The Prospectus and this prospectus
supplement relate to the issuance by us of up to an aggregate of up to 2,306,418 shares of our Class A common stock, $0.0001 par
value per share (“Class A common stock”), that are issuable upon the exercise of 2,306,418 warrants (the “Private
Placement Warrants”) originally issued in a private placement in connection with the initial public offering of DiamondPeak Holdings
Corp. (“DiamondPeak”). We will receive the proceeds from any exercise of any Private Placement Warrants for cash.
The Prospectus and this prospectus
supplement also relate to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling securityholders named in the Prospectus (the “Selling
Securityholders”) of (i) up to 121,521,293 shares of Class A common stock (including up to 1,220,230 shares of Class A
common stock that have been issued and up to 2,306,418 shares of Class A common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the Private
Placement Warrants and up to 1,649,489 shares of Class A common stock that may be issued upon exercise of BGL Warrants (as defined
in the Prospectus)) and (ii) up to 2,306,418 Private Placement Warrants. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any shares
of Class A common stock or Private Placement Warrants by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this Prospectus and this prospectus
supplement.
We are registering the securities
for resale pursuant to the Selling Securityholders’ registration rights under certain agreements between us and the Selling Securityholders.
Our registration of the securities covered by the Prospectus and this prospectus supplement does not mean that the Selling Securityholders
will offer or sell any of the securities. The Selling Securityholders may sell the shares of Class A common stock and Private Placement
Warrants covered by the Prospectus and this prospectus supplement in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more
information about how the Selling Securityholders may sell the securities in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”
Our Class A common stock
is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “RIDE”. On October 12, 2021, the closing price of our Class A
common stock was $5.12 per share.
This prospectus supplement updates
and supplements the information in the Prospectus and is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in combination
with, the Prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the
Prospectus and if there is any inconsistency between the information in the Prospectus and this prospectus supplement, you should rely
on the information in this prospectus supplement.
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:
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 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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 ¨
On October 13, 2021, Lordstown Motors Corp.
(the “Company”) announced that the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Adam Kroll as Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company effective October 25, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). Upon
the Effective Date, Mr. Kroll will serve as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, and
Rebecca Roof, the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, will cease serving in such roles, but will
remain with the Company in a transition role until December 31, 2021.
Mr. Kroll, age 46, most recently served as the
Chief Administrative Officer of Hyzon Motors Inc. from March through July of 2021. From October 2020 through January 2021, Mr. Kroll
was the interim Chief Financial Officer of UPG Enterprises, a family office. Prior to his tenure at UPG, Mr. Kroll spent five years at
PSAV Holdings, a global event technology services provider, where he served in roles of increasing responsibility, including
Treasurer, Head of Corporate Development and Senior Vice President - Finance. Prior to his time at PSAV Holdings, Mr. Kroll served as
an investment banker at JP Morgan and elsewhere focusing on the automotive industry where, during his tenure, he advised companies on
capital markets, loan and M&A transactions. Mr. Kroll earned his MBA, with honors, from the University of Chicago Graduate
School of Business, and his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin.
On October 13, 2021, Mr. Kroll and the Company
entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Kroll will receive an annual salary
of $450,000 and an annual bonus with a target equal to 80% of his annual salary, based on Company and individual performance and subject
to the discretion of the Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, Mr. Kroll
will be entitled to receive an annual bonus that is equal to no less than Mr. Kroll’s annual target bonus, prorated based upon the
number of days from October 25, 2021 through December 31, 2021, subject to his continued employment.
Under Mr. Kroll’s Employment Agreement,
if his employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Kroll’s resignation for “good reason,”
Mr. Kroll is entitled to receive, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a general release and separation agreement, an amount
equal to eight months of base salary plus $25,000, payable in installments over 12 months following such termination or resignation, as
well as accelerated vesting of all outstanding and unvested equity awards. In addition, if Mr. Kroll’s employment is terminated
for any reason other than by the Company with “cause” or Mr. Kroll’s resignation without “good reason,”
Mr. Kroll is entitled to receive any actual bonus earned but unpaid as of the date of termination and a prorated target bonus for the
year of termination. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Kroll is also subject to certain restrictive covenants, including (i) perpetual
confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants, (ii) an assignment of inventions covenant and (iii) non-competition and customer and
employee non-solicitation covenants during and for the two-year period following any termination of employment.
On the date of the Employment Agreement, Mr.
