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

SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant ý

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee required.

o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
    (1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        
 
    (2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        
 
    (3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        
 
    (4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        
 
    (5)   Total fee paid:
        
 

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
    (2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        
 
    (3)   Filing Party:
        
 
    (4)   Date Filed:
        
 

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LOGO

A123 Systems, Inc.
200 West Street
Waltham, MA 02451



NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On June 29, 2012



To the stockholders of A123 Systems, Inc.:

        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a special meeting of stockholders (the "Special Meeting") of A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("A123"), will be held June 29, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, 20th Floor, Boston, MA 02116 to consider and act upon the following proposals:

        On May 24, 2012, we sold (i) $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.0% Senior Convertible Notes due 2013 (the "Notes") and (ii) warrants to purchase 12,711,864 shares of our common stock, subject to certain adjustments (the "Warrants"), to accredited investors (the "Purchasers") for an aggregate purchase price of $50.0 million. Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement pursuant to which the Notes and Warrants were sold, we agreed to seek the approval of our stockholders for the proposals described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice (the "Proxy Statement"). If we are unable to obtain the required stockholder approval, the holders of the Notes will have the right to require us to redeem all or any portion of $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

        Our board of directors (the "Board of Directors" or "Board") recommends that you vote in favor of the foregoing proposals, which we describe more fully in the Proxy Statement.

        Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 4, 2012 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

        Your vote is very important. All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, please take the time to vote by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card to us or, if the option is available to you, by granting your proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone. If your shares are held in "street name," meaning they are held for your account by a broker or other nominee, your shares will only be voted at the Special


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Meeting if you direct your broker to vote your shares by following the procedures established by your broker.



 


 


By Order of the Board of Directors

GRAPHIC


David Prystash
Secretary

Waltham, Massachusetts
June 11, 2012


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  Page

Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting

  1

Information in this Proxy Statement

  6

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

  6

Proposal 1: Approval of Issuance of Shares of Common Stock Pursuant to A123's 6.0% Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes and Related Warrants

  10

Proposal 2: Authorization to Increase the Company's Authorized Common Stock from 250,000,000 Shares to 650,000,000 Shares

  15

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

  17

Other Matters

  18

Where You Can Find Additional Information

  18

ANNEX A—Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of A123 Systems,  Inc. 

  A-1

ANNEX B—Form of 6.00% Note due 2013

  B-1

ANNEX C—Form of Warrant

  C-1

ANNEX D—Form of Registration Rights Agreement

  D-1

ANNEX E—Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement

  E-1

ANNEX F—Proxy Card

  F-1

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A123 Systems, Inc.
200 West Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(617) 778-5700



Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held June 29, 2012


INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING



General

        This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, at a Special Meeting of stockholders to be held June 29, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournment, continuation or postponement of the meeting, referred to throughout this Proxy Statement as the Special Meeting, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders. The Special Meeting will be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, 20th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

        These proxy solicitation materials were first mailed or given on or about June 11, 2012 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.

Record Date and Shares Outstanding

        Only stockholders who owned shares of our common stock at the close of business on June 4, 2012, referred to in this Proxy Statement as the Record Date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. Except as otherwise provided in this Proxy Statement, the holders of common stock as of the Record Date are entitled to one vote per share on matters presented at the Special Meeting. As of the Record Date, 147,140,441 shares of A123's common stock are issued outstanding.

Quorum Requirement

        The quorum requirement for holding the meeting and transacting business is that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote must be present in person or represented by proxy. If the shares present, in person and by proxy, do not constitute the required quorum, the meeting may be adjourned to a subsequent date for the purpose of obtaining a quorum. Shares that are voted "FOR," "AGAINST" or "ABSTAIN" are treated as being present at the meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. In addition, broker non-votes are counted as present or represented for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

Revocability of Proxies

        You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised. Execution of the proxy will not in any way affect your right to attend the Special Meeting in person. Revocation may be made prior to the Special Meeting by written revocation or through a duly executed proxy bearing a later date sent to A123, Attention: Eric Pyenson, Assistant Secretary, 200 West Street, Waltham, MA 02451; or your proxy may be revoked personally at the Special Meeting by written notice to the Secretary at the Special Meeting prior to the voting of the proxy. Any revocation sent to A123 must include the stockholder's name and must be received the day prior to the Special Meeting to be effective.

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How Your Proxy Will Be Voted

        In the absence of specific instructions to the contrary, shares represented by properly executed proxies received by A123, including unmarked proxies, will be voted to approve Proposals No. 1 and 2. In addition, if any other matters properly come before the Special Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card to vote the shares they represent as directed by the Board of Directors. We have not received notice of any other matters that may properly be presented at the Special Meeting.

Votes Required

        Votes Required for Proposal No. 1.    The approval of the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of A123's 6.0% Senior Convertible Notes due 2013 (the "Notes") and upon exercise of the warrants to purchase shares of common stock (the "Warrants") issued to the purchasers of such Notes (the "Purchasers") requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting, provided a quorum exists at the Special Meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no impact on Proposal No. 1.

        Vote Required for Proposal No. 2.    The approval of the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from 250,000,000 shares to 650,000,000 shares requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote AGAINST Proposal No 2.

        Effect of Broker Non-Votes.    Although, as noted above, broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum, they will not be counted as voting. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and/or has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

        Proposals No. 1 and 2 are non-routine matters under the rules that govern proxy voting by brokers. Accordingly, brokers will not be permitted to vote on these proposals without receiving voting instructions, and thus we expect there may be broker non-votes with respect to these proposals.

        Proxies.    The persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the proxies, David Prystash and Eric Pyenson, were selected by the Board of Directors and are executive officers of A123. All properly executed proxies returned in time to be counted at the meeting will be voted. If you provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as you instruct. If you hold shares in your name and you sign and return the proxy card but do not provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as the Board of Directors recommends.

        The Board of Directors know of no other matter to be presented at the Special Meeting. If any other matter should be presented at the Special Meeting upon which a vote may properly be taken, shares represented by all proxies received by the Board of Directors will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the proxies.

        Your vote is very important. For this reason, the Board of Directors is requesting that you allow your common stock to be represented at the Special Meeting by the proxies named on the enclosed proxy card. This proxy statement and form of proxy are being sent to you in connection with this request and have been prepared for the Board of Directors by our management.

Proxies

        The Company is bearing the cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. We have engaged Morrow & Co., LLC, to assist in the solicitation of

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proxies and provide related advice and informational support, for a services fee and the reimbursement of customary disbursements that are not expected to exceed $20,000 in the aggregate.

        If you choose to vote over the Internet, you are responsible for Internet access charges that you incur. If you choose to vote by telephone, you are responsible for charges you may incur.

        The following section summarizes important information on how to vote your shares of common stock.

        If you are a record holder, meaning your shares are registered in your name, you may vote over the Internet, by telephone, by mail or in person at the Special Meeting pursuant to the following instructions:

        Over the Internet:    Go to the website of our tabulator, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., at www.proxyvote.com. Use the vote control number printed on your enclosed proxy card to access your account and vote your shares. You must specify how you want your shares voted or your Internet vote cannot be completed and you will receive an error message. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions. You must submit your Internet proxy before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 28, 2012, the day before the Special Meeting, for your proxy to be valid and your vote to count.

        By Telephone:    Call 1-800-690-4903 toll free from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and follow the instructions on your enclosed proxy card. You must specify how you want your shares voted and confirm your vote at the end of the call or your telephone vote cannot be completed. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions. You must submit your telephonic proxy before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 28, 2012, the day before the Special Meeting, for your proxy to be valid and your vote to count.

        By Mail:    Complete and sign your enclosed proxy card and mail it in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11117. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions. If you do not specify how you want your shares voted, they will be voted as recommended by our Board of Directors. Broadridge must receive your proxy card not later than June 28, 2012, the day before the Special Meeting, for your proxy to be valid and your vote to count.

        In Person at the Special Meeting:    If you attend the Special Meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person or you may vote by completing a ballot, which we will provide to you at the Special Meeting.

        If your shares are held in "street name," meaning they are held for your account by a broker or other nominee, you will receive instructions from your broker or other nominee regarding how to vote your shares over the Internet, by telephone or by mail. You should follow those instructions. If you wish to vote your shares in person at the Special Meeting, contact your broker or other nominee who holds your shares to obtain a brokers' proxy card and bring it with you to the Special Meeting. You will not be able to vote in person at the Special Meeting unless you have a proxy from your broker issued in your name giving you the right to vote your shares.

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        All properly executed proxies that we receive prior to the vote at the Special Meeting, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxies or, if no direction is indicated, to approve the Proposals.

        Properly executed proxies, other than proxies voting against the Proposals, will also be voted for any adjournment or postponement of the Special Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional votes to approve the Proposals, if necessary. Our Board of Directors does not currently intend to bring any other business before the Special Meeting and, so far as our Board of Directors knows, no other matters are to be brought before the Special Meeting. If other business properly comes before the Special Meeting, the proxies will vote in accordance with their own judgment.

        Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding in their names shares of our common stock beneficially owned by others to forward to such beneficial owners. In addition to solicitation by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by directors, officers, employees or agents of A123 in person or by telephone, telegram or other means of communication. No additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or other regular employees of A123 for such services.

        In the absence of controlling precedent to the contrary, we intend to treat broker non-votes and abstentions in the following manner.

        A broker "non-vote" occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have the discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker "non-votes" and shares as to which proxy authority has been withheld with respect to any matter are considered present for purposes of calculating a quorum but are not deemed to be entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether stockholder approval of that matter has been obtained. As a result, broker "non-votes" are not included in the tabulation of the voting results on the election of directors or any other issues requiring the approval of a majority of the shares of common stock present and entitled to vote and, therefore, do not have the effect of votes in opposition for such proposals. With respect to Proposal No. 1, which requires a majority vote, broker "non-votes" have no effect. With respect to Proposal No. 2, which requires a majority of the shares outstanding, broker "non-votes" will have the effect of a vote AGAINST Proposal No. 2.

