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 (date of earliest event reported):

 

AUGUST 6, 2020

 

_______________________________

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

 

Delaware 001-16653 73-1238709
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)

 

1203 E. 33rd Street, Suite 250, Tulsa Oklahoma 74105

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(539) 444-8002

(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 class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered

None

EMPR

None

 

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. ☐

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On August 6, 2020, Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and Empire Texas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation (“Empire Texas”), entered into several agreements with Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“PIE”), and certain entities related to PIE as further described below.

 

The Corporation and Empire Texas entered into a joint development agreement dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “JDA”), with PIE, PIE Operating LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“PIE Operating”), PIE Holdings, LP, a Nevada limited partnership (“PIE Holdings”), and Mineral Resources Texas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MRT”), in the ordinary course of business, which JDA is described under Item 8.01 below. The description of the JDA is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01 and should be read first before reading the rest of this Item 1.01.

 

Securities Purchase Documents

 

The Corporation entered into a securities purchase agreement dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Securities Agreement”), with PIE, pursuant to which PIE purchased (a) 3,500,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, (b) a warrant to purchase up to 2,625,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.20 per share (the “PIE-1 Warrant”), (c) a warrant to purchase up to 1,800,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share (the “PIE-2 Warrant”), (d) a warrant to purchase up to 8,136,518 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.10 per share (the “PIE-3 Warrant”), and (e) a warrant to purchase up to 11,066,667 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.141 per share (the “PIE-4 Warrant” and, collectively with the Securities Agreement, the PIE-1 Warrant, the PIE-2 Warrant, and the PIE-3 Warrant, the “Securities Purchase Documents”), for an aggregate purchase price of $525,000.

 

Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Corporation agreed to (a) take commercially reasonable efforts to cause the appointment of one individual designated by PIE to serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation after the exercise of the PIE-1 Warrant in full, (b) take commercially reasonable efforts to cause the appointment of a second individual designated by PIE to serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation after the exercise of the PIE-3 Warrant in full, and (c) commence and reasonably pursue registration of the shares of common stock purchased by PIE and the warrant shares within 90 days.

 

Pursuant to the PIE-1 Warrant, PIE has an obligation to fully exercise such warrant within 45 business days after (a) the 3-month trailing average monthly aggregate production from the oil and gas properties of Empire Texas have increased by 20% from the 3-month trailing average monthly production of the same properties as of July 2020, (b) the aggregate expenditures on well workovers by PIE Operating under the JDA have exceeded $1,000,000, and (c) the Corporation shall have effected a reverse stock split mutually agreeable to the Corporation and PIE.

 

Pursuant to the PIE-2 Warrant, PIE does not have the right to exercise such warrant until such time as all warrants to purchase shares of common stock outstanding as of August 6, 2020 (other than those held by PIE) have been fully exercised or lapsed.

 

Pursuant to the PIE-4 Warrant, (a) the number of warrant shares that initially may be acquired under such warrant is 7,533,333, but in the event that any stockholder (other than current officers and directors) exercises any warrants to acquire shares of common stock on or before December 31, 2020 (the “Adjustment Shares”), such warrant shares shall be adjusted by a number of warrant shares equal to (i) the number of Adjustment Shares so exercised multiplied by (ii) 0.6667, and (b) the exercise price initially is $0.141, but at any time after the number of warrant shares are adjusted, such exercise price shall be equal to a quotient, the numerator of which is (i) the difference between (A) $1,062,200 less (B) the total amount paid by warrant holder as of the date of such calculation and the denominator of which is (ii) the number of warrant shares that may still be acquired as of the date of such calculation.

 

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The Securities Purchase Documents also contain certain covenants, representations and warranties, and other customary terms and conditions.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Securities Purchase Documents are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full terms and conditions of the Securities Purchase Documents, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2, Exhibit 10.3, Exhibit 10.4, and Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Loan Agreement

 

Empire Texas entered into a term loan agreement with PIE dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, (a) the commitment amount is $1,000,000 until the first anniversary and, thereafter, is $2,000,000, (b) the loan proceeds are required to be used for certain recompletion and workover projects on wellbores under the JDA, (c) the Assigned Interest is used as collateral for the obligations of Empire Texas, (d) the net cash proceeds received by PIE in connection with Assigned Interest shall be applied to repay outstanding principal and interest, (e) the final maturity date is August 6, 2024, (f) outstanding borrowings bear interest at a rate equal to 6% per annum, and (g) Empire Texas has the right to prepay loans at any time without a prepayment penalty.

 

The Loan Agreement also contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, representations and warranties, and other customary terms and conditions.

 

The foregoing summary of the Loan Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

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

 

See the description of the Loan Agreement under “Loan Agreement” in Item 1.01 above, which information is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

See the description of unregistered sales of securities under “Securities Purchase Documents” in Item 1.01 above, which information is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. The material terms and conditions applicable to the purchase and sale of the common stock and the warrants are set forth in the securities purchase agreement and related common share warrant certificate included as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The offers and sales related to the securities described above were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of that act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation D promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. PIE is a sophisticated accredited investor with the experience and expertise to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Corporation’s securities and the financial means to bear the risks of such an investment. In addition, PIE was provided access to all of the material information regarding the Corporation and Empire Texas that PIE would have received if the offer and sale of the securities had been registered.

 

 

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Item 8.01 Other Events

 

Pursuant to the JDA, the parties agreed, among other things, that (a) PIE Operating will act as contractor operator for Empire Texas, (b) the Corporation, Empire Texas, and PIE will enter into the Securities Purchase Documents and Loan Agreement described in Item 1.01 above, (c) PIE Operating will perform certain recompletion and workover projects on certain wellbores using proceeds from the Loan Agreement, (d) prior to conducting any such project on any such workover wellbore, Empire Texas will assign (i) a 70% gross working interest and 70% gross revenue interest in such workover wellbore and the related production unit to PIE (the “Assigned Interest”) and (ii) a 15% gross working interest and 15% gross revenue interest in such workover wellbore and the related production unit to PIE Holdings, (e) the parties will execute a joint operating agreement, (f) PIE will use the proceeds from the Assigned Interest to pay the obligations of Empire Texas under the Loan Agreement, and (g) after the payment of all obligations of Empire Texas under the Loan Agreement, PIE and PIE Holdings will assign (i) a 35% gross working interest and 35% gross revenue interest in the workover wellbores and the related production units to Empire and (ii) a 50% gross working interest and 50% gross revenue interest in the workover wellbores and the related production units to MRT.

 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)  Exhibits.
   
The following exhibits are filed herewith.

 

10.1 Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 6, 2020, by and between Empire Petroleum Corporation and Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC

 

10.2 Common Share Warrant Certificate No. PIE-1 dated August 6, 2020

 

10.3 Common Share Warrant Certificate No. PIE-2 dated August 6, 2020

 

10.4 Common Share Warrant Certificate No. PIE-3 dated August 6, 2020

 

10.5 Common Share Warrant Certificate No. PIE-4 dated August 6, 2020

 

10.6 Loan Agreement dated as of August 6, 2020, by and between Empire Texas LLC and Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC

   

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

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.

 

 

 

 

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 
Date: August 11, 2020 By: /s/ Michael R. Morrisett  
   

Michael R. Morrisett

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

1203 E. 33rd Street

Suite 250

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105

(539) 444-8002

 

August 6, 2020

 

 

To: Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC

25025 I-45 North, Suite 420

The Woodlands, TX 77380

 

The undersigned, Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby agrees with you as follows, effective as of the date first above written:

 

1. Authorization and Sale of the Securities.

 

1.1       Authorization. The Company represents that it has authorized the issuance to you (or in the case of the Warrants, your affiliates, nominees or assignees who are “Accredited Investors” as defined in Section 230.501(a) of the Act) pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof of:

 

(a)       3,500,000 shares (the “Sale Shares”) of its common stock (par value $0.001 per share) at $0.15 per share (the “Common Stock”);

 

(b)       a warrant (the “PIE-1 Warrant”) to purchase up to 2,625,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“PIE-1 Warrant Shares”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the form of the Common Share Warrant Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit A;

 

(c)       a warrant (the “PIE-2 Warrant”) to purchase up to 1,800,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“PIE-2 Warrant Shares”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the form of the Common Share Warrant Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B;

 

(d)       a warrant (the “PIE-3 Warrant”) to purchase up to 8,136,518 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“PIE-3 Warrant Shares”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the form of the Common Share Warrant Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit C; and

 

(e)       a warrant (the “PIE-4 Warrant”) to purchase up to 11,066,667 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“PIE-4 Warrant Shares”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the form of the Common Share Warrant Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

 

 
 

The PIE-1 Warrant, PIE-2 Warrant, PIE-3 Warrant, and PIE-4 Warrant are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Warrants.” The PIE-1 Warrant Shares, PIE-2 Warrant Shares, PIE-3 Warrant Shares, and PIE-4 Warrant Shares are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Warrant Shares.” The Sales Shares and the Warrants are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Securities”.

 

1.2       Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on the Purchase Date (as defined Section 2 below), the Company shall issue and sell to you and you shall purchase from the Company, the Securities for an aggregate purchase price of $525,000 (the “Purchase Price”).

 

2. Payment of Purchase Price; Delivery.

 

Upon the execution of this Agreement, you shall deliver to the Company wire funds payable to the Company in the amount of the Purchase Price in accordance with the following wire instructions: Arvest Bank, 502 South Main, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, (918) 631-1000, Routing Number: 082900872, FBO: Empire Petroleum Corporation, Account Number: 33585974, 1203 E. 33rd Street, Suite 250, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105. Upon receipt of the Purchase Price from you (the “Purchase Date”), the Company shall promptly issue and deliver to you the Securities.

 

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

The Company hereby represents and warrants to you as follows on the date of this Agreement:

 

3.1       Organization and Standing; Articles and Bylaws. The Company is a corporation duly organized and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the State of Delaware and is in good standing under such laws. The Company is qualified, licensed or domesticated as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions where the nature of its business conducted or the character of its properties owned or leased makes such qualification, licensing or domestication necessary at this time except in those jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing does not and will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company, the conduct of its business or the ownership or operation of its properties. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws that have been filed as attachments to the Company reports it files with Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), are true, correct and complete, and contain all amendments through the date of this Agreement.

 

3.2       Corporate Power. The Company has the requisite corporate power to own and operate its properties and assets, and to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. The Company has now, and will have at the Purchase Date, all requisite legal and corporate power to enter into this Agreement, to sell the Securities hereunder, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement.

 

3.3       Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock. There are issued and outstanding approximately 21,392,277 shares of Common Stock. The issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set our n Schedule 1 hereto (the Disclosure Schedule), there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights, including preemptive rights, entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock.

 

 

 

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3.4       Authorization.

 

(a)       All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and shareholders necessary for the sale and issuance of the Securities pursuant hereto and the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder has been taken or will be taken prior to the Purchase Date. This Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, and except as limited by application of legal principles affecting the availability of equitable remedies.