Kroll will receive an award of 200,000 stock options with an exercise price equal to the closing price on the business day
immediately preceding the date of the Employment Agreement and 250,000 restricted stock units, in each case granted under the
Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, which will vest over three years on each of the first, second and third anniversary of
the grant date, subject to Mr. Kroll’s continued employment through each vesting date.
The foregoing description does not purport to
be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto
as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
A copy of the press release the Company issued
regarding the appointment of Mr. Kroll as Chief Financial Officer is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
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.
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LORDSTOWN MOTORS CORP.
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Date: October 13, 2021
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By:
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/s/ Thomas V. Canepa
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Thomas V. Canepa
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General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
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Exhibit 10.1
Employment
Agreement
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
made and entered into as of October 13, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), is by and between Lordstown Motors Corp.,
a Delaware corporation (“Company”), and Adam Kroll (“Executive”). Certain capitalized terms shall
have the meaning given to them in Section 7 below.
WHEREAS, Company and Executive desire to enter
into an employment agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, Company considers Executive a “key
executive” and agrees to provide Executive the significant consideration described in this Agreement as and for Company’s
retention of Executive; and
WHEREAS, Company and Executive desire to enter
into this Agreement as of the Effective Date and this Agreement shall supersede all prior employment terms and conditions, whether or
not in writing.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises
and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
1. Employment
Period. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby agrees to employ Executive as the date hereof and as
the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of Company during the Employment Period, and Executive hereby agrees to be employed
by Company and provide services for and on behalf of Company during the Employment Period subject to and in accordance with this Agreement.
The period from October 25, 2021 until the Termination Date shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.”
2. Duties.
Executive agrees that, during the Employment Period, Executive will serve Company diligently and in good faith and will, subject to the
exceptions below, devote his full business time, energies and talents to serving as the CFO of Company, subject to and at the direction
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”). Executive shall: (a) have such duties and responsibilities
commensurate with his position as CFO and as may be reasonably assigned to Executive from time to time by the CEO; (b) perform
all lawful duties assigned to Executive in good faith, subject to the reasonable direction of the CEO; and (c) act in accordance
with written Company policies as may be in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period, Executive
may devote reasonable time to activities other than those required under this Agreement, including activities of a charitable, educational,
religious or similar nature (including professional associations); provided such activities do not inhibit, prohibit, interfere
with or breach any of Executive’s duties under this Agreement or common law, or otherwise conflict in any material way with the
Company Business.
3. Compensation
and Benefits. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company shall pay Executive, and Executive agrees to accept from
Company, as compensation in full for his services to be performed hereunder and for the faithful performance and observance of all of
his obligations to Company hereunder, the following annual salary and other compensation during the Employment Period:
(a) Base
Salary. Company shall pay to Executive a base salary in the amount of $450,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”),
payable in equal periodic installments less all customary payroll deductions (with such annual salary for any part of a month to be paid
on a pro- rated basis), in accordance with customary policies and normal payroll practices of Company.
(b) Annual
Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus during the Employment Period with an annual target bonus equal to 80%
of Annual Base Salary, based on Company and individual performance and subject to the discretion of the Company’s board of directors
(the “Board of Directors”) or a committee thereof. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, Executive will
be entitled to receive an annual bonus that is equal to no less than Executive’s annual target bonus, prorated based upon the number
of days from October 25, 2021 through December 31, 2021, which shall be paid on or before January 15, 2022 subject to
Executive’s continued employment through the payment date.
(c) Benefits.
From the Effective Date and during the Employment Period, Executive and Executive’s dependents, as the case may be, shall be eligible
to participate in all executive plans and programs as in effect from time to time thereof generally available to other executives of
Company and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including a 401(k) Plan, medical and dental, and disability benefits. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Company shall be permitted to amend, add to or eliminate the benefit plans at any time and at Company’s sole discretion.
(d) Vacation.
Executive shall be entitled to vacation time consistent with Company’s established programs and policies as may be in effect during
the Employment Period; provided that Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of vacation per year (which, if not used in a fiscal
year, will not be carried to the next fiscal year).
(e) Expense
Reimbursement. Executive shall be reimbursed by Company, on terms and conditions that are substantially similar to those that apply
to other similarly situated executives of Company, for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for entertainment, travel, meals, lodging and
similar items which are actually incurred by Executive in connection with the Company Business. Executive’s position with Company
will be based at Company’s Michigan facility. From the Effective Date and during the Employment Period, Company shall reimburse
Executive for reasonable travel expenses, including to Company’s California, Michigan and Ohio facilities. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Section 3(e), Company shall be required to reimburse Executive for the expenses described in this Section 3(e) only
to the extent that Executive complies with the policies, practices and procedures of Company for incurring expenses and submitting expense
reports, receipts, or similar documentation of any such expenses.
