0001144204-13-038598.txt : 20130708 0001144204-13-038598.hdr.sgml : 20130708 20130708172112 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001144204-13-038598 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20130708 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20130708 GROUP MEMBERS: GLENCORE AG GROUP MEMBERS: GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL AG SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: POLYMET MINING CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000866028 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MISCELLANEOUS METAL ORES [1090] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A1 FISCAL YEAR END: 0131 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-82296 FILM NUMBER: 13958125 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: FIRST CANADIAN PLACE STREET 2: 100 KING STREET WEST, SUITE 5700 CITY: TORONTO STATE: A6 ZIP: M5X 1C7 BUSINESS PHONE: 416-915-4149 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: FIRST CANADIAN PLACE STREET 2: 100 KING STREET WEST, SUITE 5700 CITY: TORONTO STATE: A6 ZIP: M5X 1C7 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FLECK RESOURCES LTD DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950606 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Glencore Xstrata plc CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001521365 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 8880 [8880] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: Y9 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: BAARERMATTSTRASSE 3 STREET 2: P.O. BOX 777 CITY: BAAR STATE: V8 ZIP: CH-6341 BUSINESS PHONE: 41 41 709 2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: BAARERMATTSTRASSE 3 STREET 2: P.O. BOX 777 CITY: BAAR STATE: V8 ZIP: CH-6341 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL PLC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20110520 SC 13D/A 1 v349504_sc13da.htm FORM SC 13D/A

Page 1 of 18

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D/A

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 14)*

 

PolyMet Mining Corp.

 

 (Name of Issuer)

 

Common Shares, without par value

 

 (Title of Class of Securities)

 

731916102

 

 (CUSIP Number)

 

Stephen Rowland and Rajiv Singhal

Glencore International AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

CH-6341 Baar

Switzerland

+41 41 709 2000

 

With copies to:

 

Matias Vega, Esq.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10178

(212) 696-6000

 

 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

July 5, 2013

 

 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 
Page 2 of 18

 

CUSIP No. 731916102

 

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)

Glencore Xstrata plc
2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨
(b) ¨

 

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):

AF (see Item 3)

 

5

CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

 

6

CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Jersey

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
7

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

 

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

109,266,188

 

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

 

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

109,266,188

 

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

109,266,188

 

12

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

 

 

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

35.8%

 

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO; HC

 

 

 
Page 3 of 18

 

CUSIP No. 731916102

 

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)

Glencore International AG
2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨
(b) ¨

 

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):

WC (see Item 3)

 

5

CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

 

6

CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Switzerland

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
7

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

 

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

109,266,188

 

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

 

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

109,266,188

 

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

109,266,188

 

12

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

 

 

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

35.8%

 

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO; HC

 

 

 
Page 4 of 18

  

CUSIP No. 731916102

 

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)

Glencore AG
2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨
(b) ¨

 

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):

WC (see Item 3)

 

5

CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

 

6

CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Switzerland

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
7

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

 

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

109,266,188

 

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

 

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

109,266,188

 

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

109,266,188

 

12

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

 

 

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

35.8%

 

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

 

 

 
Page 5 of 18

 

Explanatory Note:

 

This Amendment No. 14 (this “Amendment No. 14”) amends and restates the Schedule 13D originally filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Glencore Holding AG, Glencore International AG and Glencore AG on November 10, 2008, and amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on December 24, 2008, Amendment No. 2 thereto filed on June 22, 2009, Amendment No. 3 thereto filed on September 4, 2009, Amendment No. 4 thereto filed on November 3, 2009, Amendment No. 5 thereto filed on November 23, 2009, Amendment No. 6 thereto filed on January 27, 2010, Amendment No. 7 thereto filed on November 15, 2010, Amendment No. 8 thereto filed on June 2, 2011 (which amendment removed Glencore Holding AG as a Reporting Person and added Glencore International plc (now known as Glencore Xstrata plc) as a Reporting Person), Amendment No. 9 thereto filed on July 15, 2011, Amendment No. 10 thereto filed on December 6, 2011, Amendment No. 11 thereto filed on October 16, 2012, Amendment No. 12 thereto filed on April 16, 2013 and Amendment No. 13 thereto filed on June 10, 2013 (as so amended, the “Statement”) relating to the common shares, no par value (“Common Shares”), of PolyMet Mining Corp., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada (the “Issuer”). This Amendment No. 14 reflects changes to Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Statement.

 

Item 1 Security and Issuer

 

This Schedule 13D relates to the common shares, without par value (the “Common Shares”), of PolyMet Mining Corp., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. The Issuer’s principal executive office is located at First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Suite 5700, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5X 1C7.

 

Item 2 Identity and Background

 

This Schedule 13D is being filed by (a) Glencore Xstrata plc (“Glencore plc”), (b) Glencore International AG (“Glencore International”) and (c) Glencore AG (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”). Glencore plc is a company organized under the laws of Jersey. Each of Glencore International and Glencore AG is a company organized under the laws of Switzerland.

 

Glencore plc is a public company with its ordinary shares listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Glencore plc is the parent company of Glencore International which, together with its subsidiaries, including Glencore AG, is a leading integrated producer and marketer of commodities, with worldwide activities in the marketing of metals and minerals, energy products and agricultural products and the production, refinement, processing, storage and transport of these products. Each of the Reporting Persons other than Glencore plc is a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore plc. Glencore AG is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore International.

 

The address of the principal business and office of each of the Reporting Persons is Baarermattstrasse 3, CH-6341 Baar, Switzerland.

 

The name, citizenship, occupation and principal business address of each director and executive officer of the Reporting Persons are listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Schedule 1 Persons”), which Schedule 1 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, or, to the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the Schedule 1 Persons, has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar misdemeanors) or (ii) party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

 
Page 6 of 18

 

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

 

On October 31, 2008, Glencore AG, the Issuer and the Issuer’s wholly owned subsidiary, Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Issuer Subsidiary”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “Original Purchase Agreement”), as amended by a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 1”), dated as of November 28, 2008, and as further amended by a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 2”), dated as of December 12, 2008, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 3”), dated as of December 19, 2008, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 4”), dated as of January 30, 2009, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 5”), dated as of February 24, 2009, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 6”), dated as of March 30, 2009, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 7”), dated as of April 28, 2009, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 8”), dated as of June 4, 2009, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 9”), dated as of August 31, 2009, a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 10”), dated as of October 20, 2009, and a letter agreement (“Amendment No. 11”), dated as of November 16, 2009 (the Original Purchase Agreement, as amended, the “Purchase Agreement”), which provided for, among other things, Glencore AG’s purchase of up to US$50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of floating rate secured debentures due September 30, 2011 issued by the Issuer Subsidiary (collectively, the “Debentures”).

 

The initial closing of the transactions contemplated by the Original Purchase Agreement occurred on October 31, 2008. At the initial closing, the Issuer Subsidiary issued to Glencore AG an initial tranche of US$7,500,000 of the Debentures (the “Tranche A Debenture”). Subsequently, the Issuer Subsidiary issued to Glencore AG a second tranche of US$7,500,000 of the Debentures (the “Tranche B Debenture”) on December 22, 2008, a third tranche of US$5,000,000 of the Debentures (the “Tranche C Debenture”) on June 17, 2009 and a fourth tranche of US$5,000,000 of the Debentures (the “Tranche D Debenture”) on August 31, 2009. The Original Purchase Agreement had also provided for a fifth tranche of US$25,000,000 of the Debentures (the “Tranche E Debenture”) to be issued to Glencore AG upon the satisfaction of additional closing conditions set forth in the Original Purchase Agreement.

 

The Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture bear interest at a rate equal to the 12-month US dollar LIBOR plus 4%. Interest is payable in cash or by increasing the principal amount of such Debentures. On or before September 30, 2009, the Issuer was able to elect in which form to make the interest payments; thereafter, Glencore AG may make such election. As of June 30, 2013, approximately US$6,114,881.53 of interest had been added to the principal amount of such Debentures. The Issuer has guaranteed the Issuer Subsidiary’s obligations under such Debentures pursuant to a Parent Guarantee (the “Parent Guarantee”), dated as of October 31, 2008. The Issuer Subsidiary’s obligations under such Debentures are secured by (i) the assets of the Issuer pursuant to a security agreement (the “Issuer Security Agreement”), dated as of October 31, 2008, between the Issuer and Glencore AG, (ii) the assets of the Issuer Subsidiary pursuant to a security agreement (the “Issuer Subsidiary Security Agreement”), dated as of October 31, 2008, between the Issuer Subsidiary and Glencore AG, and (iii) a security interest in the Issuer’s equity interest in the Issuer Subsidiary pursuant to a pledge agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”), dated as of October 31, 2008, between the Issuer and Glencore AG.