        Abstentions occur when a stockholder entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy affirmatively votes to abstain. Votes in abstention are considered present for purposes of calculating a quorum but do not count as a vote FOR or AGAINST any matter. While abstentions do not count as a vote FOR or AGAINST, they have the same effect as a negative vote on Proposal No. 2 because abstentions will be included in tabulations of the shares of common stock entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.

        Stockholders may revoke their proxies at any time prior to use by delivering to our corporate secretary a signed notice of revocation or a later-dated signed proxy, or by attending the Special Meeting in person and revoking the proxy by signing a notice of revocation. If you vote your shares over the Internet or by telephone, only your latest Internet or telephone vote will be counted at the Special Meeting. Attendance at the Special Meeting does not in itself constitute the revocation of a proxy. Stockholders who have instructed their broker to vote their shares of common stock must follow their broker's directions in order to change those instructions. You may also attend the Special Meeting

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in person instead of submitting a proxy; however, please see the instructions above under "Voting of Shares Held in Street-Name" if you wish to vote such shares in person at the Special Meeting.

        The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for Proxy Statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Proxy Statement addressed to those stockholders and enclosing separate proxy cards for each stockholder. This process, which is commonly referred to as "householding," potentially eliminates some duplicative mailings to stockholders and reduces our mailing costs.

        For this Special Meeting, a number of brokers with account holders who are stockholders of A123 will be "householding" our proxy materials. A single Proxy Statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be "householding" communications to your address, "householding" will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in "householding" and would prefer to receive a separate Proxy Statement and annual report, please notify your broker, or direct your written request to A123 Systems, Inc., Attention: Eric Pyenson, Assistant Secretary, 200 West Street, Waltham, MA 02451. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Proxy Statement at their address and would like to request "householding" of their communications should contact their broker.

        If you are interested in submitting a proposal or information about a proposed director candidate for inclusion in the proxy statement for our 2013 annual meeting, you must follow the procedures outlined in Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. To be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement, we must receive your stockholder proposal or information about your proposed director candidate at the address noted below no later than December 14, 2012.

        If you wish to present a proposal or a proposed director candidate at the 2013 annual meeting, but do not wish to have the proposal or director candidate considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and proxy card, you must also give written notice to our corporate secretary at the address noted below. We must receive this required notice by February 22, 2013, but no sooner than January 23, 2013. However, if the 2013 annual meeting is held before May 3, 2013 or after July 22, 2013, then we must receive the required notice of a proposal or proposed director candidate no earlier than the 120th day prior to the 2013 annual meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of (1) the 90th day prior to the 2013 annual meeting and (2) the 10th day following the date on which notice of the date of the 2013 annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made, whichever occurs first.

        Any proposals, notices or information about proposed director candidates should be sent to:

No Dissenters' or Appraisal Rights

        Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, stockholders will not be entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of our authorized shares of common stock, and we do not intend to independently provide stockholders with any such right.

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INFORMATION IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT

        Unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the share numbers in this Proxy Statement are based on 147,140,441 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 4, 2012.


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        As of June 4, 2012, or the Record Date, there were 147,140,441 shares of common stock outstanding. The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, or such earlier date as indicated below, the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by (1) each of our directors, (2) our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers on December 31, 2011, whom we refer to collectively as our "named executive officers," (3) all of our directors and executive officers as a group, and (4) all persons known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding stock.

        Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with rules of the SEC and includes shares over which the indicated beneficial owner exercises voting and/or investment power. Shares of common stock subject to options or warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the options but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

        Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares listed opposite their names.

        Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each person is to the care of A123 Systems, Inc., 200 West Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 and the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned are as of June 4, 2012.

 
  Shares Beneficially Owned  
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
  Number   Percentage  

5% Stockholder

             

Capital Ventures International

    25,825,284 (1)   15.00 %

One Capitol Place, P.O. Box 1787 GT

             

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

             

British West Indies

             

AllianceBernstein LP

    14,849,142 (2)   10.09 %

1345 Avenue of the Americas

             

New York, NY 10105

             

Entities affiliated with North Bridge Venture Partners

    8,859,619 (3)   6.02 %

950 Winter Street, Suite 4600

             

Waltham, MA 02451

             

IHI Corporation

    8,454,725     5.75 %

Toyosu IHI Bldg., 3-1-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku

             

Tokyo 135-8710, Japan

             

Entities affiliated with General Electric Company

    8,273,022 (4)   5.62 %

210 Merritt 7

             

Norwalk, CT 06856

             

Gururaj Deshpande

    7,020,129 (5)   4.77 %

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  Shares Beneficially Owned  
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
  Number   Percentage  

Directors and Named Executive Officers

             

David P. Vieau

    1,792,220 (6)   1.21 %

David Prystash

    100,000 (7)   *  

Jason M. Forcier

    158,605 (8)   *  

Robert J. Johnson

    190,151 (9)   *  

Eric J. Pyenson

    200,150 (10)   *  

Gururaj Deshpande

    7,020,129 (6)   4.77 %

Arthur L. Goldstein

    121,250 (11)   *  

Gary E. Haroian

    121,250 (12)   *  

Paul E. Jacobs

    5,354,364 (13)   3.64 %

Jeffrey P. McCarthy

    8,862,119 (14)   6.02 %

Mark M. Little

         

Gilbert N. Riley, Jr. 

    1,375,277 (15)   *  

Edward Kopkowski

         

All of our directors and executive officers as of a group (13 persons)

    25,295,515 (16)   16.93 %

*
Represents a beneficial interest of less than 1% of our outstanding common stock.

(1)
Heights Capital Management, Inc., which serves as the investment manager to Capital Ventures International, may exercise voting and dispositive power over these shares and, as such, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all shares owned by Capital Ventures International. Each of Capital Ventures International and Heights Capital Management, Inc. hereby disclaims any beneficial ownership of any such shares, except for their pecuniary interest therein. Consists of (a) 825,284 shares of common stock held by Capital Ventures International, (b) 12,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 12,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon A123 Systems, Inc.'s option to require the Beneficial Owner to purchase.

(2)
AllianceBernstein L.P., or AllianceBernstein, is a majority-owned subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc. and an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of AXA SA. AllianceBernstein operates under independent management and makes independent decisions from AXA SA and AXA Financial, Inc. and their respective subsidiaries and AXA SA and AXA Financial, Inc. calculate and report beneficial ownership separately from AllianceBernstein pursuant to guidance provided by the SEC in Release Number 34-39538 (January 12, 1998). AllianceBernstein may be deemed to share beneficial ownership with AXA SA reporting persons by virtue of shares of common stock.

(3)
Consists of (a) 2,470,806 shares of common stock held by North Bridge Venture Partners IV-A, L.P., (b) 1,172,886 shares of common stock held by North Bridge Venture Partners IV-B, L.P., (c) 3,499,868 shares of common stock held by North Bridge Venture Partners V-A, L.P. and (d) 1,716,059 shares of common stock held by North Bridge Venture Partners V-B, L.P. North Bridge Venture Management IV, L.P. is the sole General Partner of North Bridge Venture Partners IV-A, L.P. and North Bridge Venture Partners IV-B, L.P. North Bridge Venture Management V, L.P. is the sole General Partner of North Bridge Venture Partners V-A, L.P. and North Bridge Venture Partners V-B, L.P. NBVM GP, LLC, as the sole General Partner of North Bridge Venture Management IV, L.P., has ultimate voting and investment power of the shares held of record by North Bridge Venture Partners IV-A, L.P. and North Bridge Venture Partners IV-B, L.P., and as the sole General Partner of North Bridge Venture Management V, L.P., has ultimate voting and investment power of the shares held of record by North Bridge Venture Partners V-A, L.P. and North Bridge Venture Partners V-B, L.P. Jeffrey P. McCarthy, a member of our board of directors, is a managing member of NBVM GP, LLC. Voting and investment power over such shares are

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(4)
Consists of (a) 900,277 shares of common stock held by GPSF Securities, Inc., (b) 800,945 shares of common stock held by GE Capital CFE, Inc., (c) 6,512,034 shares of common stock held by GE Capital Equity Investments, Inc. and (d) 59,766 shares of common stock held by Heller Financial Leasing, Inc. Each entity exercises voting and investment power over the shares held by it. General Electric Company, a publicly-traded corporation, is the parent company of GPSF Securities, Inc., GE Capital CFE, Inc., GE Capital Equity Investments, Inc. and Heller Financial Leasing, Inc.

(5)
Consists of (a) 138,607 shares of common stock held by Dr. Deshpande, (b) 1,875 shares of common stock underlying a vested RSU award from June 2011, the receipt of which Dr. Deshpande has elected to defer until the earlier of a change in control of the company or within 30 days following the date he ceases serving on our board of directors, (c) beneficial ownership of 625 RSUs that will vest within 60 days of June 4, 2012 and (d) 6,879,022 shares of common stock held by Sparta Group MA LLC Series 6. Dr. and Mrs. Deshpande are managers of Sparta Group MA LLC Series 6 and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over such shares.

(6)
Consists of (a) 943,246 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Vieau, and (b) 848,974 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options. Mr. Vieau is a member of our board of directors and our President and Chief Executive Officer.

(7)
Consists of (a) 12,500 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Prystash, and (b) 87,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.

(8)
Consists of (a) 7,705 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Forcier, and (b) 150,900 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.

(9)
Consists of 190,151 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.

(10)
Consists of 200,150 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.

(11)
Consists of (a) 118,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options, (b) 1,875 shares of common stock underlying a vested RSU award from June 2011, the receipt of which Mr. Goldstein has elected to defer until the earlier of a change in control of the company or within 30 days following the date he ceases serving on our board of directors and (c) beneficial ownership of 625 RSUs that will vest within 60 days of June 4, 2012.