(f) Equity
Awards. In connection with the commencement of Executive’s employment with the Company, on the Effective Date, Executive will
be granted an award of (i) 200,000 stock options with an exercise price equal to $5.12 per share and (ii) 250,000 restricted
stock units pursuant to the 2020 Incentive Plan, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in award agreements between Company and
Executive (such awards, the “Initial Equity Awards”). The Initial Equity Awards will vest ratably on each of the first,
second and third anniversary of the grant date, subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each such
vesting date. Company intends to make annual equity compensation awards and Executive will be eligible for annual equity awards based
on Executive’s seniority. It is expected that Executive will receive equity awards in each of 2022 and 2023 that are equivalent
in value to the Initial Equity Awards and that Company will grant these awards during the first six months of 2022 and 2023, respectively,
subject to Executive’s and Company’s performance. All stock options granted by Company to Executive shall permit Executive
to exercise vested options for up to six months following termination of employment for any reason other than Cause (but in no event
later than the full option term).
(g) Indemnification;
D&O coverage. At all times, during the Employment Period, (i) Executive shall be eligible for indemnification (including
the advancement of attorneys’ fees) pursuant to the Company’s bylaws to the fullest extent of the law, and (ii) Executive
shall be covered by Company’s directors’ and officers’ insurance policy (the “D&O Insurance Policy”)
with Side A and Side B limits not less than in effect on the Effective Date, if available on commercially reasonable terms.
4. Term
and Termination.
(a) Term.
The term of Executive’s employment hereunder shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until terminated. The effective
date of any termination hereunder shall be referred to as the “Termination Date”.
(b) Termination.
Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated on the following terms and conditions:
(i) by
Company for Cause, effective upon written notice from Company to Executive, following the expiration, without cure, of any applicable
cure period;
(ii) by
Company for any reason other than for Cause, effective 30 days following written notice from Company to Executive, provided that
Company may place Executive on paid leave during any portion of such 30 day period;
(iii) by
Executive for any reason, effective 30 days following written notice from Executive to Company or any earlier date as may be determined
by Company in its sole discretion, provided that Company may place Executive on paid leave during any portion of such period;
or
(iv) by
Change of Control as defined herein.
(c) Death/Disability.
This Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate immediately and automatically by reason of Executive’s
death or Disability and Executive (or his estate) shall receive all vested equity awards and pro rata vesting of unvested equity awards
(based on the number of full or partial months served from the most recent vesting event to the date Executive’s Termination Date).
In the event Executive’s employment with Company terminates, for any reason whatsoever, including death or Disability, Executive
shall be entitled to the benefits described in Section 4(h).
(d) Severance
Payment.
(i) In
the event of a Termination Upon Change of Control, or if Company terminates Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Executive
resigns for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of eight months of Executive’s Annual
Base Salary and $25,000, which shall be paid according to the following schedule (subject to Section 4(d)(iv)): (a) a
lump sum payment equal to one-half of such amount shall be payable within ten days of following the Termination Date, and (b) one-fourth
of the balance of such amount shall be payable within ten days of each of the three-month, six-month, nine-month and 12 month anniversaries
of the Termination Date (and in each case no interest shall accrue on such amount); provided, however, that if Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) would otherwise apply to such cash severance payment,
it instead shall be paid at such time as permitted by Section 409A of the Code. In addition to the foregoing severance payment, in
the event of Executive’s termination for any reason other than (i) Cause or (ii) Executive’s resignation without
Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive, within ten days following the termination, a lump sum payment equal to 100% of (a) any
actual bonus amount earned with respect to a previous year to the extent that all the conditions for payment of such bonus have been satisfied
(excluding any requirement to be in employment with Company as of a given date which is after the Termination Date) and any such bonus
was earned but is unpaid on the Termination Date; and (b) the target bonus then in effect for Executive for the year in which
such termination occurs, such payment to be prorated to reflect the full number of months Executive remained in the employ of Company;
provided, however, that if Section 409A of the Code would otherwise apply to such cash payment, it instead shall be paid at such
time as permitted by Section 409A of the Code. To illustrate, if Executive’s target bonus at 100% equals $120,000 for the calendar
year and Executive is terminated on October 15th, then the foregoing payment shall equal $100,000 (i.e., ten (10) months’
prorated bonus at one hundred percent (100%) with October counting as a full month worked).