 

In connection with the Original Purchase Agreement, on October 31, 2008, the Issuer issued to Glencore AG an exchange warrant pursuant to which the Debentures were exchangeable into Common Shares at any time at an exchange rate of US$4.00 per Common Share for the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture, and an exchange rate of US$2.65 per Common Share for the Tranche E Debenture (the “Original Exchange Warrant”).

 

 
Page 7 of 18

 

In connection with the Original Purchase Agreement, on October 31, 2008, the Issuer issued to Glencore AG a purchase warrant entitling Glencore AG to purchase 6,250,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of US$3.00 per Common Share (the “2008 Purchase Warrant”).

 

Concurrently with the issuance of the Tranche A Debenture and the 2008 Purchase Warrant, the Issuer and Glencore AG entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “2008 Registration Rights Agreement”). The 2008 Registration Rights Agreement granted Glencore AG demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Original Exchange Warrant and/or exercise of the 2008 Purchase Warrant.

 

Pursuant to a subscription agreement, dated as of November 17, 2009, between Glencore AG and the Issuer (the “First 2009 Subscription Agreement”), Glencore AG acquired from the Issuer, on a private placement basis, 3,773,585 Common Shares for an aggregate purchase price of US$10,000,000.25 (or US$2.65 per Common Share). Pursuant to another subscription agreement, dated as of November 23, 2009, between Glencore AG and the Issuer (the “Second 2009 Subscription Agreement”), on January 26, 2010, Glencore AG acquired from the Issuer, on a private placement basis, 5,660,377 Common Shares for an aggregate purchase price of US$14,999,999.05 (or US$2.65 per Common Share).

 

On November 12, 2010, the Issuer, the Issuer Subsidiary and Glencore AG entered into an amendment and waiver agreement (the “2010 Amendment and Waiver”) pursuant to which the parties agreed, among other things, to:

 

·terminate and discharge the Issuer Subsidiary’s obligation to issue, and Glencore AG’s obligation to purchase, the Tranche E Debenture;

 

·extend the maturity date for each of the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture from September 30, 2011 to September 30, 2012;

 

·extend the expiration date of the Original Exchange Warrant from September 30, 2011 to September 30, 2012; and

 

·cancel the 2008 Purchase Warrant and cause the Issuer to issue to Glencore a new warrant to purchase up to 3,000,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of US$2.00 per share.

 

On November 12, 2010, as contemplated by the 2010 Amendment and Waiver, the Issuer issued to Glencore AG a purchase warrant entitling Glencore AG to purchase 3,000,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of US$2.00 per Common Share until December 31, 2015 (the “2010 Purchase Warrant”).

 

In accordance with the terms of the 2010 Amendment and Waiver, the Issuer and Glencore AG also entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010 (the “2010 Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Glencore AG (and any transferee of Common Shares to whom Glencore AG transfers its registration rights) was granted demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to all Common Shares held by Glencore AG, including any Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2010 Purchase Warrant and/or exercise of the Original Exchange Warrant. The 2010 Registration Rights Agreement provides that the Issuer must effect an unlimited number of demand registration rights if holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of such registrable securities demand the registration of Common Shares covering at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding amount of such registrable securities (or a lesser percent if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, would exceed US$5,000,000); provided, however, the Issuer is not obligated to effect (i) a registration covering the sale of Common Shares for an aggregate public offering price of less than US$5,000,000, (ii) more than two such registrations in any twelve-month period or (iii) any registration at a time when it is keeping three such registration statements effective.

 

 
Page 8 of 18

 

Concurrently, Glencore AG and the Issuer entered into a Subscription Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010 (the “2010 Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which Glencore AG agreed to purchase from the Issuer, on a private placement basis, an aggregate of 15,000,000 Common Shares for a purchase price of US$2.00 per Common Share in three separate tranches of 5,000,000 Common Shares each.

 

On January 17, 2011, pursuant to the first tranche of the 2010 Subscription Agreement, Glencore AG acquired from the Issuer, on a private placement basis, 5,000,000 Common Shares for an aggregate purchase price of US$10,000,000 (or US$2.00 per Common Share).

 

The Issuer’s board of directors waived applicable provisions of the Issuer’s amended and restated shareholder rights plan agreement with respect to Glencore AG’s purchase of the remaining second and third tranches of the 2010 Subscription Agreement.

 

On July 15, 2011, pursuant to the second tranche of the 2010 Subscription Agreement, Glencore AG acquired an additional 5,000,000 Common Shares from the Issuer for an aggregate purchase price of US$10,000,000 (or US$2.00 per Common Share). Concurrently, Glencore AG granted a waiver to the Issuer pursuant to which Glencore AG waived the application of certain covenants contained in the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture to the secured loan provided by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board to the Issuer Subsidiary that previously closed on June 28, 2011 (the “IRRRB Loan Waiver”).

 

On October 15, 2012, pursuant to the remaining third tranche of the 2010 Subscription Agreement, Glencore AG acquired an additional 5,000,000 Common Shares from the Issuer for an aggregate purchase price of US$10,000,000 (or US$2.00 per Common Share).

 

On July 15, 2011, Glencore AG acquired pursuant to a private transaction 9,200,547 Common Shares at a price of US$1.4233 per share. These shares were purchased from Cliffs Erie L.L.C. (“Cliffs”) in accordance with the Issuer’s right to arrange for a purchaser of the shares upon notice from Cliffs of its desire to sell the shares. The purchase was made pursuant to a share purchase agreement, which was previously filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Statement, and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

In connection with Glencore AG’s purchase from Cliffs, the Issuer’s board of directors waived applicable provisions of the Issuer’s amended and restated shareholder rights plan agreement with respect to Glencore AG becoming the beneficial owner of more than 20% of the outstanding voting shares of the Issuer as a result of the purchases described above.

 

On December 6, 2011, pursuant to a subscription agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, between Glencore AG and the Issuer (the “2011 Subscription Agreement”), Glencore AG acquired from the Issuer, on a private placement basis, an aggregate of 13,333,333 Common Shares and a warrant entitling Glencore AG to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,600,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of US$1.50 per Common Share until December 31, 2015 (the “2011 Purchase Warrant”) for an aggregate purchase price of US$19,999,999.50.

 

In connection with the 2011 Subscription Agreement, on December 6, 2011, an amendment and waiver agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, among the Issuer, the Issuer Subsidiary and Glencore AG (the “2011 Amendment and Waiver”), became effective and amended, among other things:

 

·each of the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture to extend the maturity date from September 30, 2012 to the earlier of (i) the date which is 10 business days after the date on which the Issuer and/or the Issuer Subsidiary has received all permits required to commence construction of the NorthMet mine and Erie Plant facilities in St. Louis County, Minnesota in a form reasonably acceptable to Glencore AG (the “NorthMet Project”) and the senior construction financing for the NorthMet Project is made available to the Issuer and/or the Issuer Subsidiary in a form reasonably acceptable to Glencore AG (collectively, the “Construction Prerequisites”) and (ii) September 30, 2014;

 

 
Page 9 of 18

 

·each of the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture to prohibit the Issuer from redeeming such Debentures prior to the Issuer and/or the Issuer Subsidiary satisfying the Construction Prerequisites; and

 

·the 2010 Purchase Warrant to reduce the exercise price from US$2.00 to US$1.50 per Common Share; and

 

·the 2010 Purchase Warrant to include a mandatory exercise feature if the 20-day volume weighted average price of the Common Shares is equal to or greater than 150% of the exercise price and the Issuer provides notice to Glencore AG that it has obtained the Construction Prerequisites.