 

(b)       The Securities, when issued in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will be free of any liens or encumbrances; provided, however, that the Sale Shares and the Warrant Shares will be subject to restrictions on transfer under state and/or Federal securities laws, and as may be required by future changes in such laws.

 

(c)       No shareholder of the Company has any right of first refusal or any preemptive rights in connection with the issuance of the Securities or of any other capital stock of the Company or the Warrant Shares.

 

3.5       Compliance with Instruments. The Company is not in violation of any terms of its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or Bylaws, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any judgment, decree or order applicable to it. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant hereto and of the Warrant Shares pursuant to the Warrants, will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any such term, or cause the acceleration of maturity of any loan or material obligation to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or with respect to which it is an obligor or guarantor, or result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, claim, charge, restriction, equity or encumbrance of any kind whatsoever upon, or, to the knowledge of the Company, give to any other person any interest or right (including any right of termination or cancellation) in or with respect to any of the material properties, assets, business or agreements of the Company.

 

3.6       Litigation, etc. There are no actions, proceedings or, to the knowledge of the Company, investigations pending which might result in any material adverse change in the business, prospects, conditions, affairs or operations of the Company or in any of its properties or assets, or in any impairment of the right or ability of the Company to carry on its business as proposed to be conducted, or in any material liability on the part of the Company, or which question the validity of this Agreement or any action taken or to be taken in connection herewith.

 

3.7       Governmental Consent, etc. Except as may be required in connection with any filings required under the Federal securities laws and/or the securities laws of any state due to the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, no consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any governmental unit is required on the part of the Company in connection with the valid execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the offer, sale

 

 

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or issuance of the Securities or the Warrant Shares or the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereby.

 

3.8       Securities Registration and Filings. The outstanding shares of the Company’s Securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company has filed all reports required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the last two fiscal years. All of such reports were, at the time they were filed, complete and accurate in all material respects and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

4. Representations and Warranties of Purchaser and Restrictions on Transfer Imposed by the Securities Act.

 

4.1       Representations and Warranties by Purchaser. You represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

(a)       You have reviewed the following copies of the Company’s (all of which is collectively referred to as the “Disclosure Materials”):

 

(i) Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on June 23, 2020 located at

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261320000208/emp_8ka-18407.htm

 

(ii) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2020 located at

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261320000207/emp_8k-18407.htm

 

(iii) Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for quarter ended March 31, 2020 located at
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261320000180/form10q33120.htm

 

(iv) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2020 located at

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261320000164/emp_8k-18389.htm

 

(v) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 10, 2020 located at

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261320000157/emp_8k-18389.htm

 

(vi) Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2019 located at
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261320000149/form10k123119.htm

 

You have also reviewed the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws.

 

(b)       You are experienced in evaluating and investing in companies such as the Company. Further, you understand that the Securities are a highly speculative nature and could result in the loss of your entire investment.

 

(c)       You have been furnished by the Company with all information requested concerning the proposed operations, affairs and current financial condition of the Company. Such information and access have been available to the extent you consider necessary and advisable in making an intelligent investment decision. In addition, you have received and reviewed copies of the Disclosure Materials and have had the opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with its President and Chief Executive Officer. You understand

 

 

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that such discussions, as well as the Disclosure Materials and any other written information issued by the Company, were intended to describe certain aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which it believes to be material but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description.

 

(d)       The Securities to be acquired by you will be acquired, solely for your account, for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof, are not being purchased for subdivision or fractionalization thereof, and you have no contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell or transfer such Securities to any person and do not intend to enter into such contract or arrangement.

 

(e)       You understand that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), nor are they registered or qualified under the blue sky or securities laws of any state, by reason of their issuance in a transaction exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Sections 3(b) or 4(2) of the Securities Act and available exemptions from the registration requirements of any applicable state securities laws. You further understand that the Securities must be held by you indefinitely and you must therefore bear the economic risk of such investment indefinitely, unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration.

 

(f)       You have the full right, power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation upon you, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, and except as limited by application of legal principles affecting the availability of equitable remedies.

 

(g)       You are able to bear the full economic risk of your investment in the Securities, including the risk of a total loss of your investment in connection therewith. You are an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC.

 

By initialing one of the categories below, the undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned comes within the category so initialed and has truthfully set forth the factual basis or reason the undersigned comes within that category. ALL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THIS PARAGRAPH WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. The undersigned agrees to furnish any additional information which the Company deems necessary in order to verify the answers set forth below.

 

Category I          _____ The undersigned is an individual (not a partnership, corporation, etc.) whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with the undersigned's spouse, presently exceeds U.S. $1,000,000.

Explanation. In calculation of net worth the undersigned may not include equity in the undersigned’s primary residence, however the undersigned can include equity in all other real estate. The calculation of net worth may also include the undersigned’s personal property, cash, short term investments, stocks and securities. Equity in personal property and real estate should be based on the fair market value of such property less debt secured by such property. Any debt that secures the undersigned’s primary residence can be

 

 

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excluded from liabilities in calculating the undersigned’s net worth, as long as the debt does not exceed the fair market value of the property (except that if the amount of such debt outstanding at the time of the undersigned’s purchase of the Shares exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability). If, however, the amount of the debt exceeds the fair market value of the primary residence and the mortgagee or other lender has recourse to the undersigned personally for any deficiency, that excess liability should be deducted from the undersigned's net worth.

Category II        ____ The undersigned is an individual (not a partnership, corporation, etc.) who had an individual income in excess of U.S. $200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income with the undersigned's spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of the two most recent years, and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.
Category III          X     The undersigned otherwise meets the definition of “Accredited Investors” as defined in Section 230.501(a) of the Act.

 

(h)       You were not offered the Securities by means of general solicitations, publicly disseminated advertisements or sales literature.

 

4.2       Legends. The instrument representing the Securities and the Warrant Shares shall be endorsed with the legend set forth below:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (I) THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACT, OR (II) THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE BEEN FURNISHED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER ANY OF SUCH ACTS.

 

In addition, the instrument representing the Securities and the Warrant Shares shall be endorsed with any other legend required by any state securities laws. The Company need not register a transfer of legended Securities and the Warrant Shares, and may also instruct its transfer agent not to register the transfer of the Securities and the Warrant Shares, unless one of the conditions specified in each of the foregoing legends is satisfied.

 

5. Indemnification by Purchaser.

 

You acknowledge and understand that the Company has agreed to offer and sell the Securities to you based upon the representations and warranties made by you in this Agreement, and you hereby agree to indemnify the Company and to hold the Company and its officers, directors and professional advisors harmless against all liability, costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising by reason of or in connection with any misrepresentation or any breach of such

 

 

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representations and warranties by you, or arising as a result of the sale or distribution of any Securities by you in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable law.

 

6. Miscellaneous.

 

6.1       Successors and Assigns. All the provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the parties shall bind and inure to the benefit of respective successors and permitted assigns of each party.

 

6.2       Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (a) if to you, at your address set forth on the first page hereof, or at such other address as you shall have furnished to the Company in writing, or (b) if to the Company, at its address set forth on the first page hereof, or at such other address as the Company shall have furnished to you in writing in accordance with this Section 6.2.

 

6.3       Waivers; Amendments. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified with (but only with) the written consent of the Company and you. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in compliance with this Section 6.3 shall be binding upon the Company and you. No failure or delay of the Company or you in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereon or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Company and you hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which each would otherwise have.

 

6.4       Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement 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. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

6.5      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the state of Oklahoma without regard to principles of conflicts of law, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law.

 

6.6       Board Designees. After the exercise of the PIE-1 Warrant with respect to all 2,625,000 PIE-1 Warrant Shares, the Company shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause the appointment of one individual designated by Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company. After the exercise of the PIE-3 Warrant with respect to all 8,136,518 PIE-3 Warrant Shares, the Company shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause the appointment of a second individual designated by Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company. All such designees shall qualify as Independent Directors. As used herein, “Independent Director” means any director who is or would be an “independent director” with respect to the Company pursuant to Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, Section 10A of the Exchange Act (or any successor provisions), and the categorical standards utilized by the

 

 

 

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Board of Directors when determining director independence, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

6.7       Registration. The Company agrees to commence and reasonably pursue registration of the Sales Shares and the Warrant Shares within 90 days of the date of this Agreement.

 

6.8       Section Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed in any way to affect the interpretation of any provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.9       Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof.

 

6.10     Finder’s Fees. You represent and warrant to the Company that no finder or broker has been retained by you in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and you hereby agree to indemnify and to hold the Company and its respective officers, directors and controlling persons, harmless of and from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which you, or any of your employees or representatives, are responsible. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold you, and your respective officers, directors and controlling persons, harmless of and from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which it, or any of its employees or representatives, are responsible.

 

6.11     Other Documents. The parties to this Agreement shall in good faith execute such other and further instruments, assignments or documents as may be necessary or advisable to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.12     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument, and which shall become effective when there exist copies signed by the Company and by you.

 

[Signatures on Next Page]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-8
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives effective as of the date set forth on the first page hereof.

 

 

  EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Thomas W. Pritchard
    Thomas W. Pritchard, CEO

 

 
  By:  /s/ Michael R. Morrisett
   

Michael R. Morrisett, President


 

Accepted and agreed to this 6th day of August, 2020.

 

 

  Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC
 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Phil E. Mulacek
  Name: Phil E. Mulacek
  Title: Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-9
 

 

Schedule 1

Disclosure Schedule

 

 

1. A warrant covering 500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share issued to Tony Kamin
2. A warrant covering 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share issued to Tony Kamin
3. A warrant covering 500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share issued to Mike Morrisett
4. A warrant covering 500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share issued to Tommy Pritchard
5. A warrant covering 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share issued to Puckett Land Company
6. A warrant covering 300,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.17 per share issued to Kenny Savoie
7. An option covering 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price $0.33 per share issued to Mike Morrisett
8. An option covering 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price $0.33 per share issued to Tommy Pritchard
9. Options covering 4,167 shares of Common Stock exercisable at an average exercise price of $3.12 issued by former management
10. Options covering up to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued to directors, officers, and employees at a yet to be determined exercise price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-10-

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

EXHIBIT A

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (I) THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACT, OR (II) THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE BEEN FURNISHED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER ANY OF SUCH ACTS.

No. PIE-1 August 6, 2020

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

COMMON SHARE WARRANT CERTIFICATE

Warrant to Purchase up to 2,625,000 Common Shares

Expiring August 6, 2024

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC or, pursuant to Section 5.1(a), its Affiliates, nominees or assignees (the “Warrant Holder”), in consideration for entering into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Warrant Holder and Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at any time on any Business Day on or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase from the Company, up to 2,625,000 Common Shares (as defined in Section 1) at a price per Common Share equal to the Exercise Price (as defined in Section 1); provided, however, that the number of Common Shares issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant (as defined in Section 1) shall be adjusted and readjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4 below.

1. Certain Definitions.

The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

“Accredited Investor” means an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission.

“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.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in Houston, Texas, are authorized by law to close.

