EX-4.2 2 exhibit42-descriptionofsec.htm EX-4.2
Exhibit 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following descriptions of the capital stock of ESS Tech, Inc. (“us,” “our,” “we,” “ESS” or the “Company”) and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws, each previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit [4.1] is a part, as well as to the relevant provisions of the general corporation law of the state of Delaware (the “DGCL”). We encourage you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and the applicable provisions of the DGCL carefully.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 2,200,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which:
•2,000,000,000 shares are designated as common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and
•200,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval, except as required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, to issue additional shares of capital stock.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, subject to the rights of holders of any preferred stock outstanding at the time, where a quorum is present at a meeting of stockholders, directors are elected by plurality vote. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by the board of directors out of assets legally available. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by the DGCL, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by the stockholders. The board of directors is empowered to increase, but not above the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock, or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by the stockholders. Our board of directors is able to authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of ESS and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. There are currently no plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Warrants
Public Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, dated September 16, 2020, as amended by the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, dated October 8, 2021 (together, the “Warrant Agreement”), a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants

Exhibit 4.2
were issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants may trade. The warrants expire on October 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the public warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (excluding the Private Placement Warrants (as such term is defined in the Warrant Agreement)):
•in whole and not in part;
•at a price of $0.01 per public warrant;
•upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
•if, and only if, the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of our common stock is available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined below). If and when the warrants become redeemable, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We have established the last of the redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of our common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $10.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
•in whole and not in part;
•at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;
•if, and only if, the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Anti-Dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and
•if the closing price of our common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments”), the preferred stock must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
In accordance with the Warrant Agreement, in the event that we elect to redeem the outstanding warrants as set forth under the headings “—Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “—Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $10.00,” we will fix a date for the redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by us to all shareholders, including beneficial owners, not less than 30 days prior to the redemption date (the “30-day Redemption Period”) to the registered holders of the warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner provide above will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder of the warrants received such notice. We are not contractually obligated to notify investors when its warrants become eligible for redemption, and does not intend to so notify investors upon eligibility of the warrants for redemption.

Exhibit 4.2
Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of our common stock that a warrant holder will receive upon such cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of our common stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), determined for these purposes based on volume weighted average price of our common stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below. We will provide warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends.
The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant or the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant is adjusted, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant. If the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the fifth paragraph under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” and the denominator of which is $10.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the second paragraph under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price less the decrease in the exercise price of a warrant pursuant to such exercise price adjustment.