 

In addition, pursuant to the 2011 Amendment and Waiver, on December 6, 2011, the Issuer issued to Glencore AG an amended and restated exchange warrant that amended and restated the Original Exchange Warrant (the “Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant”). Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant, the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture are exchangeable into Common Shares at an exchange rate of US$1.50 per Common Share for such Debentures at any time until the earlier of (i) the Issuer and/or the Issuer Subsidiary satisfying the Construction Prerequisites and (ii) September 30, 2014. The Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant further provides that the Issuer may, within 10 business days after the date on which the Issuer and/or the Issuer Subsidiary has satisfied the Construction Prerequisites, deliver a notice to Glencore AG requiring Glencore AG to exercise the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant.

 

In addition, in connection with the 2011 Subscription Agreement and the 2011 Amendment and Waiver, on November 30, 2011, the Issuer and Glencore AG entered into a registration rights agreement and amendment to existing registration rights agreement (the “2011 Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) Glencore AG (and any transferee of Common Shares to whom Glencore AG transfers its registration rights) was granted demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the Common Shares issued under the 2011 Subscription Agreement and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2011 Purchase Warrant and (ii) the 2010 Registration Rights Agreement was amended so that the registrable securities covered by the 2010 Registration Rights Agreement include the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2010 Purchase Warrant, as amended by the 2011 Amendment and Waiver, and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant.

 

The Issuer’s board of directors waived applicable provisions of the Issuer’s amended and restated shareholder rights plan agreement with respect to the transactions contemplated by the 2011 Subscription Agreement and the 2011 Amendment and Waiver.

 

On April 11, 2013, Glencore AG loaned US$20 million to the Issuer Subsidiary through the purchase of an amended Tranche E Debenture from the Issuer Subsidiary (as amended, the “Amended Tranche E Debenture”) pursuant to an amendment to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2013 (the “Amendment No. 14 to Purchase Agreement”), among the Issuer, the Issuer Subsidiary and Glencore AG. The Amended Tranche E Debenture had a maturity date of May 1, 2014, subject to mandatory repayment upon closing of the Rights Offering and carried a fixed interest rate of 4.721% per annum. Pursuant to a confirmation of secured obligations agreement (the “Confirmation of Secured Obligations Agreement”), dated as of April 10, 2013, among the Issuer Subsidiary, the Issuer and Glencore AG, the parties had confirmed that the Issuer Subsidiary’s obligations under the Amended Tranche E Debenture were guaranteed by the Issuer and secured by the assets of the Issuer and the Issuer Subsidiary on the same terms as the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture. On July 5, 2013, the Amended Tranche E Debenture was fully repaid with proceeds from the Rights Offering (as described below).

 

 
Page 10 of 18

 

On July 5, 2013, at the closing of an offering of rights (“Rights”) by the Issuer to holders of Common Shares to raise up to approximately US$60.5 million in gross proceeds (the “Rights Offering”) contemplated by a standby purchase agreement, dated as of April 10, 2013, between Glencore AG and the Issuer (the “Standby Purchase Agreement”), Glencore AG acquired from the Issuer 31,756,979 Common Shares for an aggregate purchase price of US$20,959,606.14 (or US$0.66 per Common Share), of which 23,483,921 Common Shares were acquired by Glencore AG pursuant to the exercise of its basic subscription privilege under the Rights Offering and 8,273,058 Common Shares of which were acquired by Glencore AG pursuant to the exercise of its additional subscription privilege under the Rights Offering. In consideration for Glencore AG’s agreement to provide a standby commitment for the Rights Offering pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, Glencore AG received a cash fee of approximately US$1.06 million at the closing of the Rights Offering. In addition, on July 5, 2013, at the closing of the Rights Offering, the Issuer and Glencore AG entered into (i) a corporate governance agreement (the “Corporate Governance Agreement”) under which, effective January 1, 2014, Glencore AG may appoint that number of the directors of the Issuer which is proportionate to Glencore AG’s ownership of Common Shares (on a fully diluted basis), subject to certain limitations including that Glencore AG may not appoint more than 49% (rounding down) of the Issuer’s directors and (ii) a registration rights agreement (the “2013 Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which Glencore AG (and any transferee of Common Shares to whom Glencore AG transfers its registration rights) was granted demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to all Common Shares acquired by Glencore AG pursuant to the Rights Offering.

 

Glencore AG waived its right of first refusal on material financings by the Issuer contained in the 2010 Subscription Agreement with respect to the Rights Offering. In addition, the Issuer’s board of directors waived applicable provisions of the Issuer’s amended and restated shareholder rights plan agreement with respect to Glencore AG in connection with (i) the issuance of the Rights and Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights under the Rights Offering and (ii) the Standby Purchase Agreement.

 

At the closing of the Rights Offering, as a result of the Rights Offering’s triggering of customary anti-dilution provisions: (i) the exchange rate at which the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture and the Tranche D Debenture are exchangeable pursuant to the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant was reduced from US$1.50 to US$1.29 per Common Share, (ii) the exercise prices for the 2010 Purchase Warrant and the 2011 Purchase Warrant were reduced from US$1.50 to US$1.30 per Common Share and (iii) the number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2010 Purchase Warrant and the 2011 Purchase Warrant were increased to 3,459,643 Common Shares and 2,998,358 Common Shares, respectively.

 

The foregoing summaries of the Original Purchase Agreement, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 4, Amendment No. 5, Amendment No. 6, Amendment No. 7, Amendment No. 8, Amendment No. 9, Amendment No. 10, Amendment No. 11, the Tranche A Debenture, the Tranche B Debenture, the Tranche C Debenture, the Tranche D Debenture, the Parent Guarantee, the Issuer Security Agreement, the Issuer Subsidiary Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Original Exchange Warrant, the 2008 Purchase Warrant, the 2008 Registration Rights Agreement, the First 2009 Subscription Agreement, the Second 2009 Subscription Agreement, the 2010 Amendment and Waiver, the 2010 Purchase Warrant, the 2010 Registration Rights Agreement, the 2010 Subscription Agreement, the IRRRB Loan Waiver, the 2011 Subscription Agreement, the 2011 Purchase Warrant, the 2011 Amendment and Waiver, the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant, the 2011 Registration Rights Agreement, the Amended Tranche E Debenture, the Amendment No. 14 to Purchase Agreement, the Confirmation of Secured Obligations Agreement and the Standby Purchase Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreements, which were previously filed with the SEC as exhibits to the Statement, and are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summaries of the Corporate Governance Agreement and the 2013 Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreements, which have been attached as Exhibits 99.42 and 99.43, respectively, to this Amendment No. 14 and are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

 
Page 11 of 18

 

The source of funds for all of the purchases described above was working capital of the Reporting Persons. The Reporting Persons anticipate that the source of funds for any exercises of the 2010 Purchase Warrant and/or the 2011 Purchase Warrant will be working capital of the Reporting Persons.

 

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction

 

The Reporting Persons acquired the securities of the Issuer covered by this Schedule 13D for investment purposes. The Reporting Persons intend to continue to evaluate the Issuer’s business, financial condition, results of operations, capital structure, management, stock market performance, competitive outlook and other relevant factors. As part of such evaluations, the Reporting Persons may seek the views of, hold discussions with and respond to inquiries from representatives of the Issuer and other persons regarding the Issuer’s affairs. Depending on such evaluations, each Reporting Person may at any time and from time to time acquire Common Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable for Common Shares; dispose of Common Shares which it has acquired; and/or enter into privately negotiated derivative transactions with institutional counterparts to hedge the market risk of some or all of the positions in the Common Shares which it has acquired. Any acquisition or disposition of Common Shares by the Reporting Persons may be effected though open market or privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. Any such transactions may be effected at any time and from time to time subject to any applicable limitations of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In the interest of maximizing shareholder value, the Reporting Persons may, from time to time, develop plans respecting, or propose changes in the management, policies, operations, capital structure or business of the Reporting Persons. Such plans or proposals may include or relate to one or more of the transactions specified in Items 4(a) through (j) of Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-1(a), including without limitation, a merger, disposition, sale of the Issuer’s assets or changes in the Issuer’s capitalization. Each Reporting Person reserves the right to change its plans and intentions at any time, as it deems appropriate.

 

Stephen Rowland, who is an employee of Glencore AG, is a member of the Issuer’s board of directors and currently serves on the Issuer’s audit and compensation committees. Pierre Vix, who is an employee of Glencore AG, is a member of the Issuer’s Technical Steering Committee.