(ii) [RESERVED]
(iii) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, payments to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement will be made upon
a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Each payment under this Agreement shall
be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. To the maximum extent permissible payments under this
Agreement shall be treated as exempt from Section 409A first pursuant to the exception for short-term deferrals, then pursuant to
the exception for payments related to separations from service, and then for de minimis amounts
(iv) Executive
shall forfeit all rights to payment of severance pursuant to this Section 4(d) or otherwise unless he signs and delivers
a general release and separation agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Company within 60 days after Executive’s
termination of employment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no severance payment will be due and payable until
Executive executes and delivers such general release and separation agreement and it is not subject to revocation, if applicable.
(e) Equity
Compensation Acceleration. If Company terminates Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Executive resigns for Good
Reason, then subject to Section 4(d)(iv), the vesting and exercisability of all then outstanding stock options (or any other
equity award, including, without limitation, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units) granted to Executive under any equity
incentive plan (the “Company Plans”) adopted by the Board of Directors shall be accelerated as to 100% of the shares
subject to any such equity awards granted to Executive. Upon any vesting of restricted stock units, the Company shall withhold from the
shares delivered to Executive a sufficient number of shares to allow the Company to remit on Executive’s behalf state and federal
taxes calculated at the highest marginal tax rate.
(f) [RESERVED]
(g) Indemnification.
In connection with Executive’s termination from Company, regardless of the reason, (a) Company shall continue to indemnify
Executive against all claims related to actions arising prior to the termination of Executive’s employment to the fullest extent
permitted by law (including without limitation advancement of attorneys’ fees), and (b) Company or its successor shall continue
to provide coverage under a D&O Insurance Policy for not less than 36 months following such termination on substantially the same
terms of the D&O Insurance Policy in effect immediately prior to such termination.
(h) Termination
from all Positions; Rights and Payments Upon Termination. In connection with Executive’s termination from Company, regardless
of the reason, (1) Executive agrees that, effective as of the Termination Date, Executive shall resign and be terminated from all
positions Executive holds as a director, officer or employee of Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof and shall execute any
necessary documentation to properly effectuate such termination and (2) Executive shall be entitled to the Minimum Payments, in
addition to any payments or benefits to which Executive may be entitled under the express terms of any executive benefit plan or as required
by law. Any payments to be made to Executive pursuant to this Section 4 shall be made in accordance with Company’s
customary policies and normal payroll practices.
5. Restrictive
Covenants.
(a) Confidential
Information. Executive recognizes and acknowledges that he may receive certain confidential and proprietary information and trade
secrets of Company, its Affiliates and Subsidiaries, including (i) internal business information (including, information relating
to strategic plans and practices, business, accounting, financial or marketing plans, practices or programs, training practices and programs,
salaries, bonuses, incentive plans and other compensation and benefits information and accounting and business methods); (ii) identities
of, individual requirements of, specific contractual arrangements with, and information about, Company, its Affiliates and Subsidiaries
and their respective confidential information; (iii) industry research compiled by, or on behalf of Company and its Affiliates
and Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, identities of potential target companies, management teams, and transaction sources
identified by, or on behalf of, Company and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries; (iv) compilations of data and analyses, processes,
methods, track and performance records, data and data bases relating thereto; and (v) computer software documentation, data
and data bases and updates of any of the foregoing; (collectively, “Confidential Information”). Executive will
not, during or after the term of this Agreement, whether through an Affiliate or otherwise, take commercial or proprietary advantage
of or profit from any Confidential Information or disclose Confidential Information to any Person for any reason or purpose whatsoever,
except (i) to authorized representatives and employees of Company or its Affiliates and Subsidiaries and as otherwise may be proper
in the course of performing Executive’s obligations under this Agreement or (ii) as is required to be disclosed by order of
a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or
regulation; provided that, unless otherwise prohibited by law, rule or regulation, Executive shall provide to the Board of
Directors prompt notice of any such disclosure. For purposes of this Section 5(a), Confidential Information does not include
any information that is or becomes generally known to the other participants in the industry in which Company and its Subsidiaries operate
other than as a result of any breach of nondisclosure by any Person. The limitations in this Section 5(a) are in addition
to, and not in lieu of, any other restrictions that Executive may be bound by (whether by contract or otherwise), including Company’s
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement or otherwise, nothing shall limit Executive’s rights under applicable law to provide truthful information to any governmental
entity or to file a charge with or participate in an investigation conducted by any governmental entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive agrees to waive Executive’s right to recover monetary damages in connection with any charge, complaint or lawsuit filed
by Executive or anyone else on Executive’s behalf (whether involving a governmental entity or not); provided that Executive
is not agreeing to waive, and this Agreement shall not be read as requiring Executive to waive, any right Executive may have to receive
an award for information provided to any governmental entity. Executive is hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833
of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state
trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials,
either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of
the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to Executive’s
attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in
the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is
not disclosed except pursuant to court order.
