Exhibit 8.1
1271 Avenue of the Americas |New York, NY 10020
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December 29, 2021
Novus Capital Corporation II
8556 Oakmont Lane
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Novus Capital Corporation II, a Delaware corporation (“Novus”), in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Novus, NCCII Merger Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novus incorporated in the State of Delaware (“Merger Sub”), and Energy Vault, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Energy Vault”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Energy Vault, with Energy Vault surviving the merger and becoming a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Novus (collectively with the other transactions described in the Business Combination Agreement, the “Business Combination”) and the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-260307) (as amended through the date hereof, the “Registration Statement”).
In rendering our opinion, we have examined and, with your consent, are expressly relying upon (without any independent investigation or review thereof) the truth and accuracy of the factual statements, representations and warranties contained in (i) the Business Combination Agreement (including any exhibits and schedules thereto), (ii) the Registration Statement (including the proxy statement/prospectus included therein), and (iii) originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records, agreements, documents, and other instruments. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have not, however, undertaken any independent investigation of any factual matter set forth in any of the foregoing.
We have assumed that (i) the Business Combination will be effected in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement and none of the material terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement have been or will be waived or modified, (ii) the statements set forth in the Business Combination Agreement are true, correct and complete and will remain accurate and complete at all times up to and including the effective time of the Registration Statement, (iii) any representations made in the Business Combination Agreement “to the knowledge of,” or based on the belief or that are similarly qualified, are accurate and complete and will remain accurate and complete at all times up to and including the effective time, in each case without such qualification, and (iv) there are no understandings between any of the parties that would alter, or are inconsistent with, the terms or representations set forth in the Business Combination Agreement. We also have assumed that the parties have complied with and, if applicable, will continue to comply with, the covenants contained in the Business Combination Agreement.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, assumptions and caveats set forth herein and in the Registration Statement (including the proxy statement/prospectus included therein), the discussion in the Registration Statement under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Redemption and the Business Combination – U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of The Business Combination,” insofar as such discussion summarizes U.S. federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes our opinion regarding such material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination solely with respect to the holders of Novus Common Stock.
The opinion set forth in this letter is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, applicable legislative history, and the administrative rulings and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive effect). Changes in applicable law could adversely affect our opinion. We express no opinion other than as to the federal income tax laws of the United States of America and do not express any opinion, either implicitly or otherwise, on any issue not expressly addressed above. Our opinion is not binding upon the IRS or the courts, and there is no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position.
1271 Avenue of the Americas |New York, NY 10020
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We are furnishing this opinion in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, and this opinion is not to be used, relied upon, circulated, quoted, or otherwise referred to for any other purposes without our express written consent. No assurance can be given that future legislative, judicial, or administrative changes, on either a prospective or retroactive basis, or future factual developments, would not adversely affect the accuracy of the conclusion stated herein. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments, changes in the federal income tax laws or the application or interpretation thereof, any factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof or the impact of any information, fact, document, certificate, record, representation, statement, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that becomes incorrect or untrue. In the event that any one or more of the matters referred to herein or in the Registration Statement are untrue, inaccurate, or incomplete, our opinions shall be void and of no force or effect, but only to the extent that such untruth, inaccuracy, or incompletion affects the accuracy of the opinions provided herein.
We hereby consent to the use of our name in the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Blank Rome LLP
Blank Rome LLP