 

As described in Item 3 of the Statement, on July 5, 2013, the Issuer and Glencore AG entered into the Corporate Governance Agreement under which, effective January 1, 2014, Glencore AG may appoint that number of the directors of the Issuer which is proportionate to Glencore AG’s ownership of Common Shares (on a fully diluted basis), subject to certain limitations including that Glencore AG may not appoint more than 49% (rounding down) of the Issuer’s directors.

 

Except as described herein, neither the Reporting Persons, nor, to the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the Schedule 1 Persons has any present plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions described in Items 4(a) through (j) of Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-1(a). To the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the Schedule 1 Persons may make the same evaluation and reserve the same rights.

 

 
Page 12 of 18

 

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

(a) and (b)

 

The Reporting Persons collectively own, directly or indirectly, 78,724,821 Common Shares. However, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to collectively have direct or indirect “beneficial ownership” within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of (i) an additional 24,083,366 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant, (ii) an additional 3,459,643 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2010 Purchase Warrant and (iii) an additional 2,998,358 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2011 Purchase Warrant. Accordingly, each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 109,266,188 Common Shares, representing 35.8% of the Issuer’s issued and outstanding Common Shares. This beneficial ownership percentage assumes that there are 305,469,973 Common Shares outstanding, which was calculated based on the sum of (i) 274,928,606 Common Shares as reported by the Issuer in its news release dated July 5, 2013 included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Issuer’s Report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on July 5, 2013, (ii) the 24,083,366 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant, (iii) the 3,459,643 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2010 Purchase Warrant and (iv) the 2,998,358 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the 2011 Purchase Warrant. The Reporting Persons share the power to vote or to direct the vote and dispose or to direct the disposition of the 109,266,188 Common Shares set forth above.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Item 3 and this Item 5 of the Statement, none of the Reporting Persons nor, to the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the Schedule 1 Persons, has beneficial ownership of any other Common Shares, or has engaged in any other transaction during the past 60 days in any Common Shares.

 

On March 8, 2012, Mr. Stephen Rowland, who is a member of the Issuer’s board of directors and an employee of Glencore AG, was granted by the Issuer an option to purchase 250,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of US$1.19 per Common Share, for a term expiring on March 8, 2019.

 

(d) Not applicable.

(e) Not applicable.

 

Item 6 Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

 

Except as set forth in Item 3 of the Statement, to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, there are no other contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among the persons named in Item 2 or between such persons and any other person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the securities of the Issuer, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies, or a pledge or contingency the occurrence of which would give another person voting power over the securities of the Issuer.

 

 
Page 13 of 18

 

Item 7 Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1   Joint Filing Agreement, dated July 8, 2013, between Glencore Xstrata plc, Glencore International AG and Glencore AG relating to the filing of a joint statement on Schedule 13D.
99.2   Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.2 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.3   Floating Rate Secured Debenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.3 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.4   Parent Guarantee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.4 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.5   Security Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.5 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.6   Security Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.6 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.7   Pledge Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.7 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.8   Exchange Warrant of PolyMet Mining Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.8 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.9   Purchase Warrant of PolyMet Mining Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.9 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.10   Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.10 to the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 10, 2008).
99.11   Amendment No. 1 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.11 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 24, 2008).
99.12   Amendment No. 2 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.12 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 24, 2008).
99.13   Amendment No. 3 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.13 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 24, 2008).
99.14   Floating Rate Secured Debenture, due September 30, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.14 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 24, 2008).
99.15   Amendment No. 4 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.15 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).
99.16   Amendment No. 5 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.16 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).
99.17   Amendment No. 6 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.17 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).
99.18   Amendment No. 7 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.18 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).
99.19   Amendment No. 8 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.19 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).

 

 
Page 14 of 18

 

 

99.20   Floating Rate Secured Debenture, due September 30, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.20 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).
99.21   Amendment No. 9 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.21 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009).
99.22   Floating Rate Secured Debenture, due September 30, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.22 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009).
99.23   Amendment No. 10 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.23 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 3, 2009).
99.24   Amendment No. 11 relating to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.24 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 23, 2009).
99.25   Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.25 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 23, 2009).
99.26   Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.26 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 23, 2009).
99.27   Amendment and Waiver Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.27 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 15, 2010).
99.28   Non-Transferable Common Share Purchase Warrant of PolyMet Mining Corp., dated November 12, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.28 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 15, 2010).
99.29   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.29 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 15, 2010).
99.30   Subscription Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.30 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 15, 2010).
99.31   Waiver, dated as of July 14, 2011, from Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 31 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on July 15, 2011).
99.32   Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2011, by and between Cliffs Erie L.L.C. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 32 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on July 15, 2011).
99.33   Subscription Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.33 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 6, 2011).

 

 
Page 15 of 18

 

 

99.34   Non-Transferable Common Share Purchase Warrant of PolyMet Mining Corp., dated December 6, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.34 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 6, 2011).
99.35   Amendment and Waiver Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.35 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 6, 2011).
99.36   Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant of PolyMet Mining Corp (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.36 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 6, 2011).
99.37   Registration Rights Agreement and Amendment to Existing Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.37 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 6, 2011).
99.38   Standby Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2013, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.38 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on April 16, 2013).
99.39   Amendment No. 14 Relating to Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2013, by and among PolyMet Mining Corp., Poly Met Mining, Inc. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.39 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on April 16, 2013).
99.40   Fixed Rate Secured Debenture, due no later than May 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.40 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on April 16, 2013).
99.41   Confirmation of Secured Obligations Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2013, by Poly Met Mining, Inc., PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.41 to the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on April 16, 2013).
99.42   Corporate Governance Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2013, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG.
99.43   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2013, by and between PolyMet Mining Corp. and Glencore AG.

 

 
Page 16 of 18

 

Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Date: July 8, 2013

  

  Glencore AG  
       
  By: /s/ Andreas Hubmann  
  Name: Andreas Hubmann  
  Title: Director  
       
  By: /s/ Barbara Bodmer  
  Name: Barbara Bodmer  
  Title: Officer  

 

  Glencore International AG  
     
  By: /s/ Andreas Hubmann  
  Name: Andreas Hubmann  
  Title: Director  
       
  By: /s/ Martin Haering  
  Name: Martin Haering  
  Title: Officer  

 

  Glencore Xstrata plc  
     
  By: /s/ John Burton  
  Name: John Burton  
  Title: Company Secretary  

 

 
Page 17 of 18

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Set forth below are the names, business addresses and present principal occupations of the directors and executive officers of Glencore Xstrata plc, Glencore International AG and Glencore AG. Each executive officer of each of Glencore International AG and Glencore AG is also a director of such company. Where no business address is given for an executive officer or director, and such director’s principal employer is Glencore Xstrata plc or one of its subsidiaries, the business address is Baarermattstrasse 3, CH-6341, Baar, Switzerland. To the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of the persons listed below beneficially owns any shares of Common Shares.

 

Directors of Glencore Xstrata plc:

 

Name   Principal Occupation   Business address   Share Ownership

Ivan Glasenberg (Citizen of Australia)

 

  Chief Executive Officer         

Anthony Hayward

(Citizen of the United Kingdom)

  Interim Chairman  

Genel Energy

31 St. James’s Place

London SW1A 1NR

United Kingdom

    

Peter Coates

(Citizen of Australia)

  Executive Director   Level 38, The Gateway Building, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, Australia    

Leonhard Fischer

(Citizen of Germany)

  Chief Executive Officer, RHJ International S.A.  