(b) Documents
and Property. All records, files, documents and other materials or copies thereof relating to the Company Business, which Executive
shall prepare, receive, or use shall be and remain the sole property of Company, shall not be used by Executive in any manner that would
be adverse to Company’s interests, and, other than in connection with the performance by Executive of his duties hereunder, shall
not be removed from the premises of Company or any Subsidiary without Company’s prior written consent, and shall be promptly returned
to Company upon Executive’s termination of employment hereunder for any reason whatsoever, together with all copies (including
copies or recordings in electronic form), abstracts, notes or reproductions of any kind made from or about the records, files, documents
or other materials.
(c) Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation.
From the Effective Date and during the Employment Period and for a two (2) year period thereafter (the “Restricted Period”),
Executive will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a shareholder, director, manager, member, officer, employee, agent, consultant
or advisor of any Person: (i) acquire or hold any economic or financial interest in, act as a partner, member, shareholder, consultant,
employee or representative of, render services to, or otherwise operate, engage in or hold an interest in any Person that engages in,
or engages in the management or operation of any Person that engages in any business that competes with the Company Business; (ii) solicit
orders from or seek or propose to do business with any customer or supplier of the business relating to the Company Business; or
(iii) influence or attempt to influence any customer, supplier, employee, contractor, representative or advisor of the Company Business
to curtail, terminate or refrain from maintaining its, his or her relationship with Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however,
that the ownership of less than 1% of the voting stock of any publicly held corporation shall not be a violation of this Agreement.
(d) Non-Disparagement.
During and after Executive’s employment with Company, neither Company nor Executive will make any adverse or derogatory statements,
remarks or comments, oral or written, directly or indirectly, to any individual or entity about or with reference to or with respect to
Executive or Company, or any of its executives, officers, managers, members, directors or agents. The foregoing shall not be violated
by truthful statements in response to legal process, required governmental testimony or filings, or administrative or arbitral proceedings
(including, without limitation, depositions in connection with such proceedings).
(e) Remedies
for Breach of Covenants. Executive acknowledges and expressly agrees that the covenants contained in this Section 5 are
reasonable with respect to their duration, geographical area and scope. Executive further acknowledges that, in light of his position
with Company and access to Confidential Information from the Effective Date and during the Employment Period, the restrictions contained
in this Section 5 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the legitimate business interests of Company, that they
create no undue hardships, that any violation of these restrictions would cause substantial injury to Company and such interests, and
that such restrictions were a material inducement to Company to enter into this Agreement. In the event of any violation or threatened
violation of these restrictions, Company, in addition to and not in limitation of, any other rights, remedies or damages available to
Company under this Agreement or otherwise at law or in equity, shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, to prevent
or restrain any such violation by Executive and any and all Persons directly or indirectly acting for or with him, as the case may be.
6. Inventions
and Innovations. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he is separately bound by the Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement
with Company. In addition, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement, Executive
acknowledges and agrees that all right, title and interest in and to any past, present and future inventions, business applications,
know-how, customer lists, trade secrets, innovations, methods, designs, ideas, improvements, copyrights, patents, domain names, trademarks,
trade dress and other intellectual property which Executive personally develops or creates in whole or in part at any time and at any
place during his employment with Company, and which is, directly or indirectly, related to or usable in connection with, the business
activities of Company (all items set forth above are hereafter collectively referred to as the “Inventions and Innovations”),
shall be and remain forever the sole and exclusive property of Company, and Executive thus automatically assigns and agrees to assign
any such right, title and interest in his possession, or that he acquires, to Company. In this regard, Executive acknowledges and agrees
that any Inventions and Innovations embodying copyrightable subject matter are “works made for hire,” and Executive automatically
assigns and agrees to assign all right, title and interest to Company in the same if such Inventions and Innovations are not “works
made for hire.” Executive agrees to promptly reveal all information relating to the Inventions and Innovations to Company and cooperate
with Company to execute such documents as may be necessary to establish ownership and protection in Company’s name for the Inventions
and Innovations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Inventions and Innovations shall not include any publicly available information
or any information that was developed by Executive on his own time with his own tools and/or materials and without the resources of Company
or any Subsidiary thereof.