“Capital Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Share Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

“Common Shares” means the Company’s currently authorized class of Common Stock, par value $0.001.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Empire Texas LLC” means Empire Texas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Exchange Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

  

 
 

“Exercise Price” means $0.20, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

“Joint Development Agreement” means the Joint Development Agreement dated on or about the date hereof between the Company and the other parties thereto.

“Notice of Exercise” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“PIE Operating LLC” means PIE Operating LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“RRC Monthly Production Report” has the meaning set forth in the Joint Development Agreement.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Securities Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

“Triggering Events” means (a) the 3 month trailing average monthly aggregate production from the oil and gas properties of Empire Texas LLC operated by PIE Operating LLC shall have increased by 20% from the 3 month trailing average monthly production of the same properties as of July 2020, in each case as set forth in the relevant RRC Monthly Production Reports, (b) aggregate expenditures on well workovers by PIE Operating LLC under the Joint Development Agreement shall have exceeded US$1 million, and (c) the Company shall have effected a Capital Reorganization mutually agreeable to the Company and the Warrant Holder.

“Warrant” means the rights granted to the Warrant Holder pursuant to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Certificate” means this Common Share Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Shares” means 2,625,000 Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

2. Vesting and Exercise.

(a)       At any time, the Warrant Holder may exercise this Warrant by delivering to the Company a duly executed notice (a “Notice of Exercise”) in the form of Annex A specifying the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised along with payment, made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, of the an aggregate amount equal to the product of: (a) the Exercise Price times (b) the number of Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant is being exercised. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, within 45 Business Days after the occurrence of the last of the Triggering Events, the Warrant Holder shall exercise this Warrant as to all of the remaining Warrant Shares by delivering to the Company a duly executed Notice of Exercise along with the payment of the aggregate Exercise Price made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC therefor.

The Company shall cause Empire Texas LLC to (a) retain for its own account and not dividend or distribute to the Company or any other person all monies paid to Empire Texas LLC by the Warrant Holder on any exercise of this Warrant, and (b) apply such monies solely to meet Empire Texas LLC’s financial obligations for operation and maintenance of all wells in which it is a working interest holder and which are operated by PIE Operating LLC.

(b)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Warrant Certificate, at no time may all or a portion of the Warrant be exercised if the number of shares of Common Shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise would cause the Warrant Holder’s beneficial ownership to exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Shares beneficially owned (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) by the Warrant Holder at such time, a number of shares of Common Shares that totals more than 49.99% of all of the Common Shares issued and outstanding at such time. For purposes of this Section 2(b), in determining the number of outstanding Common Shares, the Warrant Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Common Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company setting forth the number of outstanding Common Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the warrant Holder,

 
 

the Company shall within one Business Day confirm in writing to the Warrant Holder the number of shares of outstanding Common Shares.

(c)       As soon as practicable, but not later than five (5) Business Days after the Company shall have received such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, the Company shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, in accordance with such Notice of Exercise, a certificate or certificates representing the number of Common Shares specified in such Notice of Exercise issued in the name of the Warrant Holder. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such share certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and such Warrant Holder shall be deemed for all purposes to have become a holder of record of Common Shares, as of the date that such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall have been received by the Company and Empire Texas LLC in the manner set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2(c) above.

(d)       The Warrant Holder shall surrender this Warrant Certificate to the Company when it delivers the Notice of Exercise, and in the event of a partial exercise of the Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Warrant Holder, at the time the Company delivers the share certificate or certificates issued pursuant to such Notice of Exercise, a new Warrant Certificate for the unexercised portion of this Warrant Certificate, but in all other respects identical to this Warrant Certificate.

(e)       The Company shall pay all expenses, taxes and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Warrant Shares and a new Warrant Certificate, if any, except that if the certificates for the Warrant Shares or the new Warrant Certificate, if any, are to be registered in a name or names other than the name of the Warrant Holder, funds sufficient to pay all transfer taxes payable as a result of such transfer shall be paid by the Warrant Holder at the time of its delivery of the Notice of Exercise or promptly upon receipt of a written request by the Company for payment.

(f)       No fractional Common Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of the Warrant, and any fractional Common Share (resulting from any adjustment pursuant to Section 4 or otherwise) in the aggregate number of Common Shares being purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant shall be eliminated.

3. Validity of Warrant and Issuance of Common Shares.

The Company represents and warrants that this Warrant has been duly authorized and is validly issued. The Company further represents and warrants that on the date hereof it has duly authorized and reserved, and the Company hereby agrees that it will at all times until the Expiration Date have duly authorized and reserved, such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Warrant, and that all such Common Shares are and will be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities and other encumbrances.

4. Adjustment Provisions.

The number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant, shall be subject to change or adjustment as follows:

4.1. Common Share Reorganization. If the Company shall subdivide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of shares, by way of share split, share dividend or otherwise, or consolidate its outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares (any such event being herein called a “Common Share Reorganization”), then (a) the definition of Exercise Price shall be adjusted, effective immediately after the effective date of such Common Share Reorganization, so that each amount contained in the definition of the Exercise Price is equal to such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such effective date before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Shares Reorganization, and (b) the number of Common Shares subject to purchase upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted, effective at such time, to a number determined by multiplying the number of Common Shares subject to purchase immediately before such Common Share Reorganization by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization.

4.2. Capital Reorganization. If there shall be any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, other than a consolidation or a merger of which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a Common Share Reorganization) in, outstanding Common Shares, or any sale or conveyance of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, or any recapitalization of the Company (any such event being called a “Capital Reorganization”), then, effective upon the effective date of such Capital Reorganization, the Warrant Holder shall no longer have the right to purchase Common Shares, but shall have instead the right to purchase, upon exercise of this Warrant, the kind and

 

 

 
 

amount of Common Shares and other securities and property (including cash) which the Warrant Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive pursuant to such Capital Reorganization, if the Warrant had been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Capital Reorganization.

4.3. Adjustment Rules.

(a)       Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 4 shall be made successively whenever any event referred to herein shall occur, except that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4, no adjustment shall be made to the number of Warrant Shares to be delivered to the Warrant Holder (or to the Exercise Price) if such adjustment represents less than one-percent (1%) of the number of Warrant Shares previously required to be so delivered, but any lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time and together with the next subsequent adjustment which together with any adjustments so carried forward shall amount to one-percent (1%) or more of the number of Warrant Shares to be so delivered.

(b)       If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Shares for any purpose referred to in this Section 4, then (i) such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issuance, sale, distribution or grant in question and (ii) if the Company shall legally abandon such action prior to effecting such action, no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 4 in respect of such action.

(c)       As a condition precedent to the taking of any action which would require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall take any action which may be necessary, including obtaining regulatory approvals or exemptions, in order that the Company may thereafter validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable all Common Shares which the Warrant Holder is entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant.

5. Transfer of Warrant.

5.1. No Transfer Without the Consent of the Company. This Warrant is personal to the Warrant Holder and this Warrant Certificate and the rights of the Warrant Holder hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred or conveyed, in whole or in part, except (a) to an Affiliate, nominee or assignee of the Warrant Holder that is an Accredited Investor or (b) with the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

5.2. Permitted Transfers. Upon transfer of the Warrant permitted under Section 5.1 above, the Warrant Holder must deliver to the Company a duly executed Warrant Assignment in the form of Annex B attached hereto with funds sufficient to pay any transfer tax imposed in connection with such assignment. Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant in the form of this Warrant, with appropriate changes to reflect such assignment, in the name or names of the assignee or assignees specified in the fully executed Warrant Assignment or other instrument of assignment and, if the Warrant Holder’s entire interest is not being transferred or assigned, in the name of the Warrant Holder, and this Warrant shall promptly be canceled. In connection with any transfer or exchange of this Warrant permitted hereunder, the transferring Warrant Holder shall pay all costs and expenses relating thereto, including, without limitation, all transfer taxes, if any, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the Company (including legal fees and expenses). Any new Warrant issued shall be dated the date hereof. The terms “Warrant” and “Warrant Holder” as used herein include all Warrants into which this Warrant (or any successor Warrant) may be exchanged or issued in connection with the permitted transfer or assignment of this Warrant, any successor Warrant and the holders of those Warrants, respectively.

6. Lost Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates.

Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of indemnification satisfactory to the Company, or, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Warrant Shares. The recipient of any such Warrant Certificate shall reimburse the Company for all reasonable expenses incidental to the replacement of such lost, mutilated or missing Warrant Certificate.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1. Successors and Assigns. All the provisions of this Warrant Certificate by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Holder shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns.

7.2. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

 

 

 

 
 

7.3. Waivers; Amendments. Any provision of this Warrant Certificate may be amended or modified with (but only with) the written consent of the Company and the Warrant Holder. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in compliance with this Section 7.3 shall be binding upon the Company and the Warrant Holder. No failure or delay of the Company or the Warrant Holder in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereon or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Company and the Warrant Holder hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which each would otherwise have.

7.4. No Rights as a Shareholder. The Warrant shall not entitle the Warrant Holder, prior to the exercise of the Warrant, to any rights as a holder of shares of the Company.

7.5. Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Warrant 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. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

7.6. Governing Law. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of law, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law.

7.7. Section Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed in any way to affect the interpretation of any provisions of the Warrant.

[Signature on Next Page]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed and attested by an officer of the Company, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Michael R. Morrisett
  Name:    Michael R. Morrisett
  Title: President

 

 

 
  By:  /s/ Thomas W. Pritchard
  Name:   

Thomas W. Pritchard

  Title: CEO

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

Form of Notice of Exercise

Date: __________

To: Empire Petroleum Corporation

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-1 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Warrant Certificate, hereby irrevocably elects and agrees to purchase the number of Common Shares at the Exercise Price(s) set forth below, and makes payment herewith by check payable to the order of (1) the Company in an amount equal to $________ and (2) Empire Texas LLC in an amount equal to $ __________.

 

Number of Warrant Shares   Applicable Exercise Price
     
     
     

 

If said number of shares is less than all of the shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned hereby requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of the Warrant Shares be issued to me.

The undersigned hereby represents that it is exercising the Warrant for its own account for investment purposes and not with the view to any sale or distribution and that the Warrant Holder will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or any underlying Warrant Shares in violation of applicable securities laws.

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

Form of Warrant Assignment

Date:__________

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-1 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ (the “Assignor”) hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the Assignor as set forth in the Warrant Certificate with respect to the number of Warrant Shares covered thereby as set forth below, to the Assignee(s) as set forth below:

 

Name of Assignee   Address  

Number of Applicable

Warrant Shares

   

Exercise Price of

Warrant Shares

             
             
             

 

 

All notices to be given by the Company to the Assignor as Warrant Holder shall be sent to the Assignee(s) at the above listed address(es), and, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant Certificate held by the Assignor, then also to the Assignor.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Warrant Certificate, the Assignor requests that the Company execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or Assignees, as is appropriate, or, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant held by the Assignor, new Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or the Assignees, as is appropriate, and in the name of the Assignor.

