separation Payment set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement.
8.3This Agreement will be considered effective and enforceable on the eighth (8th) calendar day following the date the Employee signs and returns this Agreement to the Company (the “Effective Date”).
9.CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS
9.1The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employee’s obligations under Section 7 (Confidentiality), Section 8 (Permitted Disclosures), Section 9 (Non-Disparagement), Section 10 (Non-Competition), Section 11 (Non-Solicitation of Customers), Section 12 (Non-Solicitation of Employees), Section 14 (Intellectual Property), Section 15 (Return of Property), Section 17 (Cooperation), and Section 27 (Governing Law) of the Employment Agreement survive the termination of engagement and are incorporated herein by reference (the “Continuing Obligations”). The Employee affirms that the restrictive covenants in the Employment Agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests, including goodwill, of the Company and the Parent Company and that the Employee received adequate consideration in exchange for agreeing to those restrictions and will abide by those restrictions.
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10.GENERAL
10.1Unless defined herein, terms defined in the Employment Agreement shall have the same meaning when used in this Agreement.
10.2This Agreement (including the Continuing Obligations) contains the entire agreement between the Company and the Employee relating to the matters contained herein and amends, supersedes and restates all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the Company and the Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof.
10.3The parties acknowledge that, except as expressly set forth herein, no representations of any kind or character have been made by the other party to induce execution of this Agreement. It is further understood and agreed that the Employee has not relied upon any advice whatsoever from the Parent Company, the Company and their counsel regarding this Agreement.
10.4No modification or waiver of the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless it appears in a writing signed by both parties to this Agreement.
10.5The language of all parts in this Agreement shall be construed as a whole, according to fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any party. The underlined headings herein are inserted for the convenience of the parties and shall not be construed to limit or modify the text of this Agreement.
10.6This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, as well as their heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of each and all of the persons, and to their heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, successors, and assignees.
10.7Should any provision in this Agreement be determined to be invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby, and the invalid provision shall be deemed not to be part of this Agreement, and all remaining provisions shall remain valid and enforceable.
10.8A failure of any of the Company Releasees to insist on strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision or any other provision hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable, and in the event that any provision is determined to be entirely unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severable, such that all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain valid and binding.
10.9This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be an original, and such counterparts or duplicates together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
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SIGNED /s/ Tom Einar Jensen
For and on behalf of the Company
DATED 6/5/2024
SIGNED /s/ Tom Einar Jensen
For and on behalf of the Parent Company
DATED 6/5/2024
SIGNED /s/ Oscar K. Brown
By the Employee
DATED 6/5/2024
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of June 3, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), by and between FREYR Battery US Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Evan Calio (the “Employee” and, together with the Company, the “Parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that the Employee shall be employed by the Company as Chief Financial Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and effective as of June 13, 2024 (the “Start Date”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1.At-Will Employment. The Employee’s employment with the Company will be “at will” and can be terminated by either the Employee or the Company at any time for any reason, in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 6.
2.Employment and Duties.
(a)Title. Starting on Start Date, the Employee will be employed as the Chief Financial Officer of FREYR Battery, Inc. (the “Parent”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”). The Employee shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Parent or the “Board” (as defined below) as required by applicable law or the principles of good corporate governance.
(b)Location. The Employee’s initial place of work shall be in Connecticut. Thereafter, the Employee may transfer to other locations in the United States upon prior mutual written agreement of the Employee and the Company. The Employee acknowledges that the Employee’s work will necessitate a considerable amount of travel as reasonably required by the Company, including domestic and foreign travel.
(c)Services. During employment with the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the Employee shall (i) be a full-time employee of the Company; (ii) have such duties, authorities, and responsibilities commensurate with the Employee’s position or assigned to the Employee’s position by the Parent’s Chief Executive Officer from time to time; and (iii) comply with all Group policies, instructions and guidelines. The Employee will devote all of the Employee’s business time and best efforts to the performance of the Employee’s duties to the Group and will not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the performance of such services, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee may (x) perform and participate in charitable civic, educational, professional, community, industry affairs and other related activities and (y) manage the Employee’s (and his family’s) personal investments; provided, however, that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder or breach the terms of this Agreement.
(d)External Board Services. The Employee shall not, without the Company’s prior written consent, accept external board memberships; provided, however, that the Employee may perform services as a director of any charitable, religious, or community organizations. Any board membership may not conflict with the Employee’s duties to the Group or put the Employee in a position of actual or perceived conflict of interest with the Group.
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(e)Working Hours. Standard business hours for the Company are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. The Employee may be required to work hours in excess of the ordinary working hours as may be reasonably required to carry out the Employee’s duties properly and effectively in accordance with the needs of the Group. The Employee’s position is considered exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state law. As a result, the Employee will not be entitled to overtime pay for hours worked in excess of the Employee’s normal work schedule.
3.Compensation, Bonus and Benefits.
(a)Salary. The Company will pay the Employee a salary at an annual rate of $600,000 (“Base Salary”), which shall be paid monthly in substantially equal installments and in accordance with the Company’s usual and regular payroll practices, as in effect from time to time. The Company reserves the right to reduce the Base Salary, provided that such decision is mandated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of the Parent, in its sole discretion, as a general reduction applicable to all executive officers of the Parent. Any reduction in the Base Salary will be communicated to the Employee in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the salary reduction. The notice will include the new Base Salary and the effective date of the change. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company's right to reduce the Base Salary is a condition of employment and that such reductions may be made without the Employee's prior consent, subject to the notice requirement specified above, and (ii) any reduction in Employee’s Base Salary shall not (x) constitute an event of Good Reason (as defined below) pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Group or (y) otherwise constitute grounds for a termination of employment that entitles Employee to severance under Section 6(b) of this Agreement or equity acceleration pursuant to Sections 3(c)-(e) of this Agreement.
(b)Bonus. The Employee will be eligible to earn an annual bonus with a target of one hundred percent (100%) of the Employee’s Base Salary, pursuant to the Group’s bonus scheme, the terms and objectives of which are under the sole discretion of the Parent and subject to change from time to time (in the sole discretion of the Parent), provided, that the payment of any annual bonus is subject to the Employee’s continued employment with the Company through the payment date of such annual bonus. If within two (2) years after the payment of any bonus (whether as part of the Group’s annual bonus scheme or otherwise) or payment of any other award is made to the Employee, the Parent is required to restate its accounts to a material extent or if the Company becomes aware of any material malfeasance or material wrongdoing on the Employee’s part, in each case as determined by the Parent or the Company in its sole discretion, then the Parent shall be entitled to recalculate, in its reasonable good faith discretion, the bonus that it would otherwise have awarded the Employee in the relevant financial years, had these facts been known at the time the bonus was granted. The Employee shall promptly repay to the Company on demand the difference between such recalculated bonuses and the aggregate value of the awards actually paid to the Employee (as determined in the sole discretion of the Company).