RHJ International

Bahnhofstrasse 69a

Zuerich 8001

Switzerland

   

Peter Grauer

(Citizen of USA)

 

Executive Chairman

Bloomberg LP

 

731 Lexington Avenue, New York

10022, USA

   

William Macaulay

(Citizen of USA)

  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, First Reserve Corporation  

First Reserve Corporation

One Lafayette Place

Greenwich,

CT 06830

USA

   

John Mack

(Citizen of USA)

  Senior advisor to Morgan Stanley  

6 Club Road, Rye, New York 10580,

USA

   

 

 

Executive Officers of Glencore Xstrata plc:

 

Name   Principal Occupation   Business address   Share Ownership
Ivan Glasenberg (Citizen of Australia)   Chief Executive Officer         

Steven Kalmin

(Citizen of Australia)

  Chief Financial Officer         

John Burton

(Citizen of the United Kingdom)

  Company Secretary        

Peter Coates

(Citizen of Australia)

  Executive Director   Level 38, The Gateway Building, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, Australia    

 

 

 
Page 18 of 18

 

 

Directors of Glencore International AG:

 

Name   Principal Occupation   Business address   Share Ownership
Ivan Glasenberg (Citizen of Australia)   Chief Executive Officer         

Steven Kalmin

(Citizen of Australia)

  Chief Financial Officer        

Andreas P. Hubmann

(Citizen of Switzerland)

  Accountant        

 

 

Directors of Glencore AG:

 

Name   Principal Occupation   Business address   Share Ownership
Ivan Glasenberg (Citizen of Australia)   Chief Executive Officer         
Steven F. Kalmin (Citizen of Australia)   Chief Financial Officer         
Andreas P. Hubmann (Citizen of Switzerland)   Accountant         
Aristotelis Mistakidis (Citizen of the United Kingdom)   Co-director zinc/copper/lead         

 

 

 

EX-99.1 2 v349504_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

Each of the undersigned hereby agrees that this Amendment No. 14 to the statement on Schedule 13D is being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of each of the undersigned pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Dated: July 8, 2013

 

  Glencore AG  
       
  By: /s/ Andreas Hubmann  
  Name: Andreas Hubmann  
  Title: Director  
       
  By: /s/ Barbara Bodmer  
  Name: Barbara Bodmer  
  Title: Officer  

 

  Glencore International AG  
     
  By: /s/ Andreas Hubmann  
  Name: Andreas Hubmann  
  Title: Director  
       
  By: /s/ Martin Haering  
  Name: Martin Haering  
  Title: Officer  

 

  Glencore Xstrata plc  
     
  By: /s/ John Burton  
  Name: John Burton  
  Title: Company Secretary  

 

 

EX-99.42 3 v349504_ex99-42.htm EXHIBIT 99.42

 

Exhibit 99.42

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT

 

DATED the 5th day of July, 2013.

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.PolyMet Mining Corp. (the "Company") and Glencore AG ("Glencore") are party to a standby purchase agreement dated April 10, 2013 (the "Standby Purchase Agreement").

 

B.Pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, Glencore has agreed to provide a partial standby commitment in respect of an offering by the Company of rights (the "Rights Offering") to holders of the Company's common shares.

 

C.PolyMet has granted to Glencore certain rights in respect of the ongoing corporate governance of the Company, including rights to nominate directors of the Company.

 

D.Pursuant to Section 4.3.3 of the Standby Purchase Agreement, the Parties have agreed to enter into this Corporate Governance Agreement to set out the terms and conditions of the ongoing corporate governance arrangements between Glencore and the Company.

 

NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows.

 

1.All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Standby Purchase Agreement.

 

2.The Company hereby covenants and agrees:

 

(a)at the relevant time, as long as the number of issued and outstanding Shares held by Glencore (on a fully diluted basis) relative to all the issued and outstanding Shares (on a fully diluted basis) is at least 10%, Glencore shall have the right but not the obligation to designate that number of Glencore Nominees that is the greater of:

 

(i)one; and

 

(ii)the number of the directors of the Company out of the total number of directors of the Company which is proportionate to Glencore's holdings of issued and outstanding Shares (on a fully diluted basis) relative to all the issued and outstanding Shares (on a fully diluted basis), provided that if the foregoing calculation does not result in a whole number, the number of Glencore Nominees which Glencore is entitled to designate will be rounded down to the nearest whole number;

 

(b)to take all such actions to appoint the Glencore Nominees to the Board as soon as reasonably practicable following notice of Glencore’s request to appoint the Glencore Nominees, which, for the avoidance of doubt, such actions may include increasing the number of directors on the Board or procuring the resignation of members of the Board at the time of appointing the Glencore Nominees.

 

(c)to mail to Shareholders in accordance with applicable corporate and Securities Laws, a management proxy circular in which the Board will:

 

(i)nominate all of the Glencore Nominees for election at the Company’s annual general meetings held after the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Standby Purchase Agreement where directors are elected (and every such Company meeting thereafter) following the Rights Offering Closing Date ("Company AGM"); and

 

1
 

 

(ii)make a written recommendation to Shareholders in favour of the election of all of the Glencore Nominees;

 

(d)to solicit proxies for the Company AGM in favour of Shareholder approval of the election of all of the Glencore Nominees;

 

(e)to notify Glencore in advance of any meeting of shareholders of PolyMet to be called by PolyMet after the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, of the intention of PolyMet to include the election of directors of PolyMet as business to be conducted at such meeting in sufficient time for Glencore to designate the Glencore Nominees to be included in the proxy circular for such meeting and the Company agrees to include such individuals so designated by Glencore among managements nominees as directors of the Company at such meeting; and

 

(f)that if any individual nominated or designated by Glencore as aforesaid as a director of PolyMet and elected or appointed as a director of PolyMet should resign, other than at an annual general meeting of shareholders of PolyMet, then Glencore shall be entitled to designate another individual as a director of PolyMet in place of the individual who so resigned;

 

3.Glencore hereby covenants and agrees:

 

(a)to nominate or designate as a director of PolyMet only individuals who are qualified to serve as a director of PolyMet under applicable Law (notwithstanding that such individual may not be "independent" under Securities Laws);

 

(b)that notwithstanding anything in this Corporate Governance Agreement, Glencore shall not be entitled to nominate greater than 49% (rounding down) of the directors to the Board; and

 

(c)that it does not intend to exercise its rights under this Agreement any earlier than January 1, 2014.

 

4.Subject to Section 3(b) of this Corporate Governance Agreement, all rights previously granted by PolyMet to Glencore to appoint directors to the Board remain in full force and effect unamended by this Agreement.

 

5.This agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein. Each of the parties hereto hereby attorn to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of British Columbia.

 

6.No supplement, modification, amendment, waiver, discharge or termination of this agreement is binding unless it is executed in writing by each of the parties to this agreement. No waiver of, failure to exercise or delay in exercising any provision of this agreement constitutes a waiver of any other provision (whether or not similar) nor does such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

 

7.This agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which will be considered one and the same agreement, and will become effective when one or more counterparts will have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this agreement by facsimile or transmitted electronically shall be equally effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 
 

 

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

 

  POLYMET MINING CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Douglas Newby
  Name: Douglas Newby
  Title: CFO
     
  GLENCORE AG
     
  By: /s/ Andreas Hubmann
  Name: Andreas Hubmann
  Title: Director
     
  By: /s/ Martin Haering
  Name: Martin Haering
  Title: Officer

 

 

 

EX-99.43 4 v349504_ex99-43.htm EXHIBIT 99.43

 

Exhibit 99.43

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of this 5th day of July, 2013, by and among POLYMET MINING CORP., a corporation incorporated under the laws of British Columbia (including its successors, the "Company"), and GLENCORE AG, a corporation existing under the laws of Switzerland ("Glencore").

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Definitions.

 

"2010 Warrant" shall mean the warrant to purchase 3,000,000 Common Shares issued by the Company to Glencore on November 12, 2010, as such warrant may be amended, restated and/or modified from time to time.

 

"2011 Warrant" shall mean the warrant to purchase 2,600,000 Common Shares issued by the Company to Glencore on December 6, 2011, as such warrant may be amended, restated and/or modified from time to time.

 

"Applicable Canadian Securities Laws" shall mean the securities laws of the relevant provinces and territories of Canada, as the context dictates, and the respective rules and regulations under such laws, together with applicable published policy statements, instruments, companion policies, blanket orders, blanket rulings and applicable notices of or administered by the relevant Canadian securities regulatory authorities and applicable discretionary blanket rulings or blanket orders issued by the relevant Canadian securities regulatory authorities pursuant to such laws, rules and regulations, all as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

"Availability Date" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(m).

 

"Business Day" shall mean a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Vancouver, British Columbia are authorized or required by law to close.

 

"Canadian Prospectus" shall mean any prospectus of the Company filed with the Principal Regulator under the Applicable Canadian Securities Laws qualifying the Registrable Securities, and shall include all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference (or deemed to be incorporated by reference) therein.

 

"Claims" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6(a).

 

"Common Shares" shall mean the Company’s common shares, no par value, or any class or classes resulting from any recapitalization, reorganization, or reclassification thereof.