The undersigned represents that the Assignee has represented to the Assignor that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, is acquiring the Warrant for its own account or the account of an Affiliate for investment purposes and not with the view to sell or distribute, and that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or the Warrant Shares except under circumstances as will not result in a violation of applicable securities laws.

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.3 

 

EXHIBIT B

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (I) THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACT, OR (II) THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE BEEN FURNISHED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER ANY OF SUCH ACTS.

No. PIE-2 August 6, 2020

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

COMMON SHARE WARRANT CERTIFICATE

Warrant to Purchase up to 1,800,000 Common Shares

Expiring August 6, 2024

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC or, pursuant to Section 5.1(a), its Affiliates, nominees or assignees (the “Warrant Holder”), in consideration for entering into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Warrant Holder and Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at any time following the Vesting Event (as defined in Section 2.1), on any Business Day on or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase from the Company, up to 1,800,000 Common Shares (as defined in Section 1) at a price per Common Share equal to the Exercise Price (as defined in Section 1); provided, however, that the number of Common Shares issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant (as defined in Section 1) shall be adjusted and readjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4 below.

1. Certain Definitions.

The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

“Accredited Investor” means an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission.

“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.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in Houston, Texas, are authorized by law to close.

“Capital Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Share Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

“Common Shares” means the Company’s currently authorized class of Common Stock, par value $0.001.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Empire Texas LLC” means Empire Texas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Exchange Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

 

 

 
 

“Exercise Price” means $0.25, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

“Joint Development Agreement” means the Joint Development Agreement dated on or about the date hereof between the Company and the other parties thereto.

“Notice of Exercise” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“PIE Operating LLC” means PIE Operating LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Securities Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

“Vesting Event” means that all outstanding warrants for purchase of Common Shares as of the date of this Warrant Certificate (other than those held by the Warrant Holder) have been fully exercised or lapsed.

“Warrant” means the rights granted to the Warrant Holder pursuant to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Certificate” means this Common Share Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Shares” means 1,800,000 Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

2. Exercise.

(a)       At any time after the Vesting Event, the Warrant Holder may exercise this Warrant by delivering to the Company a duly executed notice (a “Notice of Exercise”) in the form of Annex A specifying the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised along with payment, made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, of the an aggregate amount equal to the product of: (a) the Exercise Price times (b) the number of Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant is being exercised.

The Company shall cause Empire Texas LLC to (a) retain for its own account and not dividend or distribute to the Company or any other person all monies paid to Empire Texas LLC by the Warrant Holder on any exercise of this Warrant, and (b) apply such monies solely to meet Empire Texas LLC’s financial obligations for operation and maintenance of all wells in which it is a working interest holder and which are operated by PIE Operating LLC.

(b)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Warrant Certificate, at no time may all or a portion of the Warrant be exercised if the number of shares of Common Shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise would cause the Warrant Holder’s beneficial ownership to exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Shares beneficially owned (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) by the Warrant Holder at such time, a number of shares of Common Shares that totals more than 49.99% of all of the Common Shares issued and outstanding at such time. For purposes of this Section 2(b), in determining the number of outstanding Common Shares, the Warrant Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Common Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company setting forth the number of outstanding Common Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the warrant Holder, the Company shall within one Business Day confirm in writing to the Warrant Holder the number of shares of outstanding Common Shares.

(c)       As soon as practicable, but not later than five (5) Business Days after the Company shall have received such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, the Company shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, in accordance with such Notice of Exercise, a certificate or certificates representing the number of Common Shares specified in such Notice of Exercise issued in the name of the Warrant Holder. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such share certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and such Warrant Holder shall be deemed for all purposes to have become a

 

 

 
 

holder of record of Common Shares, as of the date that such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall have been received by the Company and Empire Texas LLC in the manner set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2(c) above.

(d)       The Warrant Holder shall surrender this Warrant Certificate to the Company when it delivers the Notice of Exercise, and in the event of a partial exercise of the Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Warrant Holder, at the time the Company delivers the share certificate or certificates issued pursuant to such Notice of Exercise, a new Warrant Certificate for the unexercised portion of this Warrant Certificate, but in all other respects identical to this Warrant Certificate.

(e)       The Company shall pay all expenses, taxes and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Warrant Shares and a new Warrant Certificate, if any, except that if the certificates for the Warrant Shares or the new Warrant Certificate, if any, are to be registered in a name or names other than the name of the Warrant Holder, funds sufficient to pay all transfer taxes payable as a result of such transfer shall be paid by the Warrant Holder at the time of its delivery of the Notice of Exercise or promptly upon receipt of a written request by the Company for payment.

(f)       No fractional Common Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of the Warrant, and any fractional Common Share (resulting from any adjustment pursuant to Section 4 or otherwise) in the aggregate number of Common Shares being purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant shall be eliminated.

3. Validity of Warrant and Issuance of Common Shares.

The Company represents and warrants that this Warrant has been duly authorized and is validly issued. The Company further represents and warrants that on the date hereof it has duly authorized and reserved, and the Company hereby agrees that it will at all times until the Expiration Date have duly authorized and reserved, such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Warrant, and that all such Common Shares are and will be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities and other encumbrances.

4. Adjustment Provisions.

The number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant, shall be subject to change or adjustment as follows:

4.1. Common Share Reorganization. If the Company shall subdivide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of shares, by way of share split, share dividend or otherwise, or consolidate its outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares (any such event being herein called a “Common Share Reorganization”), then (a) the definition of Exercise Price shall be adjusted, effective immediately after the effective date of such Common Share Reorganization, so that each amount contained in the definition of the Exercise Price is equal to such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such effective date before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Shares Reorganization, and (b) the number of Common Shares subject to purchase upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted, effective at such time, to a number determined by multiplying the number of Common Shares subject to purchase immediately before such Common Share Reorganization by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization.

4.2. Capital Reorganization. If there shall be any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, other than a consolidation or a merger of which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a Common Share Reorganization) in, outstanding Common Shares, or any sale or conveyance of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, or any recapitalization of the Company (any such event being called a “Capital Reorganization”), then, effective upon the effective date of such Capital Reorganization, the Warrant Holder shall no longer have the right to purchase Common Shares, but shall have instead the right to purchase, upon exercise of this Warrant, the kind and amount of Common Shares and other securities and property (including cash) which the Warrant Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive pursuant to such Capital Reorganization, if the Warrant had been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Capital Reorganization.

 

 

 
 

4.3. Adjustment Rules.

(a)       Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 4 shall be made successively whenever any event referred to herein shall occur, except that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4, no adjustment shall be made to the number of Warrant Shares to be delivered to the Warrant Holder (or to the Exercise Price) if such adjustment represents less than one-percent (1%) of the number of Warrant Shares previously required to be so delivered, but any lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time and together with the next subsequent adjustment which together with any adjustments so carried forward shall amount to one-percent (1%) or more of the number of Warrant Shares to be so delivered.

(b)       If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Shares for any purpose referred to in this Section 4, then (i) such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issuance, sale, distribution or grant in question and (ii) if the Company shall legally abandon such action prior to effecting such action, no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 4 in respect of such action.

(c)       As a condition precedent to the taking of any action which would require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall take any action which may be necessary, including obtaining regulatory approvals or exemptions, in order that the Company may thereafter validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable all Common Shares which the Warrant Holder is entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant.

5. Transfer of Warrant.

5.1. No Transfer Without the Consent of the Company. This Warrant is personal to the Warrant Holder and this Warrant Certificate and the rights of the Warrant Holder hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred or conveyed, in whole or in part, except (a) to an Affiliate, nominee or assignee of the Warrant Holder that is an Accredited Investor or (b) with the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

5.2. Permitted Transfers. Upon transfer of the Warrant permitted under Section 5.1 above, the Warrant Holder must deliver to the Company a duly executed Warrant Assignment in the form of Annex B attached hereto with funds sufficient to pay any transfer tax imposed in connection with such assignment. Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant in the form of this Warrant, with appropriate changes to reflect such assignment, in the name or names of the assignee or assignees specified in the fully executed Warrant Assignment or other instrument of assignment and, if the Warrant Holder’s entire interest is not being transferred or assigned, in the name of the Warrant Holder, and this Warrant shall promptly be canceled. In connection with any transfer or exchange of this Warrant permitted hereunder, the transferring Warrant Holder shall pay all costs and expenses relating thereto, including, without limitation, all transfer taxes, if any, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the Company (including legal fees and expenses). Any new Warrant issued shall be dated the date hereof. The terms “Warrant” and “Warrant Holder” as used herein include all Warrants into which this Warrant (or any successor Warrant) may be exchanged or issued in connection with the permitted transfer or assignment of this Warrant, any successor Warrant and the holders of those Warrants, respectively.

6. Lost Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates.

Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of indemnification satisfactory to the Company, or, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Warrant Shares. The recipient of any such Warrant Certificate shall reimburse the Company for all reasonable expenses incidental to the replacement of such lost, mutilated or missing Warrant Certificate.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1. Successors and Assigns. All the provisions of this Warrant Certificate by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Holder shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns.

7.2. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

7.3. Waivers; Amendments. Any provision of this Warrant Certificate may be amended or modified with (but only with) the written consent of the Company and the Warrant Holder. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in compliance with this Section 7.3 shall be binding upon the Company and the Warrant Holder. No failure or delay of the Company or the Warrant Holder in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereon

 

 

 
 

or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Company and the Warrant Holder hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which each would otherwise have.

7.4. No Rights as a Shareholder. The Warrant shall not entitle the Warrant Holder, prior to the exercise of the Warrant, to any rights as a holder of shares of the Company.

7.5. Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Warrant 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. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

7.6. Governing Law. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of law, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law.

7.7. Section Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed in any way to affect the interpretation of any provisions of the Warrant.

[Signature on Next Page]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed and attested by an officer of the Company, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Michael R. Morrisett
  Name:    Michael R. Morrisett
  Title: President

 

 

 
  By:  /s/ Thomas W. Pritchard
  Name:   

Thomas W. Pritchard

  Title: CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

Form of Notice of Exercise

Date: __________

To: Empire Petroleum Corporation

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-2 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Warrant Certificate, hereby irrevocably elects and agrees to purchase the number of Common Shares at the Exercise Price(s) set forth below, and makes payment herewith by check payable to the order of (1) the Company in an amount equal to $________ and (2) Empire Texas LLC in an amount equal to $ __________.

 

Number of Warrant Shares   Applicable Exercise Price
     
     
     

 

If said number of shares is less than all of the shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned hereby requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of the Warrant Shares be issued to me.

The undersigned hereby represents that it is exercising the Warrant for its own account for investment purposes and not with the view to any sale or distribution and that the Warrant Holder will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or any underlying Warrant Shares in violation of applicable securities laws.

  

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

Form of Warrant Assignment

Date:__________

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-2 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ (the “Assignor”) hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the Assignor as set forth in the Warrant Certificate with respect to the number of Warrant Shares covered thereby as set forth below, to the Assignee(s) as set forth below:

 

Name of Assignee   Address  

Number of Applicable

Warrant Shares

   

Exercise Price of

Warrant Shares

             
             
             

 

All notices to be given by the Company to the Assignor as Warrant Holder shall be sent to the Assignee(s) at the above listed address(es), and, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant Certificate held by the Assignor, then also to the Assignor.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Warrant Certificate, the Assignor requests that the Company execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or Assignees, as is appropriate, or, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant held by the Assignor, new Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or the Assignees, as is appropriate, and in the name of the Assignor.

The undersigned represents that the Assignee has represented to the Assignor that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, is acquiring the Warrant for its own account or the account of an Affiliate for investment purposes and not with the view to sell or distribute, and that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or the Warrant Shares except under circumstances as will not result in a violation of applicable securities laws.

 

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

 

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.4

 

EXHIBIT C

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (I) THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACT, OR (II) THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE BEEN FURNISHED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER ANY OF SUCH ACTS.

No. PIE-3 August 6, 2020

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

COMMON SHARE WARRANT CERTIFICATE

Warrant to Purchase up to 8,136,518 Common Shares

Expiring August 6, 2024

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC or, pursuant to Section 5.1(a), its Affiliates, nominees or assignees (the “Warrant Holder”), in consideration for entering into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Warrant Holder and Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at any time on any Business Day on or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase from the Company, up to 8,136,518 Common Shares (as defined in Section 1) at a price per Common Share equal to the Exercise Price (as defined in Section 1); provided, however, that the number of Common Shares issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant (as defined in Section 1) shall be adjusted and readjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4 below.

1. Certain Definitions.

The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

“Accredited Investor” means an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission.

“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.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in Houston, Texas, are authorized by law to close.

“Capital Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Share Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

“Common Shares” means the Company’s currently authorized class of Common Stock, par value $0.001.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Empire Texas LLC” means Empire Texas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Exchange Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

 

 

 
 

“Exercise Price” means $0.10, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

“Notice of Exercise” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“PIE Operating LLC” means PIE Operating LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Securities Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

“Warrant” means the rights granted to the Warrant Holder pursuant to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Certificate” means this Common Share Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Shares” means 8,136,518 Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

2. Exercise.

(a)       At any time, the Warrant Holder may exercise this Warrant by delivering to the Company a duly executed notice (a “Notice of Exercise”) in the form of Annex A specifying the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised along with payment, made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, of the an aggregate amount equal to the product of: (a) the Exercise Price times (b) the number of Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant is being exercised.

The Company shall cause Empire Texas LLC to (a) retain for its own account and not dividend or distribute to the Company or any other person all monies paid to Empire Texas LLC by the Warrant Holder on any exercise of this Warrant, and (b) apply such monies solely to meet Empire Texas LLC’s financial obligations for operation and maintenance of all wells in which it is a working interest holder and which are operated by PIE Operating LLC.

(b)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Warrant Certificate, at no time may all or a portion of the Warrant be exercised if the number of shares of Common Shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise would cause the Warrant Holder’s beneficial ownership to exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Shares beneficially owned (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) by the Warrant Holder at such time, a number of shares of Common Shares that totals more than 49.99% of all of the Common Shares issued and outstanding at such time. For purposes of this Section 2(b), in determining the number of outstanding Common Shares, the Warrant Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Common Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company setting forth the number of outstanding Common Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the warrant Holder, the Company shall within one Business Day confirm in writing to the Warrant Holder the number of shares of outstanding Common Shares.

(c)       As soon as practicable, but not later than five (5) Business Days after the Company shall have received such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, the Company shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, in accordance with such Notice of Exercise, a certificate or certificates representing the number of Common Shares specified in such Notice of Exercise issued in the name of the Warrant Holder. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such share certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and such Warrant Holder shall be deemed for all purposes to have become a holder of record of Common Shares, as of the date that such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall have been received by the Company and Empire Texas LLC in the manner set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2(c) above.

(d)       The Warrant Holder shall surrender this Warrant Certificate to the Company when it delivers the Notice of Exercise, and in the event of a partial exercise of the Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Warrant Holder, at the time the Company delivers the share certificate or certificates issued pursuant to such Notice of Exercise, a new

 

 

 
 

Warrant Certificate for the unexercised portion of this Warrant Certificate, but in all other respects identical to this Warrant Certificate.

(e)       The Company shall pay all expenses, taxes and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Warrant Shares and a new Warrant Certificate, if any, except that if the certificates for the Warrant Shares or the new Warrant Certificate, if any, are to be registered in a name or names other than the name of the Warrant Holder, funds sufficient to pay all transfer taxes payable as a result of such transfer shall be paid by the Warrant Holder at the time of its delivery of the Notice of Exercise or promptly upon receipt of a written request by the Company for payment.

(f)       No fractional Common Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of the Warrant, and any fractional Common Share (resulting from any adjustment pursuant to Section 4 or otherwise) in the aggregate number of Common Shares being purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant shall be eliminated.

3. Validity of Warrant and Issuance of Common Shares.

The Company represents and warrants that this Warrant has been duly authorized and is validly issued. The Company further represents and warrants that on the date hereof it has duly authorized and reserved, and the Company hereby agrees that it will at all times until the Expiration Date have duly authorized and reserved, such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Warrant, and that all such Common Shares are and will be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities and other encumbrances.

4. Adjustment Provisions.

The number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant, shall be subject to change or adjustment as follows:

4.1. Common Share Reorganization. If the Company shall subdivide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of shares, by way of share split, share dividend or otherwise, or consolidate its outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares (any such event being herein called a “Common Share Reorganization”), then (a) the definition of Exercise Price shall be adjusted, effective immediately after the effective date of such Common Share Reorganization, so that each amount contained in the definition of the Exercise Price is equal to such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such effective date before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Shares Reorganization, and (b) the number of Common Shares subject to purchase upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted, effective at such time, to a number determined by multiplying the number of Common Shares subject to purchase immediately before such Common Share Reorganization by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization.

4.2. Capital Reorganization. If there shall be any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, other than a consolidation or a merger of which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a Common Share Reorganization) in, outstanding Common Shares, or any sale or conveyance of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, or any recapitalization of the Company (any such event being called a “Capital Reorganization”), then, effective upon the effective date of such Capital Reorganization, the Warrant Holder shall no longer have the right to purchase Common Shares, but shall have instead the right to purchase, upon exercise of this Warrant, the kind and amount of Common Shares and other securities and property (including cash) which the Warrant Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive pursuant to such Capital Reorganization, if the Warrant had been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Capital Reorganization.

4.3. Adjustment Rules.

(a)       Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 4 shall be made successively whenever any event referred to herein shall occur, except that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4, no adjustment shall be made to the number of Warrant Shares to be delivered to the Warrant Holder (or to the Exercise Price) if such adjustment represents less than one-percent (1%) of the number of Warrant Shares previously required to be so delivered, but any lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time and together with the next subsequent adjustment which together with any adjustments so carried forward shall amount to one-percent (1%) or more of the number of Warrant Shares to be so delivered.

 

 

 
 

(b)       If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Shares for any purpose referred to in this Section 4, then (i) such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issuance, sale, distribution or grant in question and (ii) if the Company shall legally abandon such action prior to effecting such action, no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 4 in respect of such action.

(c)       As a condition precedent to the taking of any action which would require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall take any action which may be necessary, including obtaining regulatory approvals or exemptions, in order that the Company may thereafter validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable all Common Shares which the Warrant Holder is entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant.

5. Transfer of Warrant.

5.1. No Transfer Without the Consent of the Company. This Warrant is personal to the Warrant Holder and this Warrant Certificate and the rights of the Warrant Holder hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred or conveyed, in whole or in part, except (a) to an Affiliate, nominee or assignee of the Warrant Holder that is an Accredited Investor or (b) with the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

5.2. Permitted Transfers. Upon transfer of the Warrant permitted under Section 5.1 above, the Warrant Holder must deliver to the Company a duly executed Warrant Assignment in the form of Annex B attached hereto with funds sufficient to pay any transfer tax imposed in connection with such assignment. Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant in the form of this Warrant, with appropriate changes to reflect such assignment, in the name or names of the assignee or assignees specified in the fully executed Warrant Assignment or other instrument of assignment and, if the Warrant Holder’s entire interest is not being transferred or assigned, in the name of the Warrant Holder, and this Warrant shall promptly be canceled. In connection with any transfer or exchange of this Warrant permitted hereunder, the transferring Warrant Holder shall pay all costs and expenses relating thereto, including, without limitation, all transfer taxes, if any, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the Company (including legal fees and expenses). Any new Warrant issued shall be dated the date hereof. The terms “Warrant” and “Warrant Holder” as used herein include all Warrants into which this Warrant (or any successor Warrant) may be exchanged or issued in connection with the permitted transfer or assignment of this Warrant, any successor Warrant and the holders of those Warrants, respectively.

6. Lost Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates.

Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of indemnification satisfactory to the Company, or, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Warrant Shares. The recipient of any such Warrant Certificate shall reimburse the Company for all reasonable expenses incidental to the replacement of such lost, mutilated or missing Warrant Certificate.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1. Successors and Assigns. All the provisions of this Warrant Certificate by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Holder shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns.

7.2. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

7.3. Waivers; Amendments. Any provision of this Warrant Certificate may be amended or modified with (but only with) the written consent of the Company and the Warrant Holder. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in compliance with this Section 7.3 shall be binding upon the Company and the Warrant Holder. No failure or delay of the Company or the Warrant Holder in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereon or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Company and the Warrant Holder hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which each would otherwise have.

7.4. No Rights as a Shareholder. The Warrant shall not entitle the Warrant Holder, prior to the exercise of the Warrant, to any rights as a holder of shares of the Company.

7.5. Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Warrant 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. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable

 

 

 
 

provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

7.6. Governing Law. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of law, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law.

7.7. Section Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed in any way to affect the interpretation of any provisions of the Warrant.

[Signature on Next Page]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed and attested by an officer of the Company, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

  EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Michael R. Morrisett
  Name:    Michael R. Morrisett
  Title: President

 

 

 
  By:  /s/ Thomas W. Pritchard
  Name:   

Thomas W. Pritchard

  Title: CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

Form of Notice of Exercise

Date: __________

To: Empire Petroleum Corporation

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-3 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Warrant Certificate, hereby irrevocably elects and agrees to purchase the number of Common Shares at the Exercise Price(s) set forth below, and makes payment herewith by check payable to the order of (1) the Company in an amount equal to $________ and (2) Empire Texas LLC in an amount equal to $ __________.

 

 

Number of Warrant Shares   Applicable Exercise Price
     
     
     

If said number of shares is less than all of the shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned hereby requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of the Warrant Shares be issued to me.

The undersigned hereby represents that it is exercising the Warrant for its own account for investment purposes and not with the view to any sale or distribution and that the Warrant Holder will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or any underlying Warrant Shares in violation of applicable securities laws.

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

Form of Warrant Assignment

Date:__________

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-3 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ (the “Assignor”) hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the Assignor as set forth in the Warrant Certificate with respect to the number of Warrant Shares covered thereby as set forth below, to the Assignee(s) as set forth below:

 

Name of Assignee   Address  

Number of Applicable

Warrant Shares

   

Exercise Price of

Warrant Shares

             
             
             

 

All notices to be given by the Company to the Assignor as Warrant Holder shall be sent to the Assignee(s) at the above listed address(es), and, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant Certificate held by the Assignor, then also to the Assignor.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Warrant Certificate, the Assignor requests that the Company execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or Assignees, as is appropriate, or, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant held by the Assignor, new Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or the Assignees, as is appropriate, and in the name of the Assignor.

The undersigned represents that the Assignee has represented to the Assignor that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, is acquiring the Warrant for its own account or the account of an Affiliate for investment purposes and not with the view to sell or distribute, and that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or the Warrant Shares except under circumstances as will not result in a violation of applicable securities laws.

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

 

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.5 

 

EXHIBIT D

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (I) THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACT, OR (II) THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE BEEN FURNISHED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER ANY OF SUCH ACTS.

No. PIE-4 August 6, 2020

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

COMMON SHARE WARRANT CERTIFICATE

Warrant to Purchase up to 11,066,667 Common Shares

Expiring August 6, 2024

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Petroleum Independent & Exploration LLC or, pursuant to Section 5.1(a), its Affiliates, nominees or assignees (the “Warrant Holder”), in consideration for entering into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Warrant Holder and Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at any time, on any Business Day on or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase from the Company, up to 11,066,667 Common Shares (as defined in Section 1) at a price per Common Share equal to the Exercise Price (as defined in Section 1); provided, however, that the number of Common Shares issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant (as defined in Section 1) shall be adjusted and readjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4 below.

1. Certain Definitions.

The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

“Accredited Investor” means an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission.

“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.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in Houston, Texas, are authorized by law to close.

“Capital Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Share Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

“Common Shares” means the Company’s currently authorized class of Common Stock, par value $0.001.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Empire Texas LLC” means Empire Texas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Exchange Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

 

  

 
 

“Exercise Price” initially means $0.141, provided, however, at any time after the number of Warrant Shares are adjusted hereunder (as described in the definition of Warrant Shares (other than pursuant to Section 4)), the Exercise Price shall be equal to a quotient, the numerator of which is (a) the difference between (i) $1,062,200 less (ii) the total amount paid by Warrant Holder hereunder as of the date of such calculation and the denominator of which is (b) the number of Warrant Shares that may still be acquired hereunder as of the date of such calculation.

“Notice of Exercise” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“PIE Operating LLC” means PIE Operating LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of the Securities Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such successor Federal statute.

“Warrant” means the rights granted to the Warrant Holder pursuant to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Certificate” means this Common Share Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Warrant Certificate.

“Warrant Shares” initially means 7,533,333 Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, provided, however, in the event that any stockholder (other than current officers and directors) exercises any warrants to acquire Common Shares on or before December 31, 2020 (the “Adjustment Shares”), the Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted upward as of the effective time of any such exercise by a number of Warrant Shares equal to (a) the number of Adjustment Shares so exercised multiplied by (b) 0.6667, provided, further, any such adjustment shall in no event exceed 3,533,333 Warrant Shares, and all of such Warrant Shares are subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to Section 4.

2. Exercise.

(a)       At any time, the Warrant Holder may exercise this Warrant by delivering to the Company a duly executed notice (a “Notice of Exercise”) in the form of Annex A specifying the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised along with payment, made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, of the an aggregate amount equal to the product of: (a) the Exercise Price times (b) the number of Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant is being exercised.

The Company shall cause Empire Texas LLC to (a) retain for its own account and not dividend or distribute to the Company or any other person all monies paid to Empire Texas LLC by the Warrant Holder on any exercise of this Warrant, and (b) apply such monies solely to meet Empire Texas LLC’s financial obligations for operation and maintenance of all wells in which it is a working interest holder and which are operated by PIE Operating LLC.

(b)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Warrant Certificate, at no time may all or a portion of the Warrant be exercised if the number of shares of Common Shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise would cause the Warrant Holder’s beneficial ownership to exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Shares beneficially owned (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) by the Warrant Holder at such time, a number of shares of Common Shares that totals more than 49.99% of all of the Common Shares issued and outstanding at such time. For purposes of this Section 2(b), in determining the number of outstanding Common Shares, the Warrant Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Common Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company setting forth the number of outstanding Common Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the warrant Holder, the Company shall within one Business Day confirm in writing to the Warrant Holder the number of shares of outstanding Common Shares.

(c)       As soon as practicable, but not later than five (5) Business Days after the Company shall have received such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price made 50% to the Company and 50% to Empire Texas LLC, the Company shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, in accordance with such Notice of Exercise, a certificate or certificates representing the number of Common Shares specified in such Notice of Exercise issued

 

 

 
 

in the name of the Warrant Holder. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such share certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and such Warrant Holder shall be deemed for all purposes to have become a holder of record of Common Shares, as of the date that such Notice of Exercise and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall have been received by the Company and Empire Texas LLC in the manner set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2(c) above.

(d)       The Warrant Holder shall surrender this Warrant Certificate to the Company when it delivers the Notice of Exercise, and in the event of a partial exercise of the Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Warrant Holder, at the time the Company delivers the share certificate or certificates issued pursuant to such Notice of Exercise, a new Warrant Certificate for the unexercised portion of this Warrant Certificate, but in all other respects identical to this Warrant Certificate.

(e)       The Company shall pay all expenses, taxes and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Warrant Shares and a new Warrant Certificate, if any, except that if the certificates for the Warrant Shares or the new Warrant Certificate, if any, are to be registered in a name or names other than the name of the Warrant Holder, funds sufficient to pay all transfer taxes payable as a result of such transfer shall be paid by the Warrant Holder at the time of its delivery of the Notice of Exercise or promptly upon receipt of a written request by the Company for payment.

(f)       No fractional Common Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of the Warrant, and any fractional Common Share (resulting from any adjustment pursuant to Section 4 or otherwise) in the aggregate number of Common Shares being purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant shall be eliminated.

3. Validity of Warrant and Issuance of Common Shares.

The Company represents and warrants that this Warrant has been duly authorized and is validly issued. The Company further represents and warrants that on the date hereof it has duly authorized and reserved, and the Company hereby agrees that it will at all times until the Expiration Date have duly authorized and reserved, such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Warrant, and that all such Common Shares are and will be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities and other encumbrances.

4. Adjustment Provisions.

The number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon any exercise of the Warrant, shall be subject to change or adjustment as follows:

4.1. Common Share Reorganization. If the Company shall subdivide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of shares, by way of share split, share dividend or otherwise, or consolidate its outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares (any such event being herein called a “Common Share Reorganization”), then (a) the definition of Exercise Price shall be adjusted, effective immediately after the effective date of such Common Share Reorganization, so that each amount contained in the definition of the Exercise Price is equal to such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such effective date before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Shares Reorganization, and (b) the number of Common Shares subject to purchase upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted, effective at such time, to a number determined by multiplying the number of Common Shares subject to purchase immediately before such Common Share Reorganization by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares outstanding after giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before giving effect to such Common Share Reorganization.

4.2. Capital Reorganization. If there shall be any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, other than a consolidation or a merger of which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a Common Share Reorganization) in, outstanding Common Shares, or any sale or conveyance of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, or any recapitalization of the Company (any such event being called a “Capital Reorganization”), then, effective upon the effective date of such Capital Reorganization, the Warrant Holder shall no longer have the right to purchase Common Shares, but shall have instead the right to purchase, upon exercise of this Warrant, the kind and amount of Common Shares and other securities and property (including cash) which the Warrant Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive pursuant to such Capital Reorganization, if the Warrant had been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Capital Reorganization.

 

 
 

4.3. Adjustment Rules.

(a)       Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 4 shall be made successively whenever any event referred to herein shall occur, except that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4, no adjustment shall be made to the number of Warrant Shares to be delivered to the Warrant Holder (or to the Exercise Price) if such adjustment represents less than one-percent (1%) of the number of Warrant Shares previously required to be so delivered, but any lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time and together with the next subsequent adjustment which together with any adjustments so carried forward shall amount to one-percent (1%) or more of the number of Warrant Shares to be so delivered.

(b)       If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Shares for any purpose referred to in this Section 4, then (i) such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issuance, sale, distribution or grant in question and (ii) if the Company shall legally abandon such action prior to effecting such action, no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 4 in respect of such action.

(c)       As a condition precedent to the taking of any action which would require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall take any action which may be necessary, including obtaining regulatory approvals or exemptions, in order that the Company may thereafter validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable all Common Shares which the Warrant Holder is entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant.

5. Transfer of Warrant.

5.1. No Transfer Without the Consent of the Company. This Warrant is personal to the Warrant Holder and this Warrant Certificate and the rights of the Warrant Holder hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred or conveyed, in whole or in part, except (a) to an Affiliate, nominee or assignee of the Warrant Holder that is an Accredited Investor or (b) with the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

5.2. Permitted Transfers. Upon transfer of the Warrant permitted under Section 5.1 above, the Warrant Holder must deliver to the Company a duly executed Warrant Assignment in the form of Annex B attached hereto with funds sufficient to pay any transfer tax imposed in connection with such assignment. Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant in the form of this Warrant, with appropriate changes to reflect such assignment, in the name or names of the assignee or assignees specified in the fully executed Warrant Assignment or other instrument of assignment and, if the Warrant Holder’s entire interest is not being transferred or assigned, in the name of the Warrant Holder, and this Warrant shall promptly be canceled. In connection with any transfer or exchange of this Warrant permitted hereunder, the transferring Warrant Holder shall pay all costs and expenses relating thereto, including, without limitation, all transfer taxes, if any, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the Company (including legal fees and expenses). Any new Warrant issued shall be dated the date hereof. The terms “Warrant” and “Warrant Holder” as used herein include all Warrants into which this Warrant (or any successor Warrant) may be exchanged or issued in connection with the permitted transfer or assignment of this Warrant, any successor Warrant and the holders of those Warrants, respectively.

6. Lost Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates.

Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of indemnification satisfactory to the Company, or, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Warrant Shares. The recipient of any such Warrant Certificate shall reimburse the Company for all reasonable expenses incidental to the replacement of such lost, mutilated or missing Warrant Certificate.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1. Successors and Assigns. All the provisions of this Warrant Certificate by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Holder shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns.

7.2. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

7.3. Waivers; Amendments. Any provision of this Warrant Certificate may be amended or modified with (but only with) the written consent of the Company and the Warrant Holder. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in compliance with this Section 7.3 shall be binding upon the Company and the Warrant Holder. No failure or delay of the Company or the Warrant Holder in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereon or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Company and the Warrant Holder hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which each would otherwise have.

 

 

 
 

7.4. No Rights as a Shareholder. The Warrant shall not entitle the Warrant Holder, prior to the exercise of the Warrant, to any rights as a holder of shares of the Company.

7.5. Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Warrant 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. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

7.6. Governing Law. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of law, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law.

7.7. Section Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed in any way to affect the interpretation of any provisions of the Warrant.

[Signature on Next Page]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed and attested by an officer of the Company, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Michael R. Morrisett
  Name:    Michael R. Morrisett
  Title: President

 

 

 
  By:  /s/ Thomas W. Pritchard
  Name:   

Thomas W. Pritchard

  Title: CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

Form of Notice of Exercise

Date: __________

To: Empire Petroleum Corporation

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-4 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Warrant Certificate, hereby irrevocably elects and agrees to purchase the number of Common Shares at the Exercise Price(s) set forth below, and makes payment herewith by check payable to the order of (1) the Company in an amount equal to $________ and (2) Empire Texas LLC in an amount equal to $ __________.

 

Number of Warrant Shares   Applicable Exercise Price
     
     
     

 

If said number of shares is less than all of the shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned hereby requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of the Warrant Shares be issued to me.

The undersigned hereby represents that it is exercising the Warrant for its own account for investment purposes and not with the view to any sale or distribution and that the Warrant Holder will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or any underlying Warrant Shares in violation of applicable securities laws.

 

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

Form of Warrant Assignment

Date:__________

Reference is made to the Common Share Purchase Warrant No. PIE-4 dated August 6, 2020, issued to the undersigned by Empire Petroleum Corporation. Terms defined therein are used herein as therein defined.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ (the “Assignor”) hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the Assignor as set forth in the Warrant Certificate with respect to the number of Warrant Shares covered thereby as set forth below, to the Assignee(s) as set forth below:

 

Name of Assignee   Address  

Number of Applicable

Warrant Shares

   

Exercise Price of

Warrant Shares

             
             
             

 

All notices to be given by the Company to the Assignor as Warrant Holder shall be sent to the Assignee(s) at the above listed address(es), and, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant Certificate held by the Assignor, then also to the Assignor.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Warrant Certificate, the Assignor requests that the Company execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or Assignees, as is appropriate, or, if the number of Warrant Shares being hereby assigned is less than all of the Warrant Shares covered by the Warrant held by the Assignor, new Warrant Certificates in the name or names of the Assignee or the Assignees, as is appropriate, and in the name of the Assignor.

The undersigned represents that the Assignee has represented to the Assignor that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, is acquiring the Warrant for its own account or the account of an Affiliate for investment purposes and not with the view to sell or distribute, and that the Assignee or each Assignee, as is appropriate, will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or the Warrant Shares except under circumstances as will not result in a violation of applicable securities laws.

 

Petroleum Independent & Exploration

LLC

 

By:                                                           

 

Name:                                                        

 

Title:                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 6, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between

· EMPIRE TEXAS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Borrower”); and
· PETROLEUM INDEPENDENT & EXPLORATION LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“Lender”).

 

RECITALS

A. WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender and certain of their respective Affiliates have concurrently entered into the Joint Development Agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement (the “JDA”) and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the JDA); and
B. WHEREAS, pursuant to the JDA, among other provisions, Lender’s Affiliate, PIE Operating LLC (“PIE Operating”) will act as contract operator to carry out certain recompletion and workover projects on Workover Wellbores (as defined in the JDA) (the “Work”); and
C. WHEREAS, Borrower has requested that Lender make advances to Borrower from time to time in an aggregate principal amount at any time not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) (the “Loan”) to fund the Work; and
D. WHEREAS, Lender and Borrower wish to make the proceeds of the Loan available directly to PIE Operating; and
E.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Wellbore Assignment (as defined in the JDA), Borrower has assigned to Lender a 70% of 8/8ths gross working interest and 70% of 8/8ths gross revenue interest from the Workover Wellbores (the “Assigned Interests”) as security for the Obligations of Borrower hereunder; and

F. WHEREAS, Lender is willing to advance the Loan to Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Lender, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

 

 

 

1. Loans and Promissory Note.
(a) Commitment to Lend. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Lender hereby agrees to make advances to Borrower (each a “Loan Advance” and collectively, the “Loan Advances”) from time to time, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the Maturity Date (the “Draw Period”), in an aggregate principal amount up to, but not to exceed the Commitment Amount at any relevant time. Amounts borrowed and repaid may not be reborrowed.
(b) Purpose. The Loan proceeds shall be used solely for the purpose of funding the Work and related matters and for no other purpose without consent of Lender
(c) Promissory Note. The Loan Advances made by Lender hereunder shall be evidenced by the duly executed Promissory Note of Borrower to Lender, dated as of the date hereof in an original principal amount equal to the full Commitment Amount and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (as amended, restated, modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time, the “Promissory Note”).
(d) Repayments.
(i) All net cash proceeds of the Assigned Interest received by Lender from time to time pursuant to the Wellbore Assignment shall be applied to repay outstanding principal and pay all accrued interest on outstanding Loan Advances and other Obligations due and owing from time to time. All such payments shall be applied first to payment of unpaid accrued interest, then to the repayment of outstanding principal, then to any other outstanding Obligations.
(ii) Borrower shall pay in full any remaining outstanding principal amount, all accrued but unpaid interest, and all other Obligations on the Maturity Date.
(e) Prepayments. Borrower may prepay any of the Obligations without penalty or premium but with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, upon notification to Lender of such prepayment not later than 10:00 a.m. Houston time on the date of such prepayment. Any such prepayment shall be applied first to payment of unpaid accrued interest, then to the repayment of outstanding principal, then to any other outstanding Obligations.
(f) Payment of Interest.
(i) Subject to Section 5(b)(ii), the principal amount outstanding under the Loan Advances shall accrue interest from the date of issuance until the Maturity Date at the fixed rate of six percent (6%) per annum.
(ii) The initial payment of accrued interest shall be due on the first Business Day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the first Loan Advance

 

 

 

 

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is made, and payment of accrued interest shall be due on the first Business Day of each calendar month thereafter.

(iii) Interest will be computed on the basis of a year deemed to consist of 365 days and shall be paid for the actual number of days elapsed.

 

2. Conditions of Loans.
(a) Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance. The obligation of Lender to make the initial Loan Advance shall be subject to the conditions precedent that Lender shall have received the following documents:
(i) the Promissory Note, executed by Borrower;
(ii) limited liability company resolutions of the member of Borrower, certified by an officer of Borrower, which authorize the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(iii) a certificate of incumbency certified by an officer of Borrower certifying the names of each person authorized to execute this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, together with specimen signatures of such persons;
(iv) copies of the certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement of Borrower certified to be true and correct by an officer of Borrower;
(v) certificates of Good Standing and Existence issued by the appropriate government entities for Borrower;
(vi) such other documents, records, instruments, papers, opinions, and reports, as shall have been requested by Lender, to evidence the status or organization or authority of Borrower or to evidence or secure payment of the Obligations, all in form satisfactory to Lender and its counsel; and
(vii) certification by an officer of Borrower that the representations and warranties herein are accurate and complete in all material respects.
(b) Conditions Precedent to Loan Advances. Lender’s obligation to make the initial and each subsequent Loan Advance is subject to satisfaction of the following additional conditions precedent:
(i) Lender’s receipt of a written executed Notice of Borrowing, as defined in Section 2(c), including designation of the Workover Wellbore for which the proceeds of the Loan Advance will be used;
(ii) each of the Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto and they shall each be in full force and effect;

 

 

 

 

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(iii) the representations and warranties of Borrower in Section 3 shall be accurate and complete in all material respects on the date of the Notice of Borrowing and the Loan Date (as defined below);
(iv) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result from such Loan Advance; and
(v) there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change (as defined below).
(c) Procedure for Borrowing.
(i) To obtain a Loan Advance, Borrower shall give written notice to Lender (each a “Notice of Borrowing”) not later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Loan Advance (the “Loan Date”).
(ii) Each Notice of Borrowing to Lender shall be in writing and shall specify (w) the Loan Date; (y) the Workover Wellbore for which such Loan Advance shall be used; and (z) the amount of such proposed Loan Advance.
(iii) Following Lender’s receipt of a Notice of Borrowing and satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 2(a), Lender shall make the proceeds of the Loan Advance available to PIE Operating for its use in performing work on the relevant Workover Wellbore or related matters.
(d) Payment Mechanics.
(i) Except as provided in Section 1(d)(i), all payments by Borrower under the Loan Documents shall be made to Lender to such account as Lender may direct in writing, prior to 2:00 P.M., Houston, Texas, time, on the date of payment (or, if the date of payment is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) in funds which are immediately available to Lender.
(ii) All payments received by Lender in immediately available funds prior to 2:00 P.M., Houston, Texas, time, on any Business Day will be credited to Borrower’s applicable account on the date of receipt. All payments received by Lender in immediately available funds after 2:00 P.M., Houston, Texas, time, on any Business Day will be credited to Borrower’s applicable account on the next Business Day.
3. Representations and Warranties of Borrower.

Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Lender as of the date hereof and on and as of the date of each Loan Advance as follows:

(a) Binding Agreement. The Transaction Documents constitute or will constitute, when issued and delivered, valid and binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other

 

 

 

 

 

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similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general, and general principles of equity.

(b) Organization; Power; Authorization. Borrower is a limited liability company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Borrower has all requisite power and authority (limited liability company and otherwise) to own and use its properties and assets and carry on its business as currently conducted or contemplated. Borrower has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the part of Borrower.
(c) Non-Contravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will (a) violate any injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge or any provision of Borrower’s certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other charter documents, or, to Borrower’s knowledge, any restriction of any government, governmental agency or court to which Borrower is subject, or (b) conflict with, result in a material breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, any material agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which Borrower is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets are subject.
4. Covenants.
(a) Affirmative Covenants.
(i) Use of Proceeds. Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loan Advances solely for the purposes set forth herein.
(ii) Compliance with Laws. Borrower shall comply in all material respects with all laws and regulations applicable to it in the operation of its business.
(iii) Taxes. Borrower shall pay when due all taxes, assessments and charges imposed on it or that are required to be withheld, except where contested in good faith and where adequate reserves have been set aside.
(b) Negative Covenants. Borrower shall not, without Lender’s prior written consent:
(i) Collateral. Do, or permit to be done, anything which could be reasonably expected to prejudice the validity, enforceability, or priority of any of the Assigned Interests;

 

 