(c)Sign-On Award. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Parent (the “Board”), which will not be unreasonably withheld, and in accordance with the rules of the Parent’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended or amended and restated from time to time or such other equity plan then in effect, the “Equity Plan”), as soon as practicable after the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders of the Parent, the Parent will grant the Employee a one-time award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with respect to a number of shares of common stock of the Parent (the “Sign-On RSUs”). The number of RSUs to be awarded will be equal to (1) a nominal value of $3.0 million divided by (2) the volume weighted average price of the common stock of the Parent for a fifteen (15) trading day period ending on the Effective Date. The Sign-On RSUs will be subject to the terms of the Equity Plan, and the applicable award agreement issued thereunder. The Sign-On RSUs shall vest in three (3) equal tranches
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over a period of three (3) years from the grant date (each respectively a “Vesting Date”) and be net settled in shares within thirty (30) days thereafter. If, following the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Plan), the Employee experiences a termination of employment under circumstances which would entitle him to severance under Section 6(b) of this Agreement, all then-unvested Sign-On RSUs will vest, less all applicable withholding taxes and other authorized deductions. If the Employee voluntarily resigns, or the employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause, prior to any of the three Vesting Dates, any remaining and unvested RSUs will be cancelled. Except as set forth in this Agreement, all equity or equity-based awards shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Equity Plan and applicable award agreement, including but not limited to the Sign-On RSUs, LTIP Options and LTIP RSUs.
(d)Annual Options. The Employee will be eligible to receive annual equity awards pursuant to the Equity Plan. Subject to the approval of the Board and in accordance with the rules of the Equity Plan, the Employee shall be entitled to receive an award of 300,000 options to purchase shares of the Parent’s common stock (the “LTIP Options”), to be granted for 2024, 2025 and 2026, in each case, subject to the Employee’s continued employment pursuant to this Agreement on the date of grant. In case the Start Date is after the Parent’s annual equity award grant date pursuant to the standard grant schedule for the LTIP Options for 2024, then these LTIP Options will be granted as soon as reasonably practicable following the Start Date. Any LTIP Options granted in 2025 and 2026 will be granted in accordance with the standard grant schedule for the Equity Plan. For 2027 and subsequent years, any grant of LTIP Options will be determined by the Board acting in its sole discretion having regard to market practices and internal compensation and benefits levels, as well as any other factors the Board deems appropriate. The LTIP Options shall vest in three (3) equal tranches over a period of three (3) years from the grant date and once vested will remain exercisable for a term not to exceed five (5) years from the grant date under the Equity Plan, subject in each case to the Employee’s continued active employment with the Company. The per share exercise price of such LTIP Options will equal the Fair Market Value per Share on the grant date. If, during the twelve (12) months immediately following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Employee experiences a termination of employment under circumstances which would entitle him to severance under Section 6(b) of this Agreement, all then-unvested LTIP Options will vest and be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment equal to the aggregate spread value (if any), as determined by the Parent, with respect to such LTIP Options, less all applicable withholding taxes and other authorized deductions.
(e)Annual RSUs. Subject to the approval of the Board and in accordance with the rules of the Equity Plan, the Employee will be eligible to receive RSUs with respect to a number of shares of common stock of the Parent with a Fair Market Value at the time of grant equal to $600,000 per year (the “LTIP RSUs”) issued pursuant to the Equity Plan, with respect to 2024, 2025 and 2026, in each case, subject to the Employee’s continued employment pursuant to this Agreement on the date of grant. For 2027 and subsequent years, any grant of LTIP RSUs will be determined by the Board acting in its sole discretion having regard to market practices and internal compensation and benefits levels, as well as any other factor the Board deems appropriate. In case the Start Date is after the Parent’s annual equity award grant date pursuant to the standard grant schedule for the LTIP RSUs for 2024, then these LTIP RSUs for 2024 will be granted as soon as reasonably practicable following the Start Date. Any LTIP RSUs granted in 2025 and 2026 will be granted in accordance with the standard grant schedule for the LTIP. The LTIP RSUs shall vest in three (3) equal tranches over a period of three (3) years from the grant date, subject to the Employee’s continued active employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date, and be net settled in shares within thirty (30) days thereafter. If, during the twelve (12) months immediately following the occurrence of a Change in Control event, the Employee experiences a termination of employment under circumstances which would entitle him to severance under Section 6(b) of this
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Agreement, all then-unvested LTIP RSUs will vest and be cashed out, as determined by the Parent in its sole discretion.
(f)Paid Time Off. The Employee is entitled to twenty (20) days of paid vacation time per calendar year. Unused vacation days will rollover each year, in accordance with the terms of the Company’s paid time off policy, as in effect from time to time. This paid time off excludes any Company shut down days, as well as public holiday observed by the Company, which will also be paid. The Employee is also entitled to five (5) paid personal days and ten (10) paid sick days. Time off, whether paid or unpaid, must be taken at times appropriate to the local work situation and be approved beforehand by the Employee’s direct reporting person, whenever possible. The Employee should give the Company as much notice as possible prior to taking any paid time off. The Company understands that instances of unforeseen sickness and emergencies may arise, and will work with the Employee in these situations.
(g)Other Benefits. The Employee (and, to the extent eligible, the Employee’s dependents and beneficiaries) will be eligible to participate in all benefit plans made available by the Company to its similarly-situated employees, as in effect from time to time, currently including the Company’s health, dental care and vision care plans, pursuant to the terms of such plans as in effect from time to time.
(h)Technology. The Company will provide the Employee with a laptop for business use. The Company will provide the Employee with a mobile phone and cover reasonable cost for business use and, to a reasonable extent, private use in accordance with the Company’s policies, as in effect from time to time. Further, the Company will reimburse fifty percent (50%) of the Employee’s internet subscription at home.
(i)Deductions from Salary. Deductions from salary and bonus may be made to the extent required or permitted by local labor law under the following circumstances: (i) deductions authorized by federal or state law, (ii) deductions authorized by the Employee that are for the Employee's benefit after the Company gives the Employee written notice about the terms and conditions of the deduction, (iii) repayment of salary or wage advances made (x) upon the written request or by signed agreement of the Employee and (y) as part payment of future wages to be earned, and (iv) incorrect wage overpayments caused by the Company’s mathematical or clerical error. All amounts payable to the Employee will be subject to applicable tax withholding.