(12)
Consists of (a) 118,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options, (b) 1,875 shares of common stock underlying a vested RSU award from June 2011, the receipt of which Mr. Haroian has elected to defer until the earlier of a change in control of the company or within 30 days following the date he ceases serving on our board of directors and (c) beneficial ownership of 625 RSUs that will vest within 60 days of June 4, 2012.

(13)
Consists of (a) 1,875 shares of common stock held by the Paul and Stacy Jacobs Family Trust dated 5/3/2000, of which Dr. Jacobs and his wife are trustees, (b) beneficial ownership of 625 RSUs that will vest within 60 days of June 4, 2012 and (c) 5,351,864 shares held by Qualcomm Incorporated, of which Dr. Jacobs is the Chairman and chief executive officer. Dr. Jacobs may be deemed to have voting and investment power over the shares held by Qualcomm, but disclaims beneficial ownership over such shares.

(14)
Consists of (a) 8,859,619 shares held by entities affiliated with North Bridge Venture Partners, the ultimate general partner of which is NBVM GP, LLC, (b) 1,875 shares of common stock underlying a vested RSU award from June 2011, the receipt of which Mr. McCarthy has elected to defer until the earlier of a change in control of the company or within 30 days following the date he ceases

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(15)
Consists of (a) 389,572 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Riley, (b) 453,705 shares of common stock held by The Yusun Kim Riley Revocable Trust, and (c) 532,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options. Dr. Riley and his wife are the trustees of The Yusun Kim Riley Revocable Trust. Dr. Riley, a member of our board of directors, is our Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Technology Officer.

(16)
Consists of an aggregate of (a) 23,037,715 shares of common stock, (b) beneficial ownership of an aggregate of 3,125 RSUs that will vest within 60 days of June 4, 2012, (c) 7,500 shares of common stock underlying vested RSU awards held by certain of our directors, the receipt of which has been deferred by such directors, and (d) 2,247,175 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.

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PROPOSAL 1:

APPROVAL OF ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
PURSUANT TO A123'S 6.0% SENIOR UNSECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTES
AND RELATED WARRANTS

Preliminary Note

        Pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(d) (the "20% Rule"), stockholder approval is required prior to the issuance of securities in connection with a transaction other than a public offering involving:

        In order to comply with the 20% Rule in connection with the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants (in each case as defined below), as described in greater detail below, the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise (including in connection with the payment of interest or principal thereof), was capped at the amount that could be issued without violating the 20% Rule (the "Exchange Cap"). We are seeking stockholder approval to issue shares of our common stock pursuant to the Notes, upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise (including in connection with the payment of interest or principal thereof), in excess of the Exchange Cap. Pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, upon receipt of stockholder approval to issue shares of common stock in excess of the Exchange Cap, the Exercise Floor Price (as defined below) of the Warrants will no longer apply. Accordingly, we are also seeking stockholder approval to issue shares of common stock upon exercise of the Warrants without regard to the Exercise Floor Price.

        The Board recommends a vote FOR the approval of A123's issuance of shares of common stock in excess of the Exchange Cap in connection with the conversion of the Notes or otherwise (including in connection with the payment of interest or principal thereof) and upon exercise of the Warrants without regard to the Exercise Floor Price.

Impact on Stockholders of Approval or Disapproval of this Proposal No. 1

        We are seeking stockholder approval for the following reasons:

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Increased Dilution

        Upon conversion of the Notes or exercise of the Warrants, or payment of principal, interest and other amounts under the Notes in the form of shares of common stock, there will be a greater number of shares of our common stock eligible for sale in the public markets. Any such sales, or the anticipation of the possibility of such sales, represent an overhang on the market and could depress the market price of our common stock.

Description of the Notes

        On May 23, 2012, we entered into an amended and restated securities purchase agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), with the Purchasers, pursuant to which we sold to the Purchasers $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes (at face amount) and Warrants to purchase 12,711,864 shares of our common stock, subject to certain adjustments, for an aggregate purchase price of $50.0 million. We paid fees and expenses of approximately $2.9 million, including $135,000 to reimburse the legal fees and expenses of the Purchasers incurred in connection with the transaction. Accordingly, the net proceeds to us were $47.1 million.

        Subject to the control account and security agreement described below, the Notes are A123's general unsecured obligations, will be pari passu in right of payment with all of A123's existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness and will be senior in right of payment to any of A123's future subordinated indebtedness.

        We issued $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.00% per year, subject to certain adjustments, and mature on July 15, 2013.

        The Notes are convertible, at the Purchasers' option, into shares of A123's common stock, initially at a fixed conversion price of $1.18 per share, subject to certain adjustments.

        The Purchasers will have the right at any time, and from time to time, after August 15, 2012, to elect to convert up to $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes at a price equal to 85% of the closing price of A123's common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the conversion date; provided, however, that the Purchasers may not convert more than $3.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes on any given trading date.

        Until the earlier to occur of the date of the stockholder approval of Proposals No. 1 and 2, as described below, and June 30, 2012, the Purchasers shall not have the right to convert the Notes into more than 49,602,469 shares of common stock.

        The Notes may not be converted if, after giving effect to the conversion, the Purchasers together with their affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the outstanding shares of A123's common stock (the "Maximum Percentage"). The Maximum Percentage may be raised to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% at the option of the Purchasers, upon at least 61-days' prior notice to A123, or lowered to any other percentage, at the option of the Purchasers at any time.

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        In no event will A123 issue more than 19.9% of the number of shares of A123's outstanding common stock on the closing date in respect of the Notes as a result of conversions, amortization or interest payments, or redemptions unless prior shareholder approval has been obtained, as described below, except as a result of stock splits or similar events.

        We are required to repay the Notes in twenty-seven semi-monthly installments, commencing on June 15, 2012 and thereafter on the 1st and 15th of each month (each such date, an "Installment Date"). The amortization payment on each Installment Date is 1/29th of the principal amount of the Notes, subject to certain adjustments, provided that the amortization payment on the June 15, 2012, July 1, 2012 and July 15, 2012 Installment Dates will be 12/3 times the amortization payment on the other Installment Dates.

        We have the right to make interest or amortization payments and redemption payments in shares of A123's common stock, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, or elect to pay in cash. Among these conditions:

        If A123 is not permitted to deliver shares of common stock with respect to an Installment Date due to a failure to satisfy any of the conditions, A123 must pay the applicable portion of the principal and interest amounts in cash, unless the conditions are waived by the Purchaser. If the applicable conditions are satisfied, A123 currently intends to repay the Notes through the issuance of shares of its common stock. However, this intention may change depending on A123's finances at the time of the applicable Installment Date and A123's stock price on the applicable Installment Date.

        If A123 makes a payment in shares of common stock, the principal amount of the Notes being paid will be converted into shares of A123's common stock at a price per share equal to the lesser of the applicable conversion price and 82% of the Market Price of A123's common stock on the applicable interest date or amortization installment date. "Market Price" means the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average price of A123's common stock on each of the five trading days immediately preceding the applicable date, but in no event greater than the volume weighted average price of A123's common stock on the trading date immediately preceding the applicable date.

        We deposited $30.0 million of the expected proceeds from the Notes into a bank account subject to an account control agreement that will be released upon:

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        If:

then the Purchasers will have the right to require A123 to redeem all or any portion of $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, from the proceeds in the control account.

        The $30.0 million of proceeds subject to the account control agreement will not be available to A123 prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval and the Registration Statement Effectiveness.

        We have also entered into a security agreement with the Purchasers' representative pursuant to which the proceeds in the control account were pledged for the benefit of the Purchasers until the proceeds in the control account are released to A123 as described above.

        In the event of a change of control (as defined in the Notes), the Purchasers will have the option to cause A123 to redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a price equal to 100% of the greater of:

        The Notes contain certain covenants and restrictions, including, among others, that, for so long as the Notes are outstanding, we will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to:

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        Events of default under the Notes include, among other events, payment defaults, cross-defaults, breaches of any representation, warranty or covenant that is not cured within the proper time periods, failure to perform certain required activities in a timely manner, suspension from trading or failure of A123's common stock to be listed on an eligible market for certain periods and certain bankruptcy-type events involving A123 or any significant subsidiary. Upon an event of default, the Purchasers may elect to require A123 to redeem all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes at a price equal to the greater of:

Warrants

        The Warrants have a strike price equal to $1.29 per share. In the event of a fundamental change, the Purchasers are entitled to a fair value settlement for the lost option value determined on a Black-Scholes-based calculation. The Warrants may not be exercised for six months from the date of issuance. The Warrants are subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. However, until the Stockholder Approval is obtained, in no event will such adjustments result in a strike price less than $1.11 per share (the "Exercise Floor Price").

        The Warrants may not be exercised if, after giving effect to the exercise, Purchasers together with their affiliates would beneficially own in excess of the Maximum Percentage of 4.99%. The Maximum Percentage may be raised to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% at the option of the holder of the Warrants, upon at least 61-days' prior notice to us, or lowered to any other percentage, at the option of the Purchasers, at any time.

Registration Rights Agreement

        We entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Purchasers pursuant to which we agreed to register the shares of common stock underlying the Notes and Warrants. We agreed to file an initial registration statement within 20 days after the closing of the private placement of the Notes and Warrants and to file a subsequent registration statement on the earlier of (i) three calendar days after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained and (ii) July 3, 2012 to register the remainder of the common stock underlying the Notes and the shares of common stock underlying the Warrants. We filed the initial registration statement on May 30, 2012.

        If we fail to register the appropriate number of shares of common stock, or fail to file the required registration statements on a timely basis or the initial registration statement is not declared effective within 60 days (or 75 days if reviewed by the SEC) after the date of the issuance of the Notes, or maintained, or if the subsequent registration statement is not declared effective by August 20, 2012, or maintained, or if all of such registered shares of common stock cannot be sold on any date after such registration statements are declared effective, we will be required to make a cash payment to the Purchasers equal to 2% of the then-outstanding principal amount of the Notes, and accrued but unpaid interest thereon, on the date of such failure and on every thirtieth day after such failure until such failure is cured.

