Common use of Competition/Investments Clause in Contracts

Competition/Investments. During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive shall not (except on behalf of the Company) directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete directly with the Company or any of its affiliates, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 3% of the voting stock of such corporation. In addition, during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company and for the one (1) year period thereafter, in order to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including the value of the Company’s confidential information, trade secrets, goodwill and training, which Executive acknowledges and agrees Executive has received and will continue to receive, Executive shall not (except on behalf of the Company) directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which is known by Executive to (a) contact, deal with or otherwise be involved in any transaction(s) or agreement(s) relating to any lithium mineral, mining or other related rights of the Company and its affiliates in the geographic area commonly referred to as the “Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt” (collectively, the “Non-Compete Area”); or (b) take any action to circumvent or usurp any right, property or interest associated with or beneficial to the reasonable development and operation of the assets of the Company and its affiliates within the Non-Compete Area. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Section 6.2 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.