Exhibit 2.1

Execution Version

Purchase and Sale Agreement

Dated July 1, 2022,

By and Between

Stronghold Energy II Operating, LLC and

Stronghold Energy II Royalties, LP

as Seller,

And

RING ENERGY, INC.

as Buyer

Table of Contents

APPENDICES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

This PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of July 1, 2022 (the “Execution Date”), by and between Stronghold Energy II Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Stronghold OpCo”) and Stronghold Energy II Royalties, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Stronghold RoyaltyCo”, together with Stronghold OpCo, collectively, “Seller” (unless the context otherwise requires that a reference to Seller be interpreted to refer individually to either Seller Party), and each individually, a “Seller Party”), and Ring Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Buyer”). Seller, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, are sometimes referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

RECITAL

Seller desires to sell, and Buyer desires to purchase, all of Seller’s right, title and interest in and to certain oil and gas properties and related assets and contracts, effective as of the Effective Time, for the consideration and on the terms in this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

For and in consideration of the promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

Article 1
DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, in addition to other capitalized terms defined in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified or referred to in this Article 1 when capitalized:

“AAA” – the American Arbitration Association.

“Accounting Expert” – as defined in Section 2.05(d).

“Adjusted Cash Purchase Price” – as defined in Section 2.05(c).

“AFEs” – as defined in Section 3.11.

“Affiliate” – with respect to a Party, any Person directly or indirectly controlled by, controlling, or under common control with, such Party, including any subsidiary of such Party and any “affiliate” of such Party within the meaning of Reg. §240.12b-2 of the Exchange Act. As used in this definition, “control” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management, policies, or action through ownership of voting securities, contract, voting trust, or membership in management or in the group appointing or electing management or otherwise through formal or informal arrangements or business relationships. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, except with respect to Section 13.17 and Section 13.20, any portfolio company of any fund managed by Warburg (other than Stronghold Energy II Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries), and any of their respective investors, general partners and any of their respective Affiliates shall not constitute an Affiliate of Seller. The terms “controlled by,” “controlling,” and other derivatives shall be construed accordingly.

“Aggregate Defect Deductible” – an amount equal to two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the unadjusted Purchase Price.

“Aggregate Environmental Defect Value” – as defined in Section 11.12.

“Aggregate Title Defect Value” – as defined in Section 11.06.

“Agreement” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Allocated Values” – the values assigned among the Leases and Wells as set forth on Schedule 2.07.

“Alternative Financing” – as defined in Section 6.06(b).

“Alternative Financing Commitment Letter” – as defined in Section 6.06(b).

“Antitrust Law” means the HSR Act, the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, the Federal Trade Commission Act and any other U.S. or foreign laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions for the purpose or effect of mergers, monopolization, restraining trade or abusing a dominant position.

“Applicable Contracts” – all Contracts to which Seller is a party or is bound that relate to any of the Assets that will be binding on Buyer or the Assets after the Closing, including: communitization agreements; net profits agreements; production payment agreements; area of mutual interest agreements; joint venture agreements; farmin and farmout agreements; bottom hole agreements; crude oil, condensate, and natural gas purchase and sale, gathering, transportation, and marketing agreements; hydrocarbon storage agreements; acreage contribution agreements; operating agreements; balancing agreements; pooling declarations or agreements; unitization agreements; processing agreements; saltwater disposal agreements; facilities or equipment leases; vehicle leases and other similar contracts and agreements, but exclusive of any master service agreements (other than any master vehicle lease) and Contracts to the extent relating to the Excluded Assets.

“Asset Taxes” – ad valorem, property, excise, severance, production, sales, real estate, use, personal property and similar Taxes based upon the operation or ownership of the Assets, the production of Hydrocarbons or the receipt of proceeds from such production, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Income Taxes and Transfer Taxes.