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PROPOSAL 2:

AUTHORIZATION TO INCREASE THE COMPANY'S AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK
FROM 250,000,000 SHARES TO 650,000,000 SHARES

Background

        In order to ensure that (1) A123 has sufficient shares of common stock to issue upon conversion of the Notes and the exercise of the Warrants and (2) that sufficient shares of common stock will be available for future issuance by A123, the Board of Directors has approved, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance from 250,000,000 to 650,000,000. You are being asked to consider and act upon this proposal to approve the proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. A123 will not receive any of the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the shares of common stock being authorized under this Proxy Statement.

        As described above, if the Stockholder Approval is not obtained on or prior to June 30, 2012, then the Purchasers will have the right to require us to redeem all or any portion of $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

        The $30.0 million of proceeds subject to the account control agreement will not be available to us prior to our obtaining the Stockholder Approval and the Registration Statement Effectiveness.

        In addition, it is important that A123 have the an appropriate number of authorized but unissued shares in order for us to, among other things, undertake important strategic initiatives the Board of Directors may approve from time to time.

        Under Delaware law, we may only issue shares of common stock to the extent such shares have been authorized for issuance under our Certificate of Incorporation. From time-to-time, we issue shares of common stock in connection with capital raises to fund operations and expansion plans and for other general corporate purposes. Upon each of these occurrences, the amount of available authorized shares decreases. Our Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes the issuance of up to 250,000,000 shares of common stock. However, as of June 4, 2012, 147.1 million shares of common stock were issued and outstanding, 16.8 million shares were reserved for issuance under our equity compensation plans pursuant to outstanding and yet to be issued equity awards and 86.1 shares were reserved for issuance for the 2016 Notes (as defined below), outstanding warrants and the Notes. So long as any Purchaser owns any securities and at all times prior to the earlier of our obtaining the Stockholder Approval and June 30, 2012, the Securities Purchase Agreement requires us to have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no less than 49,602,469 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction after May 11, 2012) for issuance by us pursuant to the terms of the Notes then outstanding. So long as any Purchaser owns any securities and from and after the earlier of our obtaining the Stockholder Approval and June 30, 2012, the Securities Purchase Agreement requires us to at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, no less than the greater of (x) 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction after May 11, 2012) less the number of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the terms of the Notes and the Warrants after we obtain the shareholder approvals and (y) 125% of the sum of (i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes then outstanding (without taking into account any limitations on the issuance thereof pursuant to the terms of the Notes), and (ii) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants then outstanding (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the

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Warrants set forth in the Warrants). We will not have adequate available shares of common stock for these issuances upon conversion of the Notes unless Proposal No. 2 is approved. It is possible that under certain circumstances we may not have sufficient authorized shares, at the time such conversions occur, to pay all of these amounts by delivering shares. The proposed increase in the authorized common stock would provide us with additional flexibility to, among other things, make certain payments due on conversion of a portion of the Notes in the future by delivering shares of common stock rather than paying cash, as well as to issue additional equity and equity linked securities in the future to fund our operations and expected growth and other general corporate purposes.

Purpose and Effect of the Increase in the Amount of A123's Authorized Common Stock

        The principal purpose of this proposal is to authorize additional shares of common stock, which may be used for the purposes described above and for general corporate purposes. As an example, the Board of Directors may in the future determine that it is appropriate or necessary to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities, convertible debt securities or other equity linked securities, to acquire another company or its assets, to establish strategic relationships with corporate partners, to provide equity incentives to employees and officers (subject to additional stockholder approvals as required), to permit future stock dividends or for other corporate purposes. In addition, we may use a portion of the additional authorized shares of common stock to make payments of certain coupon make whole payments and additional amounts payable on conversion of the Notes, rather than pay cash, which would increase our financial flexibility and liquidity and preserve our cash for funding our operations and expected future growth. The availability of additional shares of common stock is particularly important in the event that the Board of Directors needs to undertake any of the foregoing actions on an expedited basis and thus to avoid the time and expense of seeking stockholder approval in connection with the contemplated issuance of common stock. If the amendment is approved by the stockholders, the Board does not intend to solicit further stockholder approval prior to the issuance of any additional shares of common stock, unless stockholder approval is otherwise required by law or the Marketplace Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market which require stockholder approval for certain issuances of stock.

        The increase in authorized common stock will not have any immediate effect on the rights of existing stockholders. However, the Board of Directors will have the authority to issue authorized common stock without requiring future stockholder approval of such issuances, except as may be required by applicable law. To the extent that additional authorized shares are issued in the future, they may decrease the existing stockholders' percentage equity ownership and, depending on the price at which they are issued, could be dilutive to the existing stockholders. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights, and the Board of Directors has no plans to grant such rights with respect to any such shares.

        The increase in the authorized amount of shares of common stock and the subsequent issuance of such shares could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of A123 without further action by the stockholders. Shares of authorized and unissued common stock could, within the limits imposed by applicable law or stock exchange rules, be issued in one or more transactions which would make a change of control of A123 more difficult, and therefore less likely. Any such issuance of additional stock could have the effect of diluting the earnings per share and book value per share of outstanding shares of common stock and such additional shares could be used to dilute the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of A123.

        We do not have any arrangements, commitments or understandings to issue any shares of our capital stock except in connection with our existing stock option plan, our existing 3.75% convertible subordinated notes due 2016 (the "2016 Notes"), the Notes and the Warrants.

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        As of June 4, 2012 there were:

        The proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation will not change the number of authorized shares of preferred stock.

        We believe that the increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock is in the best interests of A123 and its stockholders.

Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Directors

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting is required to approve the proposed amendment of our Certificate of Incorporation. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND DECLARING ITS ADVISABILITY AS SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL NO. 2. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NO. 2.


SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

        This Proxy Statement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate," or "continue," and similar expressions or variations. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding industry trends, management's expectations, competitive strengths or market position, market expectations, business opportunities, projections of revenue, expenses, profits, management's confidence in our strategies and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in any of our filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The forward-looking statements in this Proxy Statement and the

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information incorporated by reference in this prospects represent our views as of the date such statements are made. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date such statements are made. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they were made, and, except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Proxy Statement.


OTHER MATTERS

        A123 knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Special Meeting. Our Board of Directors does not currently intend to bring any other business before the Special Meeting and, so far as our Board of Directors knows, no other matters are to be brought before the Special Meeting. If other business properly comes before the Special Meeting, the proxies will vote in accordance with their own judgment.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this Proxy Statement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered a part of this Proxy Statement, and all information appearing in this Proxy Statement is qualified in its entirety by the information incorporated herein by reference. Information in this Proxy Statement updates and, in some cases, supersedes information incorporated by reference from documents that A123 has filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Proxy Statement, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically supplement, update and, in some cases, supersede the information in this Proxy Statement.

        The following documents and information we previously filed with the SEC are incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement:

        In addition, all documents we file under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Proxy Statement and before the date of the Special Meeting are incorporated by reference into and deemed a part of this Proxy Statement from the date of filing of those documents.

        Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits unless we have specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit in this Proxy Statement. You may obtain documents that we have filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this document, without charge, by making an oral or written request to A123 Systems, Inc., 200 West Street, Waltham,

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Massachusetts 02451, Telephone: (617) 778-5700, Attention: Investor Relations. Documents incorporated by reference will be delivered by first class mail or other equally prompt means within one business day of receipt of such request.

        In addition, you may read and copy any reports, statements or other information that A123 files with the SEC at the SEC's public reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. These SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

        You should rely only on the information contained (or incorporated by reference) in this Proxy Statement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from what is contained in this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement is dated June 11, 2012. You should not assume that the information contained in this Proxy Statement is accurate as of any date other than that date (or as of an earlier date if so indicated in this Proxy Statement).

    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Waltham, Massachusetts

June 11, 2012

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ANNEX A

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

        A123 Systems, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

        FIRST:    That the Board of Directors of the Corporation, at a meeting of the Board of Directors on May 23, 2012, in accordance with the provisions of Section 141(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, duly adopted a resolution setting forth a proposed amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended. The resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:

        RESOLVED:    That a proposed amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, effecting a change in the first paragraph of Article FOURTH thereof, so that said first paragraph of Article FOURTH shall read in its entirety as set forth below, is hereby approved, and is recommended to the stockholders of the Corporation for approval as being advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation:

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer this            day of                        , 2012.

    A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

  

David Vieau
President and Chief Executive Officer

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ANNEX B


[FORM OF SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTE]

        NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 3(c)(iii) AND 18(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS NOTE.


A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTE

Issuance Date: May 24, 2012   Original Principal Amount: U.S. $ [                                    ]

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby promises to pay to [BUYER] or registered assigns (the "Holder") (i) the amount set out above as the Original Principal Amount (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to amortization, redemption, conversion or otherwise, the "Principal") when due, whether upon the Maturity Date (as defined below), on any Installment Date with respect to the Installment Amount due on such Installment Date, acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and (ii) interest ("Interest") on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate from the date set out above as the Issuance Date (the "Issuance Date") until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon an Interest Date (as defined below), any Installment Date, the Maturity Date, acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Senior Convertible Note (including all Senior Convertible Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this "Note") is one of an issue of Senior Convertible Notes issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Closing Date (collectively, the "Notes" and such other Senior Convertible Notes, the "Other Notes"). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 30.