4.Business Expenses. The Company shall, on the presentation of invoices or vouchers or other evidence of actual payment, reimburse the Employee for expenses, including business travel expenses, reasonably incurred by the Employee in the performance of the Employee’s duties under the Agreement, and in accordance with the Company’s policies, as in effect from time to time. Determination of the reasonableness of business expenses is at the sole discretion of the Company, not to be exercised unreasonably.
5.Code of Conduct and Company Policies. The Employee will comply with all codes of conduct, policies and all other governance documents of the Company and of the Parent as in effect from time to time.
6.Termination of Employment. The Employee’s employment with the Group will terminate at the earliest to occur of the following: (i) the date on which the Company provides notice to Employee of termination for “Disability” (as defined below); (ii) the date of Employee’s death; (iii) if the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company for “Cause” or by the Employee with “Good Reason” (each as defined below), the date any applicable cure period expires and, if there is no applicable cure period, the date on which the Company or the Employee, as applicable, provides notice to the other party of such termination; (iv) the date which is three (3) months following the date on which the Company provides
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notice to the Employee of termination without Cause (or such shorter period as the Company may determine in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law); or (v) the date which is three (3) months following the date on which the Employee provides notice to the Company of Employee’s termination of employment without Good Reason. If the Company or the Employee give notice to terminate employment, the Company may in the notice period, in its absolute discretion and subject to the Company continuing to pay or provide, as applicable, all payments and benefits (including without limitation, continued vesting of the Sign-On RSUs, LTIP Options and LTIP RSUs) under Section 3, require the Employee (i) to perform only such duties as it may allocate to the Employee; (ii) to refrain from having any contact with customers, clients, suppliers, employees or member of the Company or Group; (iii) to refrain from attending any premises of the Company or Group, (iv) to resign as a director or from any office of the Company or any member of the Group; and/or (v) to take any accrued holiday. The Employee agrees that the Company may appoint another person to perform the Employee’s responsibilities jointly and require the Employee to provide such handover and transitional services as may be reasonably required.
(a)For Cause; Resignation by Employee; Death or Disability. If the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause or as a result of the Employee’s death or Disability, or the Employee resigns the Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Employee will not be entitled to any further compensation or benefits other than, in each case if applicable as of the date of termination of employment: (i) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary (payable as provided in Section 3(a) hereof); (ii) reimbursement for any expenses properly incurred and reported by Employee prior to the date of termination of employment in accordance with Section 4 hereof, payable on the Company’s first regularly scheduled payroll date which occurs at least ten (10) business days after the date of termination of employment, provided all supporting documents were properly submitted in advance; (iii) to the extent required under applicable law or Company policy, all accrued but unused paid time off; (iv) vested employee benefits, if any, to which the Employee may be entitled under the Company’s employee benefit plans described in Section 3(g), and (v) continued rights to indemnification and coverage under the Company’s and the Parent’s directors and officers insurance liability policy under their by-laws and certificate of incorporation (or other governing documents) and applicable law and Section 18 below (collectively, the “Accrued Rights”).
(b)Termination by the Company without Cause; Termination by the Employee for Good Reason. If the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by the Employee with Good Reason, then the Employee will be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights, and if (x) the Employee executes a release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”), and the applicable revocation period with respect to the Release expires following the date of termination and (y) the Employee does not breach the restrictive covenants set forth in Sections 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 hereof, then the Employee will receive the following:
(i)One (1) year Base Salary, calculated on the basis of annual wages during the twelve (12) months immediately prior to termination, payable in substantially equal installments during the twelve (12) month period immediately following the date of termination in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices as in effect from time to time; provided, that, the first such payment will be made on the first regularly scheduled payroll date of the Company that occurs on or following the date after the Release becomes effective and will include all payments that would have been made to the Employee had such payments commenced on the first regularly scheduled payroll date of the Company following the date of termination;
(ii)An amount in cash equal to any accrued cash bonus payable to Employee in respect of any previously completed fiscal year of the Company in accordance with Section 3(b) but
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unpaid as of the date of termination, payable on the same date on which cash bonuses are paid to executives of the Company generally in respect of such fiscal year; provided, however, that if the Release is not yet effective and irrevocable, then with ten (10) business days following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable; and
(iii)In the event that the Employee timely and properly elects coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), as amended, reimbursement for the full cost of premiums under COBRA until the earliest of (A) a period of six (6) months following the date of termination; (B) the date the Employee becomes covered under another employer’s health plan; or (C) the expiration of the maximum COBRA continuation coverage period for which the Employee is eligible under federal law.
(c)Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(i)“Cause” shall mean (in each case, other than due to death or Disability): (A) the Employee’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony; (B) any act of theft, dishonesty, embezzlement or misappropriation by the Employee against the Parent or the Company or any of their affiliates that has or could reasonably be expected to result in material economic harm to the Parent or the Company or any of their affiliates; (C) the Employee’s breach of any fiduciary obligation or any willful malfeasance or gross negligence; (D) a material violation by the Employee of any written policy of the Group; (E) a material breach by the Employee of any provision of this Agreement; (F) any material failure by the Employee to follow the lawful written directives of Parent or the Company that are related to the Employee’s position with the Parent or the Company; (G) the Employee’s material failure to comply with the Parent’s or the Company’s employee handbook or material failure to comply with any Parent or Company policy or rule related to sexual and other types of harassment, discrimination or abusive conduct, in each case, made available to the Employee; or (H) the Employee engaging in acts of moral turpitude or intentional acts that are materially detrimental to the reputation of the Parent or the Company and which cause the Parent or the Company material economic harm; provided, however that with respect to (D), (E), (F) and (G), (x) the Company will provide the Employee with 15 days’ advance notice to present any evidence or arguments as to why his conduct did not constitute Cause, and the Company will, in good faith, conduct further investigations of the matter following such presentation, and (y) during which time the Employee may be relieved of his duties (and such relief of duties shall not constitute Good Reason). The Company will notify the Employee of its final good faith determination within 15 days of such presentation and, in the event the Company determines in good faith that the Employee’s act or omission (1) did not constitute Cause, then either (x) the Employee will remain employed under this Agreement and, if his duties were relieved, they will be reinstated, or (y) the Employee’s employment will be terminated without Cause, or (2) did constitute Cause, the Employee’s employment will be terminated for all purposes.
(ii)“Disability” means the Employee is unable, due to physical or mental incapacity, to perform the Employee’s duties to the Company under this Agreement for a period of either (A) 90 consecutive days or (B) 180 days in any 365 day period or as determined pursuant to the terms of the long-term disability plan maintained by the Company.