 

"Exchange Warrant" shall mean the exchange warrant to purchase Common Shares issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2008, among the Company, Poly Met Mining, Inc. and Glencore, as amended, as such exchange warrant may be amended, restated and/or modified from time to time (including as amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Exchange Warrant issued by the Company on December 6, 2011).

 

 
 

 

"Grace Period" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(e)(ii).

 

"Initiating Purchasers" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(a)(i).

 

"MJDS" shall mean the U.S. Multi-Jurisdictional Disclosure System adopted by the SEC.

 

"Principal Regulator" shall mean (i) if the Prospectus is to be qualified in more than one province and/or territory in Canada, the Canadian securities regulator designated by the Company as its principal regulator pursuant to National Policy 11-102 – Process for Prospectus Review in Multiple Jurisdictions, and (ii) if the Prospectus is to be qualified in only one province of Canada, the securities regulator with respect to such province.

 

"Prospectus" shall mean (i) the Canadian Prospectus, and (ii) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities or amendment covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

"Purchasers" shall mean Glencore and any subsequent holder of any Registrable Securities as a result of a transfer of such securities.

 

"Register," "registered" and "registration" refer to (i) a registration made by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the 1933 Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of, or the effectiveness upon filing of, such registration statement; and (ii) the filing of the Canadian Prospectus for the purposes of qualifying the Registrable Securities under the Applicable Canadian Securities Laws for distribution in any or all of the provinces or territories of Canada.

 

"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Shares, including any Common Shares issued or issuable upon any distribution with respect to, or any exchange for or any replacement of, the Shares (including, in each case, any Common Shares issued or issuable thereon upon any stock split, stock combination, stock dividend or the like or as a result of any anti-dilution adjustments), upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, and associated related rights, if any, until, in the case of any such security, the earliest of (i) the date such security has been sold to the public either pursuant to a registration statement or Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, (ii) the date such security has been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned, (iii) the date on which such security may be resold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(b)(1) under the 1933 Act, or (iv) the date on which such security ceases to be outstanding.

 

"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(d).

  

"Registration Period" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(b).

 

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"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the Company filed under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including any post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

"Rights Offering" means the Company's offering of rights to subscribe for up to 91,636,202 Common Shares at a price of US$0.66 per common share as contemplated by the final prospectus dated May 23, 2013 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario in Canada and forming a part of the Company’s registration statement on Form F-10 (File No. 333-187853), as amended, filed with the SEC.

 

"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

"SEC" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

"SEC Comments" means written comments pertaining solely to Rule 415 which are received by the Company from the SEC, and a copy of which shall have been provided by the Company to the Purchasers, to a filed Registration Statement which require the Company to limit the amount of Registrable Securities which may be included therein to a number of Registrable Securities, which is less than such amount sought to be included thereon as filed with the SEC.

 

"Shares" means, the Common Shares issued or to be issued to Glencore pursuant to the Rights Offering and the Standby Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2013, between the Company and Glencore.

 

"Violations" shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6(a).

 

"1933 Act" means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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

 

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2.Registration.

 

(a)          Demand Registration.

 

(i)          If at any time following the date hereof, and subject to the conditions of this Section 2, the Company shall receive a written request from Purchasers holding at least fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities (the "Initiating Purchasers") that the Company file a registration statement under the 1933 Act or effect a registration for a public offering in the United States and/or in a jurisdiction or jurisdictions of Canada, covering the registration of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (or a lesser percent if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, would exceed US$5,000,000), then the Company shall, promptly, and in any event within twenty (20) days of the receipt thereof, give written notice of such request to all Purchasers, and subject to the limitations of this Section 2, use its reasonable best efforts to effect, as expeditiously as practicable, the registration under the 1933 Act or the Applicable Canadian Securities Laws of all Registrable Securities that the Purchasers request to be registered. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416) or the Applicable Canadian Securities Laws, such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Shares resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(d) to the Purchasers and their counsel prior to its filing. The Company must effect an unlimited number of registrations pursuant to this Section 2(a), provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect (A) a registration covering the sale of Registrable Securities for an aggregate public offering price of less than US$5,000,000, (B) more than two (2) such registrations in any 12-month period, or (C) any registration at a time when it is keeping three (3) such registrations effective.

 

(A)         For so long as the Company is eligible to use a Form F-3 or Form S-3 registration statement, as applicable, or any successor form, and upon the written request of the Initiating Purchasers: (1) the Registration Statement prepared by the Company shall be filed on Form F-3 or Form S-3, as applicable, and shall cover the resale of all or such maximum portion of the Registrable Securities as would be permitted to be registered by the SEC for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415, (2) the Prospectus shall contain (except if otherwise directed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Purchasers or otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the SEC upon a review of such Registration Statement) the "Plan of Distribution" section in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and (3) the Company shall file any prospectus supplement (as required by Rule 430B) pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) under the 1933 Act as may be required in order for such Registration Statement to be used by each Purchaser for the resale of its Registrable Securities.

 

(ii)         The Company shall not identify any Purchaser as an underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus filed pursuant to this Agreement without the prior written consent of such Purchaser. The Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of any Purchaser in a Registration Statement if, in the event that the SEC requires a Holder to be named as an underwriter in a Registration Statement, such Holder fails to furnish to the Company its consent.

 

(iii)        If the Initiating Purchasers intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwritten public offering, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2(a) and the Company shall include such information in the written notice referred to in Section 2(a)(i). In such event, the right of any Purchaser to include such Purchaser’s Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Purchaser’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Purchaser’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Purchasers proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting and the Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement, in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority in interest of the Initiating Purchasers (which underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company).

 

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(iv)        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2(a), if the underwriter advises the Company that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten (including Registrable Securities) then the Company shall so advise all Purchasers of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated to the Purchasers that requested to have Registrable Securities registered (including the Initiating Purchasers) pro rata by reference to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered by a given Purchaser and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such Registration Statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from the registration.

 

(v)         Provided that the Company is eligible to file under MJDS, (A) the Company shall file a Prospectus with the Principal Regulator in such form as required under the applicable securities laws of the relevant Canadian provinces and territories, and (B) any registration statement filed pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be filed on Form F-10. The Initiating Purchasers shall as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2(a) state whether the Registrable Securities shall be offered in one or more provinces and/or territories of Canada and specify such provinces and/or territories.

 

If Form F-10 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (x) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form F-3 or another appropriate form of registration statement reasonably acceptable to the Initiating Purchasers and (y) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form F-10 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain, subject to applicable Grace Periods (as hereinafter defined) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form F-10 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC or becomes effective upon filing with the SEC.

 

(vi)        The Company shall not be required to effect a registration or, in the circumstances contemplated in (y) below, a prospectus qualification pursuant to this Section 2(a): (x) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration; provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; or (y) if the Company shall furnish to the Initiating Purchasers a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith and reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected or such Prospectus to be qualified at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Purchasers; provided that such right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in any twelve (12) month period.

 

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(vii)       The Company may include in any resale registration other securities for sale for the account of any other person to whom registration rights have been granted. Additionally, the Company may include in any registration that involves an underwritten offering other securities for its own account or for the account of any other person to whom registration rights have been granted; provided that, if the underwriter for the offering shall determine that the number of shares proposed to be offered in such offering would be reasonably likely to adversely affect such offering, then all of the Registrable Securities to be sold by the Purchasers shall be included in such registration before any securities proposed to be sold for the account of the Company or any other person. The inclusion in any registration pursuant to this subsection (vii) of any securities of the Company or any other person shall be conditional upon the acceptance by the Company or any such other person of the application provisions of this Agreement.

 

(b)          Piggyback Registration.