7. Definitions.
As used throughout this Agreement, all of the terms defined in this Section 7 shall have the meanings given below.
“2020 Incentive Plan” shall mean
the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.
“Affiliate” shall mean each individual,
company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business entity, which is, directly or indirectly,
controlled by, controls, or is under common control with, Company, where “control” means (i) the ownership of a majority
of the voting securities or other voting interests or other equity interests of any company, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture or other business entity, or (ii) the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of such company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other
business entity.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“Annual Base Salary” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Board of Directors” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3(b ).
“Cause” shall mean the Board of
Directors’ determination in good faith that Executive has:
(i) disregarded
or refused to substantially perform his duties and obligations to Company as required by this Agreement and the Board of Directors (other
than any such failure resulting from his Disability or Executive’s termination of his employment with Company for any reason);
(ii) breached
a fiduciary responsibility to Company in any material respect;
(iii) commission
of an act of fraud, embezzlement or other misappropriation of funds;
(iv) breached
any confidentiality or proprietary information agreement in any material respect between Executive and Company;
(v) acted
with gross negligence or willful misconduct when undertaking Executive’s duties;
(vi) breached
this Agreement;
(vii) Executive’s
excessive and unreasonable absences from Executive’s duties for any reason (other than authorized leave or leave required by law
or as a result of Executive’s Disability); or
(viii) Executive’s
indictment for, conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, (A) a felony, (B) a misdemeanor (other
than traffic or motor vehicle violations), or (C) any other act, omission or event that, in any such case, has caused or
is likely to cause economic harm to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the image, reputation and/or goodwill of Company or its Subsidiaries
or that Company in good faith believes is reasonably likely to cause material harm to the image, reputation and/or goodwill of Company
or its Subsidiaries, their respective products, services and/or trade/service marks;
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to Company’s
termination of Executive for Cause above, Company shall give Executive written notice specifying in reasonable detail the existence of
any condition and Executive shall have 30 days from the date of Executive’s receipt of such notice in which to cure the condition
giving rise to Cause (if curable).
“CEO” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 1.
“CFO” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 1.
“Change of Control” means:
(i) one
Person (or more than one Person acting as a group) acquires ownership of stock of Company that, together with the stock held by such
person or group, constitutes more than 35% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of Company; provided,
that, a Change in Control shall not occur if any Person (or more than one Person acting as a group) owns more than 50% of the total fair
market value or total voting power of Company’s stock and acquires additional stock;
(ii) a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors are replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election
is not endorsed by a majority of the Board of Directors before the date of appointment or election; or
(iii) one
Person (or more than one person acting as a group), acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most
recent acquisition) assets from Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market
value of all of the assets of Company immediately before such acquisition(s).
A
transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if: (a) its sole purpose is to change the state of Company’s incorporation;
or (b) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons
who held Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
“Code” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 4(d).
“Company” shall have the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“Company Business” shall mean
the business of developing, designing and manufacturing battery-electric vehicles under 10,001 GVW.
“Confidential Information” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“D&O Insurance Policy” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(g).
“Disability” shall mean that Executive
is unable to effectively perform the essential functions of his job by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for not less than 90 consecutive days or 125 non-consecutive days,
in either case during any 12-month period (unless a longer period is required under applicable law, then during such longer period), and
in any case as determined in good faith by an independent doctor selected in good faith by the Board of Directors and mutually acceptable
to Executive.
“Effective Date” shall have the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Executive” shall have the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“Employment Period” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 1.
“Good Reason” is defined as the
occurrence of any of the following: (i) a breach of this Agreement by Company (including without limitation any of the indemnification
provisions); (ii) a material reduction in Executive’s Base Salary or Annual Bonus, (iii) a material change in the
geographic location where Executive must perform services; or (iv) Executive has a material reduction in position, status, duties
or responsibilities, or is assigned duties materially inconsistent with his position (including without limitation if Executive ceases
to be the CFO of a public company which is the ultimate parent of the Company). If Executive wishes to terminate his employment for Good
Reason, he shall first give Company 30 days prior written notice of the circumstances constituting Good Reason and an opportunity to cure,
and such notice must be given to Company within 30 days of Executive becoming aware of such circumstances.
“Initial Equity Awards” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f).
“Inventions and Innovations” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.
“Minimum Payments” shall mean,
as applicable, the following amounts:
(i) Executive’s
earned but unpaid Annual Base Salary for the period ending on the Termination Date, with such payments to be made in accordance with Section 3(a);
(ii) Executive’s
accrued but unpaid vacation days for the period ending on the Termination Date; and
(iii) Executive’s
unreimbursed business expenses and all other items earned and owed to Executive through and including, the Termination Date.