(iii)“Good Reason” shall mean (in each case without the Employee’s consent): (A) a material adverse diminution in the Employee’s duties, responsibilities or authority or an adverse change in the Employee’s title or role; (B) the Company’s, the Parent’s or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof’s material breach of this Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof and the Employee, including without limitation, the failure to grant any of the Sign-On RSUs, LTIP Options and LTIP RSUs within sixty (60) days of when the Parent is required to do so under Section 3; or (C) the assignment of any new duties or responsibilities to the
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Employee which are materially inconsistent with the Employee’s position as Chief Financial Officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the occurrence of any such condition constitute Good Reason unless (1) the Employee provides notice to the Company of the existence of the condition giving rise to Good Reason within thirty (30) days following the Employee’s knowledge of its existence and (2) the Company fails to cure such condition within thirty (30) days following the date of such notice and (3) the Employee terminates his employment with the Company within fifteen (15) days of the earlier to occur of (x) the lapse of the cure period and (y) receipt of written notice of the Company’s intent not to cure.
7.Confidentiality.
(a)The Employee understands that during the Employee’s employment with the Company, the Employee will have access to unpublished and otherwise confidential and proprietary information (“Confidential Information”), whether oral, written or contained on computer systems or other media, relating to the business and affairs of the Company, the Parent, a subsidiary or their affiliates or any client of any of the aforementioned, or otherwise obtained or known by the Employee as a consequence of or through the Employee’s employment. Subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, the Employee agrees to hold in trust and confidence all Confidential Information and observe all Company policies and procedures concerning such Confidential Information. Subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, the Employee further agrees not to disclose or use, either during the Employee’s employment with the Company or at any time thereafter, any Confidential Information unless authorized to do so by the Company in writing, except that the Employee may disclose and use such information (i) when necessary in the performance of the Employee’s duties for the Company; and (ii) as otherwise required by law.
(b)For purposes hereof, Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the contents of this Agreement, information of both a technical and nontechnical nature relating to the business of the Company, the Parent, a subsidiary or any of their affiliates, their actual or anticipated businesses, research or development, finances, strategic or financial plans, business plans, methods, processes, developments, records, formula, prices, techniques, operations, investments, marketing plans, technical and sales information, customer and client information, future transactions, employee lists and compensation, management compensation, intellectual property, computer programs, files, procedure and reference manuals, technology or the implementation or exploitation thereof, and any other information communicated to the Employee in circumstances where it is evident that such information is confidential, including, without limitation, information pertaining to trading, customers, clients, prices, costs, processes, codes, material results, technology, system designs, system specifications, materials of construction, trade secrets and equipment designs (including information disclosed to the Company, the Parent, or a subsidiary by others under agreements to hold such information confidential). Confidential Information also includes information encompassed in materials, surveys, charts, drawings, designs, plans, proposals, reports, research, marketing and sales plans, costs, quotations, specification sheets and recording media. Confidential Information further includes information which relates, directly or indirectly, to the computer systems and computer technology of the Company, the Parent, a subsidiary and of their affiliates including, but not limited to, source codes, object codes, reports, flow charts, screens, algorithms, use manuals, installations and/or operation manuals, computer software, spreadsheets, data computations, formulas, techniques, databases and any other form or compilation of computer related information.
(c)The Employee’s obligations with respect to Confidential Information will continue, whether or not the Employee resigns or the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company, until such information becomes generally available from public sources
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through no fault of the Employee. Upon resignation or termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Employee will promptly deliver to the Company all documents, records, files, notebooks, manuals, letters, notes, reports, customer and supplier lists, cost and profit data, e-mails, apparatus, drawings, blueprints and any other material of the Company, including all materials pertaining to Confidential Information developed by the Employee or others, and all drafts, copies and originals of such materials, whether of a technical, business or fiscal nature, whether on hard copy, tape, disk or any other format, which are in the Employee’s possession, custody or control. Furthermore, if the Employee receives a subpoena or request for disclosure of any Confidential Information, the Employee agrees to provide prompt written notice to the Chief Executive Officer of the Parent prior to responding to such subpoena or request; the Employee further agrees to cooperate with the Company in taking steps to maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information.
(d)The Employee acknowledges that any breach of confidentiality during the Employee’s employment or at any time thereafter may lead to liability and may constitute grounds for dismissal and/or render the Employee liable to legal action and/or damages.
8.Permitted Disclosures. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b), the Employee will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret of the Company that (i) is made (A) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to the Employee’s attorney and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding. If the Employee files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Employee may disclose the trade secret to the Employee’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the Employee (i) files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and (ii) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by such section. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, this Agreement does not (x) prohibit the Employee from (1) providing truthful testimony or accurate information in connection with any investigation being conducted into the business or operations of the Company, or any related targets, by any government agency, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), or other regulator that is responsible for enforcing a law on behalf of the government, or otherwise providing information to the appropriate government regulatory agency or body regarding conduct or action undertaken or omitted to be taken by the Company that the Employee reasonably believes is illegal or in material non-compliance with any financial disclosure or other regulatory requirement applicable to the Company, (2) voluntarily communicating with an attorney retained by the Employee, (3) voluntarily communicating with any law enforcement, government agency, including the SEC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or any other state or local commission on human rights, or any self-regulatory organization regarding possible violations of law, or (4) recovering an SEC whistleblower award as provided under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (y) require the Employee to obtain the approval of, or give notice to, the Company or any of its representatives to take any action permitted under the preceding clause (x); or (z) apply to information that (i) was at the time of receipt within the public knowledge without any breach by the Employee, or (ii) subsequently is lawfully acquired from a third party without continuing restriction on use, without any breach by the Employee.
9.Non-Disparagement. Subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, the Employee may not, either during or at any time subsequent to the Employee’s employment with the Company, directly or indirectly, engage in any conduct or make any statement disparaging in any way the business or reputation of the Company, or any goods or services offered by the Company, nor shall the Employee engage in any other
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conduct or make any other statement that could reasonably be expected to impair the goodwill or reputation of the Company.
10.Non-Competition.