 

(i)          The Company shall notify all Purchasers in writing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the filing of any registration statement under the 1933 Act or Canadian Prospectus for purposes of a public offering of securities of the Company (whether in connection with a public offering of securities by the Company, a public offering of securities by shareholders of the Company, or both, but excluding a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, or a registration relating to a corporate reorganization or other transaction, or a registration on any registration form that does not permit secondary sales). Each Purchaser desiring to include in any such registration statement or Canadian Prospectus all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by such Purchaser shall, within ten (10) days after receipt of the above-described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to include in such registration statement or prospectus all of the Registrable Securities specified in such notice or notices. Such notice shall state the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Purchaser as set forth herein. If a Purchaser decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement or Canadian Prospectus thereafter filed by the Company, such Purchaser shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement, registration statements, Canadian Prospectus or Canadian Prospectuses as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

(ii)         Underwriting. If the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus under which the Company gives notice under this Section 2(b) is for an underwritten offering, the Company shall so advise the Purchasers as part of the notice given pursuant to Section 2(b)(i). In such event, the right of any such Purchaser to be included in a registration or prospectus qualification pursuant to this Section 2(b) shall be conditioned upon such Purchaser’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Purchaser’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Purchasers proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement, together with the Company and any other security holders participating in that registration, in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2(b), if the underwriter determines in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated first to the Company; second, to all Purchasers who are entitled to participate and who have elected to participate in the offering pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, pro rata by reference to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered by a given Purchaser and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus; and third, to any other security holders of the Company participating in that registration on a pro rata basis.

 

If any Purchaser disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Purchaser may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter or underwriters, delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement or the filing of the final Canadian Prospectus, as applicable. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration or prospectus qualification. If any Registrable Securities so withdrawn from the registration or prospectus qualification and if the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration or prospectus qualification was previously reduced as a result of marketing factors, the Company shall then promptly offer to all Purchasers who have retained the right to include Registrable Securities in the registration or prospectus qualification the right to include additional securities in the registration or prospectus qualification in an aggregate amount equal to the number of shares so withdrawn, with such shares to be allocated pro rata among the Purchasers requesting additional inclusion.

 

(iii)        Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration or prospectus qualification initiated by it under this Section 2(b) prior to the effectiveness of such registration or final approval of such prospectus qualification whether or not any Purchaser has elected to include securities in such registration or prospectus qualification. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration or prospectus qualification shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof.

 

(c)          SEC Comments. If the Company receives SEC Comments to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), as applicable, the Company shall be obligated to use its diligent efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Registration Statement in accordance with applicable SEC guidance, including without limitation, Section 612.09 of the Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance with respect Rule 415, dated January 26, 2009. If it is determined by the Company that all of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Registration Statement cannot be included due to the SEC Comments, then the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file as expeditiously as practicable, such number of additional Registration Statements as may be necessary in order to ensure that all Registrable Securities are covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement. Any cutbacks of Registrable Securities from a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), as applicable, due to SEC Comments shall be applied to the Purchasers pro rata in accordance with the number of such Registrable Securities sought to be included in such Registration Statement by reference to the number of such Purchaser’s Registrable Securities relative to all outstanding Registrable Securities.

 

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(d)          Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses associated with each registration and prospectus qualification ("Registration Expenses"), including reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel for the Purchasers, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals relating to the Registrable Securities included in the registration or prospectus qualification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not, however, be required to pay for expenses of any registration proceeding or prospectus qualification begun pursuant to Section 2(a), the request of which has been subsequently withdrawn by the Purchasers unless (a) the withdrawal is based upon material adverse information concerning the Company that the Company had not publicly disclosed or otherwise notified the Purchasers of at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the request. If the Purchasers are required to pay the Registration Expenses, such expenses shall be borne by the Purchasers pro rata by reference to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered or qualified by a given Purchaser and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus.

 

(e)          Effectiveness.

 

(i)          The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have each Registration Statement declared effective promptly after filing.

 

(ii)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC or a Canadian Prospectus has been qualified in Canada (i) if the Company possesses material, non-public information the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the reasonable discretion of the Company, in the best interest of the Company or (ii) an event described in Section 3(h) or 3(i) shall occur (a "Grace Period"), the Company shall promptly (x) notify the Purchasers in writing of the reason giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each notice the Company will not disclose any content of such material, nonpublic information to the Purchasers), and (y) notify the Purchasers in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that no Grace Period shall exceed ten (10) consecutive calendar days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of twenty-five (25) trading days. The Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Purchasers receive the notice referred to in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Purchasers receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such notice during which time Purchasers shall not make any sales of Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement or the Canadian Prospectus.

 

3.          Company Obligations. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will:

 

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(a)          ensure that each Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of Prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading.

 

(b)          use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof to become effective as soon as practicable and to remain continuously effective for a period (the "Registration Period") that will terminate upon the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement have been sold.

 

(c)          prepare and file with (i) the SEC such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement and related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective and permit sales of the Registrable Securities thereunder during the Registration Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all Registrable Securities, and (ii) the Principal Regulator and any other applicable Canadian securities regulators such supplements and amendments to the Prospectus as may be required under Applicable Canadian Securities Laws;

 

(d)          permit counsel designated by the Purchasers to review and comment on each Registration Statement and Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto no fewer than five (5) Business Days prior to their filing with the SEC and Principal Regulator and not file any document to which such counsel reasonably objects;

 

(e)          to the extent not publicly available through either EDGAR or SEDAR, furnish to the Purchasers and their counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC or the Principal Regulator, or received by the Company, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto including all exhibits thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein, each preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC or to the Principal Regulator or the staff of the Principal Regulator, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC or the Principal Regulator or the staff of the Principal Regulator, in each case relating to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Purchaser may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Purchaser;

 

(f)          in the event the Company selects an underwriter for the offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its reasonable obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the underwriter of such offering;

 

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(g)          if required by any underwriter, or if any Purchaser is required to be described in the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus as an underwriter, the Company shall furnish, on the effective date of the Registration Statement or the filing date of the final Canadian Prospectus, as applicable, on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if any, for sale in connection with the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus and thereafter from time to time as any underwriter, including any Purchaser described as such, may reasonably request, (i) an opinion, dated such date, from independent legal counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriter and any Purchaser described as such, and (ii) a letter, dated such date, from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriter and any such Purchaser described as such;

 

(h)          use reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension as soon as reasonably practicable and to notify each Purchaser who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of written notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose;

 

(i)          furnish to each Purchaser, upon written request, at least five (5) copies of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendment thereto, including exhibits, financial statements, and schedules by certified mail, return receipt requested, or reputable courier within three (3) Business Days of the effective date thereof;

 

(j)          prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Purchasers and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions requested by the Purchasers and do any and all other reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject;

 

(k)          cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

(l)          as promptly as practicable notify the Purchasers, at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or Applicable Canadian Securities Laws, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information and, promptly prepare, file with the SEC and applicable Canadian securities regulator authorities and furnish to the Purchasers a reasonable number of copies of, a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus to correct any such untrue statement or omission and promptly notify the Purchasers of the filing of any such amendment or supplement and, if applicable, the effectiveness thereof;

 

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(m)          comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a twelve month period beginning no later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act (for the purpose of this Section 3(m), "Availability Date" means the 45th day following the end of the fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, "Availability Date" means the 90th day after the end of such fiscal quarter); and

 

(n)          within two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement that covers Registrable Securities becomes or is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC. Within two (2) Business Days following notice of any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall notify its counsel of such sale, and shall thereafter promptly cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to its transfer agent, if required by its transfer agent, to effect the removal of the 1933 Act restrictive legend from the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to such effective Registration Statement.

 

4.           Due Diligence Review; Information. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 4, the Company shall make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by any Purchaser who may be deemed an underwriter, advisors to and representatives of such Purchasers (who may or may not be affiliated with the Purchasers), and any underwriter participating in any disposition of Common Shares on behalf of the Purchasers pursuant to a Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto or any blue sky, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or other filing, all financial and other records, all SEC Filings and other filings with the SEC and applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of establishing a due diligence defense under applicable securities laws and such other reasonable purposes, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to promptly supply all such information reasonably requested by such Purchasers or any such representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with such Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus for the sole purpose of enabling such Purchasers and such representatives, advisors and underwriters and their respective accountants and counsel to conduct initial and ongoing due diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of the information included in the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus.

 

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The Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Purchasers, or to advisors to or representatives of the Purchasers, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Purchasers, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review. The Company may, as a condition to disclosing any material nonpublic information hereunder, require the Purchasers and their advisors and representatives to enter into a confidentiality agreement (including an agreement prohibiting them from trading in Common Shares during such period of time as they are in possession of material nonpublic information, provided that any such period in which the Purchasers are precluded from trading shall be considered a Grace Period in accordance with, and subject to the provisions of, Section 2(e)(ii) of this Agreement) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Purchasers. Nothing herein shall require the Company to disclose material nonpublic information to the Purchasers or their advisors or representatives.