Redemption Date (period to expiration of warrants) |  | Fair Market Value of Common Stock
| $10.00 |  | $11.00 |  | $12.00 |  | $13.00 |  | $14.00 |  | $15.00 |  | $16.00 |  | $17.00 |  | $18.00
60 months |  | 0.261 |  | 0.281 |  | 0.297 |  | 0.311 |  | 0.324 |  | 0.337 |  | 0.348 |  | 0.358 |  | 0.361
57 months |  | 0.257 |  | 0.277 |  | 0.294 |  | 0.310 |  | 0.324 |  | 0.337 |  | 0.348 |  | 0.358 |  | 0.361
54 months |  | 0.252 |  | 0.272 |  | 0.291 |  | 0.307 |  | 0.322 |  | 0.335 |  | 0.347 |  | 0.357 |  | 0.361
51 months |  | 0.246 |  | 0.268 |  | 0.287 |  | 0.304 |  | 0.320 |  | 0.333 |  | 0.346 |  | 0.357 |  | 0.361
48 months |  | 0.241 |  | 0.263 |  | 0.283 |  | 0.301 |  | 0.317 |  | 0.332 |  | 0.344 |  | 0.356 |  | 0.361
45 months |  | 0.235 |  | 0.258 |  | 0.279 |  | 0.298 |  | 0.315 |  | 0.330 |  | 0.343 |  | 0.356 |  | 0.361
42 months |  | 0.228 |  | 0.252 |  | 0.274 |  | 0.294 |  | 0.312 |  | 0.328 |  | 0.342 |  | 0.355 |  | 0.361
39 months |  | 0.221 |  | 0.246 |  | 0.269 |  | 0.290 |  | 0.309 |  | 0.325 |  | 0.340 |  | 0.354 |  | 0.361
36 months |  | 0.213 |  | 0.239 |  | 0.263 |  | 0.285 |  | 0.305 |  | 0.323 |  | 0.339 |  | 0.353 |  | 0.361
33 months |  | 0.205 |  | 0.232 |  | 0.257 |  | 0.280 |  | 0.301 |  | 0.320 |  | 0.337 |  | 0.352 |  | 0.361
30 months |  | 0.196 |  | 0.224 |  | 0.250 |  | 0.274 |  | 0.297 |  | 0.316 |  | 0.335 |  | 0.351 |  | 0.361
27 months |  | 0.185 |  | 0.214 |  | 0.242 |  | 0.268 |  | 0.291 |  | 0.313 |  | 0.332 |  | 0.350 |  | 0.361
24 months |  | 0.173 |  | 0.204 |  | 0.233 |  | 0.260 |  | 0.285 |  | 0.308 |  | 0.329 |  | 0.348 |  | 0.361
21 months |  | 0.161 |  | 0.193 |  | 0.223 |  | 0.252 |  | 0.279 |  | 0.304 |  | 0.326 |  | 0.347 |  | 0.361
18 months |  | 0.146 |  | 0.179 |  | 0.211 |  | 0.242 |  | 0.271 |  | 0.298 |  | 0.322 |  | 0.345 |  | 0.361
15 months |  | 0.130 |  | 0.164 |  | 0.197 |  | 0.230 |  | 0.262 |  | 0.291 |  | 0.317 |  | 0.342 |  | 0.361
12 months |  | 0.111 |  | 0.146 |  | 0.181 |  | 0.216 |  | 0.250 |  | 0.282 |  | 0.312 |  | 0.339 |  | 0.361
9 months |  | 0.090 |  | 0.125 |  | 0.162 |  | 0.199 |  | 0.237 |  | 0.272 |  | 0.305 |  | 0.336 |  | 0.361
6 months |  | 0.065 |  | 0.099 |  | 0.137 |  | 0.178 |  | 0.219 |  | 0.259 |  | 0.296 |  | 0.331 |  | 0.361

Exhibit 4.2

3 months |  | 0.034 |  | 0.065 |  | 0.104 |  | 0.150 |  | 0.197 |  | 0.243 |  | 0.286 |  | 0.326 |  | 0.361
0 months |  | — |  | — |  | 0.042 |  | 0.115 |  | 0.179 |  | 0.233 |  | 0.281 |  | 0.323 |  | 0.361

The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of common stock to be issued for each warrant exercised will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365 or 366-day year, as applicable. For example, if the volume weighted average price of our common stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $11.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.277 shares of common stock for each whole warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the volume weighted average price of our common stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $13.50 per share, and at such time there are 38 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.298 shares of common stock for each whole warrant. In no event will the warrants be exercisable on a cashless basis in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment). Finally, as reflected in the table above, if the warrants are out of the money and about to expire, they cannot be exercised on a cashless basis in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, since they will not be exercisable for any shares of common stock.
This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features used in some other blank check offerings, which only provide for a redemption of warrants for cash (other than the Private Placement Warrants) when the trading price of our common stock exceeds $18.00 per share for a specified period of time. This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding warrants to be redeemed when our common stock is trading at or above $10.00 per share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our common stock is below the exercise price of the warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide it with the flexibility to redeem the warrants without the warrants having to reach the $18.00 per share threshold set forth above under “—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $18.00.” Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding warrants, and therefore have certainty as to its capital structure as the warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay the applicable redemption price to warrant holders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of the warrants if we determine it is in its best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when we believe it is in its best interest to update its capital structure to remove the warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the warrants when our common stock is trading at a price starting at $10.00, which is below the exercise price of $11.50, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when our common stock is trading at a price below the exercise price of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer shares of Common Stock than they would have received if they had chosen to wait to exercise their warrants for our common stock if and when such shares were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of $11.50.
No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the holder.
Redemption procedures. A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would

Exhibit 4.2
beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution Adjustments. If the number of outstanding shares of common stock is increased by a capitalization or share dividend payable in shares of common stock, or by a split-up of ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such capitalization or share dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding ordinary shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all holders of ordinary shares entitling holders to purchase shares of common stock at a price less than the “historical fair market value” (as defined below) will be deemed a share dividend of a number of shares of common stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock) and (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of common stock paid in such rights offering and (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock, in determining the price payable for shares of common stock there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “historical fair market value” means the volume weighted average price of our common stock as reported during the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to all or substantially all of the holders of shares of common stock on account of such shares (or other securities into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, or (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of common stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $0.50 (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any other adjustments and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the exercise price or to the number of the shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant) but only with respect to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $0.50 per share.
If the number of outstanding shares of common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of shares of common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of outstanding shares of common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of our assets or other property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of common stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or

Exhibit 4.2
redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a shareholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the shares of common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustment (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of shares of common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants.
The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.
No fractional warrants were issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants may trade. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to the Warrant Agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Registration Rights of Certain Stockholders
Certain of our stockholders have registration rights under our Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated October 8, 2021, between us and such stockholders. These stockholders (and certain of their permitted transferees), may request that we file registration statements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, upon such request and subject to minimum size and other conditions, we will be required to effect any such registration. We are generally obligated to bear the expenses, other than underwriting discounts and sales commissions, of all of these registrations. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit [4.1] forms a part.
Description of Certain Terms in the Charter Documents and Delaware Law
The certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of ESS. These provisions and certain provisions of Delaware law, which are summarized below, could discourage takeovers, coercive or otherwise. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of ESS to negotiate first with our board of directors. ESS believes that the benefits of increased protection of the potential ability to negotiate with

Exhibit 4.2
an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire the Company.
Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. As discussed above under “—Preferred Stock,” our board of directors has the ability to designate and issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could deter hostile takeovers or delay changes in control or management.
Limits on Ability of Stockholders to Act by Written Consent or Call a Special Meeting. The certificate of incorporation provides that the stockholders may not act by written consent. This limit on the ability of stockholders to act by written consent may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions. As a result, the holders of a majority of our capital stock may not be able to amend the amended and restated bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of stockholders called in accordance with the amended and restated bylaws.
In addition, the amended and restated bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the president, or a majority of our board of directors (measured based on the total authorized directorships, including any vacancies or unfilled seats). A stockholder may not call a special meeting, which may delay the ability of the stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for holders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. The amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. These advance notice procedures may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed and may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempt to obtain control of ESS.
Board Classification. The certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes, one class of which is elected each year by the stockholders. The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term. The classified board of directors may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of ESS because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.
Election and Removal of Directors. The certificate of incorporation contains provisions that establish specific procedures for appointing and removing members of our board of directors. Under the certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, vacancies and newly created directorships on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of the directors then serving on our board of directors. Under the certificate of incorporation, directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors.
No Cumulative Voting. The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. The certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not expressly provide for cumulative voting. Without cumulative voting, a minority stockholder may not be able to gain as many seats on the board of directors as the stockholder would be able to gain if cumulative voting were permitted. The absence of cumulative voting makes it more difficult for a minority stockholder to gain a seat on the board of directors to, among other things, influence the board of directors’ decision regarding a takeover.
Amendment of Charter Provision. Any amendment of the above provisions in the certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws would require approval by holders of at least 662/3% of the then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. ESS is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless:

Exhibit 4.2
•prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
•upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder, (1) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
•at or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is generally defined under Section 203 to be a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock. ESS expects the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions our board of directors does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may discourage attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
The provisions of Delaware law and the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and as a consequence, they might also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions might also have the effect of preventing changes in management. It is also possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Choice of Forum. The amended and restated bylaws provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on ESS’ behalf; (ii) actions asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; (iii) any action arising under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws; and (iv) any action asserting a claim against ESS that is governed by the internal-affairs doctrine. The amended and restated bylaws further provide that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
Exchange Listing
Our common stock and public warrants are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols “GWH” and “GWH.WT,” respectively.
Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent and warrant agent for the common stock and warrants, respectively, is Computershare Inc. The transfer agent’s address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021 and its telephone number is (206) 406-5789.