“Person” shall mean any individual,
sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association, corporation, limited liability company, entity or
governmental entity (whether federal, state, county, city or otherwise and including any instrumentality, division, agency or department
thereof).
“Restricted Period” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Subsidiary” shall mean, with
respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or business entity of which: (i) if a
corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other
class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one
or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or (ii) if a partnership, limited liability company,
association or other business entity, either (A) a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the
time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or
(B) that Person is a general partner, managing member, manager or managing director of such partnership, limited liability company,
or other business entity. For purposes hereof and unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary
of Company.
“Termination Date” shall mean
the date of termination of Executive’s employment as determined in accordance with Section 3.
“Termination Upon Change of Control”
means:
(i) any
termination of the employment of Executive by Company without Cause during the period commencing on or after the date that Company enters
into a definitive agreement that results in a Change of Control (even though still subject to approval by Company’s stockholders
and other conditions and contingencies, but provided that the Change of Control actually occurs) and ending on the date which is 12 months
following the Change of Control; or
(ii) any
resignation by Executive for Good Reason where (i) such Good Reason occurs during the period commencing on or after the date that
Company enters into a definitive agreement that results in a Change of Control (even though still subject to approval by Company’s
stockholders and other conditions and contingencies, but provided that the Change of Control actually occurs) and ending on the date which
is 12 months following the Change of Control, and (ii) such resignation occurs at or after such Change of Control and in any event
within six months following the occurrence of such Good Reason.
(iii) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the term “Termination Upon Change of Control” shall not include any termination of the employment of Executive:
(1) by Company for Cause; (2) by Company as a result of the Disability of Executive; (3) as a result of the
death of Executive; or (4) as a result of the voluntary termination of employment by Executive for any reason other than Good
Reason.
8. Notices.
Notices and all other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if (i) delivered personally,
(ii) delivered by a recognized overnight courier service, or (iii) mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to Company to:
Lordstown Motors Corp.
2300 Hallock Young Road, S.W.
Lordstown, OH 44481
Attention: General Counsel
If to Executive, to:
The address on file with the Company’s Human Resources department
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing, except that notices of changes of address shall be effective
only upon receipt.
9. Applicable
Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations
imposed by this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Ohio applicable to agreements made and wholly to be
performed in such state without regard to conflicts of law provisions of any jurisdiction.
10. FORUM
SELECTION. ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY, MANNER OR RESPECT, ARISING OUT OF OR FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
LITIGATED IN COURTS HAVING SITUS WITHIN TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO EXECUTIVE HEREBY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE
AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED WITHIN TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO. EXECUTIVE HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER OR CHANGE THE
VENUE OF ANY LITIGATION BROUGHT AGAINST EXECUTIVE BY COMPANY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
11. WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. EXECUTIVE AND COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION
IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS OR EVENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR ANY COURSE OF
CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY HERETO. THE PARTIES HERETO EACH AGREE THAT
ANY AND ALL SUCH CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION TRIED BY A COURT SHALL BE TRIED WITHOUT A JURY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER WAIVES
ANY RIGHT TO SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH LEGAL PROCEEDING IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH ANY OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDING IN WHICH
A JURY TRIAL CANNOT OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.
12. Entire
Agreement; Severability. This Agreement, together with the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and the Company Plans,
constitute the entire agreement between Executive and Company concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior negotiations,
undertakings, agreements and arrangements with respect thereto, whether written or oral. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines
that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement and all other provisions shall remain in full force and
effect. The various covenants and provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable and to constitute independent and distinct
binding obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the scope of any covenant contained in this Agreement is too
broad to permit enforcement to its full extent, such covenant shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and Executive
hereby agrees that such scope may be judicially modified accordingly.
13. Withholding
of Taxes. Company may withhold from any amounts or other benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes
as may be required pursuant to any law, governmental regulation or ruling.
14. No
Assignment. Executive’s rights to receive payments or benefits under this Agreement shall not be assignable or transferable
whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than a transfer by will, by the laws of descent or distribution
or to a revocable living trust of Executive. In the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 14,
Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.
15. Successors.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Company, its successors and assigns (including any company into or with
which Company may merge or consolidate).