 

5.Obligations of the Purchasers.

 

(a)          Each Purchaser shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least ten (10) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus, the Company shall notify each Purchaser of the information the Company requires from such Purchaser if such Purchaser elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus.

 

(b)          Each Purchaser, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus hereunder, unless such Purchaser has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus. Each Purchaser agrees to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements under (i) the 1933 Act in connection with any resales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and (ii) Applicable Canadian Securities Laws in connection with any resales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Canadian Prospectus.

 

(c)          Each Purchaser agrees that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the happening of any event described in Section 2(e)(ii), 3(h) or 3(l), such Purchaser will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities, until the Purchaser’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus filed with the Principal Regulator or the SEC and, if applicable, declared effective by the SEC, or receipt of notice from the Company that no supplement or amendment is required or any applicable stop order or suspension has been lifted, and, if so directed by the Company, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy all copies in the Purchaser’s possession of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

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(d)          No Purchaser may participate in any third party underwritten registration pursuant to Section 2(b) hereunder unless it (i) agrees to sell the Registrable Securities, as applicable, on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting discounts, commissions and fees.

 

6.Indemnification.

 

(a)          Indemnification by Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Purchaser, each of its officers, directors, partners and each person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of the 1933 Act or Applicable Canadian Securities Laws) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees) amounts paid in settlement and expenses incurred by such person (collectively, "Claims") insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Canadian Prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary Prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC or Principal Regulator, as applicable) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation by the Company of any federal, state, provincial, territorial or common law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company in connection with any Registration Statement, Prospectus or any preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being collectively, "Violations"), and shall reimburse, in accordance with subparagraph (c) below, each of the foregoing persons for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such Claims. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an indemnified person arising out of or based upon a Violation that occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such indemnified person or by a Purchaser on behalf of such indemnified person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto and; (ii) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Purchaser to deliver or to cause to be delivered the Prospectus made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(i) if such Prospectus was timely made available by the Company reasonably in advance to the time delivery of such Prospectus was required of such indemnified person. Indemnity under this Section 6(a) shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the permitted transfer of the Registrable Securities.

 

13
 

 

(b)          Indemnification by Purchasers. In connection with any registration pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Purchaser will severally but not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act or Applicable Canadian Securities Laws) against any Claim insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based on any Violation, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by such Purchaser to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of a Purchaser be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Purchaser and the amount of any damages such Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such Violation) received by such Purchaser upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)          Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any Claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such Claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such Claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person within a reasonable period of time of being notified of the Claim or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such Claims or there are one or more defenses available to the indemnified party that are not available to the indemnifying party (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such Claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further, that the failure of any indemnified party to give written notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such Claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys, and one firm of local counsel, at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such Claim or litigation. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments during the course of the investigation or defense of any Claim, as and when bills are received or Claims are incurred.

 

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(d)          Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Claim, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act or Applicable Canadian Securities Laws shall be entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a Purchaser be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Purchaser and the amount of any damages such Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such Violation) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.

 

7.Reports Under the 1934 Act and Canadian Securities Laws.

 

With a view to making available to the Purchasers the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Purchasers to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:

 

(a)          make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

 

(b)          file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

 

(c)          furnish to each Purchaser so long as such Purchaser owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Purchasers to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

 

The Company will also continue to make all filings and take all actions required to maintain its reporting issuer status under Applicable Canadian Securities Laws and use its reasonable best efforts to maintain its eligibility to file a Registration Statement on Form F-3 or Form S-3, as applicable.

 

8.Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the parties hereto. The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Purchasers affected by such amendment, action or omission to act.

 

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(b)          Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be mailed (A) if within the United States by first-class registered or certified airmail, or nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by facsimile, or (B) if delivered from outside the United States, by International Federal Express or facsimile, and shall be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or certified domestic mail, three business days after so mailed, (ii) if delivered by a nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after so mailed, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express, two business days after so mailed, or (iv) if delivered by facsimile, upon electronic confirmation of receipt and shall be delivered as addressed as follows:

 

16
 

 

If to the Company:

 

c/o PolyMet Mining Corp.

Poly Met Mining Inc.

444 Cedar Street, Suite 2060

St Paul, Minnesota 55101

Attention: Douglas Newby

 

Facsimile: _____________

 

With a copy to:

 

Troutman Sanders LLP

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10174

United States

Attention: Henry Rothman

Facsimile: +1 212-704-5950

 

Farris, Vaughan, Wills &

Murphy LLP

700 West Georgia Street

Suite 2500

Vancouver, BC V7Y 1B3

Canada

Attention: Mitchell Gropper

Facsimile: +1 212-704-5950

 

If to the Purchaser, to:

 

Glencore AG

Baarermattstrasse 3

PO Box 777, 6341 Baar

Switzerland

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: +41 41 709 2621

 

With a copy to:

 

Bennett Jones LLP

3400 One First Canadian

Place, P.O. Box 130

Toronto, ON M5X 1A4

Canada

Attention: Adam Taylor

Facsimile: +1 416-863-1716

 

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(c)          Assignments and Transfers by Purchasers. This Agreement and all the rights and obligations of any Purchaser hereunder may be assigned or transferred to any transferee or assignee of the Warrants or Registrable Securities. A Purchaser may make such assignment or transfer to any transferee or assignee of any Warrants or Registrable Securities, provided that (i) such transfer is made expressly subject to this Agreement and the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions hereof and (ii) the Company is provided with written notice of such assignment.

 

(d)          Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Purchasers, and any assignment or attempted assignment made without such consent shall be void and of no effect.

 

(e)          Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

(f)          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile.

 

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

 

(h)          Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(i)          Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.

 

(j)          Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

(k)          Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would defer to the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.

 

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(l)          Acknowledgement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and Glencore agree and acknowledge that (i) with respect to any increase in the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the 2010 Warrant and/or the Exchange Warrant pursuant to adjustments thereunder resulting from the Rights Offering, such additional Common Shares shall be included in the defined term “Registrable Securities” for all purposes of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, between the Company and Glencore and (ii) with respect to any increase in the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the 2011 Warrant pursuant to adjustments thereunder resulting from the Rights Offering, such additional Common Shares shall be included in the defined term “Registrable Securities” for all purposes of the Registration Rights Agreement and Amendment to Existing Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, between the Company and Glencore.

 

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

 

  THE COMPANY:
     
  POLYMET MINING CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Douglas Newby
  Name: Douglas Newby
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
     
  GLENCORE:
     
  GLENCORE AG
     
  By: /s/ Andreas Hubmann
  Name: Andreas Hubmann
  Title: Director
     
  By: /s/ Martin Haering
  Name: Martin Haering
  Title: Officer

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering the Common Shares held by the selling shareholders to permit the resale of these Common Shares by the selling shareholders from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling shareholders of the Common Shares. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the Common Shares.

 

The selling shareholders may sell all or a portion of the Common Shares beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the Common Shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent's commissions. The Common Shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions,

 

·on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

·in the over-the-counter market;

 

·in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

 

·through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·in ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

·in block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·in purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·in an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·in privately negotiated transactions;

 

·in short sales;

 

A-1
 

 

·in sales pursuant to Rule 144;

 

·broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

·by a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

·by any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling Common Shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders or commissions from purchasers of the Common Shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the Common Shares or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Common Shares in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell Common Shares short and deliver Common Shares covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge Common Shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.

 

The selling shareholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the warrants or Common Shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the Common Shares from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment or supplement to this prospectus the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer and donate the warrants or Common Shares in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The selling shareholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the Common Shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the Common Shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of Common Shares being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling shareholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the Common Shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the Common Shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

 

A-2
 

 

There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the Common Shares registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

The selling shareholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Common Shares by the selling shareholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the Common Shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Common Shares. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the Common Shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Common Shares.

 

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the Common Shares pursuant to the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $[     ] in total, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or "blue sky" laws; provided, however, that the selling shareholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreements, or the selling shareholders may be entitled to contribution. The selling shareholders have agreed to indemnify us against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholders specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution.

 

Once sold under the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the Common Shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

 

A-3