SEC Form SC 13D filed by Energy Vault Holdings Inc.

Item 1.     Security and Issuer

 

This Schedule 13D relates to common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of Energy Vault Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), formerly known as "Novus Capital Corporation II," whose principal executive offices are located at 4360 Park Terrace Drive, Suite 100, Westlake Village, California 93161.

Item 2.  Identity and Background

(a)       This Schedule 13D is filed by Dakin Sloss (the "Reporting Person").

  

(b)            The principal business address of the Reporting Person is P.O. Box 12829, Jackson, WY, 83002.

 

(c)            The principal occupation of the Reporting Person is Founder and General Partner of Prime Movers Lab.

 

(d)            During the last five years, the Reporting Person has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding.

 

(e)           During the last five years, the Reporting Person was not a 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.

(f)       The Reporting Person is a citizen of the United States.

 

 

On February 11, 2022, PML Growth acquired 6,217,287 shares and Energy Vault PML acquired 1,245,077 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock in connection with the Issuer’s business combination with Novus Capital Corporation II, a special purpose acquisition company (the "Merger"). On May 12, 2022, PML Fund II acquired 90,500 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock as a result of a pro rata distribution of Idealab Studio, LLC to its members for no consideration.

Item 4.  Purpose of the Transaction

 

The Reporting Person acquired the Common Stock for investment purposes. The Reporting Person may, from time to time, purchase additional securities of the Issuer either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending upon the Reporting Person’s evaluation of the Issuer’s business, prospects, and financial condition, the market for such securities, other opportunities available to the Reporting Person, general economic conditions, stock market conditions and other factors. Depending upon the factors noted above, the Reporting Person may also decide to hold or dispose of all or part of his investment in the securities of the Issuer.

On August 30, 2022, the Reporting Person, as the Managing Member of the General Partner of each of Energy Vault PML and PML Fund II, entered into a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan with respect to each entity (the "10b5-1 Plans") pursuant to which the Reporting Person may sell Common Stock from time to time, subject to certain conditions and restrictions set forth in the 10b5-1 Plans. The sale of Common Stock under the 10b5-1 Plans is subject to minimum price parameters adopted by the Reporting Person, and there is no assurance that any Common Stock will be sold under the 10b5-1 Plans. No shares of Common Stock have been sold under the 10b5-1 Plans to date.

The information contained in Item 3 of this Schedule 13D is incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, Zia Huque, a General Partner of Prime Movers Lab, LLC, serves as one of Issuer’s directors.

 

Except as described in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Person does not have any present plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions described in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.  The Reporting Person reserves the right to formulate plans and/or proposals and to take such actions with respect to his investment in the Issuer, including any or all of the actions set forth in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

 

(a)            The aggregate percentage of shares of the Common Stock reported to be beneficially owned by the Reporting Person is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and is based on 137,043,121 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding as of August 3, 2022, as reported in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the Commission on August 8, 2022.

 

 

(e)            Not applicable.

 

 

Lock-Up Agreements – In connection with the closing of the Merger (the "Closing"), PML Growth, Energy Vault PML, and Idealab Studio, LLC and certain other stockholders of the Issuer agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, the Common Stock acquired in the Merger (the "Lock-up Shares"), (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of the Lock-up Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). The Lock-Up Period shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) with respect to 50% of the Lock-Up Shares, 180 days after the Closing and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Lock-Up Shares, 365 days after the Closing.

This summary is qualified by the actual terms of the Form of Lock-Up Agreement, a copy of which is attached as an exhibit hereto.

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement – In connection with the Closing of the Merger, PML Growth, Energy Vault PML, and certain other stockholders of the Issuers entered into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") no later than (i) 30 calendar days after the Closing and (ii) 20 business days after the Closing, the Issuer would file with the Commission a registration statement registering the resale of the securities acquired in the Merger, and use commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof. Such registration statement was declared effective on May 6, 2022.

This summary is qualified by the actual terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit hereto.

10b5-1 Plans - On August 30, 2022, the Reporting Person, as the Managing Member of the General Partner of each of Energy Vault PML and PML Fund II, entered into a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan with respect to each entity (the "10b5-1 Plans") pursuant to which the Reporting Person may sell Common Stock from time to time, subject to certain conditions and restrictions set forth in the 10b5-1 Plans. The sale of Common Stock under the 10b5-1 Plans is subject to minimum price parameters adopted by the Reporting Person, and there is no assurance that any Common Stock will be sold under the 10b5-1 Plans. No shares of Common Stock have been sold under the 10b5-1 Plans to date.

Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits.