0000010254False12/3100000102542022-04-132022-04-13

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
FORM 8-K 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: April 13, 2022
(Date of earliest event reported)
este-20220413_g1.jpg 
EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware 001-35049 84-0592823
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(281) 298-4246
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per shareESTENew York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company



If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐




Introductory Note

On April 14, 2022, Earthstone Energy, Inc. (“Earthstone” or the “Company”), Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company (“EEH” or the “Buyer”), and Bighorn Asset Company, LLC (“Bighorn”) as seller, consummated the transactions contemplated in the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated January 30, 2022, by and among Earthstone, EEH and Bighorn (the “Purchase Agreement”) that was previously reported on Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). At the closing of the Purchase Agreement, among other things, EEH acquired (the “Bighorn Acquisition”) interests in oil and gas leases and related property of Bighorn located in the Midland Basin, Texas, for a purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) of approximately $638.9 million in cash, net of preliminary and customary purchase price adjustments and remains subject to final post-closing settlement between EEH and Bighorn, and 5,650,977 shares (the “Shares” and such issuance, the “Stock Issuance”) of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Earthstone (the “Class A Common Stock”). At the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition, 510,638 of the Shares (the “Escrow Shares”) were deposited in a stock escrow account for Bighorn’s indemnity obligations and 5,140,339 of the Shares (the “Closing Shares”) were issued to Bighorn Permian Resources, LLC (“Bighorn Permian”).

Also, on April 14, 2022, Earthstone, EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI, L.P. (“EnCap Fund XI”), an affiliate of EnCap Investments L.P. (“EnCap”), and Cypress Investments, LLC (“Cypress” and collectively with EnCap Fund XI, the “Investors”), a fund managed by Post Oak Energy Capital, L.P. (“Post Oak”), consummated the sale and issuance of 280,000 shares of newly authorized Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Earthstone (the “Preferred Stock”), pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 30, 2022, by and among Earthstone and the Investors (the “SPA”) that was previously reported on Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2022 with the SEC. At the closing of the SPA, Earthstone issued 280,000 shares (the “PIPE Shares”) of Preferred Stock in exchange for gross cash proceeds of $280 million.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Bighorn Registration Rights Agreement

On April 14, 2022, in connection with the closing of the Purchase Agreement, Earthstone and Bighorn Permian entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Bighorn Registration Rights Agreement”) relating to the Shares. The Bighorn Registration Rights Agreement provides that, within 75 days after the closing date of the Bighorn Acquisition, Earthstone will prepare and file a registration statement to permit the public resale of the Shares. Earthstone shall cause the registration statement to be continuously effective from and after the date it is first declared or becomes effective until the earlier of (i) all Shares have been disposed of in the manner set forth in the registration statement or under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), until the distribution of the Shares does not require registration under the Securities Act, or until there are no longer any such registrable shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with the Bighorn Acquisition outstanding or (ii) three years after the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition, subject to certain permitted extensions.

The foregoing description of the Bighorn Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Bighorn Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Lock-Up Agreement

In connection with the closing of the Purchase Agreement, Earthstone entered into a customary lock-up agreement (the “Lock-up Agreement”) on April 14, 2022 with Bighorn Permian providing that such holder will not transfer 5,140,339 of the Closing Shares (the “Lock-up Shares”) for 60 days after the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition. Sixty days after the closing of Bighorn Acquisition, 25% of the Lock-up Shares may be transferred; ninety days after the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition, an additional 25% of the Lock-up Shares may be transferred; and one hundred twenty days after the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition, the remaining 50% of the Lock-up Shares may be transferred.

The foregoing description of the Lock-up Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Lock-up Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.4 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Voting Agreement

In connection with the closing of the SPA, on April 14, 2022, Earthstone, Cypress, EnCap, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., WP IRH Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, WP Energy Partners IRH Holdings, L.P., WP Energy IRH Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Chisholm



Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Partners Chisholm Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B Chisholm, LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII (A), L.P., WP XII Chisholm Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-2 Chisholm, LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-D (A), L.P., Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-E (A), L.P., Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-1, L.P., and WP XII (E&P) Partners (A), L.P. entered into a voting agreement (the “Voting Agreement”) containing provisions by which Cypress will have the right to appoint one director to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Earthstone. Cypress’ right to appoint one director will terminate upon the later to occur of (i) Cypress and its affiliates, in the aggregate, no longer own: at least 5.5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Earthstone (“Class B Common Stock” and collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), on a combined basis; and (ii) the one year anniversary of the Voting Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Voting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Voting Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.5 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement

In connection with the closing of the SPA, on April 14, 2022, EEH amended and restated the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “Second LLC Agreement”) in order to provide for preferred units and update certain tax provisions.

The foregoing description of the Second LLC Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Second LLC Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.6 and is incorporated herein by reference.

PIPE Registration Rights Agreement

On April 14, 2022, in connection with the closing of the SPA, Earthstone and the Investors entered into a registration rights agreement (the “PIPE Registration Rights Agreement”) relating to the shares (the “PIPE Class A Shares”) of Class A Common Stock underlying the PIPE Shares. The PIPE Registration Rights Agreement provides that, within 75 days after the closing date of the SPA, Earthstone will prepare and file a registration statement to permit the public resale of the PIPE Class A Shares. Earthstone shall cause the registration statement to be continuously effective from and after the date it is first declared or becomes effective until the earlier of (i) all such shares of Class A Common Stock have been disposed of in the manner set forth in the registration statement or under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, until the distribution of the Class A Common Stock does not require registration under the Securities Act, or until there are no longer any such registrable shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the PIPE Shares outstanding or (ii) three years after the closing of the SPA, subject to certain permitted extensions.

The foregoing description of the PIPE Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the PIPE Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Indemnification Agreement

In connection with the appointment of Frost W. Cochran to the Board discussed below in Item 5.02, on April 14, 2022, Earthstone entered into Earthstone’s standard indemnification agreement with Mr. Cochran (the “Indemnification Agreement”) pursuant to which Earthstone agreed to indemnify Mr. Cochran in connection with claims brought against him in his capacity as a director of Earthstone. The Indemnification Agreement also provides, among other things, certain expense advancement rights in legal proceedings so long as Mr. Cochran undertakes to repay the advancement if it is later determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified.

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Form of Indemnification Agreement included with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.7 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On April 14, 2022, pursuant to the closing of the Purchase Agreement, among other things, EEH completed the Bighorn Acquisition for cash consideration of approximately $638.9 million, net of preliminary and customary purchase price adjustments and remains subject to final post-closing settlement between EEH and Bighorn, and 5,650,977 shares of Class A Common Stock, as described above.




Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

If the outstanding Preferred Stock has not been converted into Class A Common Stock on or before October 1, 2022, then the Preferred Stock will accrue dividends from April 14, 2022, the date of initial issuance, at a rate of 8% per annum until such time as it has converted. In addition, Earthstone will be required to redeem all of the outstanding Preferred Stock if the Preferred Stock has not converted into Class A Common Stock on or before November 22, 2025. The price per share for redemption would be the initial liquidation preference amount of $1,000.00 per share of Preferred Stock plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The description of the Bighorn Acquisition and the Shares in Item 2.01 above is incorporated in this Item 3.02 by reference.

On April 14, 2022, Earthstone issued and sold 280,000 shares of Preferred Stock (the “Private Placement”) pursuant to the SPA for gross proceeds of $280.0 million, at a price of $1,000.00 per share of Preferred Stock (or $11.10 per share of Class A Common Stock on an as-converted basis). Each share of Preferred Stock will be convertible into 90.0900900900901 shares of Class A Common Stock. Additional information regarding the Private Placement of the Preferred Stock can be found in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Earthstone with the SEC on February 2, 2022.

The shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the shares of Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the SPA were issued in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) and/or other exemptions thereunder, as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act. Earthstone relied upon representations, warranties, certifications and agreements of Bighorn, Bighorn Permian and the Investors (as applicable) in support of the satisfaction of the conditions contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D under the Securities Act.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Class II Director

On April 14, 2022, in connection with the closing of the SPA, Earthstone entered into the Voting Agreement, whereby Cypress has the right to nominate one director to the Board. Cypress nominated Mr. Frost W. Cochran to the Board. The Board increased the size of the Board to eleven members and appointed Mr. Cochran as a Class II director to hold office until Earthstone’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 and the election of his successor.

Frost W. Cochran, age 57, has been a Managing Director and Founding Partner of Post Oak since 2006. Post Oak is a Houston based investor in oil and gas operating companies, minerals, related midstream infrastructure and services. Prior to founding Post Oak, Mr. Cochran served as the President of the holding company of Belden & Blake which held operating interests in oil and gas properties and related infrastructure in the Appalachian basin. In 2002, he co-founded and served as President of Signal Hill Power, a merchant power owner operator in the Texas ERCOT market. Mr. Cochran served as a Managing Director of Torch Energy from 1998 until March 2002, Managing Director and Partner at Energy Asset Management LLC from 1996 through 1998, Vice President of Enron Development Corporation from 1993 until 1996, as Project Finance Manager at Destec Energy Inc., a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, from 1991 until 1993 and with Kemper Securities Group from 1989 until 1991. Mr. Cochran serves on the boards of several Post Oak portfolio companies in the upstream, midstream and services sectors of the energy industry and is a member of Post Oak’s investment committee. Mr. Cochran is a member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners. Mr. Cochran received a M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.B.A. from the University of Mississippi.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On April 13, 2022, Earthstone filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Designation, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”), which created the Preferred Stock issued by Earthstone at the closing of the SPA on April 14, 2022.

Each share of Preferred Stock will be convertible into a number of shares of Class A Common Stock determined by dividing the liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock, which is equal to the liquidation price plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends through the date of conversion, by the conversion price. No dividend will be paid on the Preferred Stock if it



converts into Class A Common Stock on or before October 1, 2022. Accordingly, until such date each share of Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 90.0900900900901 shares of Class A Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $11.10 per share of Class A Common Stock. The Preferred Stock will convert automatically on the 20th calendar day after Earthstone mails a definitive information statement to holders of its Common Stock notifying them that holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock have consented to the conversion feature of the Preferred Stock and the issuance of Class A Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. As of January 30, 2022, Earthstone had received written consent for the conversion feature of the Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock from stockholders representing more than 50% of Earthstone’s outstanding Common Stock. The initial conversion price is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including stock splits, stock dividends, rights offerings, or combinations of Class A Common Stock.

If the Preferred Stock has not automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on or before October 1, 2022, then each holder of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive dividends at an annual rate of 8% of the initial liquidation preference per share from the date of issuance. If a cash dividend is not declared and paid on any dividend payment date, then the liquidation preference per share of Preferred Stock will be increased by the amount of the unpaid dividend.

Earthstone will be required to redeem all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock if the Preferred Stock has not been converted into Class A Common Stock on or before November 22, 2025.

Except as expressly required by law, the holders of Preferred Stock have no voting rights, including the right to elect directors, and their consent is not required for taking corporate action.

The foregoing description of the amendment to Earthstone’s certificate of incorporation is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Designations, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.05 Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

On April 14, 2022, as part of the closing of the SPA, the Board approved an amendment (the “Amendment”) to Earthstone’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which provides Post Oak and its affiliates (“Post Oak Entities”) with a waiver of certain corporate opportunities in other investments by Post Oak Entities. The Amendment was agreed to in connection with the Voting Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Code is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Code included with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 14 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 14, 2022, Earthstone issued a press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement and the SPA. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to liability under that section, and they shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. By filing this Current Report on Form 8-K and furnishing this information pursuant to Item 7.01, the Company makes no admission as to the materiality of any information in this Current Report on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

The financial statements required by this Item 9.01 and Regulation S-X will be filed by an amendment to this Form 8-K. The amendment will be filed with the SEC no later than 71 calendar days after the date this Form 8-K is required to be filed with the SEC.

(b) Pro forma financial information.




The pro forma financial information required by this Item 9.01 and Regulation S-X will be furnished by an amendment to this Form 8-K. The amendment will be filed with the SEC no later than 71 calendar days after the date this Form 8-K is required to be filed with the SEC.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are included with this Current Report on Form 8-K:

Exhibit No. Description
2.1*Purchase and Sale Agreement dated January 30, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC and Bighorn Asset Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant with the SEC on February 2, 2022).
3.1
10.1*Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 30, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc. and the purchasers set forth therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant with the SEC on February 2, 2022).
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
Voting Agreement dated as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., Cypress Investments, LLC, EnCap Investments L.P., Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., WP IRH Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, WP Energy Partners IRH Holdings, L.P., WP Energy IRH Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Chisholm Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Partners Chisholm Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B Chisholm, LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII (A), L.P., WP XII Chisholm Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-2 Chisholm, LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-D (A), L.P., Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-E (A), L.P., Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-1, L.P., and WP XII (E&P) Partners (A), L.P.
10.6
10.7Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant with the SEC on December 29, 2014).
14
99.1
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

* Certain schedules, annexes or exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K, but will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.



SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.
   
Date:April 18, 2022By:/s/ Tony Oviedo
  Tony Oviedo
  Executive Vice President - Accounting and Administration



Exhibit 3.1
EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.
_______________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
_______________________
SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Par Value $0.001 Per Share)
Earthstone Energy, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), hereby certifies that, pursuant to the authority expressly granted to and vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) by the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as so amended and as further amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and the DGCL, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which authorizes the Board, by resolution, to set forth the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in one or more series of up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), and in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of the DGCL, the Board duly adopted on January 30, 2022 the following resolution, which resolution remains in full force and effect on the date hereof:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in it, the Board hereby creates a new series consisting of 280,000 shares of Preferred Stock, designated Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and hereby fixes the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions of, such series of Preferred Stock as set forth in this certificate of designations (this “Certificate of Designations”):
    
    Section 1. General; Ranking.

(a)    There shall be created from the 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation authorized to be issued pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be 280,000.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share of the Corporation (the “Class A Common Stock”), issued upon conversion thereof shall be in uncertificated, book-entry form or, if requested by any holder of Series A Preferred Stock, such holder’s shares shall be issued in certificated form, in each case as permitted by the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended, and the DGCL.

(c)    The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank senior to the Class A Common Stock, the Class B common stock, $0.001 par value per share of the Corporation (the “Class B Common Stock” and, collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), and any other class or series of stock issued by the Corporation ranking junior as to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends, or upon liquidation or winding up of the Corporation (collectively, “Junior Securities”). The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all Senior Securities with respect to both the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation, winding up or dissolution. The term “Senior Securities” means any class or series of stock issued by the Corporation ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends, or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a)    Commencing October 1, 2022 (the “Grace Period Expiration Date”), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of any assets legally available therefor dividends on each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock at the rate of 8.0% per annum of the Liquidation Preference (as defined in Section 3(a)) per share from the earliest original issue date of any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Issue Date”), payable quarterly in cash, subject to Section 2(c), on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each a “Dividend Payment Date”), beginning December 31, 2022, when, as and if



declared by the Board, in accordance with the preference and priority described in Section 1 with respect to any payment of any dividend on the Common Stock or any other class or series of stock of the Corporation. Except as provided below, such dividends shall accrue on a daily basis from the Issue Date, whether or not in any period the Corporation is legally permitted to make the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are declared. Neither conversion on or after the Grace Period Expiration Date nor redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock on or after the Grace Period Expiration Date shall affect any holder’s right to receive any accrued but unpaid dividends on such Series A Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, no dividends shall be payable or accrue on the Series A Preferred Stock if conversion, as described in Section 5, occurs before the Grace Period Expiration Date. Except to the extent set forth in Section 2(c), dividends shall not be cumulative.

(b)    Dividends shall be calculated on the basis of the time elapsed from but excluding the last preceding Dividend Payment Date (or the Issue Date in respect of the first dividend payable on December 31, 2022) to and including the Dividend Payment Date or any final distribution date relating to conversion or redemption or to a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation. Dividends payable on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock for any period of less than a full calendar year shall be prorated for the partial year on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve, 30-day months.

(c)    To the extent any accrued dividends are not declared and paid in full in cash on a Dividend Payment Date, the Liquidation Preference of each share of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding as of such Dividend Payment Date shall automatically be increased by an amount equal to the unpaid amount of the dividend that shall have accrued on such share to and including the Dividend Payment Date, effective as of the date immediately following such Dividend Payment Date. The Liquidation Preference, as so adjusted, shall thereafter be used for all purposes hereunder, including, without limitation, for purposes of the accrual of future dividends in accordance with Section 2(a), the determination of the Liquidation Preference in accordance with Section 3(a) and the determination of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are convertible in accordance with Section 5(a). The adjustment of the Liquidation Preference as provided in this Section 2(c) shall satisfy in full the Corporation’s obligation to pay dividends on the applicable Dividend Payment Date, and following such adjustment under no circumstance shall dividends be deemed to be accrued or in arrears with respect to any period prior to and including such Dividend Payment Date.

(d)    Dividends payable on each Dividend Payment Date shall be paid to record holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock as they appear on the Corporation’s books at the close of business on the tenth Business Day (as hereinafter defined) immediately preceding the respective Dividend Payment Date or on such other record date as may be fixed by the Board in advance of a Dividend Payment Date, provided that no such record date shall be less than 10 or more than 60 calendar days preceding such Dividend Payment Date. If a Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, then any dividend declared in respect of such date shall be due and payable on the first Business Day following such Dividend Payment Date. Dividends paid in cash on shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time payable shall be allocated pro rata on a share by share basis among all shares outstanding. “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(e)    So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend or other distribution, whether in liquidation or otherwise, shall be declared or paid, or set apart for payment on or in respect of, any Junior Securities, nor shall any Junior Securities be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration prior to the stated maturity thereof (or any money be paid to a sinking fund or otherwise set apart for the purchase or redemption of any such Junior Securities), without the prior consent of the holders of at least 95% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock voting together as a separate class, except with respect to Junior Securities repurchased by the Corporation in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations under the Corporation’s employee incentive plans. So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding and without the prior consent of the holders of at least 95% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock voting together as a separate class, no dividend or other distribution, whether in liquidation or otherwise, shall be declared or paid, or set apart for payment on or in respect of, any Parity Securities (as hereinafter defined), nor shall any Parity Securities be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration prior to the stated maturity thereof (or any money be paid to a sinking fund or otherwise set apart for the purchase or redemption of any such Parity Securities), unless (i) if there are any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock or such Parity Security, such dividend or distribution shall be allocated to pay such accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Security, pro rata based on the amount of such accrued and unpaid dividends and (ii) if all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid on the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Security, such dividends and distributions shall be allocated pro rata to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Parity Security based on the respective liquidation preferences thereof. “Parity Security” means any class or series of stock issued by the
    
2





Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends, and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(f)    The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, with respect to any distribution of cash or other property made to holders of Class A Common Stock, the amount that such holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have been entitled to receive if the Series A Preferred Stock were fully converted (disregarding for such purpose any conversion limitations hereunder) to Class A Common Stock as provided in Section 5 on the record date for such distribution, which amounts shall be paid pari passu with all holders of Class A Common Stock.

Section 3. Liquidation.

(a)    In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, in accordance with the preference and priority described in Section 2 as to any distribution of any assets of the Corporation to the holders of any other class or series of shares, the amount of $1,000.00 per share of Series A Preferred Stock (as the same may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2(c), the “Initial Liquidation Preference”) plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon (together with the Initial Liquidation Preference, the “Liquidation Preference”). To the extent the available assets are insufficient to fully satisfy the Liquidation Preference, then the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall share ratably in such distribution in the proportion that each holder’s shares bears to the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding. No payment on account of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation shall be paid to the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the holders of any Parity Securities unless there shall be paid at the same time to the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Securities amounts in proportion to the respective full preferential amounts to which each is entitled with respect to such distribution. For purposes of this Section 3(a), absent the consent of holders of at least 95% of the Series A Preferred Stock, a Change of Control shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation; provided, however, that payments on account of such Change of Control may not be made unless Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC (“EEH”) is permitted to make distributions to the Corporation to the extent required for the Corporation to make such payment in compliance with the “restricted payment” limitations set forth in Section 9.04 of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof) by and among EEH, as borrower, the Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. “Change of Control” means (A) the acquisition at any time by a “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)), other than a person or group who or which is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 5% or more of the Corporation’s Common Stock on the Issue Date, of securities (excluding shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock) representing more than 35% of the combined voting power in the election of directors of the then outstanding securities of the Corporation or any successor of the Corporation; (B) approval by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries of any sale or disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (C) approval by the stockholders of the Corporation of any merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange to which the Corporation is a party as a result of which the persons who were stockholders immediately prior to the effective date of the merger, consolidation or share exchange shall have beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the combined voting power in the election of directors of the surviving corporation. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(a) to the contrary, if, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (or deemed liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation), the aggregate amount that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have been entitled to receive in respect of the Series A Preferred Stock if the Series A Preferred Stock were fully converted (disregarding for such purpose any conversion limitations hereunder) to Class A Common Stock immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (or deemed liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation) (the “As-Converted Amount”) is greater than the aggregate Liquidation Preference otherwise payable to such holders pursuant to this Section 3(a), then the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall, in lieu of receiving such aggregate Liquidation Preference, instead receive the As-Converted Amount, which As-Converted Amount shall be paid pari passu with all holders of Class A Common Stock.

(b)    Written notice of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when and the place or places where the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, not less than 15 days prior to any payment date stated therein, to the holders of record of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at their respective addresses as the same shall appear in the records of the Corporation.

    
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(c)    Any distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, shall be made in cash to the extent possible. Whenever any such distribution shall be paid in property other than cash, the value of such distribution shall be the fair market value of such property as determined in good faith by the Board.

Section 4. Voting. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designations or as expressly required by law, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights, including the right to elect any directors, and their consent shall not be required for taking any corporate action, except for any voting rights (including with respect to corporate actions) required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designations.

Section 5. Conversion. The Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible into Class A Common Stock in accordance with the following:

(a)    Automatic Conversion. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as provided in this Section 5 upon the day (the “Conversion Date”) immediately following the expiration of the twenty calendar day period commencing on the distribution to the Corporation’s stockholders in accordance with Rule 14c-2 of Regulation 14C promulgated under the Exchange Act of a definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed by the Corporation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock and the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with such conversion. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible into such number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Class A Common Stock as is determined by dividing (i) the Liquidation Preference of the Series A Preferred Stock determined pursuant to Section 3 as of the Conversion Date by (ii) the Conversion Price determined as hereinafter provided in effect on the Conversion Date. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall thus at the Issue Date be convertible into 90.0900900900901 shares of Class A Common Stock, subject to adjustment as set forth herein, and each fractional share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the Issue Date be convertible into a proportionate number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Upon the automatic conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, each holder shall be deemed to own the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted. On the Conversion Date, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted shall be promptly issued in uncertificated, book-entry form and evidence thereof shall be promptly delivered by the Corporation or its transfer agent to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock. If requested by any holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, such shares of Class A Common Stock shall be issued in certificated form and such certificates shall be delivered to the holder of Series A Preferred Stock thereof or such holder’s designee. At the close of business on the Conversion Date, each holder shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Class A Common Stock, and the Series A Preferred Stock theretofore held by such holder shall no longer be outstanding. For purposes of clarity, to the extent the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted into Class A Common Stock prior to the Grace Period Expiration Date, the Liquidation Preference for purposes of calculating such conversion shall be the Initial Liquidation Preference and shall not include any accrued but unpaid dividends.

(b)    Determination of Conversion Price. For purposes hereof, the “Conversion Price” shall be $11.10, subject to adjustment as provided in this Section 5(b). If the Corporation at any time or from time to time makes, issues, declares, pays or fixes a record date for the determination of holders entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution payable on shares of Common Stock in Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or in rights to acquire Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or shall effect a stock split or reverse stock split, or a combination, consolidation or reclassification of the Common Stock, then in each such event the Conversion Price shall be proportionately decreased or increased, as appropriate, to give effect to such event, such that upon any conversion after any such event, a holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive the number and class of any securities of the Corporation or other assets which the holder would have received had the Series A Preferred Stock been converted into Class A Common Stock immediately before the event.

(c)    Certificates as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of any adjustment of the Liquidation Preference pursuant to Section 2(c), or the occurrence of any adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to Section 5(b), the Corporation at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and the principal financial officer of the Corporation shall verify such computation and prepare and furnish to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Series A Preferred Stock, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like certificate prepared by the Corporation setting forth (i) such adjustments and readjustments and (ii) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of each share of Series A Preferred Stock.
    
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(d)    Notice of Record Date. If the Corporation takes a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend) or other distribution, any security or right convertible into or entitling the holder thereof to receive additional shares of Common Stock, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right, the Corporation shall mail to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at least 10 days prior to the date specified therein, a notice specifying the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, security or right and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution, security or right.

(e)    Issue Taxes. The Corporation shall pay any and all issue and other taxes, excluding any income, franchise or similar taxes, that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of (i) shares of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) shares of Class A Common Stock on conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes resulting from any transfer requested by any holder in connection with any such conversion.

Section 6. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case of any reorganization, reclassification of the capital stock of the Corporation, any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any other person, if such transaction is not treated as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up as provided in Section 3, then, as part of such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, provision shall be made so that each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible into the number of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) to which a holder of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of such share of Series A Preferred Stock would have been entitled upon the record date of (or date of, if no record date is fixed) such event and, in any case, appropriate adjustment (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board) shall be made in the application of the provisions herein set forth with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, to the end that the provisions set forth herein shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as equivalent as is practicable, in relation to any shares of stock or the securities or property (including cash) thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 7. Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock.

(a)    On November 22, 2025, if any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are then outstanding, a redemption event (“Redemption Event”) shall be deemed to have occurred and the Corporation shall be required to repurchase all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7.

(b)    Within 10 days after a Redemption Event, the Corporation shall mail a written notice (the “Redemption Notice”) to each holder of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the address last shown on the records of the Corporation for such holder, notifying such holder of the redemption which is to be effected, the date on which the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock shall occur (which day (the “Redemption Date”) must be within 30 days after the Redemption Event), and the amount to be paid to such holder in redemption of his, her or its shares of Series A Preferred Stock. On the Redemption Date, the Corporation shall pay to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference per share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by such holder to the Corporation at least one day prior to the Redemption Date and, upon such holder’s receipt of such amount, the Series A Preferred Stock theretofore held by such holder shall no longer be outstanding.

Section 8. Other Provisions.

(a)    Best Efforts. The Corporation shall use its best efforts to effect the automatic conversion as provided in Section 5 above.

(b)    Record Holders. The Corporation and its transfer agent, if any, for the Series A Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock as reflected on the books and records of the Corporation as the sole, true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor any such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

(c)    Reservation and Authorization of Class A Common Stock. The Corporation covenants that, so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available, from its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock solely for issuance and
    
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delivery upon the conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and free of preemptive rights, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as from time to time shall be issuable upon the conversion in full of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. The Corporation further covenants that it shall, from time to time, take all steps necessary (including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval) to increase the authorized number of shares of its Class A Common Stock if at any time the authorized number of shares of Class A Common Stock remaining unissued would otherwise be insufficient to allow delivery of all of the shares of Class A Common Stock when deliverable upon the conversion in full of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock will, at all times, be duly approved for listing subject to official notice of issuance on each securities exchange, if any, on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed.

(d)    Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Class A Common Stock or scrip shall be issued upon conversion of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock. All shares of Class A Common Stock (including fractions thereof) issuable upon conversion of more than one share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the conversion would result in the issuance of any fractional share. If, after the aforementioned aggregation, the conversion would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock, in lieu of issuing any fractional share, the fraction shall be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number of shares.

(e)    Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Certificate of Designations shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as a part of this Certificate of Designations a provision as similar in terms to such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable, unless the requisite parties separately agree to a replacement provision that is valid, legal and enforceable.

Section 9. Restriction and Limitations. Except as required by law, so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the approval by the vote or written consent of the holders of at least 95% of the then outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class:

(a)    take any action (including, without limitation, amending, altering, waiving, or modifying (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, by any filing or amending of a Certificate of Designation for any Senior Securities or Parity Securities) or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended) which would adversely affect or otherwise impair any of the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of, or applicable to, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock;

(b)    authorize, issue or increase the authorized amount of any class of Senior Securities or Parity Securities;

(c)    increase or decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock;

(d)    enter into any agreement regarding, or any transaction or series of transactions resulting in, a Change of Control unless provision is made in the agreement effecting such transaction for the payment to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock of the amounts specified in Section 3;

(e)    cause EEH to issue additional Series A Preferred Units of EEH (“Series A Preferred Units”) (unless in connection with the issuance of Series A Preferred Stock expressly permitted by this Certificate of Designations) or any securities of EEH that are pari passu with or senior to the Series A Preferred Units; or

(f)    amend or cause to be amended the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of EEH, dated as of the date hereof, in any manner that would adversely affect the Series A Preferred Units or the Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 10. Corporation’s Dealings with Holders of Series A Preferred Stock. No payments shall be made to holders of Series A Preferred Stock, and no redemptions of Series A Preferred Stock shall be made, unless the
    
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right to receive such payments or participate in such redemptions are made available to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis based on the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock such holder holds.

    Section 11. Meetings; Action Without a Meeting.

(a)    The holders of not less than 10% of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding may request the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the Chief Executive Officer, an Executive Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting shall be given to each holder of record of Series A Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than 10 days and not later than 60 days after such request and shall be held at such place as specified in such request. If such meeting shall not be called within 10 days after such request, then the holders of not less than 10% of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding may designate in writing any holder of Series A Preferred Stock to call such meeting on similar notice at the expense of the Corporation. Any holder of Series A Preferred Stock so designated shall have access to the stock books of the Corporation relating to Series A Preferred Stock for the purpose of calling a meeting of the holders pursuant to these provisions.

(b)    With respect to actions by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon those matters on which such holders are entitled to vote as a separate class, such actions may be taken without a meeting by the written consent of such holders who would be entitled to vote at a meeting having voting power to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all holders of the Series A Preferred Stock entitled to vote were present and voted.

Section 12. Status of Reacquired Shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Shares of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock reacquired by the Corporation (including shares of Series A Preferred Stock that shall have been redeemed pursuant to the provisions hereof) or cancelled upon conversion into Class A Common Stock shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, undesignated as to series, and subject to later designation and issuance by the Corporation in accordance with its Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 13. Preemptive Rights. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any preemptive, subscription or similar rights in respect of any securities of the Corporation, except as specifically set forth herein.

Section 14. No Impairment. The Corporation will not, by amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, merger, consolidation, 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 to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Certificate of Designations and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock against impairment; provided that, to the extent that the rights and obligations of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Corporation with respect to any transaction, event or other matter are expressly addressed by one or more specific provisions of this Certificate of Designations, such provision(s) shall govern and this Section 14 shall be inapplicable with respect thereto.

Section 15. Notices. Any notice required by the provisions hereof to be given to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States Mail, first class postage prepaid, and addressed to each holder of record at his, her or its address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Any notice required by the provisions hereof to be given to the Corporation shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States Mail, first class postage prepaid, and addressed to the Corporation at 1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, or such other address as the Corporation shall provide in writing to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

Section 16. Amendments. With the consent or approval of the holders of at least 95% of the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding, the Corporation may amend or modify any of the foregoing rights, privileges and preferences with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, provided that no such amendment may materially and adversely affect a holder of Series A Preferred Stock without such holder’s approval.


[The Remainder of this Page Intentionally Left Blank]
    
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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Certificate of Designations to be duly executed this 13th day of April, 2022.


EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.



By: /s/ Robert J. Anderson
Name: Robert J. Anderson
Title: Authorized Officer



Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Bighorn Permian Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bighorn”), and the Persons who become party to this Agreement from time to time upon the execution of a Joinder (as defined herein) in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Parent, Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“EEH”), and Bighorn Asset Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2022 (the “Purchase Agreement”), under which, among other things, EEH will acquire certain assets from Seller;
WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, Parent will issue shares of Class A Common Stock of Parent, $0.001 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), to Bighorn at the direction of Seller; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, Parent has agreed to grant to the Holders (as defined herein) certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement, except that the terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, the term “control” and its derivatives means, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the equity interests or the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
Agreement” is defined in the preamble.
Bighorn” is defined in the preamble.
Bighorn Stockholder” is defined in Section 2.10.
Board” means the board of directors of Parent.
Bold” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Bold Unitholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks in Texas are generally open for business.
Chisholm” means Chisholm Energy Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Class A Common Stock” is defined in the recitals.



Class A Common Stock Price” means, as of any date of determination, the volume weighted average closing price of Class A Common Stock (as reported by the New York Stock Exchange) for the ten trading days immediately preceding such date of determination.
Class B Common Stock” means the Class B Common Stock of Parent, $0.001 par value per share.
EDGAR” is defined in Section 2.04(h).
EEH” is defined in the recitals.
EEH A&R LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of EEH (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
EEH Units” means the Common Units (as such term is defined in the EEH A&R LLC Agreement).
Effectiveness Period” means the period beginning from and after the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared or becomes effective until the earlier of (i) all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been distributed in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration Statement or there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding and (ii) the Termination Date.
EnCap Fund XI” means EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI, L.P., a Texas limited partnership.
Equity Securities” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i) or (ii) above. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Equity Securities” refers to Equity Securities of Parent.
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Financial Counterparty” is defined in Section 2.04(r).
Foreland” means Foreland Investments LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
Foreland Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Holder” means a holder of any Registrable Securities.
Included Registrable Securities” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Independence” means Independence Resources Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Independence Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Joinder” is defined in Section 2.10.
Launch Date” is defined in Section 2.02(b).
Losses” is defined in Section 2.08(a).
Managing Underwriter(s)” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager or managers of such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering.
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Maximum Number of Securities” is defined in Section 2.02(c).
Member Distribution” is defined in Section 2.01(c).
Offering Holders” is defined in Section 2.03(a).
Opt-Out Notice” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Overnight Underwritten Offering” is defined in Section 2.02(b).
Parent” is defined in the preamble.
Parent Cooperation Event” is defined in Section 2.04(r).
Parity Holders” is defined in Section 2.02(c).
Person” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.
Piggyback Notice” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Piggyback Offering” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Post Oak” means Cypress Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Purchase Agreement” is defined in the recitals.
Registrable Securities” means (i) any Class A Common Stock received by Bighorn or the Bighorn Stockholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and (ii) any common Equity Securities of Parent issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.
Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to Parent’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Shelf Registration Statement, an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and/or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for Parent, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance; provided, however, that “Registration Expenses” shall not include any Selling Expenses.
Registration Statement” means any registration statement of Parent filed or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
SEG I” means SEG-TRD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
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SEG II” means SEG-TRD II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Seller” is defined in the recitals.
Selling Expenses” means all (i) transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities; (ii) fees and expenses of counsel engaged by the Holders; and (iii) fees, commissions and discounts of brokers, dealers and underwriters.
Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.
Selling Holder Indemnified Persons” is defined in Section 2.08(a).
Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.04(n).
Sequel” means collectively, SEG I and SEG II.
Sequel Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.01(a).
Staff” means the staff of the SEC.
Termination Date” is defined in Section 3.16.
Tracker” means Tracker Resource Development III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Tracker Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Transfer Agent” means Direct Transfer, LLC, or such other Person as from time to time is serving as the transfer agent in respect of the Class A Common Stock.
Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.
Underwritten Offering Filing” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Section 1.02Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when (a) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security is effective and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act or pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as a result of which the legend on any certificate or book-entry notation representing such Registrable Security restricting transfer of such Registrable Security has been removed; (c) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by Parent and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; or (d) such Registrable Security is held by Parent or one of its subsidiaries; provided that any security that has ceased to be a Registrable Security shall not thereafter become a Registrable Security and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not be a Registrable Security.
ARTICLE II.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01Shelf Registration.
(a)Shelf Registration. Parent shall (i) prepare and file by no later than the date that is 75 days after the date hereof a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time, including as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force) with respect to all of the Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably
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practicable thereafter but in no event later than 120 days after the date hereof; provided, however, in the event of a review by the Staff, within ten Business Days of being informed by the Staff that the Staff have no further comments on the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b)The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 if Parent is eligible to use Form S-3 or Form S-1 if Parent is not eligible to use Form S-3; provided, however, that if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering from the Shelf Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter(s) at any time shall notify the Holders in writing that, in the reasonable judgment of such Managing Underwriter(s), inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such a prospectus supplement. Subject to Section 2.01(c), Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective under the Securities Act during the Effectiveness Period and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Shelf Registration Statement is available for resale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders. The Shelf Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) shall comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As soon as practicable following the date of effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement, Parent will notify the Selling Holders of the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Parent hereby agrees that (i) the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(b) shall contain all language (including on the prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by Bighorn to allow for a distribution to the Bighorn Stockholders (each, a “Member Distribution”), and (ii) Parent shall, at the reasonable request of Bighorn seeking to effect a Member Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial Shelf Registration Statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by Bighorn to effect any such Member Distribution.
(c)Delay Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Parent may, upon written notice to (x) all Holders, delay the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or (y) any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement but such Selling Holder may settle any contracted sales of Registrable Securities) if Parent (i) is pursuing an acquisition, merger, tender offer, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Board determines in good faith that its ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Board would materially adversely affect Parent; provided, however, in no event shall (A) such filing of the Shelf Registration Statement be delayed under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(c) for a period that exceeds 90 days or (B) such Selling Holders be suspended under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(c) from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 30 days in any 90-day period or 80 days in any 365-day period. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, Parent shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement. Parent will only exercise its suspension rights under this Section 2.01(c) if it exercises similar suspension rights with respect to any Parity Holders. If Parent exercises its suspension rights under this Section 2.01(c), then during such suspension period Parent shall not engage in any transaction involving the offer, issuance, sale or purchase of Equity Securities (whether for the benefit of Parent or a third Person), except transactions involving (I) the issuance or purchase of Equity Securities as contemplated by the Parent’s employee benefit plans or employee or director arrangements, (II) the issuance of Equity Securities to a seller as consideration for, or to a third party in order to finance or partially finance, the transaction specified under clause (i) of this Section 2.01(c) that was the basis for which the suspension rights under this Section 2.01(c) were exercised or (III) the issuance of Equity Securities to a member of EEH in connection with the redemption of Class B Common Stock and EEH Units pursuant to the EEH A&R LLC Agreement.
Section 2.02Piggyback Rights.
(a)Participation. Except as provided in Section 2.02(b), if at any time during the Effectiveness Period, Parent proposes to file (i) a shelf registration statement other than the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event Parent covenants and agrees to include thereon a description of the transaction under which the Holders acquired the Registrable Securities), (ii) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other
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than the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement, , or (iii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in the case of each of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), for the sale of Class A Common Stock in an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering for its own account and/or the account of another Person, then as soon as practicable but not less than ten Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) prior to the filing of (A) any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, (B) the prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) or (C) such registration statement (other than a Shelf Registration Statement), as the case may be (an “Underwritten Offering Filing”), then Parent shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by email) of such proposed Underwritten Offering (a “Piggyback Offering”) to the Holders and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however, that if Parent has been advised by the Managing Underwriter(s) in writing that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Selling Holders will have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock in the Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Selling Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement. The notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02(a) to each Holder (the “Piggyback Notice”) shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof. Each Holder shall then have five Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received the Piggyback Notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, Parent shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, Parent may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and (x) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in any Underwritten Offering, Overnight Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Offering by giving written notice to Parent of such withdrawal up to and including the time of pricing of such offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to Parent requesting that such Holder not receive notice from Parent of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder, Parent shall not deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(a), unless such Opt-Out Notice is revoked by such Holder. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Parent hereby agrees that (i) any shelf registration statement which includes Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) shall contain all language (including on the prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by Bighorn to allow for a Member Distribution and (ii) Parent shall, at the reasonable request of Bighorn seeking to effect a Member Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial registration statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by Bighorn to effect such Member Distribution.
(b)Overnight Underwritten Offering Piggyback Rights. If, at any time during any Effectiveness Period, Parent proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing and such Underwritten Offering is expected to be launched (the “Launch Date”) after the close of trading on one trading day and priced before the open of trading on the next succeeding trading day (such execution format, an “Overnight Underwritten Offering”), then no later than one Business Day after Parent engages one or more Managing Underwriter(s) for the proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering, Parent shall notify (including, but not limited to, notice by email) the Holders of the pendency of the Overnight Underwritten Offering and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Overnight Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing within two Business Days after such Holder receives such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Parent has been advised by the Managing Underwriter(s) in writing that the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Overnight Underwritten Offering for the accounts of the Selling Holders is likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock being offered in such Overnight Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in the Overnight Underwritten Offering for the accounts of Selling Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to execute an Overnight Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Overnight Underwritten Offering, Parent determines for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Overnight Underwritten Offering, Parent shall give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (i) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Overnight Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Registrable Securities held by the Selling Holders in connection with such abandoned or delayed Overnight Underwritten Offering, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such Overnight
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Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Registrable Securities held by the Selling Holders for the same period as the delay of the Overnight Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Overnight Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to Parent of such withdrawal at least one Business Day prior to the expected Launch Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may deliver an Opt-Out Notice to Parent requesting that such Holder not receive notice from Parent of any proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering and, following receipt of such an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder, Parent shall not deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(b), unless such Opt-Out Notice is revoked by such Holder.
(c)Priority of Rights. In connection with an Underwritten Offering and Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.02(a) and Section 2.02(b), respectively, if the Managing Underwriter(s) of any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, advises Parent that the total amount of Class A Common Stock that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering without being likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock offered in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, or the market for the Class A Common Stock, then the Class A Common Stock to be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering shall include the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that such Managing Underwriter(s) advise Parent can be sold without having such adverse effect (such maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), with such number to be allocated (i) first, to Parent, (ii) second, pro rata among all Selling Holders and holders of any other securities of Parent having rights of registration on parity with the Registrable Securities (“Parity Holders”) who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering. The pro rata allocations for each such Selling Holder or Parity Holder shall be (A) based on the percentage derived by dividing (1) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that such Selling Holder or such Parity Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by (2) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that all Selling Holders and all Parity Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering or (B) as otherwise agreed by such Selling Holder or Parity Holder, as applicable.
(d)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.02 to the contrary, no Holder shall have any right to include any Class A Common Stock in any offering by Parent of Class A Common Stock executed pursuant to any “at the market” program that Parent may have in effect from time to time on or after the date of this Agreement.
(e)Parent, Bighorn and the Bighorn Stockholders that have executed this Agreement or a Joinder pursuant to Section 2.10 hereby agree that the rights of (i) Bold Energy Holdings, LLC (“Bold”) and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 9, 2017, by and among the Parent, Bold and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Bold Unitholders”); (ii) Independence and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 7, 2021, by and among Parent, Independence and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Independence Stockholders”); (iii) Tracker and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 20, 2021, by and among Parent, Tracker, EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, L.P., ZIP Ventures I, L.L.C., and Tracker III Holdings, LLC (collectively, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Tracker Stockholders”); (iv) Sequel and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 20, 2021, by and among Parent, Sequel and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (the “Sequel Stockholders”); (v) Foreland and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 2, 2021, by and among Parent, Foreland, the parties identified on Schedule I attached thereto and the Persons identified on Schedule II attached thereto (collectively, the “Foreland Stockholders”); (vi) Chisholm and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 15, 2022, by and among Parent, Chisholm and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Chisholm Stockholders”); and (vii) EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Parent, EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak, shall rank pari passu with the rights of Bighorn and the Bighorn Stockholders to register shares of Class A Common Stock under this Agreement. For purposes of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, Parent, Bighorn and the Bighorn Stockholders expressly agree that Bold, the Bold Unitholders, Independence, the Independence Stockholders, Tracker, the Tracker Stockholders, Sequel, the Sequel Stockholders, Foreland, the Foreland Stockholders, Chisholm, the Chisholm Stockholders, EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak shall be Parity Holders for purposes of this Section 2.02.
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Section 2.03Underwritten Offering.
(a)In the event that one or more Holders of Registrable Securities (the “Offering Holders”) notify Parent in writing of their election to dispose of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering and reasonably expect aggregate gross proceeds of at least $30 million from such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, (i) Parent shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by email, with such notice given no later than one Business Day after the engagement by Parent of the Managing Underwriter(s) in the case of a proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering) of such proposed Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering to the other Holders on a Business Day and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing (within five Business Days in the case of an Underwritten Offering that is not an Overnight Underwritten Offering and within two Business Days after the Holder receives such notice in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) and (ii) Parent will retain Underwriters selected by Offering Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities to be disposed of pursuant to such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering (which Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to Parent) to conduct such sale through an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering including entering into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Managing Underwriter(s), which underwriting agreement shall include, among other provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 2.08, and will take all reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter(s) in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to effect more than one Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.03 in any 365-day period. Parent management shall participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort on behalf of any such Holder or Holders if gross proceeds from such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering are reasonably expected to exceed $35 million. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably and customarily required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with Parent or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder and its ownership of the securities being registered on its behalf and its intended method of distribution and any other representations required by law. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.03(a), such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to Parent and the Managing Underwriter(s); provided, however, that such notice of withdrawal must be made at a time up to and including the time of pricing of such offering in order to be effective. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect Parent’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.
(b)In connection with an Underwritten Offering and Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.03(a), if the Managing Underwriter(s) of any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, advises the Selling Holders that the total amount of Registrable Securities that the Selling Holders intend to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering shall include the Maximum Number of Securities, with such number to be allocated (i) first, pro rata among all Selling Holders and (ii) second, to the extent the number of securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by the Selling Holders is less than the Maximum Number of Securities, pro rata among all Parity Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering. The pro rata allocations for each such Selling Holder or Parity Holder, as applicable, shall be (A) (1) with respect to any Selling Holder, based on the percentage derived by dividing (aa) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that such Selling Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by (bb) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that all Selling Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, and (2) with respect to any Parity Holder, based on the percentage derived by dividing (aa) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that such Parity Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by (bb) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that all Parity Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, or (B) as otherwise agreed by such Selling Holder(s) or Parity Holder(s), as applicable.
Section 2.04Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations under this Article II, Parent or the applicable Selling Holder, as the case may be, will, as expeditiously as possible, subject to confidentiality obligations and agreements:
(a)prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to cause the Shelf Registration
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Statement to be effective and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement;
(b)furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC other than annual or quarterly reports on Form 10-K or 10-Q, respectively, current reports on Form 8-K or proxy statements; provided, however, that such reports or proxy statements shall be provided at least two Business Days prior to filing in connection with an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing the Shelf Registration Statement or such other Registration Statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Shelf Registration Statement or such other Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or such other Registration Statement;
(c)if applicable, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter(s) shall reasonably request, except that Parent will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(d)promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the SEC with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;
(e)promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) the issuance or threat of issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by Parent of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, Parent agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstances then existing, and to take such other commercially reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;
(f)upon request, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the SEC or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;
(g)in connection with an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish upon request and addressed to the underwriters and to the Selling Holders on the date that shares of Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) an opinion of counsel for Parent, and (ii) a “comfort letter” signed by the independent public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) who have certified Parent’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable Registration Statement, and each of the opinion
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and the “comfort letter” shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such Registration Statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers’) letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings or Overnight Underwritten Offerings of securities, and such other matters as such underwriters or Selling Holders may reasonably request;
(h)otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders (which may be satisfied by making such information available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system known as “EDGAR”), as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;
(i)make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter(s) and Selling Holders access to such information and Parent personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided that Parent need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a customary confidentiality agreement with Parent;
(j)cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or quoted;
(k)use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of Parent to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(l)provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement;
(m)enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(n)if reasonably required by Parent’s transfer agent, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly (and in no more than two (2) Business Days) deliver any customary authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to transfer such Registrable Securities without legend, in accordance with applicable law, upon sale by the Holder of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement;
(o)if any Selling Holder could reasonably be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of Registrable Securities of such Selling Holder pursuant to this Agreement, and any amendment or supplement thereof (any such registration statement or amendment or supplement, a “Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement”), then, until the Effectiveness Period ends, (i) cooperate with such Selling Holder in allowing such Selling Holder to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to Parent and satisfy its obligations in respect thereof; (ii) until the Effectiveness Period ends, at any Selling Holder request, furnish to such Selling Holder, on the date of the effectiveness of any Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement and thereafter no more often than on a quarterly basis, (A) a letter, dated such date, from Parent’s independent certified public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to such Selling Holder, (B) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing Parent for purposes of such Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including a standard “10b-5” opinion for such offering, addressed to such Selling Holder and (C) a standard officer’s certificate from the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent addressed to such Selling Holder; and (iii) permit legal counsel of such Selling Holder to review and comment upon any Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement at least five Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and all amendments and supplements to any such Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which such Selling Holder’s legal counsel reasonably objects;
(p)each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from Parent of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (d) of this Section 2.04, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities
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until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (d) of this Section 2.04 or until it is advised in writing by Parent that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by Parent, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter(s), if any, to deliver to Parent (at Parent’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice;
(q)if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) as soon as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) as soon as practicable make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) as soon as practicable, supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement; and
(r)in connection with any transaction or series of anticipated transactions (i) effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) with reasonably anticipated gross proceeds in excess of $12.5 million or involving Registrable Securities having a fair market value in excess of $12.5 million (which value shall be determined by multiplying the number of such Registrable Securities by the Class A Common Stock Price) and (iii) involving a broker, agent, counterparty, underwriter, bank or other financial institution (“Financial Counterparty”) (each a “Parent Cooperation Event”), to the extent requested by the Financial Counterparty in order to engage in the proposed Parent Cooperation Event, Parent will cooperate with the applicable Holder(s) in allowing Financial Counterparty to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to Parent, including (1) by using commercially reasonable efforts to cause its independent certified public accountants to provide to the Financial Counterparty a “cold comfort” letter in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Financial Counterparty, (2) by using commercially reasonable efforts to cause its outside counsel to deliver an opinion in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including a standard “10b-5” letter for such offering, addressed to such Financial Counterparty, and (3) by providing a standard officer’s certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other officer serving such functions, of Parent addressed to the Financial Counterparty; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Parent Cooperation Event shall be deemed an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering for purposes of Section 2.03. Parent shall not be required to participate in more than two Parent Cooperation Events in any 365-day period.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.04, Parent will not name a Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act) in any Registration Statement or Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, as applicable, without such Holder’s consent. If the Parent determines, upon advice of counsel, that Parent is required to name any Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), and such Holder does not consent thereto, then such Holder’s Registrable Securities shall not be included on the applicable Registration Statement and Parent shall have no further obligations hereunder with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Holder with respect to such Registration Statement or Selling Holder Registration Statement unless such Holder has not had an opportunity to conduct customary underwriter’s due diligence as set forth in Section 2.04(o) with respect to Parent at the time such Holder’s consent is sought.
Section 2.05Cooperation by Holders. Parent shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information which Parent determines, after consultation with counsel, is reasonably required for any registration statement or prospectus supplement thereto, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.
Section 2.06Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who is included in the Shelf Registration Statement agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of the Registrable Securities for a period of up to 60 days following completion of such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering of Equity Securities by Parent, provided that (i) Parent gives written notice to such Holder of the date of the commencement and termination of such period with respect to any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering and (ii) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters of such public sale or distribution on Parent or on the officers or directors or any other Affiliate of Parent on whom a restriction is imposed; provided further, that this Section 2.06 shall not apply to a Holder that holds less than seven percent of the voting power of Parent’s outstanding Equity Securities.
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Section 2.07Expenses. Parent will pay all Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder.
Section 2.08Indemnification.
(a)By Parent. In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, Parent will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its Affiliates that own Registrable Securities and their respective directors and officers and each underwriter pursuant to the applicable underwriting agreement with such underwriter and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and its directors and officers (collectively, the “Selling Holder Indemnified Persons”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and experts’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder or underwriter or controlling Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes documents incorporated by reference in) the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or arise out of or are based upon a Selling Holder being deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of Parent’s securities, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that Parent will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in strict conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder or any such director, officer or controlling Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.
(b)By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless Parent, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls Parent within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act against any Losses to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from Parent to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof relating to the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Selling Holder (net of Selling Expenses) from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.
(c)Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but such indemnified party’s failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.08. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.08 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of one such separate counsel (firm) and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnified party shall
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settle any action brought against it with respect to which it is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnifying party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnifying party.
(d)Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.08 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to Parent or any Selling Holder or is insufficient to hold it harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses as between Parent, on the one hand, and such Selling Holder, on the other hand, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of Parent, on the one hand, and of such Selling Holder, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds received by such Selling Holder (net of Selling Expenses) from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of Parent, on the one hand, and each Selling Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss which is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e)Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.08 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.
Section 2.09Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, Parent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:
(a)make and keep public information regarding Parent available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force), at all times from and after the date of this Agreement;
(b)file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Parent under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date of this Agreement;
(c)so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, unless otherwise available via EDGAR, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of Parent, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration; and
(d)promptly take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force).
Section 2.10Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause Parent to include Registrable Securities in a Shelf Registration Statement may be transferred or assigned by any Holder to one or more transferee(s) or assignee(s) of such Registrable Securities; provided that (a) Parent is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (b) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement by executing a Joinder in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Joinder”), and (c) unless any such transferee or assignee is (i) a recipient of securities pursuant to a Member Distribution or is otherwise a direct or indirect holder of equity interests in Bighorn (such Persons, including those listed in Schedule I hereto, the “Bighorn Stockholders”) or (ii) an Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) or any other Bighorn Stockholder, the amount of Registrable
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Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $35 million of Registrable Securities (determined by multiplying the number of Registrable Securities owned by the Class A Common Stock Price).
Section 2.11Information by Holder. Any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement shall promptly furnish to Parent such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders as Parent may reasonably request and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to herein, including but not limited to information related to the number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by the Holder.
Section 2.12Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of Parent that would allow such current or future holder to require Parent to include securities in any Piggyback Offering by Parent for its own account on a basis that is superior in any material respect to the Piggyback Offering rights granted to the Holders pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01Communications. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (a) personally delivered, (b) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, (c) sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) sent by email. Such notices and other communications must be sent to the following addresses or email addresses:
if to Parent to:

Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Attention: Robert J. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Email: robert@earthstoneenergy.com
with a copy to:
Jones & Keller, P.C.
1675 Broadway, 26
th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
Attention: Reid A. Godbolt
Adam J. Fogoros
Email: rgodbolt@joneskeller.com
adamf@joneskeller.com
if to Bighorn to:
Bighorn Permian Resources, LLC
c/o FDL Operating, LLC
5221 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 1100
Irving, Texas 75039
Attention: Bob Mase, Blake Ramsey
Email:     bmase@fdlenergy.com
    bramsey@fdlenergy.com
And with copies to (which will not constitute notice):
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
600 Travis Street, Suite 5400
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention:     Chris Bennett; Shamus Crosby
Email:       christopher.bennett@stblaw.com
        shamus.crosby@stblaw.com
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if to any Holder: at its address listed on the signature pages hereof or Joinder, if applicable;
or to such other address or email address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) when delivered, if personally delivered, (b) the next Business Day after delivery, if sent by nationally recognized, overnight courier, (c) on the second Business Day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted, if sent by first-class mail or (d) on the date sent, if sent by email during normal business hours of the recipient or on the next Business Day, if sent by email after normal business hours of the recipient.
Section 3.02Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.
Section 3.03Assignment of Rights. All or any portion of the rights and obligations of the Holders under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by the Holders only in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement. Parent may not transfer or assign any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Holders holding five percent (5%) or more of the voting power of Parent’s outstanding Equity Securities.
Section 3.04Change of Control. Parent shall not merge, consolidate or combine with any other Person unless the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or combination expressly provides for the continuation of the registration rights specified in this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities or other Equity Securities issued pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination.
Section 3.05Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such Person may have.
Section 3.06Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Class A Common Stock. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all shares of capital stock of Parent or any successor or assign of Parent (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.
Section 3.07Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature or other electronic means and in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 3.08Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
Section 3.09Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.
Section 3.10Jurisdiction. Each of the parties irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, to the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or, if jurisdiction is vested exclusively in the Federal courts of the United States, the Federal courts of the United States sitting in the State of Delaware, and any appellate court from any such state or Federal court. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims with respect to any such claim shall be heard and determined in such Delaware court or in such Federal court, as applicable. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such claim is conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
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Section 3.11WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER, RELATED TO, BASED ON, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT OR CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE. ANY PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 3.11 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 3.12Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 3.13Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by Parent set forth herein. This Agreement and the Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
Section 3.14Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by Parent and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.
Section 3.15No Presumption. In the event any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission, or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.
Section 3.16Independent Nature of Each Holder’s Obligations. The obligations of each Holder under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder under this Agreement. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
Section 3.17Termination of Registration Right. After effectiveness in accordance with Section 2.01, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each individual Holder, and such Holder and Parent shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder on the earlier of (a) the third anniversary of the date hereof (as may be extended pursuant to the following proviso, the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that such Termination Date shall automatically be extended for additional successive one-year periods with respect to any Holder that, together with its Affiliates, continues to hold at least two percent (2%) of the then-outstanding Class A Common Stock; or (b) on such earlier date on which both (i) such individual Holder, together with its Affiliates owns less than one percent (1%) of Parent’s outstanding voting power and (ii) all Registrable Securities owned by such Holder may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144.
Section 3.18Further Assurances. Parent and each of the Holders shall cooperate with each other and shall take such further action and shall execute and deliver such further documents as may be reasonably requested by any other party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
[Signature pages follow]


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.


EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.
EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.

By:
/s/ Robert J. Anderson
Name:Robert J. Anderson
Title:President and Chief Executive Officer


Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement



BIGHORN PERMIAN RESOURCES, LLC

By:
/s/ Steven D. Gray
Name:Steven D. Gray
Title:Director
Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
[DATE]
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Bighorn Permian Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the Persons who become party thereto from time to time in accordance with Section 2.10 thereof (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), and to join in the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder with the same force and effect as if the undersigned were originally a party thereto.
[Signature Page Follows]




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder Agreement as of [DATE].

Name:
Address:






Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“EnCap Fund XI”), and Cypress Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Post Oak”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Parent, EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2022 (the “Purchase Agreement”), under which, among other things, at the closing of the Purchase Agreement, Parent issued an aggregate of 280,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share of Parent (the “Preferred Stock”) to EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak;
WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, each share of the Preferred Stock would entitle the holder thereof to 90.0900900900901 newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock of Parent, $0.001 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”) upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations of the Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”);
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, Post Oak purchased 4,611,808 shares of Class A Common Stock from an Affiliate of EnCap Fund XI (the “Secondary Shares”) pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Post Oak and an Affiliate of EnCap Fund XI (the “Secondary SPA”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, Parent has agreed to grant to the Holders (as defined herein) certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01    Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement, except that the terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, the term “control” and its derivatives means, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the equity interests of such Person or the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
Agreement” is defined in the preamble.
Bighorn” means Bighorn Asset Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Bighorn Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Board” means the board of directors of Parent.
Bold” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Bold Unitholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Texas are authorized or required by applicable law to close.
Certificate of Designations” is defined in the recitals.



Chisholm” means Chisholm Energy Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Class A Common Stock” is defined in the recitals.
Class A Common Stock Price” means, as of any date of determination, the volume weighted average closing price of Class A Common Stock (as reported by the New York Stock Exchange) for the ten trading days immediately preceding such date of determination.
Class B Common Stock” means the Class B Common Stock of Parent, $0.001 par value per share.
EDGAR” is defined in Section 2.04(h).
EEH” means Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
EEH A&R LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of EEH (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
EEH Units” means Common Units (as such term is defined in the EEH A&R LLC Agreement).
Effectiveness Period” means the period beginning from and after the date the Shelf Registration Statement is first declared or becomes effective until the earlier of (i) all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been distributed in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration Statement or there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding and the (ii) the Termination Date.
EnCap Fund XI” is defined in the preamble.
Equity Securities” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i) or (ii) above. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Equity Securities” refers to Equity Securities of Parent.
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Financial Counterparty” is defined in Section 2.04(r).
Foreland” means Foreland Investments LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
Foreland Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Holder” means a holder of any Registrable Securities.
Included Registrable Securities” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Independence” means Independence Resources Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Independence Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Investor Holder” means a Holder that is not a natural person.
Joinder” is defined in Section 2.10.
Launch Date” is defined in Section 2.02(b).
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Losses” is defined in Section 2.08(a).
Managing Underwriter(s)” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager or managers of such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering.
Maximum Number of Securities” is defined in Section 2.02(c).
Member Distribution” is defined in Section 2.01(b).
NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
Offering Holders” is defined in Section 2.03(a).
Opt-Out Notice” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Overnight Underwritten Offering” is defined in Section 2.02(b).
Parent” is defined in the preamble.
Parent Cooperation Event” is defined in Section 2.04(r).
Parity Holders” is defined in Section 2.02(c).
Person” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.
Piggyback Notice” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Piggyback Offering” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Post Oak” is defined in the preamble.
Preferred Stock” is defined in the recitals.
Purchase Agreement” is defined in the recitals.
Registrable Securities” means (i) any Class A Common Stock received by EnCap Fund XI or Post Oak in connection with the conversion of Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock; (ii) any common Equity Securities of Parent or of any Subsidiary of Parent issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization; and (iii) any other shares of Class A Common Stock owned by Persons that are the registered holders of securities described in clauses (i) or (ii) above (including, without limitation, the Secondary Shares). For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided, however, a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Equity Securities of Parent that are registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement.
Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to Parent’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Shelf Registration Statement, an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and/or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of
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complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for Parent, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance; provided, however, that “Registration Expenses” shall not include any Selling Expenses.
Registration Statement” means any registration statement of Parent filed or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secondary Shares” is defined in the recitals.
Secondary SPA” is defined in the recitals.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
SEG I” means SEG-TRD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
SEG II” means SEG-TRD II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Selling Expenses” means all (i) transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities; (ii) fees and expenses of counsel engaged by the Holders; and (iii) fees, commissions and discounts of brokers, dealers and underwriters.
Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.
Selling Holder Indemnified Persons” is defined in Section 2.08(a).
Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.04(n).
Sequel” means collectively, SEG I and SEG II.
Sequel Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.01(a).
Staff” means the staff of the SEC.
Subsidiary” means, with respect to Parent, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Equity Securities of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Parent, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Equity Securities of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Parent or (y) Parent or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.
Termination Date” is defined in Section 3.18.
Tracker” means Tracker Resource Development III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Tracker Stockholders” is defined in Section 2.02(e).
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Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.
Underwritten Offering Filing” is defined in Section 2.02(a).
Section 1.02    Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when (a) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security is effective and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by Parent and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; or (d) such Registrable Security is held by Parent or one of its Subsidiaries; provided that any security that has ceased to be a Registrable Security shall not thereafter become a Registrable Security and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not be a Registrable Security.
ARTICLE II.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01    Shelf Registration.
(a)    Shelf Registration. Parent shall (i) prepare and file by no later than the date that is 75 days after the date hereof a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time, including as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force) with respect to all of the Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter but in no event later than 105 days after the date hereof (or the 150th day after the date hereof if such Shelf Registration Statement is subject to a full review by the SEC). The extent to which the Preferred Stock has or has not converted into Class A Common Stock shall not affect in any way Parent’s continuing obligations under this Section 2.01.
(b)    The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 if Parent is eligible to use Form S-3 or Form S-1 if Parent is not eligible to use Form S-3; provided, however, that if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering from the Shelf Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter(s) at any time shall notify the Holders in writing that, in the reasonable judgment of such Managing Underwriter(s), inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to include such information in such a prospectus supplement. Subject to Section 2.01(c), Parent will cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be continuously effective under the Securities Act during the Effectiveness Period and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available for the resale of all the Registrable Securities of the Holders. The Shelf Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) shall comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As soon as practicable following the date of effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement, but in any event within three Business Days of such date, Parent will notify the Selling Holders of the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Parent hereby agrees that (i) the Shelf Registration Statement shall contain all language (including on the prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by any Investor Holder to allow for a distribution to, and resale by, the direct and indirect members, stockholders or partners of such Investor Holder (each, a “Member Distribution”) and (ii) Parent shall, at the reasonable request of such Investor Holder if seeking to effect a Member Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial Registration Statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by such Investor Holder to effect any such Member Distribution.
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(c)    Delay Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Parent may, upon written notice to (x) all Holders, delay the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or (y) any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement but such Selling Holder may settle any contracted sales of Registrable Securities) if Parent (i) is pursuing an acquisition, merger, tender offer, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Board determines in good faith that its ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Board would materially adversely affect Parent; provided, however, in no event shall (A) such filing of the Shelf Registration Statement be delayed under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(c) for a period that exceeds 90 days or (B) such Selling Holders be suspended under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(c) from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 30 days in any 90-day period or 80 days in any 365-day period. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, Parent shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement. Parent will only exercise its suspension rights under this Section 2.01(c) if it exercises similar suspension rights with respect to any Parity Holders. If Parent exercises its suspension rights under this Section 2.01(c), then during such suspension period Parent shall not engage in any transaction involving the offer, issuance, sale or purchase of Equity Securities (whether for the benefit of Parent or a third Person), except transactions involving (I) the issuance or purchase of Equity Securities as contemplated by the Parent’s employee benefit plans or employee or director arrangements, (II) the issuance of unregistered Equity Securities to a seller as consideration for, or to a third party in order to finance or partially finance, the transaction specified under clause (i) of this Section 2.01(c) that was the basis for which the suspension rights under this Section 2.01(c) were exercised or (III) the issuance of Equity Securities to a member of EEH in connection with the redemption of Class B Common Stock and EEH Units pursuant to the EEH A&R LLC Agreement.
Section 2.02    Piggyback Rights.
(a)    Participation. Except as provided in Section 2.02(b), if at any time during the Effectiveness Period, Parent proposes to file (i) a shelf registration statement other than the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event Parent covenants and agrees to include thereon a description of the transaction under which the Holders acquired the Registrable Securities), (ii) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other than the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement, and Holders could be included without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto (other than a post-effective amendment that is immediately effective), or (iii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in the case of each of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), for the sale of Class A Common Stock in an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering for its own account and/or the account of another Person, then as soon as practicable but not less than ten Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) prior to the filing of (A) any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, (B) the prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) or (C) such registration statement (other than a Shelf Registration Statement), as the case may be (an “Underwritten Offering Filing”), then Parent shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by email) of such proposed Underwritten Offering (a “Piggyback Offering”) to the Holders and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however, that if Parent has been advised by the Managing Underwriter(s) that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Selling Holders will have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock in the Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Selling Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement. The notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02(a) to each Holder (the “Piggyback Notice”) shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof. Each Holder shall then have five Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received the Piggyback Notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, the Board shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, Parent may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and (x) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included
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Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in any Underwritten Offering, Overnight Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Offering by giving written notice to Parent of such withdrawal up to and including the time of pricing of such offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to Parent requesting that such Holder not receive notice from Parent of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder, Parent shall not deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(a), unless such Opt-Out Notice is revoked by such Holder.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Parent hereby agrees that (i) any shelf registration statement which includes Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) shall contain all language (including on the prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by such Holder to allow for a Member Distribution and (ii) Parent shall, at the reasonable request of the Holder seeking to effect a Member Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial registration statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by such Holder to effect such Member Distribution.
(b)    Overnight Underwritten Offering Piggyback Rights. If, at any time during any Effectiveness Period, Parent proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing and such Underwritten Offering is expected to be launched (the “Launch Date”) after the close of trading on one trading day and priced before the open of trading on the next succeeding trading day (such execution format, an “Overnight Underwritten Offering”), then no later than one Business Day after Parent engages one or more Managing Underwriter(s) for the proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering, Parent shall notify (including, but not limited to, notice by email) the Holders of the pendency of the Overnight Underwritten Offering and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Overnight Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing within two Business Days after such Holder receives such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Parent has been advised by the Managing Underwriter(s) that the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Overnight Underwritten Offering for the accounts of the Selling Holders is likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock being offered in such Overnight Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in the Overnight Underwritten Offering for the accounts of Selling Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to execute an Overnight Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Overnight Underwritten Offering, Parent determines for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Overnight Underwritten Offering, Parent shall give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (i) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Overnight Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Registrable Securities held by the Selling Holders in connection with such abandoned or delayed Overnight Underwritten Offering, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such Overnight Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Registrable Securities held by the Selling Holders for the same period as the delay of the Overnight Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Overnight Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to Parent of such withdrawal at least one Business Day prior to the expected Launch Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may deliver an Opt-Out Notice to Parent requesting that such Holder not receive notice from Parent of any proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering and, following receipt of such an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder, Parent shall not deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(b), unless such Opt-Out Notice is revoked by such Holder.
(c)    Priority of Rights. In connection with an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.02(a) and Section 2.02(b), respectively, if the Managing Underwriter(s) of any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, advises Parent that the total amount of Class A Common Stock that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering without being likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock offered in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, or the market for the Class A Common Stock, then the Class A Common Stock to be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering shall include the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that such Managing Underwriter(s) advise Parent can be sold without having such adverse effect (such maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), with such number to be allocated (i) first, to Parent, (ii) second, pro rata among all Selling Holders and holders of any other securities of Parent having rights of registration on parity with the Registrable Securities (“Parity Holders”) who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering. The pro rata allocations for each such Selling Holder or Parity Holder shall be (A) based on the percentage derived by dividing (1) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that such Selling
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Holder or such Parity Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by (2) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that all Selling Holders and all Parity Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering or (B) as otherwise agreed by such Selling Holder or Parity Holder, as applicable.
(d)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.02 to the contrary, no Holder shall have any right to include any Class A Common Stock in any offering by Parent of Class A Common Stock executed pursuant to any “at the market” program that Parent may have in effect from time to time on or after the date of this Agreement.
(e)    Parent, EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak hereby agree that the rights of (i) Bold Energy Holdings, LLC (“Bold”) and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 9, 2017, by and among the Parent, Bold and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Bold Unitholders”); (ii) Independence and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 7, 2021, by and among Parent, Independence and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Independence Stockholders”); (iii) Tracker and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 20, 2021, by and among Parent, Tracker, EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, L.P., ZIP Ventures I, L.L.C., and Tracker III Holdings, LLC (collectively, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Tracker Stockholders”); (iv) Sequel and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 20, 2021, by and among Parent, Sequel and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (the “Sequel Stockholders”); (v) Foreland and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 2, 2021, by and among Parent, Foreland, the parties identified on Schedule I attached thereto and the Persons identified on Schedule II attached thereto (collectively, the “Foreland Stockholders”); (vi) Chisholm and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 15, 2022, by and among Parent, Chisholm and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Chisholm Stockholders”); and (vii) Bighorn and its permitted assigns to register shares of Class A Common Stock under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and among Parent, Bighorn and the Persons identified on Schedule I attached thereto (such Persons, together with their respective permitted assigns, the “Bighorn Stockholders”), shall rank pari passu with the rights of EnCap Fund XI and Post Oak to register shares of Class A Common Stock under this Agreement. For purposes of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, Parent, Post Oak and EnCap Fund XI expressly agree that Bold, the Bold Unitholders, Independence, the Independence Stockholders, Tracker, the Tracker Stockholders, Sequel, the Sequel Stockholders, Foreland, the Foreland Stockholders, Chisholm, the Chisholm Stockholders, Bighorn and the Bighorn Stockholders shall be Parity Holders for purposes of this Section 2.02.
Section 2.03    Underwritten Offering.
(a)    In the event that one or more Holders of Registrable Securities (the “Offering Holders”) notify Parent in writing of their election to dispose of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering and reasonably expect gross proceeds of at least $20 million from such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, (i) Parent shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by email, with such notice given no later than one Business Day after the engagement by Parent of the Managing Underwriter(s) in the case of a proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering) of such proposed Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering to the other Holders on a Business Day and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing (within five Business Days in the case of an Underwritten Offering that is not an Overnight Underwritten Offering and within two Business Days after the Holder receives such notice in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) and (ii) Parent will retain underwriters selected by the Offering Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities to be disposed of pursuant to such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering (which underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to Parent) subject to such sale through an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering including entering into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Managing Underwriter(s), which underwriting agreement shall include, among other provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 2.08, and will take all reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter(s) in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to effect more than two Underwritten Offerings or Overnight Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.03 in any 365-day period. Parent management shall participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort on behalf of any such Holder or Holders if gross proceeds from such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering are reasonably expected to exceed $20 million. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably and
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customarily required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with Parent or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder and its ownership of the securities being registered on its behalf and its intended method of distribution and any other representations required by law. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.03(a), such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to Parent and the Managing Underwriter(s); provided, however, that such notice of withdrawal must be made at a time up to and including the time of pricing of such offering in order to be effective. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect Parent’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.
(b)    In connection with an Underwritten Offering and Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.03(a), if the Managing Underwriter(s) of any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, advises the Selling Holders that the total amount of Registrable Securities that the Selling Holders intend to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering shall include the Maximum Number of Securities, with such number to be allocated (i) first, pro rata among the Offering Holders who initiated the Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03(a) and (ii) second, to the extent the number of securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by the Offering Holders is less than the Maximum Number of Securities, pro rata among all Selling Holders (other than the Offering Holders) and Parity Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering. The pro rata allocations for each such Offering Holder, Selling Holder (other than the Offering Holders) or Parity Holder, as applicable, shall be (A) (1) with respect to any Offering Holder, based on the percentage derived by dividing (aa) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that such Offering Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by (bb) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that all Offering Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, and (2) with respect to any Selling Holder (other than an Offering Holder) or Parity Holder, based on the percentage derived by dividing (aa) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that such Selling Holder (other than an Offering Holder) or Parity Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering by (bb) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or other securities) that all Selling Holders (other than the Offering Holders) and Parity Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, or (B) as otherwise agreed by such Offering Holder(s), Selling Holder(s) (other than the Offering Holders) or Parity Holder(s), as applicable.
Section 2.04    Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations under this Article II, Parent will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a)    prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be effective and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement;
(b)    if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering under a Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter(s) at any time shall notify Parent that, in the good faith judgment of such Managing Underwriter(s), inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of such Underwritten Offering, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;
(c)    furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC other than annual or quarterly reports on Form 10-K or 10-Q, respectively, current reports on Form 8-K or proxy statements; provided, however, that such reports or proxy statements shall be provided at least two Business Days prior to filing in connection with an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing the Shelf Registration Statement or such other Registration Statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Shelf Registration Statement or such other Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments
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thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or such other Registration Statement;
(d)    if applicable, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter(s) shall reasonably request, except that Parent will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(e)    promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter of Registrable Securities, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the SEC with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;
(f)    promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter of Registrable Securities, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) the issuance or threat of issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by Parent of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, Parent agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstances then existing, and to take such other action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;
(g)    subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the SEC or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;
(h)    in connection with an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request and addressed to the underwriters and to the Selling Holders on the date that shares of Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) an opinion of counsel for Parent, dated the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto, and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, and (ii) a “comfort letter,” dated the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) who have certified Parent’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable Registration Statement, and each of the opinion and the “comfort letter” shall be in customary form and shall cover substantially the same matters with respect to such Registration Statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers’) letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings or Overnight Underwritten Offerings of securities, and such other matters as such underwriters or Selling Holders may reasonably request;
(i)    otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders (which may be satisfied by making such information available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system known as “EDGAR”), as
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soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;
(j)    make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter(s) and Selling Holders access to such information and Parent personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided that Parent need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a customary confidentiality agreement with Parent;
(k)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or quoted;
(l)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of Parent to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(m)    provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement;
(n)    enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(o)    if reasonably required by Parent’s transfer agent, Parent shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) deliver any customary authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to transfer such Registrable Securities without legend, in accordance with applicable law, upon sale by the Holder of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement;
(p)    if any Selling Holder could reasonably be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of Registrable Securities of such Selling Holder pursuant to this Agreement, and any amendment or supplement thereof (any such registration statement or amendment or supplement, a “Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement”), then, until the Effectiveness Period ends, (i) cooperate with such Selling Holder in allowing such Selling Holder to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to Parent and satisfy its obligations in respect thereof; (ii) until the Effectiveness Period ends, at any Selling Holder request, furnish to such Selling Holder, on the date of the effectiveness of any Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement and thereafter no more often than on a quarterly basis, (A) a letter, dated such date, from Parent’s independent certified public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to such Selling Holder, (B) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing Parent for purposes of such Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including a standard “10b-5” opinion for such offering, addressed to such Selling Holder and (C) a standard officer’s certificate from the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent addressed to such Selling Holder; and (iii) permit legal counsel of such Selling Holder to review and comment upon any Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement at least five Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and all amendments and supplements to any such Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which such Selling Holder’s legal counsel reasonably objects;
(q)    in connection with any transaction or series of anticipated transactions (i) effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) with reasonably anticipated gross proceeds in excess of $12.5 million or involving Registrable Securities having a fair market value in excess of $12.5 million (which value shall be determined by multiplying the number of such Registrable Securities by the Class A Common Stock Price) and (iii) involving a broker, agent, counterparty, underwriter, bank or other financial institution (“Financial Counterparty”) (each a “Parent Cooperation Event”), to the extent requested by the Financial Counterparty in order to engage in the proposed Parent Cooperation Event, Parent will cooperate with the applicable Holder(s) in allowing Financial Counterparty to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to Parent, including (1) by using commercially reasonable efforts to cause its independent certified public accountants to provide to the Financial
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Counterparty a “cold comfort” letter in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Financial Counterparty, (2) by using commercially reasonable efforts to cause its outside counsel to deliver an opinion in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including a standard “10b-5” letter for such offering, addressed to such Financial Counterparty, and (3) by providing a standard officer’s certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other officer serving such functions, of Parent addressed to the Financial Counterparty; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Parent Cooperation Event shall be deemed an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering for purposes of Section 2.03. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be required to participate in more than two Parent Cooperation Events in any 365-day period and shall not be required to participate in any Parent Cooperation Events prior to the six month anniversary of the date hereof; and
(r)    if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) as soon as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) as soon as practicable make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) as soon as practicable, supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.04, Parent will not name a Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act) in any Registration Statement or Selling Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, as applicable, without such Holder’s consent. If the Parent determines, upon advice of counsel, that Parent is required to name any Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), and such Holder does not consent thereto, then such Holder’s Registrable Securities shall not be included on the applicable Registration Statement and Parent shall have no further obligations hereunder with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Holder with respect to such Registration Statement or Selling Holder Registration Statement unless such Holder has not had an opportunity to conduct customary underwriter’s due diligence as set forth in Section 2.04(o) with respect to Parent at the time such Holder’s consent is sought.
Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from Parent of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (d) of this Section 2.04, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (d) of this Section 2.04 or until it is advised in writing by Parent that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by Parent, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter(s), if any, to deliver to Parent (at Parent’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
Section 2.05    Cooperation by Holders. Parent shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information which Parent determines, after consultation with counsel, is reasonably required for any registration statement or prospectus supplement thereto, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.
Section 2.06    Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who is included in the Shelf Registration Statement agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of the Registrable Securities for a period of up to 60 days following completion of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering of Equity Securities by Parent, provided that (i) Parent gives written notice to such Holder of the date of the commencement and termination of such period with respect to any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering and (ii) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters of such public sale or distribution on Parent or on the officers or directors or any other Affiliate of Parent on whom a restriction is imposed; provided further, that this Section 2.06 shall not apply to a Holder that holds less than five percent of the voting power of Parent’s outstanding Equity Securities.
Section 2.07    Expenses. Parent will pay all Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is
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made pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder.
Section 2.08    Indemnification.
(a)    By Parent. In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, Parent will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its Affiliates that own Registrable Securities and their respective directors and officers and each underwriter pursuant to the applicable underwriting agreement with such underwriter and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and its directors and officers (collectively, the “Selling Holder Indemnified Persons”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and experts’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder or underwriter or controlling Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes documents incorporated by reference in) the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or arise out of or are based upon a Selling Holder being deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of Parent’s securities, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that Parent will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in strict conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder or any such director, officer or controlling Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.
(b)    By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless Parent, its directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls Parent within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act against any Losses to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from Parent to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof relating to the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Selling Holder (net of Selling Expenses) from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.
(c)    Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but such indemnified party’s failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.08. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.08 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of one such separate counsel (firm) and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnified party shall settle any action brought against it with respect to which it is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the
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consent of the indemnifying party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnifying party.
(d)    Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.08 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to Parent or any Selling Holder or is insufficient to hold it harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses as between Parent, on the one hand, and such Selling Holder, on the other hand, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of Parent, on the one hand, and of such Selling Holder, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds
received by such Selling Holder (net of Selling Expenses) from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of Parent, on the one hand, and each Selling Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss which is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e)    Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.08 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.
Section 2.09    Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, Parent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:
(a)    make and keep public information regarding Parent available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force), at all times from and after the date of this Agreement;
(b)    file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Parent under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date of this Agreement;
(c)    so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, unless otherwise available via EDGAR, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of Parent, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration; and
(d)    take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force).
Section 2.10    Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause Parent to include Registrable Securities in a Shelf Registration Statement may be transferred or assigned by any Holder to one or more transferee(s) or assignee(s) of such Registrable Securities; provided that (a) Parent is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (b) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement by executing a Joinder in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Joinder”), and (c) unless any such transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of such Holder and after such transfer or assignment continues to be an Affiliate of such Holder, the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $20 million of Registrable Securities (determined by multiplying the number of Registrable Securities owned by the Class A Common Stock Price); provided further that nothing in this Section 2.10 shall limit an Investor Holder’s rights set forth in Section 2.01(b) and Section 2.02(a) in connection with a Member Distribution.
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Section 2.11    Information by Holder. Any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement shall promptly furnish to Parent such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders as Parent may reasonably request and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to herein, including but not limited to information related to the number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by the Holder.
Section 2.12    Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of Parent that would allow such current or future holder to require Parent to include securities in any Piggyback Offering by Parent for its own account on a basis that is superior in any material respect to the Piggyback Offering rights granted to the Holders pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01    Communications. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (a) personally delivered, (b) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, (c) sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) sent by email. Such notices and other communications must be sent to the following addresses or email addresses:
if to Parent to:

Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Attention: Robert J. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Email: robert@earthstoneenergy.com
with a copy to:
Jones & Keller, P.C.
1675 Broadway, 26
th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
Attention: Reid A. Godbolt
Adam J. Fogoros
Email: rgodbolt@joneskeller.com
adamf@joneskeller.com
if to EnCap Fund XI to:
EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI, L.P.
c/o EnCap Investments
9651 Katy Freeway, Suite 2600
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Craig Friou
Email:     cfriou@encapinvestments.com

And with copies to (which will not constitute notice):
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
845 Texas Avenue, Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: W. Matthew Strock
Email: mstrock@velaw.com

if to Post Oak to:
Cypress Investments, LLC
c/o Post Oak Energy Capital, L.P.
34 South Wynden, Suite 300
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Houston, Texas 77056
Attention: Henry May
Email:     may@postoakenergy.com

And with copies to (which will not constitute notice):
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
600 Travis Street, Suite 2100
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Jesse Myers; Julian Golay
Email: jmyers@willkie.com; jgolay@willkie.com

if to any Holder: at its address listed on the signature pages hereof or Joinder, if applicable;
or to such other address or email address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) when delivered, if personally delivered, (b) the next Business Day after delivery, if sent by nationally recognized, overnight courier, (c) on the third Business Day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted, if sent by first-class mail or (d) on the date sent, if sent by email during normal business hours of the recipient or on the next Business Day, if sent by email after normal business hours of the recipient.
Section 3.02    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.
Section 3.03    Assignment of Rights. All or any portion of the rights and obligations of the Holders under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by the Holders only (a) in connection with a Member Distribution or (b) in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement. Parent may not transfer or assign any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Post Oak and EnCap Fund XI.
Section 3.04    Change of Control. Parent shall not merge, consolidate or combine with any other Person unless the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or combination expressly provides for the continuation of the registration rights specified in this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities or other Equity Securities issued pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination.
Section 3.05    Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such Person may have.
Section 3.06    Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Class A Common Stock. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all shares of capital stock of Parent or any successor or assign of Parent (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.
Section 3.07    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature or other electronic means and in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 3.08    Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
Section 3.09    Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.
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Section 3.10    Jurisdiction. Each of the parties irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, to the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or, if jurisdiction is vested exclusively in the Federal courts of the United States, the Federal courts of the United States sitting in the State of Delaware, and any appellate court from any such state or Federal court. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims with respect to any such claim shall be heard and determined in such Delaware court or in such Federal court, as applicable. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such claim is conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
Section 3.11    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER, RELATED TO, BASED ON, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT OR CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE. ANY PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 3.11 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 3.12    Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 3.13    Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by Parent set forth herein. This Agreement and the Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
Section 3.14    Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by Parent, Post Oak and EnCap Fund XI.
Section 3.15    No Presumption. In the event any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission, or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.
Section 3.16    Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement. Each of the parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than the Holders (and their transferees or assignees) and Parent shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of the Holders may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any Holder or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any Holder or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of a Holder under this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation.
Section 3.17    Independent Nature of Each Holder’s Obligations. The obligations of each Holder under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder under this Agreement. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
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Section 3.18    Termination of Registration Right. After effectiveness in accordance with Section 2.01, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each individual Holder, and such Holder and Parent shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder on the earlier of (a) the third anniversary of the date hereof (as may be extended pursuant to the following proviso, the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that such Termination Date shall automatically be extended for additional successive one-year periods with respect to any Holder that, together with its Affiliates, continues to hold at least one percent (1%) of the then-outstanding Class A Common Stock; or (b) on such earlier date on which both (i) such individual Holder, together with its Affiliates owns less than one percent (1%) of Parent’s outstanding voting power and (ii) all Registrable Securities owned by such Holder may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144.
Section 3.19    Further Assurances. Parent and each of the Holders shall cooperate with each other and shall take such further action and shall execute and deliver such further documents as may be reasonably requested by any other party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
[Signature pages follow]


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.


EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.

By:
/s/ Robert J. Anderson
Name:Robert J. Anderson
Title:President and Chief Executive Officer


Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement



ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND XI, L.P.

By:     EnCap Equity Fund XI GP, L.P.,
        its General Partner

By:     EnCap Equity Fund XI GP, LLC,
        its General Partner

By:     EnCap Investments L.P.,
        its Sole Member

By:     EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C.,
        its General Partner

By:    /s/ Douglas E. Swanson, Jr.
Name:    Douglas E. Swanson, Jr.
Title:    Managing Partner
    

    

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


CYPRESS INVESTMENTS, LLC

By:    /s/ Frost W. Cochran
Name:    Frost W. Cochran
Title:    Authorized Person

    
Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
[DATE]
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Cypress Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), and to join in the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder with the same force and effect as if the undersigned were originally a party thereto.
[Signature Page Follows]




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder Agreement as of [DATE].

Name:
Address:






Exhibit 10.4
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

APRIL 14, 2022

Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Ladies and Gentlemen:
This agreement is being delivered to Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Earthstone”), in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2022 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among Bighorn Asset Company, LLC (“Bighorn”), Earthstone and Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
1. (a) In order to induce Earthstone to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and in light of the benefits that the Purchase Agreement will confer upon the undersigned (“Investor”), and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Investor agrees with Earthstone that, during the period beginning on and including the Closing Date through and including the date that is the 120 th day after the Closing Date (the “Lock-Up Period”), Investor will not, without the prior written consent of Earthstone, directly or indirectly:
    (i) offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share of Earthstone (the “Class A Common Stock”), or any other class of Earthstone capital stock (collectively, “Capital Stock”) or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Capital Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Investor during the Lock-Up Period or with respect to which Investor has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition during the Lock-Up Period, or
    (ii) enter into any swap, hedge or other agreement, arrangement or transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequence of ownership of any Capital Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Capital Stock (the actions specified in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, “Transfers”), whether any transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of any Capital Stock, other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that the restrictions in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply to:

(I)    in the case of an entity, Transfers to any direct or indirect stockholder, partner, limited partner, member, or affiliate of such entity, including by virtue of the laws of the state of the entity’s organization and the entity’s organizational documents upon dissolution of the entity or otherwise;

(II)    the entry by Investor into any trading plan providing for the sale of Class A Common Stock by Investor, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provided that such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any Class A Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Lock-Up Period;
(III)    Transfers or other transactions in the event of a liquidation, merger, tender offer, consolidation, equity exchange or other similar transaction which results in Earthstone’s securityholders having the right to exchange their Capital Stock for cash, securities or other property;

(IV)    Transfers as a bona fide gift; or

(V)    Transfers of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Registration Rights Agreement in connection with any underwritten offering initiated by any of Bold Energy Holdings, LLC, EnCap Energy Capital Fund VII, L.P., EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, L.P., Warburg Pincus LLC, or any of their respective Affiliates.

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provided, however, that in the case of clauses (I) and (IV), the applicable transferees must enter into a written agreement, in substantially the form of this agreement, agreeing to be bound by these Transfer restrictions until the expiration of the Lock-Up Period. For purposes of the foregoing, the term “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(b) Furthermore, nothing in this agreement shall prohibit Investor from receiving shares of Capital Stock or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Capital Stock by reason of a stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination, exchange of shares or similar event or transaction, and any such shares received will also be subject to the terms of this agreement.
(c) Except with respect to the provisions of Section 2, Investor further agrees that (i) it will not, during the Lock-Up Period make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of any shares of any Capital Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Capital Stock, and (ii) Earthstone may, with respect to any Capital Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Capital Stock owned or held (of record or beneficially) by Investor that is subject to the restrictions set forth in this agreement, cause the transfer agent or other registrar to enter stop transfer instructions and implement stop transfer procedures with respect to such securities during the Lock-Up Period; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing shall (x) reduce or eliminate Earthstone’s obligations with respect to the preparation and filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Registration Rights Agreement, or (y) prevent Investor from exercising any rights it may have under the Registration Rights Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Investor has demand and/or piggyback registration rights described in the Registration Rights Agreement, the foregoing shall not prohibit Investor from notifying Earthstone privately that it is or will be exercising its demand and/or piggyback registration rights following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and undertaking non-public preparations related thereto.
2. Notwithstanding Section 1, (a) beginning on the date that is 60 days after the Closing Date, Investor shall not be subject to the restrictions placed on the shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (including shares comprising the Holdback Stock for purposes of making the calculations in this Section 2) (the “Shares”) by Section 1 of this agreement with respect to up to 25% of the Shares, and (b) beginning on the date that is 90 days after the Closing Date, Investor shall not be subject to the restrictions placed on the Shares by Section 1 of this agreement with respect to an additional 25% of the Shares (which, for avoidance of doubt, such 25% shall be calculated based on the initial amount of Shares received by Investor as permitted by Section 1); provided that no Shares released from such restrictions prior to the end of the Lock-Up Period pursuant to this Section 2 shall be shares comprising the Holdback Stock.
3. Investor hereby represents and warrants that Investor has full power and authority to enter into this agreement and that this agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Investor and is a valid and binding agreement of Investor. This agreement and all authority herein conferred are irrevocable and shall be binding upon the applicable successors and assigns of Investor.
4. This agreement and all related proceedings shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. THE PARTIES HERETO EACH HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (I) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (II) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES HERETO EACH HEREBY AGREE AND CONSENT THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
5. This agreement may be executed by facsimile or electronic (i.e., PDF) transmission, which is deemed an original.
[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this agreement as of the date first set forth above.


                        BIGHORN PERMIAN RESOURCES, LLC



By:    /s/ Steven D. Gray
Name:    Steven D. Gray
Title:    Director



[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]



Agreed and Acknowledged:

Earthstone Energy, Inc.


By: /s/ Robert J. Anderson
Name: Robert J. Anderson
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer        
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Exhibit 10.5
VOTING AGREEMENT
This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Earthstone”), Cypress Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Post Oak”), EnCap Investments L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“EnCap”), Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP IRH Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, WP Energy Partners IRH Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP Energy IRH Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP Energy Chisholm Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP Energy Partners Chisholm Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B Chisholm, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP XII Chisholm Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-2 Chisholm, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-D (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-E (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-1, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and WP XII (E&P) Partners (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (collectively, the “Warburg Parties” and, collectively with Post Oak and EnCap, the “Stockholders”). Earthstone, Post Oak, EnCap and the Warburg Parties are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2022 (the “PIPE SPA”), by and among Earthstone, Post Oak and an Affiliate of EnCap, Post Oak and such Affiliate of EnCap purchased an aggregate of 280,000 newly issued shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Earthstone (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), each of which, as of the date of this Agreement, would entitle the holder thereof to 90.0900900900901 newly issued shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Earthstone (the “Class A Common Stock”), upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations filed by Earthstone with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on or prior to the date of this Agreement (the “Series A Certificate of Designations”);
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the PIPE SPA (the “Closing”), Post Oak purchased, for an amount equal to $11.10 per share, an aggregate of 4,611,808 shares of Class A Common Stock from certain Affiliates of EnCap;
WHEREAS, each of the Stockholders is, as of the execution of this Agreement, the record and/or beneficial owner of that number of shares of (i) Class A Common Stock, (ii) Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share of Earthstone (“Class B Common Stock” and, together with Class A Common Stock, “Common Stock”), and/or (iii) Series A Preferred Stock, in each case, as set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule A hereto (including, with respect to any Stockholder owning Series A Preferred Stock, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable to such Stockholder upon conversion of such Series A Preferred Stock as set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designations);
WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, the board of directors of Earthstone (the “Board”) was composed of ten directors, including three representatives of EnCap, one representative of the Warburg Parties, two members of Earthstone management, four independent directors, and one vacancy;
WHEREAS, the Parties have determined to enter into this Agreement in order to, among other things, provide Post Oak with the right to designate a director and to reflect certain agreements of the Parties with respect to the matters set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the execution and delivery of the PIPE SPA by Earthstone, Post Oak and the Affiliate of EnCap party thereto, and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
Section 1.    Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. As of the date hereof, each of the Stockholders hereby represents and warrants to Earthstone, severally and not jointly, as follows:
(a)    Such Stockholder is the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), and unless otherwise indicated, the record owner of the shares of Common Stock (as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the “Shares”) set forth



opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule A to this Agreement, and such Shares represent all of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Stockholder as of the date hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Shares” shall include any shares of Common Stock issuable to such Stockholder upon exercise or conversion of any existing right, contract, option, or warrant to purchase, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, Common Stock, as the case may be (“Stockholder Rights”), that are currently exercisable or convertible or become exercisable or convertible (including as set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designations) and any other shares of Common Stock such Stockholder may acquire or beneficially own during the term of this Agreement.
(b)    Such Stockholder has all requisite organizational power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been validly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Earthstone and the other Parties, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms (except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies).
(c)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by such Stockholder will not, (i) conflict with the certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or similar organizational documents of such Stockholder as presently in effect, (ii) conflict with or violate any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to such Stockholder or by which it is bound or affected, (iii) (A) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, (B) give to any other person any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or (C) result in the creation of any pledge, claim, lien, charge, encumbrance or security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Stockholder under, any agreement, contract, indenture, note or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or affected, except for such breaches, defaults or other occurrences that would not prevent or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of any of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement, or (iv) except for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), require any filing by such Stockholder with, or any permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental or regulatory authority, except where the failure to make such filing or obtain such permit, authorization, consent or approval would not prevent or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of any of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement.
(d)    The Shares and any certificates representing the Shares owned by such Stockholder are held by such Stockholder, or by a nominee or custodian for the benefit of such Stockholder, free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, claims, security interests, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements or any other encumbrances whatsoever, except for any such encumbrances or proxies arising hereunder or under applicable federal and state securities laws or under the agreements set forth on Schedule B hereto. Such Stockholder owns of record or beneficially no shares of Common Stock other than such Stockholder’s Shares as set forth on Schedule A.
(e)    As of the date hereof, neither such Stockholder nor any of its respective properties or assets is subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award that would prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 2.    Representations and Warranties of Earthstone. Earthstone hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholders as follows:
(a)    Earthstone is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Earthstone has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its respective obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Earthstone and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other Parties, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Earthstone, enforceable against Earthstone in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies).
(b)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Earthstone does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Earthstone will not, (i) conflict with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational documents of Earthstone as presently in effect, or (A) that certain Voting Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2017 (as amended), by and among Earthstone and the other parties thereto or (B) that certain Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2022, by and among Earthstone and the other parties thereto,
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(ii) conflict with or violate any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Earthstone or by which it is bound or affected, (iii) (A) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, (B) give to any other person any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or (C) result in the creation of any pledge, claim, lien, charge, encumbrance or security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of Earthstone or any of its subsidiaries under, any agreement, contract, indenture, note or instrument to which Earthstone or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Earthstone or any of its subsidiaries is bound or affected, except for such breaches, defaults or other occurrences that would not prevent or materially delay the performance by Earthstone of its obligations under this Agreement, or (iv) except for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or the NYSE, require any filing by Earthstone with, or any permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental or regulatory authority, except where the failure to make such filing or obtain such permit, authorization, consent or approval would not prevent or materially delay the performance by Earthstone of its obligations under this Agreement.
(c)    As of the date hereof, none of Earthstone, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets are subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award that would prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.    Board Designation Rights. Earthstone and the Stockholders, severally and not jointly, agree as follows:
(a)    Subject to the other provisions of this Section 3, commencing on the date hereof, Post Oak shall have the option and right (but not the obligation) to designate one (1) nominee to be nominated by Earthstone at each applicable annual (or special) meeting of stockholders of Earthstone (adjusted as appropriate to take into account the classified Board structure) to serve as a director on the Board (the “Designated Director”) in accordance with this Section 3. The Designated Director shall in the reasonable determination of the Board or the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board (“Nominating Committee”) (i) be suitable to serve on the Board in accordance with the customary standards of suitability for directors of NYSE-listed companies and (ii) not be prohibited from serving as a director pursuant to any rule or regulation of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading.
(b)    Earthstone, EnCap, the Warburg Parties and the Board shall take all actions necessary or advisable to effect the provisions of Section 3(a), including, effective as of the Closing, validly appointing the director designated by Post Oak in writing to the Board as a director no later than the Closing (the “Initial Director”). The Initial Director shall serve an initial term that will expire no earlier than the annual meeting of the stockholders of Earthstone (the “Public Stockholders”) to be held in 2023.
(c)    Post Oak agrees (i) upon Earthstone’s request, to, and to cause the Designated Director designated by them to, timely provide Earthstone with accurate and complete information relating to such Designated Director as may be required to be disclosed by Earthstone under the Exchange Act and (ii) to cause the Designated Director designated by them to comply with the Section 16 filing obligations under the Exchange Act. At each applicable election of directors, the Board shall nominate the Designated Director, which designee must meet the standards set forth in Section 3(a) above, as part of the slate of directors nominated by the Board for election by the Public Stockholders and shall recommend that the Public Stockholders vote for such Designated Director. Additionally, in the event of the resignation, death, or removal (for cause or otherwise) of the Designated Director, Post Oak shall have the right for the ensuing sixty (60) days, subject to the other provisions of this Section 3, to designate in writing furnished to the Board or to the Nominating Committee, if applicable, the person to be appointed by the Board as the Designated Director to fill the resulting vacancy (subject to such designee meeting the standards set forth in Section 3(a) above).
(d)    At all times while a Designated Director is serving as a member of the Board, and following any such Designated Director’s death, resignation, removal or other cessation as a Director in such former Designated Director’s capacity as a former director, such Designated Director shall be entitled to all rights to indemnification and exculpation, in each case, as are then made available to any other member of the Board or any former director, as the case may be. The Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with the Designated Director having terms that are no less favorable to the Designated Director than those contained in the Company’s indemnification agreements with the other members of the Board. While serving as a Designated Director, such Designated Director shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses consistent with Earthstone’s policies applicable to other similarly situated directors. Earthstone shall purchase and maintain insurance (“D&O Insurance”), on behalf of the Designated Director, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Designated Director in connection with the activities of Earthstone and its subsidiaries or such Designated Director’s activities on behalf of Earthstone and its subsidiaries, regardless of whether Earthstone or any of its subsidiaries
3


would have the power to indemnify such Designated Director against such liability under the provisions of the organizational documents of Earthstone (as they may be amended from time to time). Such D&O Insurance shall provide coverage commensurate with that provided to independent directors of the Board and the Designated Director shall be entitled to all rights to insurance as are then made available to any other member (or former member, as applicable) of the Board by Earthstone and its subsidiaries.
(e)    The option and right of Post Oak to appoint a Designated Director under this Section 3 may not be transferred or assigned, in whole or in part, by Post Oak without the prior written consent of Earthstone and the execution by such transferee of a joinder agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a “Joinder”), provided that such option and right may be transferred or assigned, without the consent of Earthstone, to an Affiliate of Post Oak so long as such transferee executes a Joinder.
(f)    Post Oak shall take all necessary action to cause the Designated Director to resign promptly from the Board if such Designated Director, as determined by the Board in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel, (i) is prohibited or disqualified from serving as a director of Earthstone under any rule or regulation of the SEC, NYSE, or by applicable law, (ii) has engaged in acts or omissions constituting a breach of the Designated Director’s fiduciary duties to Earthstone and the Public Stockholders, (iii) has engaged in acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or an intentional violation of law or (iv) has engaged in any transaction involving the Company from which the Designated Director derived an improper personal benefit that was not disclosed to the Board prior to the authorization of such transaction; provided, however, that Post Oak shall have the right to replace such resigning Designated Director with a new Designated Director, such newly named Designated Director to be appointed promptly to the Board in place of the resigning Designated Director in the manner set forth in the Company’s governing documents for filling vacancies on the Board. Nothing in this Section 3(f) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall confer any third-party beneficiary or other rights upon any person designated hereunder as a Designated Director, whether during or after such person’s service on the Board.
(g)    The Board shall not designate an executive committee or any other committee which has been delegated authority substantially similar to the authority of the Board unless the then serving Designated Director is also appointed as a member of such committee.
Section 4.    Additional Covenants of the Stockholders. The Stockholders, severally and not jointly, agree as follows:
(a)    Voting Agreement: For so long as this Agreement is in effect:
(i)    each of the Parties (other than Earthstone) agrees that, provided that Earthstone is not in breach of its obligations under this Agreement (including Section 3), at any meeting of the Public Stockholders, however called, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the Public Stockholders or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the Public Stockholders is sought solely with respect to the matters described in this Section 4, such Party shall vote (or cause to be voted) or execute (or cause to be executed) consents with respect to, as applicable, all of the Common Stock (or other equity securities of Earthstone entitled to vote thereon) owned (beneficially or of record) by such Party (or its Affiliates) as of the applicable record date in favor of (FOR) the election of the persons named in the Company’s proxy statement as the Board’s nominees for election as Directors, and against any other nominees;
(ii)    with respect to any vote of the Public Stockholders held with respect to the matters set forth in Section 4(a), each of the Parties (other than Earthstone) shall, and shall cause its Affiliates which hold shares of Common Stock (or other equity securities of Earthstone entitled to vote thereon) on any applicable record date to, appear at such meeting (in person or by proxy) or otherwise cause all of the shares of Common Stock (or other equity securities of Earthstone entitled to vote thereon) held by such Party (or such Affiliates) to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum. Any vote required to be cast or consent required to be executed pursuant to this Section 4 shall be cast or executed in accordance with the applicable procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of recording the results of that vote or consent; and
(iii)    such Stockholder shall not, except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement, take any action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of his, her or its obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby.
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Section 5.    Additional Covenants of Earthstone. Earthstone agrees as follows:
(a)    Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Board has duly approved resolutions (the “Board Resolution”) (i) renouncing any interest or expectancy of Earthstone in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunities that are presented to the Designated Director or to Post Oak or any of its Affiliates (the “Post Oak Entities”), (ii) waiving any obligation on the part of any Designated Director to present any such business opportunity to Earthstone, in each case pursuant to Section 122(17) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and (iii) approving an amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Earthstone to include Post Oak and its Affiliates as “Investor Parties” thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, the Post Oak Entities and the Designated Director shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to Earthstone and its subsidiaries, including business interests and activities in direct competition with Earthstone and its subsidiaries. Neither Earthstone nor any of its subsidiaries shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Post Oak Entity or any Designated Director. For so long as this Agreement is in effect, Earthstone shall not, and shall not permit the Board to, rescind or retract the Board Resolution, or take any other action that would reduce or eliminate the renunciation or waivers included in the Board Resolution with respect to the Post Oak Entities or the Designated Director or to which “Investor Parties” are entitled under Earthstone’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
(b)    For so long as this Agreement is in effect, without the prior written approval of Post Oak, Earthstone shall not, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries (including Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company) not to, amend or modify any organizational documents of Earthstone or any of its subsidiaries in a way that materially, adversely and disproportionately affects the rights or privileges of Post Oak or any of its Affiliates that own Common Stock or other equity interests (including, without limitation, Series A Preferred Stock) in Earthstone in relation to any other owner of equity interests of Earthstone or any of its subsidiaries.
Section 6.    Adjustments Upon Share Issuances, Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any change in Common Stock or in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination, exchange of shares or other similar event or transaction or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of Earthstone (including, without limitation, the declaration or payment of an extraordinary dividend of cash, securities or other property), and consequently the number of Shares changes or is otherwise adjusted, this Agreement and the obligations hereunder shall attach to any additional shares of Common Stock, Stockholder Rights or other securities or rights of Earthstone issued to or acquired by Stockholders (and the percentages specified herein shall also be adjusted proportionately).
Section 7.    Further Assurances. Each Stockholder will, from time to time, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further endorsements, consents and other instruments as Earthstone may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 8.    Termination. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the Parties, shall terminate upon the later to occur of (a) the first date on which Post Oak and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 5.5% of Earthstone’s outstanding Common Stock (which beneficial ownership of Post Oak and its Affiliates shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8, the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable to Post Oak upon conversion of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock as set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designations) and (b) the one year anniversary of the date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the Parties, shall earlier terminate on the date, if any, on which Post Oak delivers written notice to each of the other Parties terminating this Agreement in its entirety with respect to Post Oak. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 10 hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
Section 9.    Action in Stockholder Capacity Only. Each Stockholder signs solely in its capacity as the record holder or beneficial owner of, or as the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, such Stockholder’s Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions or omissions taken by or fiduciary duties of, a Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, in such Stockholder’s capacity as an officer or director of Earthstone to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 10.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
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(b)    Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses.
(c)    Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by Earthstone and all Stockholders by an instrument in writing signed by Earthstone and the Stockholders and in compliance with applicable law.
(d)    Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally, mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), delivered by Federal Express or other nationally recognized overnight courier service or sent via facsimile to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(i)    if to any of the Warburg Parties, to the address set forth under the name of such Warburg Party on Schedule A hereto with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Warburg Pincus LLC
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention:     General Counsel
Email:     notices@warburgpincus.com    

(ii)    if to EnCap, to the address set forth under the name of EnCap on Schedule A hereto with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: W. Matthew Strock
Facsimile: (713) 615-5650
Email: mstrock@velaw.com
(iii)    if to Post Oak, to the address set forth under the name of Post Oak on Schedule A hereto with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
600 Travis Street, Suite 2100
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention:    Jesse Myers
    Julian Golay
Facsimile: (713) 510-1799
Email:    jmyers@willkie.com
    jgolay@willkie.com
(iv)    if to Earthstone:
Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Attention: Robert J. Anderson
Facsimile: (832) 823-0478
Email: robert@earthstoneenergy.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Jones & Keller, P.C.
1675 Broadway, 26
th Floor
Denver, CO 80202
Attention:    Reid A. Godbolt
    Adam J. Fogoros
Facsimile: (303) 573-8133
Email:    rgodbolt@joneskeller.com
    adamf@joneskeller.com
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(e)    Interpretation. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless a contrary intention appears, (i) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision and (ii) reference to any Section means such Section hereof. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed against any Party solely because such Party or its legal representative drafted such provision. The term “Affiliate” of a person or entity means any other person or entity that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person or entity. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For greater clarity, the “Affiliates” of a Stockholder include all of such Stockholder’s portfolio companies and subsidiaries. Further, with respect to a Stockholder that is an investment fund, investment account or investment company, any other investment fund, investment account or investment company that is managed, advised or sub-advised by the same investment advisor as such Stockholder or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor, shall be considered controlled by, and an Affiliate of, such Stockholder.
(f)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or by e-mail of a PDF document is as effective as executing and delivering this Agreement in the presence of the other Parties.
(g)    Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Parties, or between any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof, and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, is not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder.
(h)    Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to laws that may be applicable under conflicts of laws principles. Each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees that any suit, action or other legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the agreements delivered in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be brought in the state courts of the State of Delaware (or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction or do not accept jurisdiction, in the United States District Court located in the State of Delaware), (ii) consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) waives any objection that such Party may have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10(d). Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10(h).
(i)    Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and that each Party shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms of this Agreement without the posting of any bond or security in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
(j)    Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory policy, the
7


remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
(k)    Several LiabilityEach Party enters into this Agreement solely on its own behalf, each such Party shall solely be severally liable for any breaches of this Agreement by such Party and in no event shall any Party be liable for breaches of this Agreement by any other Party.
(l)    Non-Recourse. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney, representative or Affiliate of any Stockholder hereto or of any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability (whether in contract or in tort) for any obligations or liabilities of such party arising under, in connection with or related to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby; providedhowever, that nothing in this Section 10(l) shall limit any liability of any Stockholder hereto for its breaches of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(m)    Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Earthstone any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Stockholder’s Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to each Stockholder’s Shares shall remain vested in and belong to such Stockholder, and Earthstone shall have no authority to direct any Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any of such Stockholder’s Shares, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
(n)    Waiver. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by applicable law.
(o)    Director Resignation. Upon termination of this Agreement, Post Oak shall take all necessary action to cause the Designated Director to offer to promptly tender his or her resignation.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be signed by its officer thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.
EARTHSTONE:
EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.

By: /s/ Robert J. Anderson
Name: Robert J. Anderson
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

9


WARBURG PARTIES:
WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XI-A, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI LLC,
its sole member
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P)
PARTNERS-B IRH, LLC
By:    Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B, L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS XI (E&P) PARTNERS-A, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI LLC,
its sole member
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS XI (E&P) PARTNERS-B
IRH, LLC
By:    Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B, L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI LLC,
its sole member
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
Signature Page to the Voting Agreement


WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P)-A, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P)
PARTNERS-A, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WP ENERGY PARTNERS IRH HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WP ENERGY IRH HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
Signature Page to the Voting Agreement


WP IRH HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P.,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC,
its general partner
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI LLC,
its sole member
By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P.,
its managing member
By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P) PARTNERS-B CHISHOLM, LLC
By: Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B, L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P., its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WP ENERGY CHISHOLM HOLDINGS, L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P., its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WP ENERGY PARTNERS CHISHOLM HOLDINGS, L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P., its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to the Voting Agreement


WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XII (A), L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WP XII CHISHOLM HOLDINGS, L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS XII (E&P) PARTNERS-2 CHISHOLM, LLC
By: Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-2, L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XII-D (A), L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its
managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its
general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to the Voting Agreement


WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XII-E (A), L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its
managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its
general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS XII (E&P) PARTNERS-1, L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its
managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its
general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory
WP XII (E&P) PARTNERS (A), L.P.
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII, L.P., its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus (E&P) XII LLC, its general
partner
By: Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its
managing member
By: Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its
general partner
By: /s/ Harsha Marti
Name: Harsha Marti
Title: Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to the Voting Agreement


ENCAP:

ENCAP INVESTMENTS L.P.
By: EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C.,
its general partner

By: /s/ Craig Friou
Name: Craig Friou
Title: Chief Financial Officer


Signature Page to the Voting Agreement



POST OAK:

CYPRESS INVESTMENTS, LLC

By: Frost W. Cochran
Name: Frost W. Cochran
Title: Authorized Person
Signature Page to the Voting Agreement


EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
[DATE]
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of that certain Voting Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2022, by and among Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Earthstone”), Cypress Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Post Oak”), EnCap Investments L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“EnCap”), Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP IRH Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B IRH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, WP Energy Partners IRH Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP Energy IRH Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP Energy Chisholm Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP Energy Partners Chisholm Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B Chisholm, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, WP XII Chisholm Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-2 Chisholm, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-D (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XII-E (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Warburg Pincus XII (E&P) Partners-1, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and WP XII (E&P) Partners (A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Voting Agreement”), and to join in the Voting Agreement as a Stockholder (as defined in the Voting Agreement) with the same force and effect as if the undersigned were originally a party thereto.
[Signature Page Follows]



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder Agreement as of [DATE].


    
Name:

Signature Page to Joinder Agreement
Exhibit 10.6

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

EARTHSTONE ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC

DATED AS OF APRIL 14, 2022

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN EARTHSTONE ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT, AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

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Table of Contents


ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS    2
Section 1.1     Definitions.    13
Section 1.2     Interpretive Provisions    13
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY    14
Section 2.1     Formation.    14
Section 2.2     Filing.    14
Section 2.3     Name    14
Section 2.4     Registered Office; Registered Agent.    14
Section 2.5     Principal Place of Business.    14
Section 2.6     Purpose; Powers.    14
Section 2.7     Term.    14
Section 2.8     Partnership Tax Status.    14
Section 2.9     Ownership of Property.    14
ARTICLE III REORGANIZATION AND RECAPITALIZATION TRANSACTIONS    15
Section 3.1     Transactions In Connection With the Contribution.    15
Section 3.2     Transactions In Connection With the Securities Purchase Agreement.    15
Section 3.3     Transactions In Connection With Company Recapitalization.    15
ARTICLE IV OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS    15
Section 4.1     Authorized Units; General Provisions With Respect to Units.    15
Section 4.2     Voting Rights.    17
Section 4.3     Capital Contributions; Unit Ownership.    17
Section 4.4     Capital Accounts    18
Section 4.5     Reserved.    18
Section 4.6     Other Matters.    18
Section 4.7     Redemption of Units.    18
ARTICLE V ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES    22
Section 5.1     Profits and Losses.    22
Section 5.2     Special Allocations.    23
Section 5.3     Allocations for Tax Purposes in General.    25
Section 5.4     Income Tax Allocations with Respect to Depletable Properties.    25
Section 5.5     Other Allocation Rules.    26
ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS    27
Section 6.1     Distributions.    27
Section 6.2     Tax-Related Distributions.    28
Section 6.3     Distribution Upon Resignation.    28
ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT    28
Section 7.1     The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties.    28
Section 7.2     Officers.    29
Section 7.3     Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others.    29
Section 7.4     Indemnification.    30
Section 7.5     Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements    30
Section 7.6     Resignation or Termination of Managing Member    30
Section 7.7     No Inconsistent Obligations.    31
Section 7.8     Reclassification Events of PubCo    31
Section 7.9     Certain Costs and Expenses.    31

ARTICLE VIII ROLE OF MEMBERS    31
Section 8.1     Rights or Powers.    31
Section 8.2     Voting.    32
ii



Section 8.3     Various Capacities.    32
ARTICLE IX TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS    32
Section 9.1     Restrictions on Transfer.    32
Section 9.2     Notice of Transfer    33
Section 9.3     Transferee Members    33
Section 9.4     Legend.    33
ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING    34
Section 10.1     Books of Account.    34
Section 10.2     Tax Elections.    34
Section 10.3     Tax Returns; Information.    34
Section 10.4     Tax Matters Member; Company Representative, Tax Audit Matters    34
Section 10.5     Withholding Tax Payments and Obligations    35
ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION    36
Section 11.1     Liquidating Events.    36
Section 11.2     Bankruptcy.    37
Section 11.3     Procedure.    37
Section 11.4     Rights of Members.    38
Section 11.5     Notices of Dissolution.    38
Section 11.6     Reasonable Time for Winding Up    38
Section 11.7     No Deficit Restoration    38
ARTICLE XII GENERAL    39
Section 12.1     Amendments; Waivers.    39
Section 12.2     Further Assurances.    39
Section 12.3     Successors and Assigns    39
Section 12.4     Entire Agreement.    39
Section 12.5     Rights of Members Independent.    39
Section 12.6     Governing Law    39
Section 12.7     Jurisdiction and Venue.    40
Section 12.8     Headings.    40
Section 12.9     Counterparts    40
Section 12.10     Notices.    40
Section 12.11     Representation By Counsel; Interpretation    40
Section 12.12     Severability    41
Section 12.13     Expenses.    41
Section 12.14     No Third Party Beneficiaries    41



LIST OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES:

Exhibit A    Summary of Initial Issuances, Contributions and Units
Exhibit B    Schedule of Members and Units (as of Effective Date)

iii




SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

EARTHSTONE ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of April 14, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by Earthstone Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), as a Member and the managing Member of the Company (and in such latter capacity, the “Managing Member”) of Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), pursuant to the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of May 9, 2017 (the “Existing LLC Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company was formed pursuant to a Certificate of Formation filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 4, 2016, and is currently governed by the Existing LLC Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company, PubCo, Lynden USA Inc., a Utah corporation (“Lynden”), Lynden USA Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Lynden Sub”), Bold Energy Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Bold”), and Bold Energy III, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Bold Sub”), previously entered into a Contribution Agreement dated November 7, 2016 (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties thereto consummated the reorganization of the Company contemplated by Article II of the Contribution Agreement and took the other actions contemplated in such Contribution Agreement (collectively, the “Reorganization”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Reorganization, PubCo entered into a recapitalization transaction, pursuant to which (a) its existing shares of common stock were converted into shares of Class A Stock (the “Class A Conversion”) and (b) PubCo authorized the issuance of certain Class B Stock;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Class A Conversion, Bold purchased shares of Class B Stock of PubCo (the “Class B Purchase”) directly from PubCo for cash, as more particularly described in Exhibit A hereto;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Reorganization, following the Class A Conversion and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, PubCo and Lynden contributed all of their assets to the Company in exchange for a number of initial common Units in the Company equal to the number of shares of Class A Stock issued in the Class A Conversion, as more particularly described in Exhibit A hereto;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, Bold contributed all of its assets to the Company in exchange for a number of initial common Units in the Company, as more particularly described in Exhibit A hereto;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Existing LLC Agreement, each initial common Unit of the Company may be redeemed, at the election of a Redeeming Member (together with the transfer and surrender by such Redeeming Member of one share of Class B Stock), for one share of Class A Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Existing LLC Agreement;

WHEREAS, PubCo has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 30, 2022 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), which contemplates, among other things, the issuance and sale by PubCo to the purchasers named therein of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, which shares are
1



anticipated to automatically convert into Class A Stock prior to the Grace Period Expiration Date in accordance with the Certificate of Designations (the “Automatic Conversion”); and

WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Managing Member desires to: (a) amend and restate the Existing LLC Agreement pursuant to Sections 4.3(b) and 12.1 thereof, such that this Agreement shall supersede the Existing LLC Agreement in its entirety as of the Effective Date; (b) recapitalize the Units of the Company (the “Company Recapitalization”) into Common Units and Preferred Units, the latter of which shall include Series A Preferred Units; (c) reflect the conversion of the prior Units of each Member in the Company into an equal number of Common Units, as more particularly described in Exhibit B; (d) reflect the issuance of Series A Preferred Units to PubCo equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued by PubCo at the closing of the Securities Purchase Agreement, as more particularly described in Exhibit B hereto; (e) set forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of the Series A Preferred Units, in particular in the event the Automatic Conversion does not occur; (f) consistent with the Existing LLC Agreement, provide that each Common Unit of the Company held by a Member other than PubCo and its Subsidiaries, may be redeemed, at the election of a Redeeming Member (together with the transfer and surrender by such Redeeming Member of one share of Class B Stock), for one share of Class A Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and (g) otherwise set forth the terms and conditions on which the Company shall be operated.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound and to incorporate the foregoing Recitals into this Agreement, the parties hereby amend and restate the Existing LLC Agreement in its entirety and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1    Definitions.     As used in this Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq., as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

Accreted Value” means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, the sum of (i) the Initial Liquidation Value plus (ii) any Accrued Distributions, as the same may be increased pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(ii); provided, that, for purposes of clarity, to the extent the Series A Preferred Units are converted into Common Units prior to the Grace Period Expiration Date, the Accreted Value for purposes of calculating such conversion shall be the Initial Liquidation Value and shall not include any Accrued Distributions.

Accrued Distributions” means, with respect to any Series A Preferred Unit, as of any date of determination on or after the Grace Period Expiration Date, the accrued and unpaid distributions on such Series A Preferred Unit determined in accordance with Section 6.1(a)(ii); provided, that, for purposes of clarity, to the extent the Series A Preferred Units are converted into Common Units prior to the Grace Period Expiration Date, there shall not be any Accrued Distributions.

Action” means any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity.

Adjusted Basis” is defined in Section 1011 of the Code.
 
Adjusted Capital Account” means the balance in such Member’s Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year or other taxable period, with the following adjustments:

(a)    credit to such Capital Account any amount that such Member is obligated to restore under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c), as well as any addition thereto pursuant to the next to
2



last sentences of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) after taking into account thereunder any changes during such year in Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain; and

(b)    debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).

This definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means a deficit balance in a Member’s Adjusted Capital Account.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For these purposes, “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, (i) no Member shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed an Affiliate of any Member.

Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Automatic Conversion” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Available Cash” means the amount of cash on hand (including cash equivalents and temporary investments of Company cash) from time to time in excess of amounts required, as determined by the Managing Member, to pay or provide for payment of existing and projected obligations, capital expenditures and acquisitions, and to provide a reasonable reserve for working capital and contingencies, and taking into account any restrictions contained in any agreement to which the Company is bound.

beneficially own” and “beneficial owner” shall be as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Bold” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Bold Sub” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in the City of New York.

Call Election Notice” is defined in Section 4.7(f)(ii).

Call Right” is defined in Section 4.7(f)(i).

Capital Account” means, with respect to any Member, the Capital Account maintained for such Member in accordance with Section 4.4.

Capital Contributions” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of cash and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property (other than cash) contributed to the Company by such Member. Any reference to the Capital Contributions of a Member will include the Capital Contributions made by a predecessor holder of such Member’s Units to the extent the Capital Contributions were made in respect of Units Transferred to such Member.

Cash Election” is defined in Section 4.7(a)(iv).
 
Cash Election Amount” means with respect to a particular Redemption on any Redemption Date, an amount of cash equal to the number of shares of Class A Stock that would be received in such Redemption multiplied by the Class A VWAP Price.

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Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations of the Series A Preferred Stock, dated as of and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on the Effective Date.

Class A Conversion” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Class A Stock” means, as applicable, (i) the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of PubCo or (ii) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person or cash or other property that become payable in consideration for the Class A Stock or into which the Class A Stock is exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

Class A VWAP Price” means the (i) the volume weighted average price of a share of Class A Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on and including the trading day prior to the Redemption Notice Date, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, or (ii) in the event the shares of Class A Stock are not then publicly traded, the value, as reasonably determined by PubCo in good faith, that would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction for cash between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to purchase or sell, respectively, and without regard to the particular circumstances of the buyer or seller.

Class B Purchase” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Class B Stock” means, as applicable, (i) the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of PubCo, or (ii) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person or cash or other property that become payable in consideration for the Class B Stock or into which the Class B Stock is exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

Closing Sale Price” means, in regards to the Class A Stock on any date, the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) on such date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Class A Stock is traded or, if the Class A Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the last quoted bid price for the Class A Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date, as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization, or, if that bid price is not available, the fair market price of the Class A Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) on that date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by PubCo for this purpose. The Closing Sale Price of any other security shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in this definition for the determination of the Closing Sale Price of the Class A Stock.

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Units” is defined in Section 4.1(b).

Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Company Level Taxes means any federal, state, or local taxes, additions to tax, penalties, and interest payable by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof as a result of a tax audit under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any taxes payable as a result of a Push-Out Election.

Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning of “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d). It is further understood that Company Minimum Gain shall be determined in a manner consistent with the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.702-2(b)(2), including the requirement that if the adjusted Gross Asset Value of property subject to one
4



or more Nonrecourse Liabilities differs from its adjusted tax basis, Company Minimum Gain shall be determined with reference to such Gross Asset Value.

Company Recapitalization” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Company Representative” has the meaning assigned to the term “partnership representative” in Section 6223 of the Code and any Treasury Regulations or other administrative or judicial pronouncements promulgated thereunder.

Contract” means any written agreement, contract, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, obligation, promise or undertaking.

control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, or as trustee, personal representative or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee, personal representative or executor, by contract, credit arrangement or otherwise.

Contribution Agreement” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Conversion Rate” shall mean, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit subject to conversion, a number of Common Units equal to the quotient of (i) the Accreted Value with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit divided by (ii) the then applicable Series A Preferred Unit Conversion Price.

Covered Audit Adjustment” means an adjustment to any partnership-related item (within the meaning of Section 6241(2)(B) of the Code) to the extent such adjustment results in an “imputed underpayment” as described in Section 6225(b) of the Code or any analogous provision of state or local law.

Debt Securities” means, with respect to PubCo, any and all debt instruments or debt securities that are not convertible or exchangeable into Equity Securities of PubCo.

De Minimis Member” means any Member who owns and has, for a period of no less than six (6) months, owned fewer than 1,000 Units and shares of Class B Stock.

De Minimis Redemption Right” is defined in Section 4.7(f)(iii).

Depletable Property” means each separate oil and gas property as defined in Code Section 614.

Depreciation” means, for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction (excluding depletion) allowable with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, except that (a) with respect to any such property the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial method” pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with respect to any other such property the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period bears to such beginning Adjusted Basis; provided, however, that if the Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period is zero, Depreciation with respect to such asset shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the Tax Matters Member.

Designated Individual” is defined in Section 10.4(b).

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DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

Discount” is defined in in Section 7.9.

Distribution Payment Date” shall mean March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on December 31, 2022.

Distribution Period” means the initial period from the Initial Issue Date to and including the first Distribution Payment Date and, thereafter, from (but excluding) the last preceding Distribution Payment Date to and including the next Distribution Payment Date.

Distribution Rate” means the rate per Distribution Period of 2.0% per quarter and 8.0% per annum per Series A Preferred Unit.

Effective Date” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Effective Reorganization Time” means 12:01 a.m. Central Time on the date of the closing of the Class A Reorganization.

Equity Securities” means (a) with respect to a partnership, limited liability company or similar Person, any and all units, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options or other equivalents of, or other ownership interests in, any such Person as well as debt or equity instruments convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into any such units, interests, rights or other ownership interests and (b) with respect to a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participation or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, including all common stock and preferred stock, or warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing, including any debt instrument convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Units are Equity Securities of the Company, and the Series A Preferred Stock is an Equity Security of PubCo.

Event Issue Value” means, with respect to any Common Unit as of any date of determination, (a) in the case of a Revaluation Event that includes the issuance of Common Units to PubCo with respect to a PubCo public offering, the price paid by PubCo for such Common Units (in accordance with this Agreement), or (b) in the case of any other Revaluation Event, the Closing Sale Price of the Class A Stock on the date of such Revaluation Event or, if the Managing Member reasonably determines that a value for the Common Unit other than such Closing Sale Price more accurately reflects the Event Issue Value, the value reasonably determined by the Managing Member.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

Existing LLC Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of any property as determined in good faith by the Managing Member after taking into account such factors as the Managing Member shall deem appropriate.

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company, which shall end on December 31 of each calendar year unless, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, another fiscal year is required. The Company shall have the same fiscal year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for accounting purposes.

GAAP” means generally acceptable accounting principles at the time.

Good Faith” means a Person having acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal proceeding, having had no reasonable cause to believe such Person’s conduct was unlawful.

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Governmental Entity” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local, foreign or other government, governmental, stock exchange, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.

Grace Period Expiration Date” means October 1, 2022 as set forth in the Certificate of Designations.
 
Gross Asset Value” means, with respect to any asset, the asset’s Adjusted Basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

(a)    the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such asset as of the date of such contribution;

(b)    (1) the Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross Fair Market Values to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Company assets as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an interest (or additional interest) in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution to the Company or in exchange for the performance of more than a de minimis amount of services to or for the benefit of the Company; (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets as consideration for an interest in the Company (including a Series A Preferred Redemption); (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)(1), (iv) the acquisition of an interest in the Company by any new or existing Member upon the exercise of a noncompensatory option (including a Series A Preferred Conversion) in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s) and this clause (b); or (v) any other event to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be permitted and necessary or appropriate to properly reflect Gross Asset Values in accordance with the standards set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) above shall be made only if the Managing Member reasonably determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company. If any noncompensatory options are outstanding upon the occurrence of an event described in the above clauses (i) through (v), the Company shall adjust the Gross Asset Values of its properties in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2);

(2) In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Company property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Equity Securities of the Company (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a noncompensatory option (including the issuance of Series A Preferred Units and a Series A Preferred Conversion), immediately after the issuance of Equity Securities of the Company acquired pursuant to the exercise of such noncompensatory option) shall be determined by the Managing Member using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the Managing Member may reasonably (i) determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Company that takes into account the current trading price of the Class A Stock, the fair market value of all other Equity Securities at such time and the amount of Company liabilities, (ii) make any adjustments necessary to reflect the difference, if any, between the fair market value of any outstanding Series A Preferred Units and the aggregate Capital Accounts attributable to the Series A Preferred Units to the extent of any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss that has not been reflected in the Members’ Capital Accounts previously, consistent with the methodology of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), and (iii) allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Company (in such manner as it determines appropriate). Absent a contrary determination by the Managing Member, the aggregate fair market value of all Company assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Per Unit Capital Amount of each Common Unit that is outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value;

(c)    the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of such distribution to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Company assets. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Company assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (i) in the
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case of an actual distribution which is not made pursuant to Section 11.3 or in the case of a deemed contribution and/or distribution, be determined in the same manner as that provided in clause (b)(2) of this definition or (ii) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 11.3, be determined by the Winding-Up Member using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt;

(d)    the Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (g) in the definition of “Profits” or “Losses” below or Section 5.2(g); provided, however, that the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subsection to the extent the Managing Member determines that an adjustment pursuant to subsection (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subsection (d); and

(e)    if the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clauses (a), (b) or (d) of this definition of Gross Asset Value, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits, Losses, Simulated Depletion and other items allocated pursuant to Article V.

Indebtedness” means (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money (including capitalized lease obligations, sale-leaseback transactions or other similar transactions, however evidenced), (b) any other indebtedness that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, draft or similar instrument, (c) notes payable and (d) lines of credit and any other agreements relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit.

Initial Issue Date” means the first date of original issuance of any Series A Preferred Units.

Initial Liquidation Value” shall mean, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, the Per Share Purchase Price (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), as the Initial Liquidation Value may be increased pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(ii).

Interest” means the entire interest of a Member in the Company, including the Units and all of such Member’s rights, powers and privileges under this Agreement and the Act.

Law” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, requirement or rule of law (including common law).

Legal Action” is defined in Section 12.7.

Liability” means any liability or obligation, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to become due, regardless of when asserted.

Liquidating Events” is defined in Section 11.1.

Loss” means any and all losses, damages, claims, costs and expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, but excluding any allocation of corporate overhead, internal legal department costs and other internal costs and expenses).
 
Managing Member” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Member” means any Person that executes this Agreement as a Member, and any other Person admitted to the Company as an additional or substituted Member, that has not made a disposition of such Person’s entire Interest, in such Person’s capacity as a member of the Company.

Member Minimum Gain” has the meaning ascribed to “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). It is further understood that the determination of Member Minimum Gain and the net increase or decrease in Member Minimum Gain shall be made in the same manner as required for such determination of Company Minimum Gain under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and -2(g)(3).
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Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse debt” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2).

National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b).

Nonrecourse Liability” is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).

Officer” means each Person appointed as an officer of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2.

Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to any Member, (a) any Affiliate of such Member; (b) any partner, shareholder or member of such Member, (c) any successor entity of such Member; (d) a trust established by or for the benefit of a Member of which only such Member and his or her immediate family members are beneficiaries; (e) any Person established for the benefit of, and beneficially owned solely by, an entity Member or the sole individual direct or indirect owner of an entity Member; and (f) upon an individual Member’s death, an executor, administrator or beneficiary of the estate of the deceased Member.

Per Unit Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any class of Units held by a Member.
Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

Plan Asset Regulations” means the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations as the same may be amended from time to time.

Preferred Stock” means preference Equity Securities issued by PubCo that rank senior to the PubCo Common Stock with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of PubCo, including the Series A Preferred Stock.

Preferred Unit Related Taxes” is defined in Section 6.2(a).
Preferred Units” means preference Equity Securities issued by the Company that rank senior to the Common Units with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company.

President and Chief Executive Officer” is defined in Section 7.2(b).

Prime Rate” means, on any date of determination, a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

Proceeding” is defined in Section 7.4.

Profits” or “Losses” means, for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such year or period, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately
9



pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):

(a)    any income or gain of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

(b)    any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

(c)    in the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset Value of the Company asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of the Company asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall, except to the extent allocated pursuant to Section 5.2, be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

(d)    gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company assets (other than Depletable Property) with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed with reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

(e)    gain resulting from any disposition of a Depletable Property with respect to which gain is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be treated as being equal to the corresponding Simulated Gain;

(f)    in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation;

(g)    to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Account balances as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and

(h)    any items of income, gain, loss or deduction which are specifically allocated pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses for any taxable year, but such items available to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.2 will be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (a) through (g) above.

Property” means all real and personal property owned by the Company from time to time, including both tangible and intangible property.

PubCo” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

PubCo Common Stock” means all classes and series of common stock of the Managing Member, including the Class A Stock and Class B Stock.

PubCo Stock” means the PubCo Common Stock, together with any other stock of PubCo, including the Preferred Stock.

PubCo Offer” is defined in Section 4.7(g).

Push-Out Election” means the election to apply the alternative method provided by Section 6226 of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local tax law).
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Reclassification Event” means any of the following: (i) any reclassification or recapitalization of PubCo Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 4.1(g)), (ii) any merger, consolidation or other combination involving PubCo, or (iii) any sale, conveyance, lease, or other disposal of all or substantially all the properties and assets of PubCo to any other Person, in each of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), as a result of which holders of PubCo Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property for their shares of PubCo Common Stock.

Redemption” is defined in Section 4.7(a)(i).

Redemption Date” means (i) (x) if the Company has not made a valid Cash Election with respect to the relevant Redemption, the date that is three (3) Business Days after the Redemption Notice Date or (y) if the Company has made a valid Cash Election with respect to the relevant Redemption, the date that is the first Business Day on which the Company has available funds to pay the Cash Election Amount (but in any event no more than 10 days after the Redemption Notice Date), or (ii) such later date specified in or pursuant to the Redemption Notice.

Redemption Notice” is defined in Section 4.7(a)(iii).

Redemption Notice Date” is defined in Section 4.7(a)(iii).

Redeeming Member” is defined in Section 4.7(a)(iii).

Regulatory Allocations” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 5.2(a), Section 5.2(b), Section 5.2(c), Section 5.2(d), Section 5.2(f), Section 5.2(g), and Section 5.2(h).

Reorganization” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Revaluation Event” means an event that results in an adjustment of the Gross Asset Value of each Company property pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value.

Reviewed Year Member” is defined in Section 10.4(c).

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Code Sections 6221 through 6241, as amended, together with any final or temporary Treasury Regulations, Revenue Rulings, and case law interpreting Code Sections 6221 through 6241, as amended (and any analogous provision of state or local tax law).

Retraction Notice” is defined in Section 4.7(b)(i).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).
 
Securities Purchase Agreement” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Series A Cash Distribution” is defined in Section 6.1(a)(ii).

Series A Closing” means the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Series A Preferred Stock contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement.

Series A Liquidation Value” means the amount determined in accordance with Section 11.3(b)(ii)(A).
Series A Preferred Contribution Amount” means the gross proceeds received by PubCo from the sale of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement in an initial amount equal to (i) the Per Share Purchase Price (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased under the Securities Purchase Agreement,
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less any discounts, commissions and fees relating to such sale of Series A Preferred Stock; provided that PubCo’s Capital Account shall be increased by an amount equal to any such discounts, commissions and fees relating to such sale in accordance with Section 7.9.

Series A Preferred Conversion” means any corresponding conversion of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 4.1(e) upon the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.

Series A Preferred Redemption” means any corresponding redemption of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 4.1(f) upon the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.

Series A Preferred Stock” means the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of PubCo, having the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

Series A Preferred Unit Conversion Price” shall initially be $11.10 per Series A Preferred Unit and shall be subject to adjustment to the same extent that the Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) is adjusted pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Certificate of Designations.

Series A Preferred Units” is defined in in Section 4.1(b).

Simulated Basis” means the Gross Asset Value of any Depletable Property. The Simulated Basis of each Depletable Property shall be allocated to each Member pro rata, in accordance with the number of Common Units owned by such Member as of the time such Depletable Property is acquired by the Company (and any additions to such Simulated Basis resulting from expenditures required to be capitalized in such Simulated Basis shall be allocated among the Members in a manner designed to cause the Members’ proportionate shares of such Simulated Basis to be in accordance with their proportionate ownership of Common Units as determined at the time of any such additions), and shall be reallocated among the Members pro rata, in accordance with the number of Common Units owned by such Member as determined immediately following the occurrence of an event giving rise to an adjustment to the Gross Asset Values of the Company’s Depletable Properties pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value.

Simulated Depletion” means, with respect to each Depletable Property, a depletion allowance computed in accordance with federal income tax principles (as if the Simulated Basis of the property were its Adjusted Basis) and in the manner specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2). For purposes of computing Simulated Depletion with respect to any Depletable Property, the Simulated Basis of such property shall be deemed to be the Gross Asset Value of such property, and in no event shall such allowance, in the aggregate, exceed such Simulated Basis.

Simulated Gain” means the amount of gain realized from the sale or other disposition of Depletable Property as calculated in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

Simulated Loss” means the amount of loss realized from the sale or other disposition of Depletable Property as calculated in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person with respect to which such specified Person (a) has, directly or indirectly, the power, through the ownership of securities or otherwise, to elect a majority of directors or similar managing body or (b) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of such Person’s Equity Securities.

Tax Matters Member” is defined in Section 10.4.

Transfer” means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), transfer, sale, pledge or hypothecation or other disposition and, as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, by
12



operation of law or otherwise), to transfer, sell, pledge or hypothecate or otherwise dispose of. The terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred,” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

Transfer Agent” is defined in Section 4.7(a)(iii).

Treasury Regulations” means pronouncements, as amended from time to time, or their successor pronouncements, which clarify, interpret and apply the provisions of the Code, and which are designated as “Treasury Regulations” by the United States Department of the Treasury.

Units” means the Units representing limited liability company interests in the Company and designated as “Units” herein, including the Common Units and the Series A Preferred Units, and shall also include any equity security issued in respect of or in exchange for Units, whether by way of dividend or other distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, rollup transaction, consolidation, conversion or reorganization.

Unrealized Gain attributable to any item of Company property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Fair Market Value of such property as of such date (as determined under clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value over (b) the Gross Asset Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value as of such date.

Unrealized Lossattributable to any item of Company property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Gross Asset Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value as of such date) over (b) the Fair Market Value of such property as of such date (as determined under clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value).

Winding-Up Member” is defined in Section 11.3(a).
 
Section 1.2    Interpretive Provisions. For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)    the terms defined in Section 1.1 have the meanings assigned to them in Section 1.1 and are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;

(b)    all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under GAAP;

(c)    all references to currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein shall mean United States (U.S.) dollars and all payments hereunder shall be made in United States dollars;

(d)    when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(e)    whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(f)    “or” is not exclusive;

(g)    pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms; and

(h)    the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

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ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Section 2.1    Formation.     The Company has been formed and hereby continues as a limited liability company subject to the provisions of the Act upon the terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Section 2.2    Filing.     The Company’s Certificate of Formation has been executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware by an “authorized person” of the Company in accordance with the Act, such execution and filing being hereby ratified and approved in all respects. The Members shall execute such further documents (including amendments to such Certificate of Formation) and take such further action as is appropriate to comply with the requirements of Law for the formation or operation of a limited liability company in Delaware and in all states and counties where the Company may conduct its business.

Section 2.3    Name. The name of the Company is “Earthstone Energy Holdings, LLC” and all business of the Company shall be conducted in such name or, in the discretion of the Managing Member, under any other name.

Section 2.4    Registered Office; Registered Agent.     The location of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 108 Lakeland Avenue, Dover, Delaware 19901, or at such other place as the Managing Member from time to time may select. The name and address for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware are Capitol Services, Inc., 108 Lakeland Avenue, Dover, Delaware 19901, or such other qualified Person as the Managing Member may designate from time to time and its business address.

Section 2.5    Principal Place of Business.     The principal place of business of the Company shall be located in such place as is determined by the Managing Member from time to time.

Section 2.6    Purpose; Powers.     The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act. The Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all actions and engage in any and all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to the accomplishment of the foregoing purpose.

Section 2.7    Term.     The term of the Company commenced on the date of filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act and shall continue indefinitely. The Company may be dissolved and its affairs wound up only in accordance with Article XI.

Section 2.8    Partnership Tax Status.     It is the intent of the Members that the Company be classified as and operated in a manner consistent with its treatment as a “partnership” for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes, and the Members and the Company agree that they shall refrain from making any elections under the Treasury Regulations or other applicable Law, filing any tax returns or reports, and otherwise taking any actions, in each case, that are inconsistent with such classification. Provided, however, the Members intend that the Company not be operated or treated as a state law “partnership” (including as a limited partnership) or joint venture or for purposes of Section 303 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and no Member shall be considered a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement for any purpose other than the first sentence of this Section 2.8. Neither the Company nor any Member shall take any action inconsistent with the express intent of the parties hereto as set forth in this Section 2.8.

Section 2.9    Ownership of Property.     Legal title to all Property conveyed to, or held by, the Company or its Subsidiaries shall reside in the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and shall be conveyed only in the name of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and no Member or any other Person, individually, shall have any ownership of such Property.
 
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ARTICLE III
REORGANIZATION AND RECAPITALIZATION TRANSACTIONS

Section 3.1    Transactions In Connection with the Contribution Agreement.    

(a)    Effective immediately prior to the Effective Reorganization Time, the Members consummated the Reorganization and took the other actions contemplated in the Contribution Agreement. Immediately following such Reorganization, the Members of the Company and the Units held by each such Member were as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

(b)    Effective immediately following the Effective Reorganization Time, PubCo consummated the Class A Conversion and PubCo and Bold consummated the Class B Purchase.

(c)    Immediately following the consummation of the Class A Conversion and Class B Purchase, and in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement, (i) PubCo and Lynden contributed, transferred, assigned and delivered all of their right, title and interest in all of their assets, as more particularly described in Exhibit A, and (ii) Bold contributed, transferred, assigned and delivered all of its right, title and interest in all of its assets, as more particularly described in Exhibit A, to the Company in exchange for the number of Units set forth opposite such party’s name in Exhibit A.

Section 3.2    Transactions in Connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement. In accordance with Section 4.1(e) of this Agreement, effective concurrently with the Series A Closing, the Company shall issue to PubCo a number of Series A Preferred Units in an amount equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued by PubCo at the Series A Closing, in exchange for the corresponding contribution by PubCo to the Company of the Series A Preferred Contribution Amount, as more particularly described in Exhibit B.

Section 3.3    Transactions in Connection with the Company Recapitalization. Effective concurrently with the Series A Closing and issuance of Series A Preferred Units to PubCo, as part of the Company Recapitalization, the prior Units of each Member in the Company shall be converted into an equal number of Common Units, as more particularly described in Exhibit B.

ARTICLE IV
OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

Section 4.1    Authorized Units; General Provisions with Respect to Units.    

(a)    Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall be authorized to issue from time to time such number of Units and such other Equity Securities as the Managing Member shall determine in accordance with Section 4.3. Each authorized Unit may be issued pursuant to such agreements as the Managing Member shall approve, including pursuant to options and warrants.

(b)    As of the Effective Date of this Agreement, as part of the Company Recapitalization, the Company shall have two authorized classes of Units, consisting of units of limited liability company interests denominated as “Common Units” and “Preferred Units.” As of the Effective Date, the Preferred Units shall consist of one series, designated as the Series A Convertible Preferred Units (the “Series A Preferred Units”). All Common Units shall be identical and all Series A Preferred Units shall be identical (except, in each case, as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement). For purposes of clarity, the Series A Preferred Units shall rank senior to the Common Units and any other class or series of Units issued by the Company ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Units with respect to payment of distributions or upon liquidation or winding up of the Company.

(c)    Initially, none of the Units will be represented by certificates. If the Managing Member determines that it is in the interest of the Company to issue certificates representing the Units, certificates will be issued and the Units will be represented by those certificates, and this Agreement shall be amended as necessary or desirable to reflect the issuance of certificated Units for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code. Nothing contained in this Section 4.1(c) shall be deemed to authorize or permit any Member to Transfer its Units except as otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

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(d)    The total number of Units issued and outstanding and held by the Members immediately following the consummation of the Series A Closing is set forth on Exhibit B (as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) as of the date set forth therein.

(e)    If at any time PubCo issues a share of its Class A Stock or any other Equity Security of PubCo (other than shares of Class B Stock), (i) the Company shall concurrently issue to PubCo one Common Unit (if PubCo issues a share of Class A Stock), or such other Equity Security of the Company (if PubCo issues Equity Securities other than Class A Stock) corresponding to the Equity Securities issued by PubCo, and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo to be issued, and (ii) PubCo shall concurrently contribute to the Company the net proceeds received by PubCo, if any, for such share of Class A Stock or other Equity Security; provided, however, that if PubCo issues any shares of Class A Stock in order to purchase or fund the purchase from a Member of a number of Common Units (and shares of Class B Stock) equal to the number of shares of Class A Stock so issued, then the Company shall not issue any new Common Units in connection therewith, PubCo shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company, and such net proceeds shall instead be transferred to such Member as consideration for such purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.1(e) shall not apply to the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of PubCo Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of PubCo under a “poison pill” or similar shareholders rights plan (and upon any redemption of Common Units for Class A Stock, such Class A Stock will be issued together with a corresponding right under such plan), or to the issuance under PubCo’s employee benefit plans of any warrants, options, other rights to acquire Equity Securities of PubCo or rights or property that may be converted into or settled in Equity Securities of PubCo, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of Equity Securities of PubCo in connection with the exercise or settlement of such rights, warrants, options or other rights or property. Except pursuant to Section 4.7, (x) the Company may not issue any additional Common Units to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously therewith PubCo or such Subsidiary issues or sells an equal number of shares of PubCo’s Class A Stock to another Person, and (y) the Company may not issue any additional Equity Securities of the Company to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously PubCo or such Subsidiary issues or sells, to another Person, an equal number of shares of a new or existing class or series of Equity Securities of PubCo or such Subsidiary with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Company. If at any time PubCo issues Debt Securities, PubCo shall transfer to the Company (in a manner to be determined by the Manager Member in its reasonable discretion) the proceeds received by PubCo in exchange for such Debt Securities in a manner that directly or indirectly burdens the Company with the repayment of the Debt Securities. In the event any Equity Security outstanding at PubCo (including any series of Preferred Stock) is exercised, settled or otherwise converted and, as a result, any shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo are issued, the corresponding Equity Security outstanding at the Company (including any series of Preferred Units) shall be similarly exercised, settled or otherwise converted, as applicable, and an equivalent number of Common Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be issued to PubCo as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 4.1(e).

(f)    PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries, other than the Company, may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (i) any shares of Class A Stock (including upon forfeiture of any unvested shares of Class A Stock) unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from PubCo or such Subsidiary an equal number of Common Units for the same price per security or (ii) any other Equity Securities of PubCo unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from PubCo or such Subsidiary an equal number of Equity Securities of PubCo of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo for the same price per security. The Company may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (A) except pursuant to Section 4.7, any Common Units from PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously PubCo or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires an equal number of shares of Class A Stock for the same price per security from holders thereof, or (B) any other Equity Securities of the Company from PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously PubCo or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires for the same price per security an equal number of Equity Securities of PubCo of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distribution upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo. Notwithstanding the
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foregoing, to the extent that any consideration payable by PubCo in connection with the conversion, redemption or repurchase of any shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries consists (in whole or in part) of cash or shares of Class A Stock or such other Equity Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant), then the conversion, redemption or repurchase of the corresponding Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be effectuated in an equivalent manner. For purposes of clarity, in the event PubCo redeems the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7 of the Certificate of Designations, the Company shall, immediately prior to the closing of such redemption by PubCo, redeem the Series A Preferred Units of PubCo for an amount equal to the aggregate then Accreted Value of the Series A Preferred Units then outstanding (which for purposes of clarity is intended to be an amount equal to the aggregate cash to be paid by PubCo to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to such redemption of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7 of the Certificate of Designations), as contemplated by this Section 4.1(f).

(g)    The Company shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Units or any class thereof unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding PubCo Stock or applicable class thereof, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities. PubCo shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding PubCo Stock or any class thereof unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Units or applicable class thereof, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.

Section 4.2    Voting Rights.     No Member has any voting or consent right except with respect to those matters expressly requiring the approval of Members under this Agreement. Each Unit will entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters to be voted on by the Members. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the holders of Common Units having voting rights will vote together as a single class on all matters to be approved by the Members.

Section 4.3    Capital Contributions; Unit Ownership.    

(a)    Capital Contributions. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.1(e), no Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions.

(b)    Issuance of Additional Units or Interests. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have the right to authorize and cause the Company to issue on such terms (including price) as may be determined by the Managing Member (i) subject to the limitations of Section 4.1, additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company (including creating preferred interests or other classes or series of interests having such rights, preferences and privileges as determined by the Managing Member, which rights, preferences and privileges may be senior to the Units), and (ii) obligations, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable for Units or other Equity Securities in the Company; provided that, at any time following the date hereof, in each case the Company shall not issue Equity Securities in the Company to any Person unless such Person shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement and all other documents, agreements or instruments deemed necessary or desirable in the discretion of the Managing Member. Upon such issuance and execution, such Person shall be admitted as a Member of the Company. Subject to Section 12.1, the Managing Member is hereby authorized to amend this Agreement to set forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company, or such other amendments that the Managing Member determines to be otherwise necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of, any class or series of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company pursuant to this Section 4.3(b); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall have the right to amend this Agreement as set forth in this sentence without the approval of any other Person (including any Member) and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (including Section 12.1) if such amendment is necessary in order to consummate any offering of shares of PubCo Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo provided that the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of any such additional Units or other Equity
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Securities of the Company as set forth in such amendment are substantially similar to those applicable to such shares of PubCo Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo.

Section 4.4    Capital Accounts. A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and, to the extent consistent with such regulations, the other provisions of this Agreement. Each Member’s Capital Account shall be (a) increased by (i) allocations to such Member of Profits pursuant to Section 5.1 and any other items of income or gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the amount of cash or the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities assumed by the Company and any Liabilities to which the asset is subject) contributed to the Company by such Member, and (iii) any other increases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and (b) decreased by (i) allocations to such Member of Losses pursuant to Section 5.1 and any other items of deduction or loss allocated to such Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.2, (ii) the amount of any cash or the Gross Asset Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities assumed by the Member and any Liabilities to which the asset is subject) distributed to such Member, and (iii) any other decreases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). In the event of a Transfer of Units made in accordance with this Agreement, the Capital Account of the Transferor that is attributable to the Transferred Units shall carry over to the Transferee Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l). For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Units will be treated as a partnership interest in the Company that is “convertible equity” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(g)(3). The initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit shall be the Series A Preferred Contribution Amount, as such amount may be adjusted in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement and this Agreement (including Section 3.2).

Section 4.5    Reserved.    

Section 4.6    Other Matters.    

(a)    No Member shall demand or receive a return on or of its Capital Contributions or resign from the Company without the consent of the Managing Member. Under circumstances requiring a return of any Capital Contributions, no Member has the right to receive property other than cash.

(b)    No Member shall receive any interest, salary, compensation, draw or reimbursement with respect to its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account, or for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or otherwise in its capacity as a Member, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.9 or otherwise contemplated by this Agreement.

(c)    The Liability of each Member shall be limited as set forth in the Act and other applicable Law and, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by Law, no Member (or any of its Affiliates) shall be personally liable, whether to the Company, to any of the other Members, to the creditors of the Company, or to any other third party, for any debt or Liability of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

(d)    Except as otherwise required by the Act, a Member shall not be required to restore a deficit balance in its Capital Account, to lend any funds to the Company or, except as otherwise set forth herein, to make any additional contributions or payments to the Company.

(e)    The Company shall not be obligated to repay any Capital Contributions of any Member.

Section 4.7    Redemption of Common Units.    

(a)    Redemptions In General.

(i)    Each of the Members (other than PubCo and any of its Subsidiaries) (each such Member, a “Redeeming Member”) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem, at any time and from time to time, all or any portion of such Member’s Common Units (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Stock) for an equivalent number of shares of Class A Stock (a “Redemption”) or, at the Company’s election made in accordance with Section 4.7(a)(iv), cash equal to the Cash Election Amount calculated with
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respect to such Redemption, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 4.7. Upon the Redemption by a Member of all of its Common Units, if the Member does not hold any other Units, such Member shall, for the avoidance of doubt, cease to be a Member of the Company.

(ii)    Each Redeeming Member shall be permitted to effect a redemption of Common Units pursuant to Section 4.7(a)(i) that involves less than 25% of its Common Units no more frequently than on a quarterly basis; provided, however, that if a Redeeming Member provides a Redemption Notice with respect to all of the Common Units held by such Redeeming Member, such Redemption may occur at any time, subject to this Section 4.7; provided, further, that the Managing Member may, in its sole discretion and at any time, permit any Member to effect a redemption of a lesser number of Common Units.

(iii)    In order to exercise the redemption right under Section 4.7(a)(i), the Redeeming Member shall provide written notice (the “Redemption Notice”) to the Company, with a copy to PubCo (the date of delivery of such Redemption Notice, the “Redemption Notice Date”), stating (i) the number of Common Units (together with the transfer and surrender of an equal number of shares of Class B Stock) the Redeeming Member elects to have the Company redeem, (ii) if the shares of Class A Stock to be received are to be issued other than in the name of the Redeeming Member, the name(s) of the Person(s) in whose name or on whose order the shares of Class A Stock are to be issued, and (iii) if the Redeeming Member requires the Redemption to take place on a specific date, such date, provided that, any such specified date shall not be earlier than the date that would otherwise apply pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of Redemption Date. If the Common Units to be redeemed (or the shares of Class B Stock to be transferred and surrendered) by the Redeeming Member are represented by a certificate or certificates, prior to the Redemption Date, the Redeeming Member shall also present and surrender such certificate or certificates representing such Common Units (or shares of Class B Stock) during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Company, or if any agent for the registration or transfer of Class A Stock is then duly appointed and acting (the “Transfer Agent”), at the office of the Transfer Agent. If required by the Managing Member, any certificate for Common Units and any certificate for shares of Class B Stock (in each case, if certificated) surrendered to the Company hereunder shall be accompanied by instruments of transfer, in forms reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member and the Transfer Agent, duly executed by the Redeeming Member or the Redeeming Member’s duly authorized representative.

(iv)    Upon receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Company shall be entitled to elect (a “Cash Election”) to settle the Redemption by delivering to the Redeeming Member, in lieu of the applicable number of shares of Class A Stock that would be received in such Redemption, an amount of cash equal to the Cash Election Amount for such Redemption. In order to make a Cash Election with respect to a Redemption, the Company must provide written notice of such election to the Redeeming Member (with a copy to PubCo) prior to 1:00 p.m., Houston time, on the second Business Day after the Redemption Notice Date. If the Company fails to provide such written notice prior to such time, it shall not be entitled to make a Cash Election with respect to such Redemption.

(v)    For U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) tax purposes, each of the Redeeming Member, the Company and PubCo, as the case may be, agree to treat each Redemption and, in the event a De Minimis Redemption Right is exercised or PubCo exercises its Call Right, each transaction between the Redeeming Member and PubCo, as a sale of the Redeeming Member’s Common Units (together with the same number of shares of Class B Stock) to PubCo in exchange for shares of Class A Stock or cash, as applicable. Accordingly, for purposes of clarity, the parties agree that any Redemption shall be treated as a transfer of an interest in a partnership by sale or exchange within the meaning of Code Section 743(b).

(b)    Timing of Redemptions.

(i)    The Redemption shall be completed on the Redemption Date; provided that the Company, PubCo and the Redeeming Member may change the number of Common Units specified in the Redemption Notice to be redeemed and/or the Redemption Date to another
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number and/or date by unanimous agreement signed in writing by each of them; provided further that a Redemption Notice may specify that the Redemption is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering or otherwise) of the shares of Class A Stock for which the Common Units are redeemable, or the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event in which the shares of Class A Stock would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable for or convertible into cash or other securities or property, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any Redemption with respect to which the Company has made a valid Cash Election. Provided the Company has not made a valid Cash Election, the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving written notice (the “Retraction Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to PubCo) at any time prior to the Redemption Date. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, the Company’s and PubCo’s rights and obligations arising from the retracted Redemption Notice.

(ii)    Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 4.7(b)(i) or PubCo has elected its Call Right pursuant to Section 4.7(f), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (A) the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender the Common Units to be redeemed (and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Stock) to the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, (B) PubCo shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 4.7(a)(i), (C) the Company shall (x) cancel the redeemed Common Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 4.7(a)(i), and (z) if the Common Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (ii)(A) of this Section 4.7(b) and the number of redeemed Common Units, (D) the Company shall issue to PubCo a number of Common Units equal to the number of Common Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member, and (E) PubCo shall cancel the surrendered shares of Class B Stock. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company makes a valid Cash Election, PubCo shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in cash equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions) from the sale by PubCo of a number of shares of Class A Stock equal to the number of Common Units and Class B Stock to be redeemed with such cash; provided that PubCo’s Capital Account shall be increased by an amount equal to any such discounts, commissions and fees relating to such sale of shares of Class A Stock in accordance with Section 7.9; provided further, that the contribution of such net proceeds shall in no event affect the Redeeming Member’s right to receive the Cash Election Amount.

(c)    Certain Events. If (i) there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction pursuant to which the shares of Class A Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, or (ii) PubCo shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of the shares of Class A Stock evidences of its indebtedness or assets, including securities (including shares of Class A Stock and any rights, options or warrants to all holders of the shares of Class A Stock to subscribe for or to purchase or to otherwise acquire shares of Class A Stock, or other securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for shares of Class A Stock) but excluding any cash dividend or distribution as well as any such distribution of indebtedness or assets received by PubCo from the Company in respect of the Units, then upon any subsequent Redemption, in addition to the shares of Class A Stock or the Cash Election Amount, as applicable, each Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Member would have received if such Redemption had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, other similar transaction, dividend, or other distribution, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the shares of Class A Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, or any dividend or distribution (other than an excluded dividend or
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distribution, as described above), this Section 4.7 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property. This Agreement shall apply to the Units held by the Members and their Permitted Transferees as of the date hereof, as well as any Units hereafter acquired by a Member and his or her or its Permitted Transferees.

(d)    PubCo Agreements. PubCo shall at all times keep available, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities, such number of shares of Class A Stock that shall be issuable upon the Redemption of all outstanding Common Units (other than those Common Units held by PubCo or any Subsidiary of PubCo); provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude PubCo from satisfying its obligations with respect of a Redemption by delivery of shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities that are held in the treasury of PubCo. PubCo covenants that all shares of Class A Stock and other Equity Securities that shall be issued upon a Redemption shall, upon issuance thereof, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In addition, for so long as the shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities are listed on a National Securities Exchange, PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all shares of Class A Stock and such other Equity Securities issued upon an Exchange to be listed on such National Securities Exchange at the time of such issuance.

(e)    Redemption Costs. The issuance of shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities upon a Redemption shall be made without charge to the Redeeming Member for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance; provided, however, that if any such shares of Class A Stock or other Equity Securities are to be issued in a name other than that of the Redeeming Member, then the Person or Persons in whose name the shares are to be issued shall pay to PubCo the amount of any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in such issuance or shall establish to the satisfaction of PubCo that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

(f)    PubCo Call Rights.

(i)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.7, but subject to Section 4.7(g), a Redeeming Member shall be deemed to have offered to sell its Common Units as described in the Redemption Notice to PubCo, and PubCo may, in its sole discretion, by means of delivery of Call Election Notice in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, this Section 4.7(f), elect to purchase directly and acquire such Common Units (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Stock) on the Redemption Date by paying to the Redeeming Member (or, on the Redeeming Member’s written order, its designee) that number of shares of Class A Stock the Redeeming Member (or its designee) would otherwise receive pursuant to Section 4.7(a)(i) or, at PubCo’s election, an amount of cash equal to the Cash Election Amount of such shares of Class A Stock (the “Call Right”), whereupon PubCo shall acquire the Common Units offered for Redemption by the Redeeming Member (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Stock) and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Common Units and shares of Class B Stock and the Class B Stock shall thereafter be cancelled.

(ii)    PubCo may, at any time prior to the Redemption Date, in its sole discretion deliver written notice (a “Call Election Notice”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its Call Right. A Call Election Notice may be revoked by PubCo at any time; provided that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption on the Redemption Date. Except as otherwise provided by Section 4.7(f), an exercise of the Call Right shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if PubCo had not delivered a Call Election Notice.

(iii)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.7, but subject to Section 4.7(f)(i), the Company may, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, deliver written notice to any De Minimis Member setting forth the Company’s election to exercise its right to redeem all, but not less than all, of such De Minimis Member’s Common Units (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Stock) (a “De Minimis Redemption Right”) as if the applicable De Minimis Member provided a Redemption Notice hereunder. An exercise of a De Minimis Redemption Right shall be
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consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as a Redemption would have been consummated under Section 4.7(f)(i) above.

(g)    PubCo Offer. In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to shares of Class A Stock (a “PubCo Offer”) is proposed by PubCo or is proposed to PubCo or its stockholders and approved by the board of directors of PubCo or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the board of directors of PubCo, the Members (other than PubCo) shall be permitted to participate in such PubCo Offer by delivery of a contingent Redemption Notice in accordance with the second proviso of Section 4.7(b)(i). In the case of a PubCo Offer proposed by PubCo, PubCo will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Members to participate in such PubCo Offer to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Stock without discrimination; provided that, without limiting the generality of this sentence, PubCo will use its commercially reasonable efforts expeditiously and in good faith to ensure that such Members may participate in each such PubCo Offer without being required to redeem Common Units (or, if so required, to ensure that any such Redemption shall be effective only upon, and shall be conditional upon, the closing of such PubCo Offer). In no event shall Members (other than PubCo) be entitled to receive in such PubCo Offer aggregate consideration for each Common Unit that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A Stock in connection with a PubCo Offer.

(h)    Distribution Rights. No Redemption shall impair the right of the Redeeming Member to receive any distributions payable on the Common Units so redeemed in respect of a record date that occurs prior to the Redemption Date for such Redemption. For the avoidance of doubt, no Redeeming Member, or a Person designated by an Redeeming Member to receive shares of Class A Stock, shall be entitled to receive, with respect to such record date, distributions or dividends both on Common Units redeemed by such Redeeming Member and on shares of Class A Stock received by such Redeeming Member, or other Person so designated, if applicable, in such Redemption.

(i)    Acquired Units. Any Common Units acquired by the Company under this Section 4.7 and transferred by the Company to PubCo shall remain outstanding and shall not be cancelled as a result of their acquisition by the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, PubCo shall be automatically admitted as a member of the Company with respect to any Common Units or other Equity Securities in the Company it receives under this Agreement (including under this Section 4.7 in connection with any Redemption).

ARTICLE V
ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES

Section 5.1    Profits and Losses.     After giving effect to the allocations under Section 5.2, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be necessary and appropriate to achieve the resulting Capital Account balances described below, any allocable items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit includable in the computation of Profits and Losses) for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be allocated among the Members during such Fiscal Year or other taxable period in a manner such that, after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Sections 5.2 and all distributions through the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, the Capital Account balance of each Member, immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal to (a) the amount such Member would receive pursuant to Section 11.3(b) if all assets of the Company on hand at the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period were sold for cash equal to their Gross Asset Values, all liabilities of the Company were satisfied in cash in accordance with their terms (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Gross Asset Value of the assets securing such liability), and all remaining or resulting cash was distributed, in accordance with Section 11.3(b), to the Members immediately after making such allocation, minus (b) the sum of (i) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets and (ii) the amount, if any, any such Member is treated as obligated to contribute to the Company computed immediately after the hypothetical sale of assets.

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Section 5.2    Special Allocations.    

(a)    Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be specially allocated to the Members in the manner excess nonrecourse liabilities of the Company are allocated pursuant to Section 5.5(d). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall equal the excess, if any, of the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain during that Fiscal Year or other taxable period over the aggregate amount of any distributions during that Fiscal Year or other taxable period of proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability that are allocable to an increase in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

(b)    Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Member bears the economic risk of loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt, the Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated among the Members according to the ratio in which they bear the economic risk of loss. This Section 5.2(b) is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year or other taxable period (or if there was a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain for a prior Fiscal Year or other taxable period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 5.2(c)), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during such year (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2)). This Section 5.2(c) is intended to constitute a minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(d)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except Section 5.2(c), if there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year or other taxable period (or if there was a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain for a prior Fiscal Year or other taxable period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 5.2(d)), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4)). This Section 5.2(d) is intended to constitute a partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(e)    Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(b), no Losses or other items of loss or expense shall be allocated to any Member to the extent that such allocation would cause such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increase any existing Adjusted Capital Account Deficit) at the end of such Fiscal Year. All Losses and other items of loss and expense in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 5.2(e) shall be allocated to the Members who do not have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in proportion to their relative positive Adjusted Capital Accounts but only to the extent that such Losses and other items of loss and expense do not cause any such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.

(f)    Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 5.2(c) and Section 5.2(d), in the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustment, allocation or distribution described in paragraph (4), (5) or (6) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), items of income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of income, including gross income, and gain for the Fiscal Year or other taxable period) shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate any Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of that Member as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2(f) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.2(f) were not in this Agreement. This
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Section 5.2(f) is intended to constitute a qualified income offset under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g)    If any Member has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year or other taxable period that is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount that such Member is obligated to restore and (ii) the amount that the Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and (i)(5), that Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income, gain and Simulated Gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2(g) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been made as if Section 5.2(f) and this Section 5.2(g) were not in this Agreement.

(h)    To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to any Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s Interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such item of gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) if such section applies or to the Member to whom such distribution was made if Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.

(i)    Simulated Depletion for each Depletable Property, and Simulated Loss upon the Disposition of a Depletable Property, shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to their shares of the Simulated Basis in such property.

(j)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V (other than the Regulatory Allocations), prior to all other allocations:
(i)    Items of Company gross income and gain shall be allocated in respect of the Series A Preferred Units until the aggregate amount of gross income and gain allocated in respect of such Series A Preferred Units pursuant hereto for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of the sum of (without duplication) (A) all Series A Cash Distributions, if any, made with respect to such Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(ii), and (B) unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member in consultation with the Company’s accountants, the sum of the Accrued Distributions, if any, on the Series A Preferred Units, in each case as of the end of the current taxable period.
(ii)    if (A) on the date on which a Liquidating Event occurs there is at least one outstanding Series A Preferred Unit and (B) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 5.2 for the taxable period in which the Liquidating Event occurs, the Per Unit Capital Amount of each Series A Preferred Unit would not equal or exceed the Series A Liquidation Value, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall instead be allocated among the Members in a manner reasonably determined appropriate by the Managing Member so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit to equal the Series A Liquidation Value (and no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the effect of such allocation). In the event that (x) the date on which a Liquidating Event occurs is on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Company’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidating Event occurs and (y) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Event occurs as set forth above in this Section 5.2(j)(ii) fails to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amounts described above, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such prior taxable period shall be allocated among all Members in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 5.2(j)(ii), cause the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit to equal the Series A Liquidation Value.
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(k)    Items of income, gain, loss, expense or credit resulting from a Covered Audit Adjustment shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions.

Section 5.3    Allocations for Tax Purposes in General.    

(a)    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.3, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as such item is allocated under Sections 5.1 and 5.2.

(b)    In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including the Treasury Regulations applying the principles of Code Section 704(c) to changes in Gross Asset Values), items of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any Company property having a Gross Asset Value that differs from such property’s adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis shall, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Members to account for any such difference using the “traditional method with curative allocations,” with the curative allocations applied only to sale gain, under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(c), or such other method or methods determined by the Managing Member to be appropriate and in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations.

(c)    Any (i) recapture of depreciation or any other item of deduction shall be allocated, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1254-5, to the Members who received the benefit of such deductions (taking into account the effect of remedial allocations), and (ii) recapture of grants credits shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with applicable law.

(d)    Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.3 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect or in any way be taken into account in computing any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

(e)    If, as a result of an exercise of a noncompensatory option to acquire an interest in the Company (including a Series A Preferred Conversion), a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), the Company shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

Section 5.4    Income Tax Allocations with Respect to Depletable Properties.    

(a)    Cost and percentage depletion deductions with respect to any Depletable Property shall be computed separately by the Members rather than the Company. For purposes of such computations, the federal income tax basis of each Depletable Property shall be allocated to each Member pro rata, in accordance with the number of Common Units owned by such Member as of the time such Depletable Property is acquired by the Company (and any additions to such federal income tax basis resulting from expenditures required to be capitalized in such basis shall be allocated among the Members in a manner designed to cause the Members’ proportionate shares of such adjusted federal income tax basis to be in accordance with their proportionate ownership of Common Units as determined at the time of any such additions), and shall be reallocated among the Members pro rata, in accordance with the number of Common Units owned by such Member as determined immediately following the occurrence of an event giving rise to an adjustment to the Gross Asset Values of the Company’s Depletable Properties pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value. The Company shall inform each Member of such Member’s allocable share of the federal income tax basis of each Depletable Property promptly following the acquisition of such Depletable Property by the Company, any adjustment resulting from expenditures required to be capitalized in such basis, and any reallocation of such basis as provided in the previous sentence.

(b)    For purposes of the separate computation of gain or loss by each Member on the taxable disposition of Depletable Property, the amount realized from such disposition shall be allocated (i) first, to the Members in an amount equal to the Simulated Basis in such Depletable Property in proportion to their allocable shares thereof and (ii) second, any remaining amount realized shall be allocated consistent with the allocation of Simulated Gains.
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(c)    The allocations described in this Section 5.4 are intended to be applied in accordance with the Members’ “interests in partnership capital” under Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code; provided that the Members understand and agree that the Managing Member may authorize special allocations of federal income tax basis, income, gain, deduction or loss, as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in order to eliminate differences between Simulated Basis and adjusted federal income tax basis with respect to Depletable Properties, in such manner as determined consistent with the principles outlined in Section 5.3(b). The provisions of this Section 5.4(c) and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to allocations under Code Section 613A(c)(7)(D) are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(v) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Treasury Regulations.

(d)    Each Member, with the assistance of the Company, shall separately keep records of its share of the adjusted tax basis in each Depletable Property, adjust such share of the adjusted tax basis for any cost or percentage depletion allowable with respect to such property and use such adjusted tax basis in the computation of its cost depletion or in the computation of its gain or loss on the disposition of such property by the Company. Upon the reasonable request of the Company, each Member shall advise the Company of its adjusted tax basis in each Depletable Property and any depletion computed with respect thereto, both as computed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection for purposes of allowing the Company to make adjustments to the tax basis of its assets as a result of certain transfers of interests in the Company or distributions by the Company. The Company may rely on such information and, if it is not provided by the Member, may make such reasonable assumptions as it shall determine with respect thereto.

Section 5.5    Other Allocation Rules.    

(a)    The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article V and the economic impact of the allocations on the amounts receivable by them under this Agreement. The Members hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article V in reporting their share of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.

(b)    The provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance for each Member of a Capital Account as provided by Section 4.4 and the allocations set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 are intended to comply with the Treasury Regulations and to reflect the intended economic entitlement of the Members. If the Managing Member determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of the provisions in Sections 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4 would result in non-compliance with the Treasury Regulations or would be inconsistent with the intended economic entitlement of the Members, the Managing Member is authorized to make any appropriate adjustments to such provisions.

(c)    All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to an Interest in the Company that may have been Transferred shall be allocated between the Transferor and the Transferee based on the portion of the Fiscal Year or other taxable period during which each was recognized as the owner of such interest, without regard to the results of Company operations during any particular portion of that year and without regard to whether cash distributions were made to the Transferor or the Transferee during that year; provided, however, that this allocation must be made in accordance with a method permissible under Code Section 706 and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

(d)    The Members’ proportionate shares of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), shall be allocated to the Members in any manner determined by the Managing Member and permissible under the Treasury Regulations.

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ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1    Distributions.    

(a)    Distributions.

(i)    To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, and after making provision for distributions under Section 6.1(a)(ii), as applicable, and Section 6.2, and except as otherwise provided in Section 11.3, distributions to Members may be declared by the Managing Member out of funds legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such distributions) as the Managing Member shall determine using such record date as the Managing Member may designate; such distributions shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis (except that, for the avoidance of doubt, distributions described in Section 6.1(a)(ii), distributions described in Section 6.2(a), repurchases or redemptions made in accordance with Section 4.1(f) or payments made in accordance with Section 7.4 or Section 7.9 need not be on a pro rata basis), in accordance with the number of Common Units owned by each Member as of the close of business on such record date (assuming for this purpose that the Series A Preferred Units were fully converted (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible pursuant to the terms hereof) into Common Units, at the Conversion Rate then in effect, immediately prior to such distribution and the Member(s) holding Series A Preferred Units hold such additional number of Common Units); provided, however, that the Managing Member shall have the obligation to make distributions as set forth in Sections 6.2 and 11.3(b)(ii); and provided further that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.1, the Managing Member shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the distribution and the payment date thereof.

(ii)    From and after the Grace Period Expiration Date (if applicable in the event the Automatic Conversion does not occur prior to the Grace Period Expiration Date), with respect to each outstanding Series A Preferred Unit, distributions thereon shall accrue on the Accreted Value at the Distribution Rate from and after the Initial Issue Date through the next Distribution Payment Date and, thereafter, from (but excluding) the last preceding Distribution Payment Date to and including the next Distribution Payment Date, in each case, whether or not in any period the Company is legally permitted to make payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are declared. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1(a) to the contrary and subject to Section 6.2, such distributions on Series A Preferred Units (“Series A Cash Distributions”) shall be payable quarterly in cash only to the extent that an equal amount of cash dividends are declared by PubCo with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, and when so declared, Series A Cash Distributions shall be paid in cash out of funds legally available therefor and shall be payable immediately prior to the time that such cash dividends are paid by PubCo with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock. Series A Cash Distributions shall accumulate and become Accrued Distributions on a day-to-day basis until Series A Cash Distributions are paid pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii). For purposes of clarity, to the extent all or a portion of a Series A Cash Distribution (including for the initial Distribution Period from and after the Initial Issue Date through the next Distribution Payment Date) is not paid in full in cash on any Distribution Payment Date, the Initial Liquidation Value of each Series A Preferred Unit outstanding as of such Distribution Payment Date shall automatically be increased by an amount equal to such Accrued Distributions (and the Initial Liquidation Value, as so increased, shall thereafter be used for all purposes hereunder), resulting in an increased Accreted Value (and the Accreted Value, as so increased, shall thereafter be used for all purposes hereunder).

(iii)    Distributions payable under Section 6.1(a)(ii) for any period less than a full quarterly distribution period (based upon the number of days elapsed during the period), shall each be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
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(iv)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1(a) to the contrary and subject to Section 6.2, the Company shall be prohibited from paying a distribution on any Common Units or any other Equity Securities that rank junior to the Series A Preferred Units while any Series A Preferred Units are outstanding unless, in each case, PubCo has received the requisite consent of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Certificate of Designations for the payment by PubCo of a dividend or other distribution in respect of the corresponding Class A Common Stock (in the case of Common Units) or other Equity Securities of PubCo that rank junior to the Series A Preferred Stock (in the case of other Equity Securities of the Company that rank junior to the Series A Preferred Units).

(v)    Holders of Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to any distribution other than as set forth in this Section 6.1(a), Section 6.2 or Section 11.3(b).

(b)    Successors. For purposes of determining the amount of distributions, each Member shall be treated as having made the Capital Contributions and as having received the Distributions made to or received by its predecessors in respect of any of such Member’s Units.

(c)    Distributions In-Kind. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, after making provision for distributions under Section 6.1(a)(ii), any distributions may be made in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind, as determined by the Managing Member. To the extent that the Company distributes property in-kind to the Members, the Company shall be treated as making a distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of such property for purposes of Section 6.1(a) and such property shall be treated as if it were sold for an amount equal to its Fair Market Value. Any resulting deemed gain or loss shall be allocated to the Member’s Capital Accounts in accordance with Section 5.1 and Section 5.2.

Section 6.2    Tax-Related Distributions. The Company shall make distributions:

(a)    First, to PubCo at such times and in such amounts as the Managing Member reasonably determines is necessary to enable PubCo to timely satisfy all of its U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax liabilities with respect to any items of income and gain allocated to it with respect to the Series A Preferred Units (the “Preferred Unit Related Taxes”); provided, the amounts distributed pursuant to this Section 6.2(a) shall not exceed PubCo’s actual U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. cash tax liabilities with respect to such year and to the extent distributions are made under this Section 6.2(a) with respect to estimated Preferred Unit Related Taxes or otherwise in excess of such actual cash tax liabilities, the Managing Member shall make appropriate adjustments to subsequent distributions under this Section 6.2(a) as it deems appropriate; and

(b)    Then, to all Members on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Common Units owned by each Member, at such times and in such amounts as the Managing Member reasonably determines is necessary to enable PubCo to timely satisfy all of the U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax liabilities of PubCo (other than any Preferred Unit Related Taxes), Lynden Energy Corp., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia and a wholly owned subsidiary of PubCo, and Lynden, calculated in the aggregate.

Section 6.3    Distribution Upon Resignation. No resigning Member shall be entitled to receive any distribution or the value of such Member’s Interest in the Company as a result of resignation from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company, except as specifically provided in this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT

Section 7.1    The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties.    

(a)    PubCo shall be the sole Managing Member of the Company. Except as otherwise required by Law, (i) the Managing Member shall have full and complete charge of all affairs of the Company, (ii) the management and control of the Company’s business activities and operations shall rest
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exclusively with the Managing Member, and the Managing Member shall make all decisions regarding the business, activities and operations of the Company (including the incurrence of costs and expenses) in its sole discretion without the consent of any other Member and (iii) the Members other than the Managing Member (in their capacity as such) shall not participate in the control, management, direction or operation of the activities or affairs of the Company and shall have no power to act for or bind the Company.

(b)    In connection with the performance of its duties as the Managing Member of the Company, the Managing Member acknowledges that it will owe to the Company and the Members the same fiduciary duties as it would owe to a Delaware corporation and its stockholders if it were a member of the board of directors of such a corporation and the Members were stockholders of such corporation. The Members acknowledge that the Managing Member will take action through its board of directors, and that the members of the Managing Member’s board of directors will owe comparable fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Managing Member.

Section 7.2    Officers.    

(a)    The Managing Member may appoint, employ or otherwise contract with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Company or the performance of services for or on behalf of the Company, and the Managing Member may delegate to any such Persons such authority to act on behalf of the Company as the Managing Member may from time to time deem appropriate.

(b)    As of the Effective Date, the president and chief executive officer of the Company (the “President and Chief Executive Officer”) will be Robert J. Anderson.

(c)    Except as otherwise set forth herein, the President and Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the general and active management of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will see that all orders of the Managing Member are carried into effect. The President and Chief Executive Officer will report to the Managing Member and have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president and chief executive officer of a corporation organized under the DGCL, subject to the terms of this Agreement, and will have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Managing Member or this Agreement. The President and Chief Executive Officer will have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Company, except where required or permitted by Law to be otherwise signed and executed, and except where the signing and execution thereof will be expressly delegated by the Managing Member to some other Officer or agent of the Company.

(d)    Except as set forth herein, the Managing Member may appoint Officers at any time, and the Officers may include one or more vice presidents, a secretary, one or more assistant secretaries, a chief financial officer, a general counsel, a treasurer, one or more assistant treasurers, a chief operating officer, an executive chairman, and any other officers that the Managing Member deems appropriate. Except as set forth herein, the Officers will serve at the pleasure of the Managing Member, subject to all rights, if any, of such Officer under any contract of employment. Any individual may hold any number of offices, and an Officer may, but need not, be a Member of the Company. The Officers will exercise such powers and perform such duties as specified in this Agreement or as determined from time to time by the Managing Member.

(e)    Subject to this Agreement and to the rights, if any, of an Officer under a contract of employment, any Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Managing Member. Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Managing Member. Any resignation will take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation will not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the Officer is a party. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause will be filled in the manner prescribed in this Agreement for regular appointments to that office.

Section 7.3    Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others.     In exercising their authority and performing their duties under this Agreement, the Officers shall be entitled to rely on information,
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opinions, reports, or statements of the following persons or groups unless they have actual knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted:

(a)    one or more employees or other agents of the Company or subordinates whom the Officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; and

(b)    any attorney, public accountant, or other person as to matters which the Officer reasonably believes to be within such person’s professional or expert competence.

Section 7.4    Indemnification. Subject to the limitations and conditions provided in this Section 7.4, each Person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative (each, a “Proceeding”), or any appeal in such a Proceeding or any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such a Proceeding, by reason of the fact he, she or it, or a Person of which he, she or it is the legal representative, is or was a Member, an Officer, or acting as the Tax Matters Member or Company Representative of the Company, in each case, shall be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such Law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment) against all judgment, penalties (including excise and similar taxes and punitive damages), fines, settlement and reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) actually incurred by such Person in connection with such Proceeding, appeal, inquiry or investigation, if such Person acted in Good Faith. Reasonable expenses incurred by a Person of the type entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.4 who was, is or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he, she or it is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Indemnification under this Section 7.4 shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to serve in the capacity which initially entitled such Person to indemnity hereunder. The rights granted pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be deemed contract rights, and no amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.4 shall have the effect of limiting or denying any such rights with respect to actions taken or Proceedings, appeals, inquiries or investigations arising prior to any amendment, modification or repeal. It is expressly acknowledged that the indemnification provided in this Section 7.4 could involve indemnification for negligence or under theories of strict liability.

Section 7.5    Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements. In compliance with applicable Law, the Company (with the approval of the Managing Member) may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any Person who is or was a Member, employee or agent of the Company, or at the request of the Company is or was serving as a manager, director, officer, employee or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any Liability asserted against such Person and Liability and expenses incurred by such Person in such Person’s capacity as such, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company has the authority to indemnify such Person against such Liability and expenses.

Section 7.6    Resignation or Termination of Managing Member. PubCo shall not, by any means, resign as, cease to be or be replaced as Managing Member except in compliance with this Section 7.6. No termination or replacement of PubCo as Managing Member shall be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of PubCo, its successor (if applicable) and any new Managing Member and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect. No appointment of a Person other than PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) as Managing Member shall be effective unless PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable) provide all other Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such other Members against PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable), to cause (a) PubCo to comply with all PubCo’s obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 4.7) other than those that must necessarily be taken in its capacity as Managing Member and (b) the new Managing Member to comply with all the Managing Member’s obligations under this Agreement.

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Section 7.7    No Inconsistent Obligations.     The Managing Member represents that it does not have any contracts, other agreements, duties or obligations that are inconsistent with its duties and obligations (whether or not in its capacity as Managing Member) under this Agreement and covenants that, except as permitted by Section 7.1, it will not enter into any contracts or other agreements or undertake or acquire any other duties or obligations that are inconsistent with such duties and obligations.

Section 7.8    Reclassification Events of PubCo. If a Reclassification Event occurs, the Managing Member or its successor, as the case may be, shall, as and to the extent necessary, amend this Agreement in compliance with Section 12.1, and enter into any necessary supplementary or additional agreements, to ensure that, following the effective date of the Reclassification Event: (i) the redemption rights of holders of Common Units set forth in Section 4.7 provide that each Common Unit (together with the transfer and surrender of one share of Class B Stock) is redeemable for the same amount and same type of property, securities or cash (or combination thereof) that one share of Class A Stock becomes exchangeable for or converted into as a result of the Reclassification Event and (ii) PubCo or the successor to PubCo, as applicable, is obligated to deliver such property, securities or cash upon such redemption. PubCo shall not consummate or agree to consummate any Reclassification Event unless the successor Person, if any, becomes obligated to comply with the obligations of PubCo (in whatever capacity) under this Agreement.

Section 7.9    Certain Costs and Expenses.     The Company shall (i) pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals and the compensation of all personnel providing services to the Company) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities or capitalization of the Company, and (ii) in the sole discretion of the Managing Member, bear and/or reimburse the Managing Member for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by it in connection with serving as the Managing Member. To the extent that the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Managing Member that are conducted through the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member), the Managing Member may cause the Company to pay or bear all expenses of the Managing Member, including, without limitation, costs of securities offerings not borne directly by members, board of directors compensation and meeting costs, cost of periodic reports to its stockholders, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs and franchise taxes, provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of PubCo. In the event that (i) shares of Class A Stock were sold to underwriters in any public offering after the Effective Time, in each case, at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Stock are sold to the public in such public offering after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any deferred discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions payable in connection with or as a result of such public offering) (such difference, the “Discount”) and (ii) the proceeds from such public offering are used to fund the Cash Election Amount for any redeemed Common Units or otherwise contributed to the Company, the Company shall reimburse the Managing Member for such Discount by treating such Discount as an additional Capital Contribution made by PubCo to the Company, issuing Common Units in respect of such deemed Capital Contribution in accordance with Section 4.7(b)(ii), and increasing PubCo’s Capital Account by the amount of such Discount. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that any commission, fees or other costs are paid in connection with an offering or issuance of any series of Preferred Stock, such costs will not be treated as a discount with respect to the offering price of such Preferred Stock, the Company will reimburse the Managing Member for such costs by treating such costs as an additional Capital Contribution made by PubCo to the Company, issuing the relevant series of Preferred Units in respect of such deemed Capital Contribution in accordance with Section 4.1(e), and increasing PubCo’s Capital Account by the amount of such upfront fee. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments made to or on behalf of the Managing Member pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall not be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 6.1(a) but shall instead be treated as an expense of the Company.

ARTICLE VIII
ROLE OF MEMBERS

Section 8.1    Rights or Powers. Other than the Managing Member, the Members, acting in their capacity as Members, shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of
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the Company or its business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members have all the rights and powers specifically set forth in this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in the Act. The existence of these relationships and acting in such capacities will not result in the Member (other than the Managing Member) being deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Company or otherwise affect the limited liability of the Member. A Member, any Affiliate thereof or an employee, stockholder, agent, director or officer of a Member or any Affiliate thereof, may also be an employee or be retained as an agent of the Company. Except as specifically provided herein, a Member (other than the Managing Member) shall not, in its capacity as a Member, take part in the operation, management or control of the Company’s business, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company.

Section 8.2    Voting.     

(a)    Meetings of the Members may be called by the Managing Member or upon the written request of Members holding at least 50% of the outstanding Common Units. Such request shall state the location of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting. Written notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Members not less than two Business Days nor more than 30 days prior to the date of such meeting. Members may vote in person, by proxy or by telephone at any meeting of the Members and may waive advance notice of such meeting. Whenever the vote or consent of Members is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or consent may be given at a meeting of the Members or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this Section 8.2. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the Members holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units shall constitute the act of the Members.

(b)    Each Member may authorize any Person or Persons to act for it by proxy on all matters in which such Member is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by such Member or its attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Member executing it.

(c)    Each meeting of Members shall be conducted by an Officer designated by the Managing Member or such other individual person as the Managing Member deems appropriate.

(d)    Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members may be taken without a meeting if the requisite Members whose approval is necessary consent thereto in writing.

Section 8.3    Various Capacities. The Members acknowledge and agree that the Members or their Affiliates will from time to time act in various capacities, including as a Member and as the Tax Matters Member or Company Representative.

ARTICLE IX
TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

Section 9.1    Restrictions on Transfer.    

(a)    Except as provided in Section 4.7 and except for the Transfers by a Member to Permitted Transferee, no Member shall Transfer all or any portion of its Interest without the prior written consent of the Managing Member, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9.1(a), all or any portion of a Member’s Interests are Transferred in violation of this Section 9.1(a), involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, then without limiting any other rights and remedies available to the other parties under this Agreement or otherwise, the Transferee of such Interest (or portion thereof) shall not be admitted to the Company as a Member or be entitled to any rights as a Member hereunder, and the Transferor will continue to be bound by all obligations hereunder, unless and until the Managing Member consents in writing to such admission, which consent shall be granted or withheld in the Managing Member’s sole discretion. Any attempted or purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Interests in violation of this Section 9.1(a) shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions on Transfer contained in this Article IX shall not apply to the Transfer of any capital stock of the Managing Member; provided that no shares of
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Class B Stock may be Transferred unless a corresponding number of Common Units are Transferred therewith in accordance with this Agreement.

(b)    In addition to any other restrictions on Transfer herein contained, including the provisions of this Article IX, in no event may any Transfer or assignment of Interests by any Member be made (i) to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own Interests; (ii) if in the opinion of legal counsel or a qualified tax advisor to the Company such Transfer presents a material risk that such Transfer would cause the Company to cease to be classified as a partnership or to be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code; (iii) if such Transfer would cause the Company to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code); (iv) if such Transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, cause any portion of the assets of the Company to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to the Plan Asset Regulation or otherwise cause the Company to be subject to regulation under ERISA; (v) if such Transfer requires the registration of such Interests or any Equity Securities issued upon any exchange of such Interests, pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities Laws; or (vi) if such Transfer subjects the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, each as amended (or any succeeding law). Any Transfer purported to be made in violation of this Section 9.1(b) shall be void ab initio.

Section 9.2    Notice of Transfer. Other than in connection with Transfers made pursuant to Section 4.7, each Member shall, after complying with the provisions of this Agreement, but in any event no later than three Business Days following any Transfer of Interests, give written notice to the Company of such Transfer. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the Transfer.

Section 9.3    Transferee Members. A Transferee of Interests pursuant to this Article IX shall have the right to become a Member only if (i) the requirements of this Article IX are met, (ii) such Transferee executes an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement and assuming all of the Transferor’s then existing and future Liabilities arising under or relating to this Agreement, (iii) such Transferee represents that the Transfer was made in accordance with all applicable securities Laws, (iv) the Transferor or Transferee shall have reimbursed the Company for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) of any Transfer or proposed Transfer of a Member’s Interest, whether or not consummated and (v) if such Transferee or his or her spouse is a resident of a community property jurisdiction, then such Transferee’s spouse shall also execute an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement to the extent of his or her community property or quasi-community property interest, if any, in such Member’s Interest. Unless agreed to in writing by the Managing Member, the admission of a Member shall not result in the release of the Transferor from any Liability that the Transferor may have to each remaining Member or to the Company under this Agreement or any other Contract between the Managing Member, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and such Transferor or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand. Written notice of the admission of a Member shall be sent promptly by the Company to each remaining Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.3, and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, following a Transfer by one or more Members (or a transferee of the type described in this sentence) to a Permitted Transferee of all or substantially all of their Interests, such transferee shall succeed to all of the rights of such Member(s) under this Agreement.

Section 9.4    Legend. Each certificate representing a Unit, if any, will be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.
THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT. THE TRANSFER AND VOTING OF THESE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF EARTHSTONE ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC DATED AS OF APRIL 14, 2022 AMONG THE MEMBERS LISTED THEREIN, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED AND/OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND NO TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES WILL BE
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VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES.”

ARTICLE X
ACCOUNTING

Section 10.1    Books of Account. The Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain true books and records of account in which full and correct entries shall be made of all its business transactions pursuant to a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and shall set aside on its books all such proper accruals and reserves as shall be required under GAAP.

Section 10.2    Tax Elections.     The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Code Section 754, shall not thereafter revoke such election. In addition, the Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate forms or tax returns:

(a)    to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s Fiscal Year, if permitted under the Code;

(b)    to adopt the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(c)    to elect to amortize the organizational expenses of the Company as permitted by Code Section 709(b);

(d)     to (i) elect out of the application of the company-level audit and adjustment rules of the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, if applicable, and (ii) if determined by the Company Representative pursuant to its authority under Section 10.4(c), elect the Push-Out Election or other elective procedures addressed in Section 10.4(c), and, upon request of the Managing Member, each Member shall cooperate in good faith with the Company in connection with such elections; and

(e)    any other election the Managing Member may deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.

Section 10.3    Tax Returns; Information. The Tax Matters Member or Company Representative (as applicable) shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing (including extensions) of all income and other tax and informational returns of the Company. The Tax Matters Member or Company Representative (as applicable) shall furnish to each Member within sixty (60) days after the end of each Fiscal Year an estimate of each Member’s Schedule K-1 and as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, but in no event later than June 30, a copy of each approved return and statement (including extensions thereto), together with Schedules K-1 and any other schedules or information which each Member may require in connection with such Member’s own tax affairs.

Section 10.4    Tax Matters Member; Company Representative; Tax Audit Matters.

(a)    With respect to Tax Years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, the Managing Member is hereby designated the tax matters partner of the Company, within the meaning given to such term in Section 6231 of the Code (the Managing Member, in such capacity, the “Tax Matters Member”) and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Tax Matters Member shall keep all Members fully advised on a current basis of any contacts by or discussions with the tax authorities, and the Members shall have the right to observe and participate through representatives of their own choosing (at their sole expense) in any tax proceedings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Tax Matters Member shall not settle or otherwise compromise any issue in any such examination, audit or other proceeding without first obtaining approval of the Managing Member. Nothing herein shall diminish, limit or restrict the rights of any Member under Subchapter C,
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Chapter 63, Subtitle F of the Code (Code Sections 6221 et seq.). All references to Code Sections in this Section 10.4(a) are to such Sections of the Code as in effect for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2018.

(b)    With respect to Tax Years beginning after December 31, 2017, pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, the Managing Member shall be designated and may, on behalf of the Company, at any time, and without further notice to or consent from any Member, act as the Company Representative within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code. If the Company Representative is not an individual person, it shall appoint an individual person (the “Designated Individual”) who meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 301.6223-1 as the sole individual through whom the Company Representative will act for all purposes of the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, which appointment shall be deemed to be the appointment of the Company. The Company Representative and the Designated Individual, as the context requires, may simply be referred to herein as the Company Representative.

(c)    The Company Representative shall be responsible for making all decisions, filing all elections and taking all other actions, in each case related to any such tax proceedings or otherwise related to its role as “partnership representative” and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member and each Person that was a Member for the relevant reviewed year (a “Reviewed Year Member”) agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company Representative with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Company Representative shall keep all Members and Reviewed Year Members fully advised on a current basis of any contacts by or discussions with the tax authorities, and the Members and Reviewed Year Members shall have the right to observe and participate through representatives of their own choosing (at their sole expense) in any tax proceedings. The Members and Reviewed Year Members agree to take all actions reasonably requested by the Company or the Company Representative to comply with the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, including where applicable, (i) providing any information and taking such action as may be reasonably required by the Company Representative in order to determine whether any imputed underpayment within the meaning of Code Section 6225 may be modified pursuant to Code Section 6225(c) under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, (ii) filing amended returns or complying with the alternative procedures as provided in Code Section 6225(c)(2) under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, and providing confirmation thereof to the Company Representative to the extent required by the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, and/or (iii) making the Push-Out Election (which election shall be made by the Company Representative in its reasonable discretion). Nothing herein shall diminish, limit or restrict the rights of any Member or Reviewed Year Member under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions; provided, however, the Members and Reviewed Year Members agree that each Person who was a Member during any reviewed year (whether or not such Person is a Member during any adjustment year) shall report his, her or its allocable share of such adjustment on his, her or its U.S. Federal income tax return pursuant to either Code Section 6225(c)(2) as amended by the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions or pursuant to Code Section 6226 as amended by the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, as determined by the Company Representative in its sole discretion.

(d)    The provisions of this Section 10.4 shall survive the termination or dissolution of the Company and the termination of any Member’s interest in the Company and shall remain binding on the Members for as long a period of time as is necessary to resolve with the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority any and all matters regarding the taxation of the Company or the Members. The Members hereby consent to any amendments to this Section 10.4 that the Managing Member determines are reasonably necessary and appropriate to address additional guidance provided in Treasury Regulations or other IRS guidance relating to the partnership audit rules of the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, or to take into account subsequently enacted amendment thereto.

Section 10.5    Withholding Tax Payments and Obligations.

(a)    The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold from distributions, allocations or portions thereof if it is required to do so by any applicable rule, regulation or law, and each Member hereby authorizes the Company and its Subsidiaries to withhold or pay on behalf of or with respect to
35



such Member any amount of taxes that the Managing Member determines, in good faith, that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement.

(b)    To the extent that any tax is paid by (or withheld from amounts payable to) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Managing Member determines, in good faith, that such tax relates to one or more specific Members (including without limitation (i) Company Level Taxes, (ii) any tax payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6225 the Code with respect to items of income, gain, loss deduction or credit allocable or attributable to such Member, and (iii) any withholding taxes imposed upon the Company with respect to a transferee Member under Code Section 1446(f) to the extent the Managing Member determines in good faith that it has not received evidence to satisfy it that such withholding is not required) such tax shall be treated as an amount of taxes withheld or paid with respect to such Member pursuant to this Section 10.5. Upon the Company’s request, each Member shall provide to the Company a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or the appropriate IRS Form W-8 and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Company (including, if applicable, an affidavit of non-foreign status pursuant to Section 1446(f)(2) of the Code) in order for it to accurately determine its withholding obligation, if any.

(c)    For all purposes under this Agreement, any amounts withheld or paid with respect to a Member pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall be treated as if distributed to such Member pursuant to Section 6.1(a) at the time such withholding or payment is made. Further, to the extent that the cumulative amount of such withholding or payment for any period exceeds the distributions to which such Member is entitled for such period, the amount of such excess shall be considered a loan from the Company to such Member, with interest accruing at the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, compounded annually. The Managing Member may, in its discretion, either demand payment of the principal and accrued interest on such demand loan at any time (which payment shall not be deemed a Capital Contribution for purposes of this Agreement), and enforce payment thereof by legal process, or may withhold from one or more distributions to a Member amounts sufficient to satisfy such Member’s obligations under any such demand loan.

(d)    Neither the Company nor the Managing Member shall be liable for any excess taxes withheld in respect of any Member, and, in the event of overwithholding, a Member’s sole recourse shall be to apply for a refund from the appropriate Governmental Entity.

(e)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (i) any Person who ceases to be a Member shall be treated as a Member for purposes of this Section 10.5 and (ii) the obligations of a Member pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall survive indefinitely with respect to any taxes withheld or paid by the Company that relate to the period during which such Person was actually a Member, regardless of whether such taxes are assessed, withheld or otherwise paid during such period.

ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

Section 11.1    Liquidating Events. The Company shall dissolve and commence winding up and liquidating upon the first to occur of the following (“Liquidating Events”):

(a)    The sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

(b)    The determination of the Managing Member to dissolve, wind up, and liquidate the Company;

(c)    At any time there is no Member of the Company, unless the Company is continued without dissolution pursuant to the Act; or

(d)    Subject to the following sentence, the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act.

The Members hereby agree that the Company shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event and that no Member shall seek a dissolution of the Company, under Section 18-801(a)(3) or
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Section 18-802 of the Act or otherwise, other than based on the matters set forth in subsections (a) through (c) above (each Member hereby expressly waives its rights to seek judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act). If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Company has dissolved prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Members hereby agree to revoke such dissolution and continue the business of the Company without a winding up or liquidation. In the event of a dissolution pursuant to Section 11.1(b), the relative economic rights of each class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 11.3 in connection with such dissolution, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties to such dissolution and subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, unless, with respect to any class of Units, holders of a majority of the Units of such class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of PubCo occurs, or is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Certificate of Designations or otherwise, then a Liquidating Event of the Company shall be deemed to occur.

Section 11.2    Bankruptcy.     For purposes of this Agreement, the “bankruptcy” of a Member shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any Governmental Entity shall take possession of any substantial part of the property of that Member or shall assume control over the affairs or operations thereof, or a receiver or trustee shall be appointed, or a writ, order, attachment or garnishment shall be issued with respect to any substantial part thereof, and such possession, assumption of control, appointment, writ or order shall continue for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) a Member shall admit in writing of its inability to pay its debts when due, or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or apply for or consent to the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar officer or for all or any substantial part of its property; or shall institute (by petition, application, answer, consent or otherwise) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debts, dissolution, liquidation, or similar proceeding under the Laws of any jurisdiction; or (c) a receiver, trustee or similar officer shall be appointed for such Member or with respect to all or any substantial part of its property without the application or consent of that Member, and such appointment shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive days or any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangements, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar proceedings shall be instituted (by petition, application or otherwise) against that Member and shall remain undismissed for a period of 90 consecutive days.

Section 11.3    Procedure.    

(a)    In the event of the dissolution of the Company for any reason, the Managing Member shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and to liquidate the Company’s investments; provided that if the Managing Member is in bankruptcy or dissolved, another Member designated by the Members, who shall be the “Managing Member” for the purposes of this Agreement (the Managing Member or such other Member, the “Winding-Up Member”) shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and, subject to Section 11.4(a), such Winding-Up Member shall have full right and unlimited discretion to determine in good faith the time, manner and terms of any sale or sales of the Property or other assets pursuant to such liquidation, having due regard to the activity and condition of the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions. The Members shall continue to share in allocations of Profits and Losses during the period of liquidation in the same manner and proportion as though the Company had not dissolved. The Company shall engage in no further business except as may be necessary, in the reasonable discretion of the Winding-Up Member, as applicable, to preserve the value of the Company’s assets during the period of dissolution and liquidation.

(b)    Following the allocation of all Profits and Losses as provided in Article V, the proceeds of the liquidation and any other funds of the Company shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

(i)    First, to the satisfaction, in the order of priority as provided by Law, of all of the Company’s debts and Liabilities to creditors (whether third parties or Members) (whether by payment thereof or the making of reasonable provision for the payment thereof (including by setting up such cash reserves as the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary for contingent, conditional or unmatured debts or Liabilities (which reserves when they become
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unnecessary shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (ii), below))), except any obligations to the Members in respect of their Capital Accounts; and

(ii)    Second, subject to Section 6.2, as follows:

(A)    first, to each Member holding outstanding Series A Preferred Units, an amount in respect of the Series A Preferred Units held by such Member(the “Series A Liquidation Value”) equal to the greater of (1) the aggregate then Accreted Value of the Series A Preferred Units held by such Member , and (2) the aggregate amount that such Member would have been entitled to receive in respect of the Series A Preferred Units held by such Member if the Series A Preferred Units were fully converted (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible pursuant to the terms hereof) into Common Units,at the Conversion Rate then in effect, immediately prior to such liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company , and

(B)    the balance to the Members, pro rata in proportion to their respective Common Units.

(c)    Except as provided in Section 11.4(a), no Member shall have any right to demand or receive property other than cash upon dissolution and termination of the Company.

(d)    Upon the completion of the winding up of the Company and the distribution of all Company funds, the Winding-Up Member shall have the authority to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of the Company, as well as any and all other documents required to effectuate the termination of the Company, and the Company shall be terminated.

(e)    Any distribution in connection with the liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company, or any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, shall be made in cash to the extent possible. To the extent the available assets are insufficient to fully satisfy the Series A Liquidation Value, then the holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall share ratably in such distribution in the proportion that each holder’s Series A Preferred Units bears to the total number of Series A Preferred Units outstanding.

Section 11.4    Rights of Members.    

(a)    Each Member irrevocably waives any right that it may have to maintain an action for partition with respect to the property of the Company.

(b)    Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for the return of its Capital Contributions, and (ii) no Member shall have priority over any other Member as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions or allocations.

Section 11.5    Notices of Dissolution.     In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for the provisions of Section 11.1, result in a dissolution of the Company, the Company shall, within 30 days thereafter, (a) provide written notice thereof to each of the Members and to all other parties with whom the Company regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the Managing Member) and (b) comply, in a timely manner, with all filing and notice requirements under the Act or any other applicable Law.

Section 11.6    Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets in order to minimize any losses that might otherwise result from such winding up.

Section 11.7    No Deficit Restoration. No Member shall be personally liable for a deficit Capital Account balance of that Member, it being expressly understood that the distribution of liquidation proceeds shall be made solely from existing Company assets.

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ARTICLE XII
GENERAL

Section 12.1    Amendments; Waivers.    

(a)    The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, modified or amended (including by means of merger, consolidation or other business combination to which the Company is a party) only with the approval of the Managing Member; provided, however, that no amendment to this Agreement may:

(i)    modify the limited liability of any Member, or increase the liabilities or obligations of any Member, in each case, without the consent of each such affected Member; or

(ii)    materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any Interests in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to any other Interests, without the approval of a majority in interest of the Members holding the Interests affected in such a different or prejudicial manner.

(b)    Notwithstanding Section 12.1(a), the Managing Member, acting alone, may amend this Agreement, including Exhibit B, to reflect the admission of new Members, Transfers of Interests, the issuance of additional Units or Equity Securities, as provided by the terms of this Agreement, and, subject to Section 12.1(a), subdivisions or combinations of Units made in compliance with Section 4.1(g).

(c)    Except for amendments adopted in accordance with this Agreement, no waiver of any provision or default under, nor consent to any exception to, the terms of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound and then only to the specific purpose, extent and instance so provided.

Section 12.2    Further Assurances.     Each party agrees that it will from time to time, upon the reasonable request of another party, execute such documents and instruments and take such further action as may be required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 12.3    Successors and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns, but shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors and assigns of any Member only to the extent that they are permitted successors and assigns pursuant to the terms hereof. No party may assign its rights hereunder except as herein expressly permitted.

Section 12.4    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules hereto and all other agreements referenced therein and herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in connection with the subject matter hereof except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

Section 12.5    Rights of Members Independent. The rights available to the Members under this Agreement and at Law shall be deemed to be several and not dependent on each other and each such right accordingly shall be construed as complete in itself and not by reference to any other such right. Any one or more and/or any combination of such rights may be exercised by a Member and/or the Company from time to time and no such exercise shall exhaust the rights or preclude another Member from exercising any one or more of such rights or combination thereof from time to time thereafter or simultaneously.

Section 12.6    Governing Law. This Agreement, the legal relations between the parties and any Action, whether contractual or non-contractual, instituted by any party with respect to matters arising under or growing out of or in connection with or in respect of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed in such State and without regard to conflicts of law doctrines.

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Section 12.7    Jurisdiction and Venue. The parties hereto hereby agree and consent to be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal court of the District of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery (or, to the extent the Delaware Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, any state court of the State of Delaware) over any action, suit or proceeding (a “Legal Action”) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. The parties hereto irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such Legal Action. Each of the parties hereto further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such Legal Action by the mailing of copies thereof by registered mail, postage prepaid, to such party at its address set forth in this Agreement, such service of process to be effective upon acknowledgment of receipt of such registered mail. Nothing in this Section 12.7 shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 12.8    Headings. The descriptive headings of the Articles, Sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

Section 12.9    Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment hereto or any other agreement (or document) delivered pursuant hereto may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts. All of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement (or other document) and shall become effective (unless otherwise provided therein) when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party.

Section 12.10    Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder must be given in writing and (a) delivered in person, (b) transmitted by facsimile or telecommunications mechanism, provided, that any notice so given is also mailed as provided in clause (c), or (c) mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, receipt requested as follows:

If to the Company or the Managing Member, addressed to it at:

c/o Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Telephone: (281) 298-4246
Attention: Robert J. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer

With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Jones & Keller, P.C.
1675 Broadway, 26th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
Telephone: (303) 573-1600
Facsimile: (303) 573-8133
Attention:     Reid A. Godbolt, Esq.
        Adam J. Fogoros, Esq.

or to such other address or to such other person as either party shall have last designated by such notice to the other parties. Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by telecommunication, when transmitted to the applicable number so specified in (or pursuant to) this Section 12.10 and an appropriate answerback is received or, if transmitted after 4:00 p.m. local time on a Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent or at any time on a day that is not a Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent, then on the immediately following Business Day, (ii) if given by mail, on the first Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent following the date three days after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any other means, on the Business Day when actually received at such address or, if not received on a Business Day, on the Business Day immediately following such actual receipt.

Section 12.11    Representation By Counsel; Interpretation. The Members acknowledge that each party to this Agreement and the Existing LLC Agreement has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Accordingly, any
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rule of Law, or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived.

Section 12.12    Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any Governmental Entity, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by Law shall remain in full force and effect, provided, that the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for all parties remain valid, binding and enforceable.

Section 12.13    Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, and Securities Purchase Agreement, each party shall bear its own expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 12.14    No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in Section 7.4 and Section 10.2, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under this Agreement or otherwise create any third party beneficiary hereto.



[Signatures on Next Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Managing Member has caused this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
 
                            

                            EARTHSTONE ENERGY, INC.

                            By: /s/ Robert J. Anderson
                            Name: Robert J. Anderson
                            Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


                            


                            


                            



Exhibit 14
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CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS


I.    INTRODUCTION

Set forth herein is the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “Code”) adopted by Earthstone Energy, Inc. (“Earthstone” or the “Company”). This Code provides Earthstone’s principles and standards of conduct to guide all directors, officers and employees of Earthstone in our goal to achieve the highest business and personal ethical standards as well as compliance with the laws, rules and regulations that apply to our business. All of our directors, officers and employees are required to conduct themselves accordingly in every aspect of our business and seek to avoid even the appearance of improper behavior.

This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in other public communications;
Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
Prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code; and
Accountability for adherence to this Code.

II.    CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A conflict of interest exists when an individual’s private interest interferes in any way, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict situation can arise when a director, officer or employee takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her Company work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when a director, officer or employee, or members of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position with Earthstone.

No director, officer or employee may seek or accept from the Company any credit, an extension of credit or the arrangement of an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan.

A conflict of interest may arise for a director, officer or employee of the Company in a situation where such director, officer or employee has an interest in, accepts employment with, becomes involved with, or otherwise works for, any customer, supplier, vendor, contractor or competitor of Earthstone (except for an investment in publicly traded securities where such individual does not have the ability to influence or direct policies or management of such customer, supplier, vendor, contractor or competitor), including serving as a director of any customer, supplier, vendor, contractor or competitor of Earthstone. In such instances, the director, officer or employee should report such situation, in advance, to the appropriate internal personnel for analysis.



Exhibit 14
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Directors, officers and employees should avoid situations that could be construed as a conflict of interest. Such situations, whether actual conflicts or not, give rise to concerns on the part of shareholders, analysts, the general public and other officers, directors and employees.

Any director, officer or employee who becomes aware of a conflict or a potential conflict should bring it to the attention of a supervisor, manager or other appropriate personnel or follow the procedures described in Section XII of this Code.

III.    INSIDER TRADING

Directors, officers and employees of Earthstone who have access to confidential information are not permitted to use or share that information for stock trading purposes or for any other purpose except the conduct of our business. All non-public information about the Company should be considered confidential information. To use non-public information for personal financial benefit or to "tip" others who might make an investment decision on the basis of this information is not only unethical but also illegal.

IV.    CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

Except as set forth below in this Section IV, without the written consent of the Earthstone Board of Directors, directors, officers and employees are prohibited from taking for themselves an opportunity that is (a) a potential transaction or matter that may be an investment or business opportunity or prospective economic or competitive advantage in which the Company could reasonably have an interest or expectancy or (b) discovered through the use of corporate property, information or position. No director, officer or employee may use corporate property, information, or position for personal gain or competing with the Company directly or indirectly. Directors, officers and employees owe a duty to advance the legitimate interests of the Company when the opportunity to do so arises.

The members of the Earthstone Board of Directors employed by EnCap Investments L.P., Warburg Pincus, LLC, Post Oak Energy Capital, L.P. or their affiliates (together, the “Investor Parties”), their affiliates and respective agents, shareholders, members, partners, officers, directors and employees, including any director or officer of the Company who is also a shareholder, member, partner, officer, director, or employee of any member of the Investor Parties, have participated (directly or indirectly) in and may, and shall have no duty not to, continue to (x) participate (directly or indirectly) in venture capital and other direct investments in corporations, joint ventures, limited liability companies and other entities conducting business of any kind, nature or description (“Other Investments”) and (y) have interests in, participate with, aid and maintain seats on the boards of directors or similar governing bodies of Other Investments, in each case that may, are or will be competitive with the business of the Company and its subsidiaries or in the same or similar lines of business as the Company and its subsidiaries, or that could be suitable for the Company or its subsidiaries.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any such Other Investment or any business opportunities for such Other Investments that are from time to time presented


Exhibit 14
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to any Investor Party or are business opportunities in which an Investor Party participates or desires to participate, even if the Other Investment or business opportunity is one that the Company or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Investor Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such Other Investment or business opportunity to the Company.

V.    COMPETITION AND FAIR DEALING

We seek to outperform our competition fairly and honestly. We seek competitive advantages through superior performance, never through unethical or illegal business practices. Stealing proprietary information, possessing trade secret information that was obtained without the owner's consent, or inducing such disclosures by past or present employees of other companies is prohibited. No director, officer or employee of Earthstone shall take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.

The purpose of business entertainment and gifts in a commercial setting is to create good will and sound working relationships, not to gain unfair advantage with customers. No gift or entertainment should ever be offered, given, provided or accepted by any Company director, officer, employee, family member of any of the foregoing or agent unless it:

•    Is not a cash gift;
•    Is consistent with customary business practices;
•    Is not excessive in value;
•    Cannot be construed as a bribe or payoff; and
•    Does not violate any laws or regulations.

VI.    DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

The Company is firmly committed to providing equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, military service or reserve or veteran status, marital status, or other protected status. Earthstone will not tolerate illegal discrimination or harassment of any kind. Examples of harassment include derogatory comments based on racial or ethnic characteristics and unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. All of our employees deserve a work environment where they will be respected and the Company is committed to providing an environment that supports honesty, integrity, respect, trust and responsibility.

VII.    RECORD-KEEPING

Earthstone requires honest and accurate recording and reporting of information in order to make responsible business decisions.

Reimbursable expenses incurred by directors, officers and employees must be documented and recorded accurately. No one should rationalize or even consider misrepresenting facts or falsifying records.


Exhibit 14
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All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect Earthstone’s transactions, and must conform both to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls and generally accepted accounting principles.

Business records and communications often become public, and we should avoid exaggeration, derogatory remarks, guesswork, or inappropriate characterizations of people and companies that can be misunderstood. This applies equally to e-mail, internal memos, and formal reports. Records should always be retained or destroyed according to Earthstone’s record retention policies.

VIII.    FINANCIAL REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE

All transactions involving Earthstone and its subsidiaries must be documented, in reasonable detail, and accounted for on the books and records of the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable laws and regulations. Earthstone’s Principal Accounting Officer is responsible for establishing and maintaining accounting policies and procedures, disclosure controls and internal control standards, and the requirements for financial reporting to the Company's Management and others.

IX.    CONFIDENTIALITY

Directors, officers and employees must safeguard the confidentiality of confidential information entrusted to them by the Company or its customers, except when disclosure is required by laws or regulations. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to Earthstone or its customers, if disclosed. The obligation to preserve confidential information continues even after employment ends.

X.    PROTECTION AND PROPER USE OF THE COMPANY ASSETS

All directors, officers and employees should endeavor to protect the Company's assets, including funds, property, electronic communications systems, information resources, data, facilities, equipment and supplies, and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on Earthstone’s profitability. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft should be immediately reported for investigation pursuant to Section XII of this Code. Company assets should be used for legitimate Company purposes.

The obligation of directors, officers and employees to protect Earthstone’s assets includes its proprietary information. Proprietary information includes intellectual property such as trade secrets, software programs, as well as business, marketing and service plans, designs, databases, records, salary information and any unpublished financial data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information is a violation of Company policy and this Code. It could also be illegal and result in civil or criminal penalties.



Exhibit 14
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XI.    IMPROPER INFLUENCE ON CONDUCT OF AUDITS

No director, officer or employee of the Company shall take any action (e.g., offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, providing inaccurate or misleading legal analysis, blackmailing, and making physical threats) or make any false, misleading or inaccurate oral or written statement to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead an independent auditor engaged in the performance of an audit of the Company’s financial statements for the purpose of rendering the financial statements materially misleading. This standard shall also include improper influence with respect to preparation of Earthstone’s oil and gas reserves by an independent petroleum engineering firm.

XII.    REPORTING ANY ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

Earthstone encourages and promotes ethical behavior. Directors, officers and employees are encouraged to promptly discuss with, or otherwise disclose to, their supervisors, managers or other appropriate personnel any observed or suspected violations of laws, rules, regulations or this Code.

Reporting of violations will remain confidential to the degree possible. The Company does not permit retaliation of any kind against employees for good faith reports of ethical violations or misconduct. No employee of the Company may be discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of their employment because of reporting or aiding in the investigation of violations of laws, rules, regulations or this Code. Directors, officers and employees are expected to cooperate in internal investigations of misconduct.

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Code is to be interpreted or applied in any way that prohibits, restricts or interferes with an employee’s (a) exercise of rights provided under, or participation in, “whistleblower” programs of the SEC or any other applicable regulatory agency or governmental entity (each, a “Government Body”), or (b) good faith reporting of possible violations of applicable law to any Government Body, including cooperating with a Government Body in any governmental investigation regarding possible violations of applicable law.

XIII.    VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Every director, officer and employee of the Company has a duty to adhere to this Code. If a law conflicts with a policy in this Code, you must comply with the law. Any individual who violates the standards in this Code is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, or in the case of a director a request for resignation, and civil and criminal prosecution, if appropriate. Earthstone will promptly and properly document all reasons for disciplinary actions taken against its directors, officers and employees for violations of this Code.

XIV.    WAIVERS OF THE CODE

Any waiver of this Code for directors or executive officers of Earthstone may be made only by the Company's Board of Directors and will be promptly disclosed if and as


Exhibit 14
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required by law, including the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the listing requirements of any applicable stock exchange.


Exhibit 99.1
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Earthstone Announces Closing of Bighorn Acquisition and Closing of Debt and Equity Financings

Provides Balance Sheet and Liquidity Update

Provides Estimated Average Daily Production for the First Quarter of 2022

The Woodlands, Texas, April 14, 2022 – Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ESTE) (“Earthstone”, the “Company”, “our” or “we”), today announced the closing of the acquisition of assets of privately held Bighorn Permian Resources, LLC (“Bighorn”) in the Midland Basin (the “Bighorn Acquisition”). The Company also announced the closing of a $550 million private offering of senior unsecured notes (the “Notes Offering”); a $280 million private placement of equity (the “PIPE”); and an amendment to the Company’s revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”).

Further, the Company provided an update on key balance sheet metrics as of March 31, 2022, and as adjusted for the recent closings of the Bighorn Acquisition, the Notes Offering, the PIPE and the amendment to the Credit Facility. Additionally, the Company provided an estimate of daily production sales volumes for the first quarter of 2022.

Highlights:
Closed the Bighorn Acquisition on April 14, 2022
The cash consideration for the Bighorn Acquisition was reduced from the announced $770 million by approximately $131 million to $639 million and the equity consideration was reduced from the announced approximately 6.8 million shares of Class A Common Stock by approximately 1.2 million shares to 5.7 million shares, both based on preliminary purchase price adjustments
Closed the $550 million Notes Offering comprised of 8.0% senior unsecured notes on April 12, 2022
Closed the $280 million PIPE on April 14, 2022
Closed on an amendment to the credit agreement governing the Credit Facility which, among other things, increased the borrowing base to $1.325 billion on April 14, 2022
Voluntarily elected to reduce commitments under the borrowing base of the Credit Facility to $800 million on April 14, 2022
Estimates that the Company had $337 million of undrawn availability on the $800 million of commitments under the $1.325 billion borrowing base on the Credit Facility as of March 31, 2022, as adjusted for the transactions described herein

Operations Update:
Earthstone estimates its average daily production for the first quarter of 2022 to be approximately 35,500 Boepd (44% oil, 26% NGLs, 30% natural gas) which only includes 45 days of production from the assets we acquired in the northern Delaware Basin from Chisholm



Earthstone continues to operate two drilling rigs in the Midland Basin and two drilling rigs in the northern Delaware Basin

Management Comments

Robert J. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Earthstone, stated, “We are pleased to have taken multiple significant steps in the ongoing transformation of Earthstone as we have closed on the Bighorn Acquisition and on significant debt and equity financings this week. Based on the purchase price adjustments at closing as a result of the significant cash flows from the effective date, we will have funded the Bighorn Acquisition with well over 50% equity in the form of direct consideration to the seller and the new equity investment from the PIPE, maintaining our conservative capital structure.

“Combining the recently closed Chisholm Acquisition and its high-quality inventory in the northern Delaware Basin with the Bighorn Acquisition and its low-decline, high free cash flow production base in the Midland Basin has created significant incremental scale for Earthstone. We believe that the balance of high return drilling inventory and strong free cash flow production base within Earthstone creates an optimal opportunity for value creation as we continue our 2022 operating and capital plan.

“Our near-term focus will be to continue integration efforts on both the northern Delaware Basin assets and the newly acquired Midland Basin assets. We expect to continue our pursuit of additional scale through accretive acquisitions that we believe will result in continued improved cost structure and creation of shareholder value, while always keeping our balance sheet strength as the top priority.”

Liquidity Update

As of March 31, 2022, we had $1 million in cash and $624 million of long-term debt outstanding under our Credit Facility with a borrowing base of $825 million. Subsequent to March 31, 2022, Earthstone closed on its previously announced Bighorn Acquisition, closed the $550 million Notes Offering, closed the $280 million PIPE and paid the $70 million of deferred cash consideration for the Chisholm Acquisition. When adjusted to include the impact of these activities, we had estimated total debt outstanding of $1,013 million, comprised of $550 million of senior unsecured notes and $463 million of debt outstanding under our Credit Facility, leaving $337 million of undrawn availability on the $800 million of total commitments under our Credit Facility.

Board Appointment

In conjunction with the closing of the PIPE, the Earthstone Board of Directors has expanded to eleven members with the appointment of Mr. Frost Cochran. Mr. Cochran is a Managing Director and a founding partner of Post Oak Energy Capital, L.P.

About Earthstone

Earthstone Energy, Inc. is a growth-oriented, independent energy company engaged in acquisitions and the development and operation of oil and natural gas properties. Its primary assets are located in the Permian Basin of west Texas and New Mexico. Earthstone is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ESTE.” For more information, visit Earthstone’s website at www.earthstoneenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements



that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “potential,” “possible,” or “probable” or statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “will,” “should,” or “could” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by Earthstone and its management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to expectations is subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: Earthstone’s ability to integrate its combined operations successfully after recent acquisitions completed in 2021 and 2022, and the Bighorn Acquisition and achieve anticipated benefits from them; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Earthstone, or related to the recent acquisitions completed in 2021 and 2022, or the Bighorn Acquisition; declines in oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas prices; the level of success in exploration, development and production activities; adverse weather conditions that may negatively impact development or production activities; the timing of exploration and development expenditures; inaccuracies of reserve estimates or assumptions underlying them; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices; impacts to financial statements as a result of impairment write-downs; risks related to level of indebtedness and periodic redeterminations of the borrowing base under the Credit Facility; Earthstone’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet the internally funded portion of its capital expenditures budget; Earthstone’s ability to obtain external capital to finance exploration and development operations and acquisitions; the impacts of hedging on results of operations; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from oil and natural gas operations; Earthstone’s ability to replace oil and natural gas reserves; and any loss of senior management or technical personnel. Earthstone’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, recent current reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings discuss some of the important risk factors identified that may affect Earthstone’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Earthstone undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Contact

Mark Lumpkin, Jr.
Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380
281-298-4246
mark.lumpkin@earthstoneenergy.com

Scott Thelander
Vice President of Finance
Earthstone Energy, Inc.
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380
281-298-4246
scott@earthstoneenergy.com