LOOP signs Securityholders Agreement for Infinite Loop Europe with €10M loan, 90/10 split
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Loop Industries entered into a Securityholders Agreement with Reed Circular Economy (RCE) on September 23, 2025 to govern Infinite Loop Europe SAS, a French JV created to develop, finance, construct, own, operate and commercialize chemical upcycling plants using Loop's technology in Europe. RCE and Loop own the JV on a 90/10 basis. RCE provided the JV a €10 million shareholder loan that accrues payment-in-kind interest at 11.9% per annum and matures December 27, 2027. Loop retains ownership of its intellectual property while granting the JV limited usage rights and has the right to acquire up to 50% of project equity subject to binding funding commitments. The Board will have four directors with Loop entitled to nominate one; RCE proposes the CEO. The agreement includes priority rights for the JV to evaluate European projects, financing arrangements between shareholders, transfer restrictions and customary ROFR, tag-along and drag-along rights.
Positive
- Formation of Infinite Loop Europe SAS to pursue European chemical upcycling projects using Loop technology
- Clear ownership split of 90/10 with defined governance and Priority Rights Protocol for project evaluation
- €10 million shareholder loan provided to fund the first royalty tranche, enabling initial project financing
- Loop retains ownership of its intellectual property while granting the JV limited rights of use
- Loop has a contractual right to acquire up to 50% of project equity when there is a binding funding commitment
Negative
- Governance control concentrated with RCE: Board of four with Loop entitled to nominate only one director and RCE proposing the CEO
- High-cost financing feature: the €10 million loan accrues payment-in-kind interest at 11.9% per annum
- Share transfer restrictions and lock-ups limit liquidity and flexibility for both shareholders until specified periods expire
- Certain transactions require unanimous board approval, which could impede routine actions or create minority veto risks depending on scope
Insights
TL;DR: The agreement formalizes European JV economics and funding but concentrates control with RCE while securing Loop's IP and project upside.
The Securityholders Agreement establishes clear ownership and financing mechanics for Infinite Loop Europe SAS with a 90/10 split favoring RCE and a €10 million PIK loan at 11.9% to fund initial obligations. Material investor-facing items include Loop's retained IP ownership and an option to acquire up to 50% of project equity, which preserves potential upside on a per-project basis. Governance terms limit Loop to a single board nominee and give RCE appointment rights for CEO, indicating constrained strategic control for Loop at the JV level. Transfer lock-ups and unanimous consent requirements for certain related-party or technology-sensitive transactions add protection for proprietary technology but may limit liquidity and minority flexibility.
TL;DR: Governance heavily weighted toward RCE; protections for IP exist but minority protections and control risks remain for Loop.
The Board composition (four directors with Loop nominating one) and CEO appointment process concentrate operational control with RCE. Requiring unanimous approval for transactions that could risk technology disclosure is protective but also could empower minority vetoes in practice depending on definitions. Share transfer restrictions and standard ROFR/tag-and-drag clauses lock in shareholder composition and align with typical JV safeguards. The arrangement balances IP protection and commercial deployment rights, but Loop's limited board representation and reliance on RCE-funded capital create governance asymmetry that investors should note.