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(ii) Mergers or Acquisitions. Merge or consolidate, or permit any of its subsidiaries to merge or consolidate, with any other Person, or acquire, or permit any of its subsidiaries to acquire, all or substantially all of the capital stock or property of another Person. A subsidiary may merge or consolidate into another subsidiary or into Borrower; provided that, in the case of a merger of a subsidiary into Borrower, Borrower shall remain the surviving entity;
(iii) Indebtedness. Borrow money or engage in any other financing transaction for borrowed money except under this Agreement and except for trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business;
(iv) Encumbrances. Create, incur, allow, or suffer any Lien (as defined below) on any existing or future, tangible or intangible, assets of Borrower, or assign or convey any right to receive income or permit any of Borrower’s subsidiaries to do so, other than Permitted Liens (as defined below);
(v) Loans. Make any loan to any Person except prepaid items or deposits incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) Capital Expenditures. Make or agree to make any capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, other than for any Workover Wellbore described in any Notice of Borrowing; or
(vii) Dividends. Make any cash distribution or declare any dividends.
5. Events of Default; Remedies Upon Default.
(a) Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following events shall constitute an event of default (each, an “Event of Default”) hereunder:
(i) Borrower fails to pay timely any of the principal or any accrued interest or other amounts due under the Loan Documents when the same becomes due and payable and such failure continues for five (5) Business Days thereafter;
(ii) Borrower or EMPR is in material breach of any Transaction Document to which it is a party, and (except for any failure to pay money, for which a five (5) calendar day cure period applies) such breach is not remedied in full to the satisfaction of Lender in its sole discretion within 30 days of the breach having occurred;
(iii) Borrower (A) files any petition or action for relief under any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or moratorium law, or any other law for the relief of, or relating to, debtors, now or hereafter in effect; (B) applies for or consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Borrower or for a substantial part of Borrower’s assets; (C) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (D) becomes unable to, or admits

 

 

 

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in writing its inability to, pay its debts generally as they come due; or (E) takes any limited liability company action in furtherance of any of the foregoing;

(iv) an involuntary petition is filed against Borrower (unless such petition is dismissed or discharged within sixty (60) days) under any bankruptcy statute now or hereafter in effect, or a custodian, receiver, trustee, sequestrator, conservator, assignee for the benefit of creditors (or other similar official) is appointed to take possession, custody or control of any property of Borrower;
(v) one or more final and non-appealable judgments for the payment of money in an amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) (not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which liability has been accepted by such insurance carrier) are entered by a court of competent jurisdiction against Borrower which judgment remains undischarged, unsatisfied, unvacated or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days after such judgment becomes final and non-appealable (and Lender shall not be required to make any Loan Advances prior to the satisfaction, vacation or stay of such judgment, order or decree);
(vi) any representation, warranty or other statement made by Borrower in the Transaction Documents, or any other agreement or other document delivered in connection with any of the Transaction Documents, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when made;
(vii) Borrower violates any covenant set forth in Section 4, provided that with respect to a non-monetary default of a covenant set forth in Section 4(a), such default continues unremedied for a period in excess of thirty (30) days; or
(viii) a Change of Control shall occur.
(b) Remedies Upon Default.
(i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder:
(A) all unpaid principal, accrued interest and other amounts owing hereunder shall, at the option of Lender, be immediately due and payable by Borrower;
(B) Lender may terminate its commitment to make additional Loan Advances; and
(C) Lender may proceed to protect and enforce its right by suit in the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in the Loan Documents or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in the Loan Documents or may proceed to enforce the payment of the Loan Documents or to enforce any other legal or equitable rights as Lender may

 

 

 

 

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have, including exercising any right or remedies available to Lender under the Loan Documents and under applicable law;

(ii) Any and all amounts (including principal, unpaid interest and all reasonable costs and expenses of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees) outstanding hereunder after an Event of Default shall, at the option of Lender, bear interest from the date due until paid at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum.
6. Other Provisions.
(a) Demand Waiver. Borrower waives presentment, notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest of this Agreement and the Promissory Note and all other notices or demands in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or endorsement of the Loan Documents.
(b) Cost Indemnities. Borrower shall on demand indemnify Lender against:
(i) any cost, loss or liability incurred by Lender as a result of funding, or making arrangements to fund, at the request of Borrower any Loan Advance not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than due to the default or negligence by Lender alone); and
(ii) all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by Lender in connection with (x) the administration or release of the Assigned Interests or (y) the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Loan Document (including in relation to the issuing to an Borrower of any notice of default or reservation of rights).
(c) Waivers by Lender; Remedies Cumulative. Lender’s failure, at any time or times, to require strict performance by Borrower of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not waive, affect, or diminish any right of Lender thereafter to demand strict performance and compliance herewith or therewith. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless signed by Lender and then is only effective for the specific instance and purpose for which it is given. Lender’s rights and remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative. Lender has all rights and remedies provided under applicable law, or in equity. Lender’s exercise of one right or remedy is not an election, and Lender’s waiver of any Event of Default is not a continuing waiver. Any delay in exercising any remedy by Lender is not a waiver, election, or acquiescence.
(d) Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal and substantive laws of the State of Texas and without regard to any conflicts of laws concepts which would apply the substantive law of some other jurisdiction.
(f) Fees and Expenses. Each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(g) Further Assurances. The parties hereto agree to execute and deliver all such other papers and documents and to take such other further actions that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendment. The Transaction Documents contain the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and there are no agreements, understandings, representations, or warranties regarding the subject matter hereof that are not set forth herein. This Agreement may not be amended, restated or revised except by a writing signed by Borrower and Lender.
(i) Notices. All demands, approvals, communications and notices required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and may be made by letter or e-mail to the following addresses:

If to Borrower, to:

 

EMPIRE TEXAS LLC

1203 E. 33rd Street, Suite 250

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105

Electronic mail:      mike@empirepetrocorp.com

tommyp@empirepetrocorp.com

Attention:             Mike Morrisett

Tommy Pritchard

 

 

If to Lender, to:

 

PETROLEUM INDEPENDENT & EXPLORATION LLC

25025 I-45 North, Suite 420

The Woodlands TX 77380

Electronic mail:      phil@mulacek.com

                                Sterling@pieoperating.com
Attention:             Phil Mulacek
                                
Sterling Mulacek

 

 

 

 

 

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Any demands, approvals, communication, document or notices made or delivered to any party under or in connection with this Agreement will only be effective (i) if by way of email, when received in legible form; or (ii) if by way of letter, when it has been left at the above address (or such other address as informed from time to time) or five (5) business days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to the above address (or such other address as informed from time to time).

(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute but one instrument, and in the event any signature is delivered by facsimile or “pdf” transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “pdf” were an original thereof.
(k) Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and the invalidity of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
(l) Captions. The captions herein have been inserted solely for convenience of reference and in no way define, limit, or describe the scope or substance of any provision of this Agreement.
(m) Interpretation. All pronouns used herein shall include the masculine, feminine, and neuter gender as the context requires. All defined terms shall include both the plural and singular case as the context requires.
(n) Restriction on Assignment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Borrower shall not assign this Agreement without obtaining the prior written approval of Lender. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 6(n) by Borrower shall be void and Lender shall not recognize any such purported assignment.
(o) Waivers.
(i) No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege under the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver of any right, power or privilege, except as and to the extent that the assertion of such right, power or privilege shall be barred by an applicable statute of limitations.
(ii) No single or partial exercise of, or abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce, any right, power or privilege under the Loan Documents shall preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege, or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
(iii) BORROWER AND LENDER DO HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND WHETHER ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR BY REASON OF THE

 

 

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LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSACTION THEREUNDER. BORROWER AND LENDER UNDERSTAND THAT LENDER IS RELYING ON THIS WAIVER IN MAKING THE LOAN ADVANCES PROVIDED FOR HEREIN AND IN EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THE LOAN DOCUMENTS.

7. Definitions.

As used in this Agreement:

(a) “Account Pledge Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(d)(i).
(b) “Affiliate” any person or entity that directly or indirectly is controlled by, controls or is under common control with another person or entity.
(c) “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a federal legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Texas are authorized or required by law or governmental action to close.
(d) “Change of Control” shall mean
(i) the stockholders of EMPR or the members of Borrower immediately prior to the consummation of any consolidation, share exchange or merger of EMPR or Borrower (a “Fundamental Change”) do not own at least a majority of the voting power of the entity which survives/results from such Fundamental Change;
(ii) a stockholder of EMPR or member of Borrower who does not own a majority of the voting power of EMPR or Borrower immediately prior to a Fundamental Change, owns a majority of EMPR or Borrower’s voting power immediately after such Fundamental Change;
(iii) EMPR or Borrower is not the surviving entity following a Fundamental Change;
(iv) EMPR or Borrower is the surviving entity following a Fundamental Change but the equity securities of EMPR or Borrower outstanding immediately preceding such Fundamental Change are converted or exchanged by virtue of such Fundamental Change into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise;
(v) the approval of the stockholders of EMPR or members of Borrower of the liquidation or dissolution of Borrower; or
(vi) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of EMPR or Borrower, including equity held in any of Borrower’s subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(e) “Commitment Amount” means, during the period from the date hereof until the first anniversary thereof, US$1,000,000, and thereafter until the Maturity Date, US$2,000,000.
(f) “EMPR” means Empire Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the parent company of Borrower.
(g) “JDA” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(h) “Lien” means any claim, mortgage, deed of trust, levy, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law or otherwise against any property of Borrower.
(i) “Loan Advances” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
(j) “Loan Documents” means this Agreement and the Promissory Note and any other document, instrument or agreement delivered in connection herewith from time to time, each as amended, restated, or otherwise modified.
(k) “Material Adverse Change” means a material adverse change after the date hereof in the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower.
(l) “Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) termination of Lender’s commitment to make Loan Advances or (ii) or the fourth anniversary of the date of this Agreement.
(m) “Obligations” means Borrower’s obligation to pay when due any debts, principal, interest, and other amounts Borrower owes Lender now or later under the Loan Documents.
(n) “Permitted Lien” means (i) the Assigned Interests(ii) any Lien for taxes not delinquent or for taxes being diligently contested in good faith by Borrower by appropriate proceedings, provided appropriate reserves therefor are established by Borrower; (iii) any mechanic’s, artisan’s, materialman’s, landlord’s, carrier’s or other like Lien arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to obligations which are not due provided that, the aggregate amount of such Liens does not at any time exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000); (iv) any Lien arising out of a judgment, order or award with respect to which Borrower shall in good faith be prosecuting diligently an appeal or proceeding for review and with respect to which there shall be in effect a subsisting stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review, provided appropriate reserves therefor are established by Borrower; (v) any deposit of funds made in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations of Borrower under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, to secure public or statutory obligations of Borrower, to secure surety, appeal or customs bonds in proceedings to which Borrower is a party, or to secure Borrower’s performance in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases or subleases made by Borrower in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ordinary course of business; and (vi) any other Lien specifically consented to by Lender in writing.

(o) “Person” means an individual, corporation association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, government, agency department or any other entity.
(p) “Promissory Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(c).
(q) “Transaction Documents” has the meaning set forth in the JDA.
(r) “Work” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(s) “Workover Wellbore” has the meaning set forth in the JDA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Loan Agreement as of the date first above written.

EMPIRE TEXAS LLC          
           
           
           
By /s/ Michael R. Morrissett                                      By /s/ Thomas W. Pritchard                        
Name: Michael R. Morrissett     Name: Thomas W. Pritchard    
Title: President     Title: CEO    

 

 

 

PETROLEUM INDEPENDENT & EXPLORATION LLC          
           
           
           
By /s/ Phil E. Mulacek                                         

Phil E. Mulacek

       

Manager

       

 

 

 

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