(a)The Employee agrees that during the Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of six (6) months immediately following termination of employment (the “Restricted Period”) for any reason, the Employee shall not serve in a management or executive-level role with, or provide business, strategic, sales, financial, operational or technical advice or services, to the extent that the Employee provided such advice or services to the Company or its subsidiaries, at any time during the twenty-four (24) calendar month period preceding the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, to any person or business that engages in the Competing Business within the Restricted Area. “Competing Business” means any person or business that develops or produces lithium-ion battery cells, modules or packs, or any other products developed by the Company, the Parent or their subsidiaries during the Employee’s employment with regard to which the Employee developed or obtained Confidential Information. “Restricted Area” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company or its subsidiaries conduct operations or in which their products are sold. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee shall not be prevented from providing services to a person or business who or which engages in or is actively preparing to engage in Competing Business, if such services are restricted solely to one or more distinct portions of the operations and business of such person or business, such distinct portions do not engage in and/or are not preparing to engage in Competing Business, and the Employee undertakes not to, and does not, have any discussions with, or participate in, the governance, management or operations of such person or business or any business segments thereof that engage in or are actively preparing to engage in Competing Business.
(b)If the Employee is uncertain whether an activity is covered by the prohibitions set out in this clause, the Employee shall, whether during the employment or following termination of employment, present the issue to the Company in writing and await a written statement from the Company before engaging in the activity at question. The Company shall provide a written statement on the applicability of Section 10(a) within fifteen (15) business days after having received the written request from the Employee; provided, that if no such written statement is provided by the Company within such period, such activity will be deemed to not be covered by the prohibitions set out in this clause. The Employee agrees to cooperate and provide the Company the information necessary to make its decision, including but not limited to, providing a job description and responding to the Company’s reasonable requests for information.
11.Non-Solicitation of Customers. The Employee agrees that during employment and for twelve (12) months immediately thereafter, the Employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit or otherwise (including by assisting or aiding any third party), (i) solicit the business of or perform any services for any actual customer, any person or entity that has been a customer within the one-year period preceding the date of such solicitation or any actively solicited prospective customer, in each case, as to whom or which the Employee provided any services or as to whom the Employee has knowledge of Confidential Information, (ii) encourage or assist any Competing Business to solicit or service any actual customer, any person or entity that has been a customer within the twelve (12) month-period preceding the date of such solicitation or any actively solicited prospective customer of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary covered by this section, or otherwise seek to encourage or induce any such customer to cease doing business with, or lessen its business with, the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary or (iii) otherwise knowingly interfere with or damage (or attempt to knowingly interfere with or damage), or take action that would reasonably be expected to interfere with or damage, the Company’s, the Parent’s or a subsidiary’s relationship with its customers.
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12.Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Employee agrees that during the Restricted Period, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly (including by assisting or aiding any third party), (i) solicit, recruit or induce any employee of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary, who developed, learned of or possessed Confidential Information of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary, with whom the Employee did business or about whom the Employee developed or obtained Confidential Information, to terminate employment with the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary, or (ii) either individually or as owner, agent, employee, director, manager, officer, consultant or otherwise, employ, or offer employment to any person who at the time of such action is, or who during the twelve (12)-month period preceding such action was, an employee of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary, who developed, learned of or possessed Confidential Information of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary and with whom the Employee did business or for about whom the Employee developed or obtained Confidential Information; provided, however, that, following the termination of the Employee’s employment, the foregoing will not preclude the Employee from initiating or directing, on the Employee’s own behalf or for a third party, a general employment solicitation that is not directed primarily at the foregoing employees.
13.Use of Company Technology. The Company’s electronic mail system, internet subscription and all other data systems are the exclusive property of the Company. The Employee agrees that, with the exception of occasional incidental use, the Company’s electronic mail system, internet subscription and all other data systems shall be used by the Employee solely in connection with the Employee’s work for the Company. The Employee acknowledges that the Employee shall have no right to access and shall not access the Company’s electronic mail system or other data systems after termination of employment.
14.Intellectual Property.
(a)The terms and provisions of this Section 14 shall apply to all Creations (as defined below) and all intellectual property rights (“IPR”) related thereto that are conceived, reduced to practice, made, created or developed, or otherwise delivered or provided, by the Employee in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Company, whether outside working hours or outside the Company’s premises, or made with the use of the Company’s information, time, material, facilities, employees or advisors, and which in any way is related to the Company’s, the Parent’s or any subsidiary’s business. “Creations” shall in this agreement mean any work of art or literature, integrated circuit design, software, copyright, design, trademark, trade name, distinctive sign, know-how, trade secret, information, data, databases, test results, discoveries, formulae, inventions, improvements, ideas and concepts. All Creations which the Employee makes, develops, or conceives during the term of the employment and for a period of one (1) year after termination, shall be deemed to have been made in the course of the Employee’s employment by the Company or with the use of the Company’s information, time, material, facilities, employees or advisors, unless the Employee demonstrates otherwise.
(b)The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all Creations and related IPR are works-for-hire and are owned exclusively by the Company. To the extent all Creations and related IPR are not works-for-hire and owned exclusively by the Company, the Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company, its successors or assigns, all of the Employee’s right, title and interest in and to the Creations and IPR related thereto, including the right to make changes to and further assign such Creations and related IPR. The Employee waives, to the extent permitted under United States law, any moral rights in the Creations, including the right to be known as the creator of the Creations. The Employee shall disclose in writing to the Company any Creations and related IPR as such from time to time may arise, as reasonably required in order for the Company to assume ownership of and obtain intellectual property protection for such Creations and related IPR. At the Company’s request and at the Company’s expense, the Employee undertakes to issue and sign confirmatory declarations of assignment relating to the Creations and related IPR. The Employee further undertakes to cooperate with the
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Company, and to execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense, all such further documents as the Company reasonably requires, during and after the termination of this Agreement, in order to obtain, protect and maintain Company’s ownership and interests in the Creations and the related IPR.
(c)Where the Employee can clearly document that a Creation was conceived, reduced to practice, made, developed or created by the Employee before the effective date of this Agreement (“Prior Creations”), such Prior Creations and any related IPR applications or registrations issued thereon shall be excluded from this Section 14. The Employee also agrees not to incorporate or provide or deliver for use any Prior Creations or related IPR owned by the Employee or in which the Employee has an interest into a Company product or process, without the Company’s prior written consent. If in the course of employment, the Employee incorporates or provides or delivers for use a Prior Creation into a Company product or process, the Company shall be and hereby is automatically granted a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free irrevocable worldwide, transferable and sub-licensable license to make, have made, modify, use and sell any such Company product or process which incorporates such Prior Creation.
(d)The Employee agrees that any and all information and documentation relating to the Creations, including computer software code, is the property of the Company. The Employee undertakes to store such information and documentation on the Company’s computer system, in cloud accounts or otherwise in accordance with Company’s instructions. To the extent it is necessary to store such information and documentation locally, the Employee undertakes to store it in discrete files separate from personal information. The Employee agrees that the Company is entitled to access, at any time, computers and/or network resources used by the Employee for the purpose of securing the Company’s interests in such information and documentation to the extent necessary.