16. Survival.
The provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
17. Amendment;
Waivers. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by written agreement signed by Executive and Company. No waiver of
any provision or condition of this Agreement by any party shall be valid unless set forth in a writing signed by such party. No such
waiver shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or similar provision or condition, or of any future event, act, breach or default,
and no course of dealing shall be implied or arise from any waiver or series of waivers (written or otherwise) of any right or remedy
hereunder.
18. Joint
Participation. The parties hereto participated jointly in the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement, and each party has had
the opportunity to obtain the advice of legal counsel and to review and comment upon the Agreement. Accordingly, it is agreed that no
rule of construction shall apply against any party or in favor of any party. This Agreement shall be construed as if the parties
jointly prepared this Agreement, and any uncertainty or ambiguity shall not be interpreted against one party and in favor of the other.
19. No
Conflicting Agreement. Executive hereby represents and warrants to Company that he is not subject to any existing non- competition
or other restrictive agreements, clauses or arrangements, written or oral, that in any way prohibit or constrain in any material respect
his acceptance of and/or performance of duties pursuant to this Agreement, or that in any manner circumscribe the scope of activities
or other business that he is entitled to pursue and consummate on behalf of Company.
20. Construction;
Miscellaneous. Whenever used in this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa (where applicable), the use
of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall be deemed to include the other genders (unless the context otherwise requires), the
words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and other words
of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole (including exhibits), the words “include,” “includes” and
“including” means “include, without limitation,” “includes, without limitation” and “including,
without limitation,” respectively. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only, shall not be deemed to constitute
a part hereof, and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or in any way affect the construction or enforcement of the provisions
of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in any number of identical counterparts, any of which may contain the signatures of
less than all parties, and all of which together shall constitute a single agreement. All remedies of any party hereunder are cumulative
and not alternative, and are in addition to any other remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise.
[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
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COMPANY:
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LORDSTOWN MOTORS CORP.
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By:
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/s/
Daniel Ninivaggi
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Name:
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Daniel
Ninivaggi
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Its:
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Chief Executive Officer
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/s/
Adam Kroll
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Adam Kroll
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[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]
Exhibit 99.1
Lordstown Motors Appoints Adam B. Kroll as
Chief Financial Officer
LORDSTOWN, Ohio, October 13, 2021 (GLOBE
NEWSWIRE) -- Lordstown Motors Corp. (“Lordstown Motors” or “LMC”) (Nasdaq: RIDE) announced today that its Board of
Directors has elected Adam B. Kroll as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 25th,
2021. Mr. Kroll will replace Rebecca Roof, Interim Chief Financial Officer who will remain with the company in a transition role
through December 31, 2021.
Mr. Kroll brings to Lordstown Motors nearly twenty-five
years of financial, operational and capital markets experience. He previously served as an investment banker at JP Morgan focused on
the automotive industry where, during his tenure, he advised companies on over $125 billion in capital markets, loan and M&A transactions.
Mr. Kroll also has a strong operational and strategic background, having served as Chief Administrative Officer for Hyzon Motors, interim
Chief Financial Officer for UPG Enterprises and Senior Vice President of Finance for PSAV Holdings. Mr. Kroll has an MBA with honors
from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BBA from the University of Wisconsin.
“I am very pleased to welcome Adam to our
leadership team,” said Dan Ninivaggi, LMC’s Chief Executive Officer. “His deep understanding of the automotive industry
and experience in financial operations and strategy will have an immediate impact as we focus on bringing our Endurance pickup truck
to market and completing our recently announced partnership with Hon Hai Technology Group (“Foxconn”) (TWSE: 2317).”
“On behalf of our board of directors and
the Lordstown Motors team, I’d like to thank Becky Roof for her enormous contributions over the past several months as our Interim
Chief Financial Officer. Becky has not only strengthened our finance function but also has been instrumental in driving positive operational
changes.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the Lordstown
Motors team at this pivotal time,” said Kroll. “I look forward to working with Dan and the entire LMC team to bring the Endurance
to market, develop our strategic partnership with Foxconn and execute on the company’s other key priorities. I believe LMC is uniquely
positioned, with the team, the assets and focus to capitalize on the automotive industry’s transition to a better, greener future
with the Endurance and other vehicles to come.”
About
Lordstown Motors Corp.
Lordstown Motors is
an Ohio-based electric vehicle (EV) innovator developing high-quality light duty commercial fleet vehicles, with the Endurance all electric
pick-up truck as its first vehicle being launched in the Lordstown, Ohio facility. Lordstown Motors has engineering, research and development
facilities in Farmington Hills, Michigan and Irvine, California. For additional information visit www.lordstownmotors.com.