        (1)    PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL; PREPAYMENT.    On each Installment Date (which includes the Maturity Date), the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount equal to the Installment Amount due on such Installment Date in accordance with Section 8. On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal and accrued and unpaid Interest. The "Maturity Date" shall be July 15, 2013, as may be extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for so long as, an Event of Default (as defined in Section 4(a)) shall have occurred and be continuing on the Maturity Date (as may be extended pursuant to this Section 1) or any event shall have occurred and be continuing on the Maturity Date (as may be extended pursuant to this Section 1) that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an Event of Default and (ii) through the date that is ten (10) Business Days after the consummation of a Change of Control in the event that a Change of Control is publicly announced or a Change of Control Notice (as defined in Section 5(b)) is delivered prior to the Maturity Date. Other than as specifically permitted by


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this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the outstanding Principal or accrued and unpaid Interest, if any.

        (2)    INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.    

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        (3)    CONVERSION OF NOTES.    At any time or times after the Issuance Date, this Note shall be convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Note, until the earlier to occur of the Stockholder Approval Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and June 30, 2012, the Holder shall not have the right to deliver one or more Conversion Notices (as defined in Section 3(c)(i)) that require the issuance of Common Stock in an aggregate number of shares that exceed the product of (x) 49,602,469 (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction after the Subscription Date) and (y) the Holder Pro Rata Amount.

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        (4)   RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.

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        (5)   RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL.

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        (6)   DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS; RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS AND OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.

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        (7)   RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF OTHER SECURITIES.

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        (8)    COMPANY CONVERSION OR REDEMPTION.    On each Installment Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder of this Note the Installment Amount due on such date by converting all or some of such Installment Amount into Common Stock, provided there has been no Equity Conditions Failure, in accordance with this Section 8 (a "Company Conversion"); provided, however, that the Company may, at its option following notice to the Holder as set forth below, pay all or some of the Installment Amount by redeeming such Installment Amount in cash (a "Company Redemption") or by any combination of a Company Conversion and a Company Redemption so long as all of the outstanding applicable Installment Amount due on any Installment Date shall be converted and/or redeemed by the Company on the applicable Installment Date, subject to the provisions of this Section 8.

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        (9)    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION AT THE HOLDER'S ELECTION.    If (i) the Company has not obtained both the Stockholder Approval and the Authorized Share Stockholder Approval (each as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) on or prior to June 30, 2012, (ii) the Initial Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) has not been declared effective on or prior to August 15, 2012 registering at least the Initial Required Registration Amount of the Initial Registrable Securities (each as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), but in no event registering on such Initial Registration Statement less than one-third (1/3) of the Company's Common Stock held by non-affiliates immediately prior to the Subscription Date or (iii) the Subsequent Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) has not been declared effective on or prior to August 20, 2012 registering at least the Subsequent Required Registration Amount of the Subsequent Registrable Securities (each as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), but in no event registering on such Subsequent Registration Statement less than one-third (1/3) of the Company's Common Stock held by non-affiliates immediately prior to the Subscription Date, the Holder shall have the right, at any time thereafter, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem all or any portion of a maximum of such Holder's Pro Rata Amount of $30,000,000.00 of the outstanding aggregate Principal amount of this Note then outstanding (a "Holder Optional Redemption") by delivering written notice thereof (a "Holder Optional Redemption Notice" and the date the Holder delivers such notice, the "Holder Optional Redemption Notice Date") to the Company which notice shall state (i) the portion of this Note that is being redeemed up to the such Holder's Pro Rata Amount of $30,000,000.00 and (ii) the date on which the Holder Optional Redemption shall occur which date shall be not less than five (5) Business Days from the Holder Optional Redemption Notice Date (the "Holder Optional Redemption Date"). The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 9 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price (the "Holder Optional Redemption Price") equal to 100% of the Conversion Amount being redeemed together with any accrued and unpaid Interest on such Conversion Amount and Interest through the Holder Optional Redemption Date. On the Holder Optional Redemption Date the Company shall deliver or shall cause to be delivered to the Holder the Holder Optional Redemption Price in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to wire instructions provided by the Holder in writing to the Company. If (i) both the Stockholder Approval and the Authorized Share Stockholder Approval are obtained on or prior to June 30, 2012, (ii) the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective on or prior to August 15, 2012 registering at least the Initial Required Registration

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Amount of the Initial Registrable Securities, but in no event registering on such Initial Registration Statement less than one-third (1/3) of the Company's Common Stock held by non-affiliates immediately prior to the Subscription Date and (iii) the Subsequent Registration Statement has been declared effective on or prior to August 20, 2012 registering at least the Subsequent Required Registration Amount of the Subsequent Registrable Securities, but in no event registering on such Subsequent Registration Statement less than one-third (1/3) of the Company's Common Stock held by non-affiliates immediately prior to the Subscription Date, the Holder shall consent to release the funds in the Control Account pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Control Agreement. Holder Optional Redemptions made pursuant to this Section 9 shall be made in accordance with Section 12.

        (10)    NONCIRCUMVENTION.    The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note.

        (11)    RESERVATION OF AUTHORIZED SHARES.    

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        (12)    REDEMPTIONS.    

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        (13)    VOTING RIGHTS.    The Holder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by law and as expressly provided in this Note.

        (14)    SECURITY.    This Note and the Other Notes are secured to the extent and in the manner set forth in that certain security letter agreement dated as of the date hereof by and between the Company and the Buyers' Representative.

        (15)    COVENANTS.    

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        (16)    VOTE TO ISSUE, OR CHANGE THE TERMS OF, NOTES.    The written consent of the Required Holders shall be required for any change or amendment to the Notes; provided that any such amendment or waiver that complies with the foregoing but that disproportionately, materially and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Holder relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Holders shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Holder.

        (17)    TRANSFER.    This Note and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of this Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder without the consent of the Company, subject only to the provisions of Section 2(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement and applicable securities laws.

        (18)    REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.    

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        (19)    REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.    The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder's right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

        (20)    PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS.    If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors' rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees and disbursements.

        (21)    CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS.    This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and all the Purchasers and shall not be construed against any person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the

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interpretation of, this Note. Terms used in this Note but defined in the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Initial Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

        (22)    FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER.    No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.

        (23)    DISPUTE RESOLUTION.    In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price or the Weighted Average Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Conversion Rate, the Conversion Price or any Redemption Price, the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via facsimile within one (1) Business Day of receipt, or deemed receipt, of the Conversion Notice or Redemption Notice or other event giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation within one (1) Business Day of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within one Business Day submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price or the Weighted Average Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder and approved by the Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Conversion Rate, Conversion Price or any Redemption Price to an independent, outside accountant, selected by the Holder and approved by the Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company, at the Company's expense, shall cause the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than five (5) Business Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

        (24)    NOTICES; PAYMENTS.    

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        (25)    CANCELLATION.    After all Principal, accrued Interest and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.

        (26)    WAIVER OF NOTICE.    To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby waives demand, notice, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Securities Purchase Agreement.

        (27)    GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL.    This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. The Company hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address it set forth on the signature page hereto and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company's obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

        (28)    SEVERABILITY.    If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

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        (29)    THIRD PARTY SUBORDINATION.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Note, and for so long as the Permitted Senior Indebtedness is outstanding (including, without limitation, during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency or other reorganization or similar proceeding), this Note and the liens, if any, created hereunder shall at all times remain subject, subordinate and inferior in right of payment to the extent hereinafter set forth to the prior payment in full in cash of the Permitted Senior Indebtedness (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) pursuant to terms thereof. The priority of any Permitted Senior Indebtedness over the obligations under this Note shall be effective without reference to time, order or method of attachment of the security interests and liens of the Permitted Senior Indebtedness or the security interest and liens, if any, on any property of the Company held by Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Note, (i) the Holders shall have a first priority and sole security interest in the Collateral Account, all cash and other assets credited thereto, and all procceds thereof, and shall be entitled to enforce such security interest upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under the Notes, and (ii) nothing shall prevent the Holder, its designee or assignee from (a) receiving any payments under the Notes when due or (b) exercising its other rights and remedies hereunder. Each Holder expressly agrees and acknowledges that the holders of Permitted Senior Indebtedness (and any agent or agents on their behalf pursuant to the terms of the Permitted Senior Indebtedness documents) are and shall be third-party beneficiaries of this provision and may enforce this provision to the fullest extent of the law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing provisions of this Section 29 shall not prohibit the Company from making any cash or stock payments pursuant to the terms of the Notes.

        (30)    CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.    For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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        (31)    DISCLOSURE.    Upon receipt or delivery by the Company of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day after any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, nonpublic information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to such Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

        [Signature Page Follows]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

    A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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EXHIBIT I

A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
CONVERSION NOTICE

        Reference is made to the Senior Convertible Note (the "Note") issued to the undersigned by A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into shares of Common Stock par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock") of the Company, as of the date specified below.

        Date of Conversion:

        Aggregate Conversion Amount to be converted:

Please confirm the following information:

        Conversion Price:

        Number of shares of Common Stock to be issued:

Please issue the Common Stock into which the Note is being converted in the following name and to the following address:

        Issue to:

         Facsimile Number:

        Authorization:

                By:

                        Title:

Dated:

Installment Amounts to be reduced and amount of reduction

Floating Rate Conversion Price in accordance with Section 7(d)


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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

        The Company hereby acknowledges this Conversion Notice and hereby directs American Stock Transfer & Trust to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated May     , 2012 from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by American Stock Transfer & Trust.

    A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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ANNEX C

[FORM OF WARRANT]

        NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

Warrant No.:
Number of Shares of Common Stock:
Date of Issuance: May 24, 2012 ("
Issuance Date")

        A123 Systems, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,                                     , the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the "Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon exercise of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the "Warrant"), at any time or times on or after the date that is six (6) months after the Issuance Date (the "Exercisability Date"), but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Warrant Share Number, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the "Warrant Shares"). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 16. This Warrant is one of the Warrants to purchase Common Stock (the "Warrants") issued pursuant to Section 1 of that certain Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2012, by and between the Company and the Holder (the "Securities Purchase Agreement").