15.Return of Property. Upon termination of employment, the Employee shall return to the Company all property of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary in the Employee’s possession, custody or control belonging to the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary, including but not limited to business cards, credit and charge cards, keys, security and computer passwords, mobile phones, personal computer equipment, Creations, original and copy documents or other media on which information is held in the Employee’s possession relating to the business or affairs of the Company, the Parent or a subsidiary.
16.Data Privacy. In order to manage the Employee’s employment, the Company will need to process certain personal data relating to the Employee. Information regarding which personal data is being processed, how such personal data is being processed and which rights the Employee has in this regard, is outlined on the Company’s intranet. The Employee is responsible for familiarizing himself or herself with the applicable content of such policy.
17.Cooperation. Following the termination of employment, the Employee shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during the Employee’s employment hereunder. The Company shall reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Employee as a result of such cooperation. In the event that any cooperation by the Employee pursuant to this Section 17 requires more than ten (10) hours of the Employee’s business time in any month, the Company will compensate the Employee for such additional time during such month at a rate per hour equal to the Employee’s Base Salary on the date of termination, calculated by dividing the Employee’s Base Salary at the time of termination by 2,080, which will be payable within thirty (30) days following presentation by the Employee of documentation evidencing the purpose and amount of such time spent.
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18.Indemnification. The Employee will be entitled to be indemnified by the Company against any claims brought against the Employee arising from the Employee’s employment with, or provision of services to the Group, and to have the Employee’s defense expenses promptly advanced subject to a repayment obligation, to the maximum extent provided in Company’s and Parent’s articles of association and certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents) and applicable law (each in effect as of the date hereof or as may be subsequently amended to provide the Employee with more favorable treatment), and to be covered by the Company’s and the Parent’s directors and officers liability policy (at the Company’s expense), in the same manner and to the same extent as other current and former employees of the Company at the Employee’s level.
19.Remedies. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that a violation or threatened violation of any of the Employee’s obligations under this Agreement may cause the Company irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are not available at law. Therefore, the Employee agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek an injunction, restraining order or such other equitable relief (without the requirement to post bond) restraining the Employee from committing any violation of the covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement. These injunctive remedies are cumulative and are in addition to any other rights and remedies the Company may have at law or in equity in connection with the foregoing provisions of this Agreement.
20.Background Check. The Employee gives their consent to the Company to perform criminal record check of records for felony or misdemeanor convictions in all jurisdictions in which the Employee has lived or worked during the previous ten years.
21.Enforceability/Modification. It is expressly understood and agreed that although the Employee and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Agreement to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against the Employee, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be deemed enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision of this Agreement or any application thereof to any circumstances, is determined to be void and unenforceable, in whole or in part, by a court applying any applicable law, such provision or application shall be modified to the extent necessary to give the terms of this Agreement maximum effect. The existence of any claim or cause of action by the Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants contained in this Agreement.
22.Notice. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by electronic mail transmission (with confirmed receipt).
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Notices shall be sent to the Company at:
Freyr Battery US Holding, Inc.
Attention: CLO, Are L. Brautaset
Emails: are.brautaset@freyrbattery.com
contract-notifications@freyrbattery.com
Notices shall be sent to the Employee at:
Evan Calio
Email:
23.Binding Effect/Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, estates, successors (including, without limitation, by way of merger) and assigns. Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, the Employee shall not assign all or any portion of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company.
24.Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, discussions, covenants, representations, and arrangements, written or oral, between them as to such subject matter, including, without limitation, any prior employment agreement or offer letter by and between the Employee and the Company.
25.Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, altered or amended except by an instrument in writing executed by the Parties. No waiver by any Party of any breach by any other Party of any provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other Party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions at the time or at any prior or subsequent time. The failure of a Party to enforce at any time the provisions of this Agreement or to require at any time performance by any other Party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect either the validity of this Agreement or any part hereof, or the right of any Party to enforce each and every provision in accordance with its terms.
26.Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, or any application thereof to any circumstances, is invalid, in whole or in part, such provision or application shall to that extent be severable and shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Agreement.
27.Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of law of Delaware or any other jurisdiction, and where applicable, the laws of the United States. The Parties hereby agree that any actions or proceedings brought by the Employee relating to this Agreement must be brought in the courts situated in Wilmington, Delaware. The Employee hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waives the defense of forum non conveniens (i.e., inconvenient forum) to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM.
28.Section 409A.
(a)Generally. The Parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) (including under Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exceptions under subparagraph (iii) and subparagraph (v)(D)) and other applicable
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provisions of Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1 through A-6) to the extent that such amounts payable are subject to Section 409A (and otherwise be exempt from Section 409A). For purposes of Section 409A, each of the payments that may be made under this Agreement shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. This Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner that does not result in the imposition of additional taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A. The Parties agree to negotiate in good faith to make amendments to this Agreement, as the Parties mutually agree are necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A and, to the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Section 409A, such modification will be made, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, to maintain the original intent and economic benefit to the Employee under the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A. Neither the Company nor the Employee shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A. With respect to the timing of any payments made pursuant to this Agreement, in any case where the first and last days of a time period during which a payment is due to the Employee are in two separate taxable years, any such payment required to be made to the Employee that is treated as deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A shall be made in the later taxable year.
(b)Specified Employee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any payment or benefit provided to the Employee in connection with his or her termination of employment is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service,” and the Employee is determined to be a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then such payment or benefit shall not be paid until the first payroll date to occur following the six-month anniversary of the date of the Employee’s termination or, if earlier, on the Employee’s death (the “Specified Employee Payment Date”). The aggregate of any payments that would otherwise have been paid before the Specified Employee Payment Date shall be paid to the Employee in a lump sum on the Specified Employee Payment Date and thereafter, any remaining payments shall be paid without delay in accordance with their original schedule.
29.Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation paid to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with the Company or the Parent is subject to the Company’s and the Parent’s clawback policy, and any amendments thereto (or any other policy adopted by the Company, the Parent or any of its affiliates pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement) (any such policy, a “Clawback Policy”). The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employee has no right to indemnification, insurance payments or other reimbursement by or from the Company, the Parent or any of its affiliates for any compensation that is subject to recoupment and/or forfeiture under any Clawback Policy, and that the Employee shall take all action necessary or appropriate to comply with any such Clawback Policy, or any successor policy thereto (including, without limitation, entering into any further agreements, amendments or policies necessary or appropriate to implement and/or enforce such policy with respect to past, present and future compensation, as appropriate).