        1.     EXERCISE OF WARRANT.


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Net Number = (A × B) – (A × C)

   

D

   

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

   

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        3.    RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS.    In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or securities (other than stock or securities for which the Holder has elected to receive, in lieu of the distribution contemplated by this Section 3, an adjustment pursuant to Section 2(a)), property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a "Distribution"), at any time after the Issuance Date, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Distributions would result in the Holder

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exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and such Distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time the Holder shall be granted such right to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

        4.     PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

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        5.    NONCIRCUMVENTION.    The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as this Warrant is outstanding, from and after the earlier to occur of (x) the Exercisability Date and (y) the Authorized Share Stockholder Approval Date, take all action necessary to reserve and keep

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available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Warrants and the conversion of the Notes (without regard to any limitations on exercise or conversion), the Required Reserve Amount.

        6.    WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.    Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

        7.     REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

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        8.    NOTICES.    Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment(s) and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder and (iii) at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the SEC (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. It is expressly understood and agreed that the time of execution specified by the Holder in each Exercise Notice shall be definitive and may not be disputed or challenged by the Company.

        9.    AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.    Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended and 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 has obtained the written consent of the Holder. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

        10.    SEVERABILITY.    If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

        11.    GOVERNING LAW.    This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the

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address it set forth on the signature page hereto and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company's obligations to the Holder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

        12.    CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS.    This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

        13.    DISPUTE RESOLUTION.    In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Closing Bid Price or fair market value or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Exercise Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Closing Bid Price or fair market value or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Closing Bid Price or fair market value (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank jointly selected by the Company and the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company's independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

        14.    REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.    The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees

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that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company's compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 2 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.

        15.    TRANSFER.    This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company.

        16.    CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.    For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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(1)
Insert a number of shares equal to 30% of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Convertible Notes purchased under the Securities Purchase Agreement assuming conversion at the initial Conversion Price.

[signature page follows]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

    A123 SYSTEMS INC.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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EXHIBIT A

EXERCISE NOTICE
TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

        The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase                              of the shares of Common Stock ("Warrant Shares") of A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the "Warrant"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

        1.     Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

        2.     Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $            to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

        3.     Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to the holder                        Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

        4.     Compliance with Maximum Percentage. By delivering this Exercise Notice, the Holder hereby represents that, after giving effect to the exercise provided for in this Exercise Notice, the Holder will not have direct or indirect beneficial ownership of a number of shares of Common Stock which exceeds the Maximum Percentage (as defined in the Warrant) as of the date of this Exercise Notice.

Date:                              ,


 
   
Name of Registered Holder    

By:

 


 

 

 
    Name:    
    Title:    

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

        The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs American Stock Transfer & Trust to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated                              , 2012 from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by American Stock Transfer & Trust.

    A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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ANNEX D


[FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

        REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 24, 2012, by and among A123 Systems, Inc., Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 200 West Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 (the "Company"), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (each, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").

        A.    In connection with the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto, dated as of May 23, 2012 (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Buyer (i) senior convertible notes of the Company (the "Notes"), which will, among other things, be convertible into the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock") and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") which will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (as exercised, collectively, the "Warrant Shares") in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.

        B.    In accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Buyers hereby agree as follows:

        1.     Definitions.

        Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:


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         (ii)  "Subsequent Filing Date" means the date on which the Subsequent Registration Statement is filed with the SEC.

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        2.    Registration.    

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        3.    Related Obligations.    

        At such time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 2(f) or 2(g), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:

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        4.    Obligations of the Investors.    

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        5.    Expenses of Registration.    

        All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also reimburse the Investors for the fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel in connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement which amount shall be limited to $10,000 for each such registration, filing or qualification.

        6.    Indemnification.    

        In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

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        7.    Contribution.    

        To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, (ii) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

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        8.    Reports Under the 1934 Act.    

        With a view to making available to the Investors 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 Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees to:

        9.    Assignment of Registration Rights.    

        The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor's Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

        10.    Amendment of Registration Rights.    

        Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders; provided that any such amendment or waiver that complies with the foregoing but that disproportionately, materially and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Investor relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Investors shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

        11.    Miscellaneous.    

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If to the Company:

        A123 Systems, Inc.
        200 West Street
        Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
        Telephone:   (617) 778-5700
        Facsimile:   (617) 924-8910
        Attention:   General Counsel

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

        Latham & Watkins, LLP
        John Hancock Tower, 20th Floor
        200 Clarendon Street
        Boston, MA 02116
        Telephone:   (617) 948-6000
        Facsimile:   (617) 948-6001
        Attention:   John Chory

If to the Transfer Agent:

        American Stock Transfer & Trust
        Company, LLC
        59 Maiden Lane
        Plaza Level
        New York, NY 10038
        Telephone:   (800) 937-5449
        Facsimile:   (718) 765-8724
        Attention:   Susan Silber
        E-mail:   investors@amstock.com

If to Legal Counsel:

        Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
        919 Third Avenue
        New York, New York 10022
        Telephone:   (212) 756-2000
        Facsimile:   (212) 593-5955
        Attention:   Eleazer Klein, Esq.
        Email:   eleazer.klein@srz.com

If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number or email address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or

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to such other address, facsimile number and/or email address to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine or electronic mail transmission containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number or electronic mail address and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

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* * * * * *

[Signature Page Follows]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    COMPANY:

 

 

A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

HUDSON BAY MASTER FUND LTD.
By: Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, as its Investment Manager

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

J.P. MORGAN OMNI SPC, LTD.
By: Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, as its Investment Manager

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

TENOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.
By: Tenor Opportunity Associates, LLC, its general partner

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

PARSOON SPECIAL SITUATION LTD.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

TENOR OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND, LTD.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

ARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND, LTD.

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

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SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

Buyer
  Buyer Address
and Facsimile Number
  Buyer's Representative's
Address and
Facsimile Number
Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd.   c/o Hudson Bay Capital Management LP   Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
    777 Third Avenue, 30th Floor   919 Third Avenue
    New York, New York 10017   New York, NY 10022
    Attention:   Yoav Roth   Attn:   Eleazer Klein, Esq.
        George Antonopolous   Facsimile:   (212) 593-5955
    Facsimile:   646-214-7946   Telephone:   (212) 756-2000
    Telephone:   212-571-1244        
    Residence:   Cayman Islands        
    E-mail:   investments@hudsonbaycapital.com        
        operations@hudsonbaycapital.com        

J.P. Morgan Omni SPC, Ltd.

 

c/o Hudson Bay Capital Management LP

 

 

 

 
    777 Third Avenue, 30th Floor        
    New York, New York 10017        
    Attention:   Yoav Roth        
        George Antonopolous        
    Facsimile:   646-214-7946        
    Telephone:   212-571-1244        
    Residence:   Cayman Islands        
    E-mail:   investments@hudsonbaycapital.com        
        operations@hudsonbaycapital.com        

Tenor Special Situations Fund, L.P.

 

c/o Tenor Capital Management Company, L.P.

 

 

 

 
    1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor        
    New York, NY 10036        
    Attention:   Waqas Khatri        
    Facsimile:   1-212-918-5301        
    Telephone:   1-212-918-5213        
    Residence:   Delaware        
    Email:   Operations@tenorcapital.com with cc to wkhatri@tenorcapital.com        

Parsoon Special Situation Ltd.

 

c/o Tenor Capital Management Company, L.P.

 

 

 

 
    1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor        
    New York, NY 10036        
    Attention:   Waqas Khatri        
    Facsimile:   1-212-918-5301        
    Telephone:   1-212-918-5213        
    Residence:   Cayman Islands        
    Email:   Operations@tenorcapital.com with cc to wkhatri@tenorcapital.com        

Tenor Opportunity Master

 

c/o Tenor Capital Management Company, L.P.

 

 

 

 
Fund, Ltd.   1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor        
    New York, NY 10036        
    Attention:   Waqas Khatri        
    Facsimile:   1-212-918-5301        
    Telephone:   1-212-918-5213        
    Residence:   Cayman Islands        
    Email:   Operations@tenorcapital.com with cc to wkhatri@tenorcapital.com        

Aria Opportunity Fund, Ltd.

 

c/o Tenor Capital Management Company, L.P.

 

 

 

 
    1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor        
    New York, NY 10036        
    Attention:   Waqas Khatri        
    Telephone:   1-212-918-5213        
    Facsimile:   1-212-918-5301        
    Email:   Operations@tenorcapital.com with cc to wkhatri@tenorcapital.com        

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EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
59 Maiden Lane
Plaza Level
New York, NY 10038
Attention: Susan Silber

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        [We are][I am] counsel to A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2012 (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), entered into by and among the Company and the buyers named therein (collectively, the "Holders") pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders senior convertible notes (the "Notes") convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock") and warrants exercisable for shares of Common Stock (the "Warrants"). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the resale of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on                                    , 2012, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-                                    ) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling shareholder thereunder.

        In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC's staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.

        This letter shall serve as our standing instruction to you that the shares of Common Stock are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance or reissuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holders as contemplated by the Company's Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated May [    •    ], 2012.


 

 

Very truly yours,
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL]

 

 

By:

 

 

CC:    [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS]        

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EXHIBIT B

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

        The shares of common stock being offered by the selling shareholders are those issuable to the selling shareholders pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes and upon exercise of the warrants. For additional information regarding the issuance of those convertible notes and warrants, see "Private Placement of Convertible Notes and Warrants" above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the convertible notes and the warrants issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.

        The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of the convertible notes and warrants, as of                        , 2012, assuming conversion of all convertible notes and exercise of the warrants held by the selling shareholders on that date, without regard to any limitations on conversions or exercises.

        The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling shareholders.

        In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling shareholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of at least [300,000,000] shares of Common Stock issued and issuable (i) pursuant to the convertible notes as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date the registration statement is initially filed with the SEC, and (ii) upon exercise of the related warrants as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date the registration statement is initially filed with the SEC. Because the conversion price of the convertible notes and the exercise price of the warrants may be adjusted, the number of shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of shares being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus.