30.Headings. The headings contained herein are solely for the purposes of reference, are not part of this Agreement and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
31.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
32.Electronic Signature. This Agreement may be electronically signed.
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***
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| For the Company | The Employee | |||||||
| /s/ Tom Einar Jensen | /s/ Evan Calio | |||||||
| Name: Tom Einar Jensen | Name: Evan Calio | |||||||
Position: Chair of the Board of Directors Date: 31 May 2024 | Date: Jun-03-2024 | |||||||
EXHIBIT A
Release of Claims
WHEREAS, FREYR Battery US Holding, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”), and Evan Calio (the “Employee”) are parties to an Employment Agreement, dated May 30, 2024, (defined terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given to them in the Employment Agreement).
WHEREAS, the execution of this Release of Claims (this “Release”) is a condition precedent to the Employee’s receipt of certain payments upon termination of the employment as set forth in Section 6 of the Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in consideration for Employee’s signing of this Release, the Company will provide the Employee with the applicable payments to be made in accordance with Section 6 of the Employment Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Employee agree as follows:
1.General Release of Claims.
(a)The Employee, on behalf of himself, the Employee’s spouse, heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, assigns, and all other persons claiming through the Employee (collectively, the “Releasers”), does hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and willingly release, waive, and forever discharge Parent, Company, together with their affiliates, together with each of their current, former or future directors, officers, partners, agents, members, employees, trustees, stockholders, investors, joint ventures, representatives, and attorneys, and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, predecessors, successors and assigns, both individually and in their official capacities (each, individually, a “Releasee” and collectively, the “Releasees”) from, and does fully waive any obligations of any of the Releasees to Releasers for, any and all rights, actions, charges, causes of action, demands, damages, claims for relief, complaints, remuneration, sums of money, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, obligations, demands, accounts, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) or liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, contingent or absolute (collectively, “Claims”), which the Employee or any other Releaser ever had, now has, or may hereafter claim to have by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever: (i) arising from the beginning of time up to the date the Employee executes this Release, including but not limited to, (A) any such Claims relating in any way to the Employee’s employment with the Company or any other Releasee, and (B) any such Claims arising under any federal, local, or state statute or regulation, including, without limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871 (42 U.S.C. § 1981), the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the National Labor Relations Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act, each as amended and including each of their respective implementing regulations and/or any other federal, state, local, or foreign law (statutory, regulatory, or otherwise) that may be legally waived or released; (ii) arising out of or relating to the termination of the Employee’s employment; or (iii) arising under or relating to any policy, agreement, understanding, or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between the Company or any other Releasee and the Employee (including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement).
(b)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Releasers do not release, and this release and waiver does not apply to and shall not be construed to apply to: (A) any Claims the Employee may have that cannot be waived under applicable law; (B) rights under this Release; (C) any rights the Employee may have to vested benefits under employee benefit plans; (D) any rights the Employee has or may have relating to the Employee’s equity in the Group (as defined in the Employment Agreement); and (E) any claims or rights relating to indemnification of the Employee by the Company and the Parent or to benefits under any directors or officers insurance policy maintained by the Company and/or the Parent.
(c)The Employee agrees that neither this Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any other Releasee or the Employee of any improper or unlawful conduct. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the Company and the other Releasees have fully satisfied any and all obligations owed to the Employee arising out of or relating to the Employee’s employment with the Company or any other Releasees, and no further sums, payments, or benefits are owed to the Employee by the Company or any of the other Releasees arising out of or relating to the Employee’s employment with the Company or any of the other Releasees, except as expressly provided in this Release.
2.Continuing Obligations. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employee’s obligations under Section 7 (Confidentiality), Section 8 (Permitted Disclosures), Section 9 (Non-Disparagement), Section 10 (Non-Competition), Section 11 (Non-Solicitation of Customers), Section 12 (Non-Solicitation of Employees), Section 14 (Intellectual Property), Section 15 (Return of Property), Section 17 (Cooperation), and Section 27 (Governing Law) of the Employment Agreement survive the termination of engagement and are incorporated herein by reference. The Employee affirms that the restrictive covenants in the Employment Agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests, including goodwill, of the Company and that the Employee received adequate consideration in exchange for agreeing to those restrictions and will abide by those restrictions.
3.Return of Property. The Employee agrees that upon the Employee’s execution and delivery of this Release, the Employee has returned to the Company any and all of the Intellectual Property or any other property of either of the Company (which shall include any documents, files or other materials which contain Confidential Information) in the Employee’s possession or subject to the Employee’s control.
4.Consideration and Revocation.
(a)The Employee acknowledges that the Company has advised the Employee to consult with an attorney of the Employee’s own choosing prior to executing this Release. The Employee represents that the Employee has had the opportunity to review this Release with an attorney of the Employee’s choosing. The Employee also agrees and acknowledges that the Employee is receiving benefits and payments to which The Employee would not otherwise be entitled unless The Employee signs this Release, that The Employee has read the Release in its entirety and understands the Release, and that The Employee has entered into this Release freely, knowingly and voluntarily.
(b)The Employee has twenty-one (21) calendar days to consider the terms of this Release. However, the Employee may sign and return this Release before the expiration of the twenty-one (21) calendar day period. The Employee agrees that changes to this Release, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the running of the twenty-one (21) calendar day period. Once signed, the Employee will have seven (7) additional calendar days from the date that the Employee signs this Release to revoke the Employee’s consent. Such revocation must be in writing and must be addressed and
personally delivered or mailed by United States registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
6&8 East Court Square, Suite 300,
Newnan Georgia 30263
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
Email: contract-notifications@freyrbattery.com
If the Employee revokes the Employee’s consent within such seven (7) calendar day period, this Release shall be of no force or effect and the Employee shall have no right to the payments set forth in Section 6 of the Employment Agreement.
5.No Waiver. A failure of any of the Releasees to insist on strict compliance with any provision of this Release shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision or any other provision hereof. If any provision of this Release is determined to be so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable, and in the event that any provision is determined to be entirely unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severable, such that all other provisions of this Release shall remain valid and binding.
6.Entire Agreement. This Release contains the entire agreement between the Company and the Employee relating to the matters contained herein and amends, supersedes and restates all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the Company and the Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof.
7.Governing Law. This Release shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of law of Delaware or any other jurisdiction, and where applicable, the laws of the United States.
PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
Date:
Evan Calio
News Release
FREYR Battery Announces Leadership Changes to Support Strategic Focus on Accelerating Path to Profitability
•Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson Tom Jensen to return to CEO role; Current Director Daniel Barcelo appointed Chair of the Board
•Evan Calio, a recognized financial expert in the energy sector, appointed Company’s new CFO
•Changes support FREYR’s accelerated strategic shift to the U.S market and key initiatives to drive revenues and profitability
New York, Oslo, and Newnan, GA, June 6, 2024, FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) (“FREYR” or the “Company”), a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity, today announced the appointment of Co-Founder and current Chairperson of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) Tom Jensen as Chief Executive Officer. Current Director Daniel Barcelo has been appointed the next Chair of the Board. Additionally, Evan Calio has been appointed as the Company’s new CFO.
In connection with today’s changes, Birger Steen has stepped down from his CEO and Board positions at FREYR. Mr. Steen will be leaving the Board effective, immediately. Separately, Oscar Brown, FREYR’s CFO, has been working with the Company on succession planning, and recently notified the Company of his intention to resign for personal reasons. Both Mr. Steen and Mr. Brown will stay at the Company for a period to help ensure seamless transitions for Mr. Jensen and Mr. Calio.
FREYR’s Board believes the new management team will be fully aligned with the Company’s accelerated strategic shift to the U.S., and key initiatives, including:
•Pursuing organic and inorganic opportunities in the U.S. to accelerate FREYR’s timelines to revenues and EBITDA;
•Advancing the next generation of the 24M SemiSolidTM technology through operations at the Customer Qualification Plant (“CQP”);
•Finalizing a conventional technology agreement with an established cell producer.
The Board and new management are intently focused on shortening the timelines to meaningful revenue and profitability, and ultimately to generate sustainable shareholder value.
“Our industry, which continues to grow exponentially in all relevant market segments, is going through a dynamic period of rapid change. It became clear to us that we needed to adapt our focus to capitalize on the unique technology advantage and deep bench of talent that has set FREYR apart,” commented Tom Jensen. “Following these moves, we are going to accelerate our efforts to capitalize on the new participation strategies emerging on a seemingly constant basis, and to take advantage of the white space in the U.S. market. I am very proud of the progress our team continues to make daily at the CQP with a world first industrial scale US IP based battery technology. I am equally excited to be in the final stages of finalizing an accretive partnership with a well-established battery producer globally to provide cost competitive products in the near term to our large customer base. By devoting even more focus to bringing our initial production facility online – while continuing to stay nimble in our constantly evolving sector – we are getting back to the basics that made FREYR exciting and successful from the beginning.”
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“On behalf of FREYR’s Board of Directors, I wish to thank Birger and Oscar for their contributions to the organization. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” concluded Mr. Jensen.
Todd Kantor, a Director of FREYR and one of the Company’s earliest investors, added, “Having now had an opportunity to assess the Company in a different way since joining the Board last month, I am confident the team announced today is the right one to lead FREYR in this next stage of its growth. I have known Tom since 2020 when Encompass Capital Advisors LLC first invested in FREYR, and Dan for 20 years dating back to his time as an equity research analyst. I have also worked closely with Evan for 19 years, including during FREYR’s public listing process. I am confident that they all share a sense of urgency toward translating FREYR’s technology and enviable market position into value-enhancing partnership transactions in the near term that will drive profitability. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them in my role as a Director.”
“I am very excited to join FREYR at such a dynamic time in the battery industry with a differentiated team, technology and balance sheet,” said Evan Calio. “I look forward to working with a team that I have known, respected and collaborated with for many years to shape FREYR’s strategy, capital formation and strategic positioning, as we advance our ambition to build a global clean battery champion and create value for all our stakeholders.”
For more information on Daniel Barcelo, Tom Jensen, and Todd Kantor, please refer to the corporate governance section of FREYR’s website at www.Freyrbattery.com/governance/leadership
Evan Calio Biography
Mr. Calio has more than 30 years of energy experience on Wall Street, including working closely with the Freyr management team in conjunction with its IPO and $704 million capital raise. Over his career, Mr. Calio has led more than $60 billion in capital raises and executed over $75 billion of M&A transactions, most recently as Managing Director at BTIG where he helped build an energy transition banking team and business.
Prior to BTIG, Mr. Calio spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley, most recently as a Managing Director within Equity Research, covering U.S. exploration and production companies, refiners and integrated oils. Mr. Calio was ranked by Institutional Investor’s Annual All-America Research Survey in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 and Rising Star on Wall Street in 2011.
Mr. Calio earned a BS from Lehigh University, a JD from Widener University School of Law and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center.
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About FREYR Battery
FREYR Battery is a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity. The Company’s mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of global energy and transportation systems by producing sustainable, cost-competitive batteries. FREYR seeks to serve the primary markets of energy storage systems (“ESS”) and commercial mobility, and the Company maintains an ambition to serve the passenger electric vehicles market (“EV”). FREYR is operating its Customer Qualification Plant (“CQP”) for technology development in Mo i Rana, Norway, and the Company is commencing development of the Giga America battery manufacturing project in Coweta County, Georgia, in the U.S. To learn more about FREYR, please visit www.freyrbattery.com.
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Investor contact:
Jeffrey Spittel
Vice President, Investor Relations
jeffrey.spittel@freyrbattery.com
Tel: (+1) 409 599-5706
Media contact:
Amy Jaick
Global Head of Communications
amy.jaick@freyrbattery.com
Tel: (+1) 973 713-5585
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this letter, are forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside FREYR’s control and are difficult to predict. Additional information about factors that could materially affect FREYR is set forth under the “Risk Factors” section in (i) FREYR’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 1, 2022, (ii) FREYR Battery, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on September 8, 2023 and subsequent amendments thereto filed on October 13, 2023, October 19, 2023, and October 31, 2023, (iii) FREYR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024, and (iv) FREYR’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2024 and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, FREYR disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation. Should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and projections could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
FREYR intends to use its website as a channel of distribution to disclose information which may be of interest or material to investors and to communicate with investors and the public. Such disclosures will be included on FREYR’s website in the ‘Investor Relations’ sections. FREYR also intends to use certain social media channels, including, but not limited to, X (former Twitter) and LinkedIn, as means of communicating with the public and investors about FREYR, its progress, products, and other matters. While not all the information that FREYR posts to its digital platforms may be deemed to be of a material nature, some information may be. As a result, FREYR encourages investors and others interested to review the information that it posts and to monitor such portions of FREYR’s website and social media channels on a regular basis, in addition to following FREYR’s press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. The contents of FREYR’s website and other social media channels shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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