        Under the terms of the convertible notes and the warrants, a selling shareholder may not convert the convertible notes or exercise the warrants to the extent such conversion or exercise would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 4.99% of our then outstanding shares of common stock following such conversion or exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes which have not been converted and upon exercise of the warrants which have not been exercised. The number of shares in the second column does not reflect this limitation. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See "Plan of Distribution."

Name of Selling Shareholder
  Number of Shares of
Common Stock Owned
Prior to Offering
  Maximum Number of Shares
of Common Stock to be Sold
Pursuant to this Prospectus
  Number of Shares of
Common Stock Owned
After Offering
 

Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd.(1)

            0  

(1)
Hudson Bay Capital Management, L.P., the investment manager of Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd., has voting and investment power over these securities. Sander Gerber is the managing member of Hudson Bay Capital GP LLC, which is the general partner of Hudson Bay Capital Management, L.P. Sander Gerber disclaims beneficial ownership over these securities.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We are registering the shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes and upon exercise of the warrants to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the convertible notes and warrants 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 shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.

        The selling shareholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent's commissions. The shares of common stock 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,

        If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders

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may also sell shares of common stock short and deliver shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock 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 convertible notes, warrants or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of 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 shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock 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. There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the 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 shares of common stock 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 shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.

        We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock 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 a selling shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreements, or the selling shareholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholder 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 registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

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ANNEX E

AMENDED AND RESTATED
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

        This AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of May 23, 2012, by and among A123 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 200 West Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 (the "Company"), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers") amends and restates in its entirety that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Original Securities Purchase Agreement") dated as of May 11, 2012 by and among the Company and the Buyers.

        WHEREAS:

        NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:


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        2.    BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.    Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants with respect to only itself that:

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        3.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.    

        The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that:

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        4.    COVENANTS.    

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        5.    REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.    

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        6.    CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL.    

        The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Notes and the related Warrants to each Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company's sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:

        7.    CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.    

        The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Notes and the related Warrants at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer's sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

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        8.    TERMINATION.    In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer on or before three (3) Business Days from the date hereof due to the Company's or such Buyer's failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above (and the nonbreaching party's failure to waive such unsatisfied condition(s)), the nonbreaching party shall have the option to terminate this Agreement with respect to such breaching party at the close of business on such date by delivering a written notice to that effect to each other party to this Agreement and without liability of any party to any other party; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 8, the Company shall remain obligated to reimburse Hudson Bay or its designee(s), as applicable, for the expenses described in Section 4(g) above.

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        9.    MISCELLANEOUS.    

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A123 Systems, Inc.

 

 
200 West Street    
Waltham, Massachusetts 02451    
Telephone:   (617) 778-5700    
Facsimile:   (617) 924-8910    
Attention:   General Counsel    

Latham & Watkins, LLP
John Hancock Tower, 20th Floor
200 Clarendon Street    
Boston, MA 02116    
Telephone:   (617) 948-6000    
Facsimile:   (617) 948-6001    
Attention:   John Chory    

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American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
59 Maiden Lane    
Plaza Level    
New York, NY 10038    
Telephone:   (800) 937-5449       
Facsimile:   (718) 765-8724       
Attention:   Susan Silber       
E-mail:   investors@amstock.com       

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

 

 
919 Third Avenue    
New York, New York 10022    
Telephone:   (212) 756-2000    
Facsimile:   (212) 593-5955    
Attention:   Eleazer N. Klein, Esq.    
E-mail:   eleazer.klein@srz.com    

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[Signature Page Follows]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    COMPANY:

 

 

A123 SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ DAVID J. PRYSTASH

Name: David J. Prystash
Title:
Chief Financial Officer

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

HUDSON BAY MASTER FUND LTD.

 

 

By:

 

Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, as its Investment Manager

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ YOAV ROTH

Name: Yoav Roth
Title:
Authorized Signatory

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

J.P. MORGAN OMNI SPC, LTD.

 

 

By:

 

Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, as its Investment Manager

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ YOAV ROTH

Name: Yoav Roth
Title:
Authorized Signatory

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

TENOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.

 

 

By:

 

Tenor Opportunity Associates, LLC, its general partner

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBIN R. SHAH

Name: Robin R. Shah
Title:
Managing Member, Tenor Management Associates LLC, its Managing Member

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

PARSOON SPECIAL SITUATION LTD.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ DANIEL KOCHAV

Name: Daniel Kochav
Title:
Director

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

TENOR OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND, LTD.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ DANIEL KOCHAV

Name: Daniel Kochav
Title:
Director

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

    BUYERS:

 

 

ARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND, LTD.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ DANIEL KOCHAV

Name: Daniel Kochav
Title:
Director


SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

(1)
  (2)
  (3)
  (4)
  (5)
Buyer   Address and
Facsimile Number
  Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Notes
  Purchase Price   Legal Representative's
Address and Facsimile
Number
Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd.   777 Third Avenue, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Yoav Roth
                    George Antonopolous
Facsimile: 646-214-7946
Telephone: 212-571-1244
Residence: Cayman Islands
E-mail:
investments@hudsonbaycapital.com
operations@hudsonbaycapital.com
  $ 32,500,000   $ 32,500,000   Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Eleazer Klein, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 593-5955
Telephone: (212) 756-2376

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
J.P. Morgan Omni SPC, Ltd.   777 Third Avenue, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Yoav Roth
                    George Antonopolous
Facsimile: 646-214-7946
Telephone: 212-571-1244
Residence: Cayman Islands
E-mail:
investments@hudsonbaycapital.com
operations@hudsonbaycapital.com
  $ 10,000,000   $ 10,000,000    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tenor Special Situations Fund, L.P.   c/o Tenor Capital Management
Company, L.P.
1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Waqas Khatri
Facsimile: 1-212-918-5301
Telephone: 1-212-918-5213
Residence: Delaware
Email:
Operations@tenorcapital.com
with cc to
wkhatri@tenorcapital.com
  $ 2,000,000   $ 2,000,000    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Parsoon Special Situation Ltd.   c/o Tenor Capital Management
Company, L.P.
1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Waqas Khatri
Facsimile: 1-212-918-5301
Telephone: 1-212-918-5213
Residence: Cayman Islands
Email:
Operations@tenorcapital.com
with cc to
wkhatri@tenorcapital.com
  $ 2,500,000   $ 2,500,000    

(1)
  (2)
  (3)
  (4)
  (5)
Buyer   Address and
Facsimile Number
  Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Notes
  Purchase Price   Legal Representative's
Address and Facsimile
Number
Tenor Opportunity Master Fund, Ltd.   c/o Tenor Capital Management
Company, L.P.
1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Waqas Khatri
Facsimile: 1-212-918-5301
Telephone: 1-212-918-5213
Residence: Cayman Islands
Email:
Operations@tenorcapital.com
with cc to
wkhatri@tenorcapital.com
  $ 2,250,000   $ 2,250,000    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Aria Opportunity Fund, Ltd.   c/o Tenor Capital Management
Company, L.P.
1180 Avenue of Americas, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Waqas Khatri
Telephone: 1-212-918-5213
Facsimile: 1-212-918-5301
Email:
Operations@tenorcapital.com
with cc to
wkhatri@tenorcapital.com
  $ 750,000   $ 750,000    


EXHIBITS

Exhibit A   Form of Notes
Exhibit B   Form of Warrants
Exhibit C   Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit D   Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit E   Form of Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions
Exhibit F   Form of Secretary's Certificate
Exhibit G   Form of Officer's Certificate
Exhibit H   Form of Lock-Up Agreement


SCHEDULES

Schedule 2(d)   Disclosure Documents
Schedule 3(b)   Authorization
Schedule 3(d)   No Conflicts
Schedule 3(k)   SEC Documents
Schedule 3(l)   Absence of Certain Changes
Schedule 3(n)   Regulatory Permits
Schedule 3(q)   Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 3(r)   Equity Capitalization
Schedule 3(s)   Indebtedness and Other Contracts
Schedule 3(t)   Absence of Litigation
Schedule 3(w)   Title
Schedule 3(x)   Intellectual Property Rights
Schedule 3(ee)   Ranking of Notes
Schedule 4(d)   Use of Proceeds
Schedule 7(xii)   Lock-Up Agreements


DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

May 23, 2012

        This Disclosure (the "Schedule") is made and given pursuant to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2012 (the "Agreement"), between A123 Systems, Inc. (the "Company" or "we") and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings as defined in the Agreement.

        The section numbers in this Schedule correspond to the section numbers of the representations and warranties in the Agreement.

        Nothing in this Schedule is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty contained in the Agreement or to create any covenant.

        The inclusion of any information (including dollar amounts) in this Schedule shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment by the Company that (i) such information is required to be included in this Schedule or (ii) such information is material to or outside the ordinary course of the business of the Company, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality. In addition, matters reflected in this Schedule are not necessarily limited to matters required by the Agreement to be reflected in this Schedule. Such additional matters are set forth for informational purposes only and do not necessarily include other matters of a similar nature.

        The information contained in this Schedule is disclosed solely for purposes of the Agreement, and no information contained herein or therein shall be deemed to be an admission by the Company to any third party of any matter whatsoever (including, without limitation, any violation of applicable law or breach of contract).



Schedule 2(d)

Disclosure Documents

        1.    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2012, draft dated May 9, 2012

        2.    Form 12b-25, draft dated May 9, 2012


Schedule 3(b)

Authorization; Enforcement; Validity

        The Company must seek stockholder approval pursuant to NASDAQ Rule 5635(d).


Schedule 3(d)

No Conflicts

        None.


Schedule 3(k)

SEC Documents; Financial Statements

        The Company experienced a delay in completing its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 by the February 29, 2012 filing deadline and notified the SEC accordingly on March 1, 2012 by filing a Form 12b-25 and requested a permitted 15-calendar day extension. The Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 on March 12, 2012.

        The Company experienced a delay in completing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 by the May 10, 2012 filing deadline and notified the SEC accordingly on May 11, 2012 by filing a Form 12b-25 and requested a permitted 5-calendar day extension. The Company plans to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 on May 15, 2012.


Schedule 3(l)

Absence of Certain Changes

        None.


Schedule 3(n)

Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits

        None.


Schedule 3(q)

Transactions With Affiliates

        In June 2011, the Company entered into a letter of engagement with Tejas Networks Limited, or Tejas, a developer of communications equipment, for the purposes of negotiating an agreement under which we will develop and supply Tejas with 24 volt and 100 Ah lithium nanophosphate storage solutions. Since the signing of the letter of engagement, the Company has accepted three purchase orders from Tejas for development and supply of the storage solutions in the aggregate amount of $210,000. The engagement with Tejas is subject to negotiation of a definitive agreement to govern the development and subsequent supply of the storage solutions. Gururaj Deshpande, a member of our board of directors, is the chairman of the board of directors of Tejas. Dr. Deshpande's activities related to this engagement have been limited to introducing us to Tejas. At no time since this introduction has Dr. Deshpande been involved in or had any influence over any discussions or negotiations between the Company and Tejas.



Schedule 3(r)

Equity Capitalization

        (ii)    The Company has issued a Warrant to Purchase 45,000 shares of Common Stock, dated February 8, 2008, to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

        On January 25, 2012, the Company completed a registered direct offering of an aggregate of 12,500,000 units ("Units") to an investor. Each Unit consists of one share of the Company's common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of such common stock at a negotiated purchase price of $2.034 per Unit. The per share exercise price of the warrants is $2.71. Subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions set forth in a subscription agreement between the Company and the investor, at any time during both (a) the ten (10) trading days beginning on June 18, 2012 and (b) the ten (10) trading days beginning on July 23, 2012, the Company will have the option to require the investor to purchase up to an additional 6,250,000 shares of Common Stock during each such period at a price equal to 90% of the lesser of (i) the volume weighted average price on the date of exercise, or (ii) the arithmetic average of the daily volume weighted average price for the ten (10) consecutive trading days ending on the date of exercise. The Company cannot require the investor to purchase more than $100,000,000 of additional shares.


Schedule 3(s)

Indebtedness and other Contracts

        On May 11, 2012, the Company and A123 Securities Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "Companies"), Silicon Valley Bank (the "Bank"), as administrative agent, lender and letter of credit issuer, and the other financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders (collectively with the Bank, the "Lenders") entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement (as amended, the "Credit Agreement") between the Companies and Lenders dated as of September 30, 2011, as amended. The Credit Agreement provides the Companies up to $15,000,000 in cash-collateralized letters of credit issued by Bank.

        In April 2011, the Company issued $143.8 million in principal of convertible unsecured subordinated notes (the "Convertible Notes"). The Convertible Notes bear interest at 3.75%, which is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 each year, beginning on October 15, 2011, and mature on April 15, 2016. Holders may surrender their Convertible Notes, in integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount, for conversion any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate of 138.8889 shares of common stock per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $7.20 per share of the Company's common stock, is subject to adjustment in certain events. Upon conversion, the Company will deliver shares of common stock. If the Company undergoes a fundamental change (as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes), the holders of the Convertible Notes have the option to require the Company to repurchase all or any portion of their Convertible Notes. The Company may not redeem the convertible notes prior to the maturity date.

        The Company recorded a debt discount to reflect the value of the underwriter's discounts and commissions. The debt discount is being amortized as interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes. As of December 31, 2011, the unamortized discount was $3.7 million and the carrying value of the Convertible Notes, net of the unamortized discount, was $140.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recognized interest expense of $4.6 million related to the Convertible Notes, of which $3.9 million and $0.7 million relate to the contractual coupon interest accrual and the amortization of the discount, respectively.

        The Company has a forgivable loan from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center for $5.0 million. If the Company complies with certain capital expenditure conditions, $2.5 million of the loan will be forgiven and if the Company complies with certain employment conditions an additional $2.5 million will be forgiven. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, $2.5 million is recorded


as an offset to property, plant and equipment in the consolidated balance sheets as the Company is reasonably assured that the Company will comply with the conditions for the forgiveness related to the capital expenditure condition. On October 18, 2011, an amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement was executed forgiving $2.5 million of the loan as the Company has met the capital expenditure conditions. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, the remaining $2.5 million is recorded as long-term debt as the Company is not reasonably assured that it will comply with the employment conditions. The loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.0%, and all funds borrowed under the agreement and accrued interests are due upon maturity in October 2017 if the Company has not complied with the forgiveness conditions.


Schedule 3(t)

Absence of Litigation

        On April 2, 2012, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Scott Heiss, purportedly acting individually and on behalf of other similarly situated persons, against the Company and its CEO, David Vieau, the Company's CFO, David Prystash, and the Company's former Interim CFO, John Granara. The complaint followed the Company's disclosure in March 2012 of potentially defective prismatic cells used in battery packs and a replacement program for such cells. The complaint attempts to allege that certain disclosures the Company has made were inaccurate because the potentially defective cells and their replacement were not disclosed earlier. The complaint asserts a claim under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of that statute against the individuals. It asserts a purported class period from February 28, 2011 through March 23, 2012.

        On April 12, 2012, a similar complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Terry Leon Fike, purportedly acting individually and on behalf of other similarly situated persons, against the same defendants. The complaint makes similar allegations and also asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a purported class period from February 28, 2011 through March 23, 2012.

        The Company intends to defend the litigation vigorously. Currently, the Company is unable to determine the outcome of this case and the effect, if any, it may have on the Company's financial position or results of operations. The outcome of this matter is inherently uncertain and may be affected by future events. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate effect of this matter.

        On May 14, 2012 an alleged shareholder, Jane Ahmed, filed a shareholder derivative complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. In this complaint, the plaintiff has alleged, on behalf of the Company, that the directors and certain officers of the Company breached their fiduciary duties. The plaintiff has tried to allege that making prior demand on the board would be "futile," on the theory that the board is self-interested and therefore would not respond properly to a demand and so demand should be excused.

        On May 21, 2012, an alleged shareholder, Murray Sussman, filed a shareholder derivative complaint in the Massachusetts Superior Court (Middlesex County), alleging, on behalf of the Company, that the directors and certain officers of the Company breached their fiduciary duties, engaged in waste of corporate assets and were unjustly enriched.



Schedule 3(w)

Title

Name of Holder of Lien/Encumbrance
  Description of Property Encumbered   Name of Company/
Subsidiary
KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS USA INC.   Specific Leased Equipment
(Office Equipment)
  A123 Systems, Inc.

MORGAN STANLEY BANK

 

Morgan Stanley Account No 032-78NSK together with all related deposits and related supporting obligations

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

MOTION INDEX DRIVES, INC.

 

Tooling, specifically, indexers

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

HELLER FINANCIAL LEASING, INC.*

 

Specific fixed assets.

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

CISCO SYSTEMS CAPITAL CORPORATION

 

Specific Leased Equipment (Telecommunications Products)

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

PNCEF, LLC

 

Specific Leased Equipment
(Licensed Microsoft Software
and Related Products)

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

ELECTRO RENT CORPORATION*

 

Equipment

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

MOTION INDEX DRIVES, INC.*

 

Tooling, specifically, indexers

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center

 

Specific equipment financed in connection under financing arrangements described in Item 2 on Schedule 7.2(d)

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

ARTIFLEX MANUFACTURING*

 

Tooling, specifically: bracket support front lower tray, and module plates.

 

A123 Systems, Inc.

Silicon Valley Bank

 

Substantially all of the Companies' existing and future assets, except intellectual property and certain other exceptions as set forth in the applicable loan agreement and related security documents.

 

 

*
Represents liens for which all obligations have been satisfied, or for which the Company has no records of transacting business with the listed Secured Parties. The Company is in the process of coordinating the release of such liens directly with the Secured Parties.


Schedule 3(x)

Intellectual Property

        None.


Schedule 3(ee)

Ranking of Notes

        The Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement described in Schedule 3(s)


Schedule 4(d)

Use of Proceeds

        The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for general corporate purposes.


Schedule 7(xii)

Lock-Up Parties

David Vieau
Arthur L. Goldstein
Gary E. Haroian
Jeffrey P. McCarthy
Gilbert N. Riley, Jr.
Gururaj Deshpande
Paul E. Jacobs (Qualcomm Incorporated)
Mark M. Little
David Prystash
Ed Kopkowski
Jason Forcier
Rob Johnson
Eric Pyenson


THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: Signature (Joint Owners) Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Date 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000146063_1 R1.0.0.11699 A123 SYSTEMS INC 200 WEST STREET WALTHAM, MA 02451 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 1 and 2. For Against Abstain 1 Approval of issuance of shares of common stock pursuant to A123's 6.0% senior unsecured convertible notes and related warrants 2 Authorization to increase the company's authorized common stock from 250,000,000 shares to 650,000,000 shares NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by authorized officer. For address change/comments, mark here. (see reverse for instructions) Yes No Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting

 


0000146063_2 R1.0.0.11699 Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement is/are available at www.proxyvote.com . A123 SYSTEMS INC Special Meeting of Stockholders June 29, 2012 10:00 AM This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints David Prystash and Eric J. Pyenson, as proxies, jointly and severally, with full power of substitution to vote all shares of common stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the special meeting of stockholders of A123 Systems, Inc. to be held at 10:00 a.m. local time at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, 20th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 on June 29, 2012 or at any postponements or adjournments thereof, as specified on the reverse side, and to vote in their discretion on such other business as may properly come before the special meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof. (If you noted any Address Changes and/or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) Address change/comments: Continued and to be signed on reverse side