“Assets” – all of Seller’s right, title and interest in, to, and under the following, without duplication, except to the extent constituting Excluded Assets:

To the extent that any of the foregoing are used or relate to both the Assets and certain of the Excluded Assets, such as, by way of example but not limitation, ingress and egress rights and road and pipeline easements, such assets or rights shall be jointly owned by Seller, as part of the Excluded Assets, and by Buyer, as part of the Assets.

“Assignment” – the Assignment and Bill of Sale from Seller to Buyer, pertaining to the Assets (other than those certain Mineral Interests and Surface Fee Properties described in and conveyed pursuant to the Deed), substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E-1.

“Assumed Obligations” – as defined in Section 2.06.

“Audited Financials” – as defined in Section 6.05(a).

“Available Employee” – those certain employees of Seller or its Affiliates identified in the Employee Letter to whom Buyer may, but shall not be obligated to, make an offer of employment.

“Breach” – a “Breach” of a representation, warranty, covenant, obligation or other provision of this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a)(iii) or Section 2.04(b)(iii) of this Agreement shall be deemed to have occurred if there is or has been any inaccuracy in or breach of, or any failure to perform or comply with, such representation, warranty, covenant, obligation or other provision.

“Business Day” – any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in the State of Texas are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

“Buyer” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Buyer Adverse Recommendation Change” – as defined in Section 6.07(b).

“Buyer Audit Committee” - as defined in Section 4.14.

“Buyer’s Auditor” – as defined in Section 6.05(a).

“Buyer Board” – the board of directors of Buyer.

“Buyer Board Recommendation” – as defined in Section 6.07(b).

“Buyer’s Closing Documents” – as defined in Section 4.02(a).

“Buyer’s Financing Sources” – as defined in Section 13.20.

“Buyer Fundamental Representations” – those representations and warranties of Buyer in Section 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.06, 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.13, 4.16, 4.21 and 4.22.

“Buyer Group” – Buyer and its Affiliates, and their respective Representatives.

“Buyer Internal Controls” – as defined in Section 4.14.

“Buyer Intervening Event” – means a material change, event or occurrence that arises after the Execution Date and was not known or reasonably foreseeable to the Buyer Board as of the Execution Date, which change, event or occurrence becomes known to or by the Buyer Board prior to obtaining Stockholder Approval; provided, however, that in no event shall the following changes, events or occurrences constitute a Buyer Intervening Event: (a) any change, event, or occurrence relating to Seller or the Assets; (b) changes in the market price or trading volume of Common Stock or any other securities of Buyer or its Subsidiaries, or any change in the credit rating thereof or the fact that Buyer meets, exceeds or fails to meet or exceed (or Seller meets, exceeds or fails to meet or exceed) internal or Third Party projections or forecasts or revenue or earnings or reserve predictions for any period (it being understood that the underlying cause thereof or the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such change, event or occurrence may be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a Buyer Intervening Event has occurred if such cause or facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition); (c) changes, events or occurrences after the Execution Date relating to the global, national or regional energy industry as a whole, including any such change to energy prices or the value of oil and gas assets and properties or other commodities, goods or services, or the availability or costs of hedges; (d) changes, events or occurrences after the Execution Date in financial or securities markets or the economy in general; or (e) any Buyer Stockholder who has executed and delivered, or who, after the Execution Date, executes and delivers, to Buyer an agreement pursuant to which such Buyer Stockholder agrees to vote Common Stock in favor of any of the matters that are the subject of the Stockholder Approval breaches or threatens to breach such agreement.

“Buyer Related Parties” – as defined in Section 13.18.

“Buyer SEC Financial Statements” - as defined in Section 4.11(b).

“Buyer Stockholders” – means the holders of the Buyer’s Common Stock.

“Cash Consideration” – as defined in Section 2.02(a).

“Cash Holdback Amount” – as defined in Section 2.02(c).

“Casualty Loss” – as defined in Section 11.14.

“Certificate of Designation” – the certain Certificate of Designation in the form of Exhibit L.

“Claim Notice” – any claim notice delivered to Seller with respect to any claim for indemnification under Article 10 in favor of the Buyer Group.

“Closing” – the closing of the Contemplated Transactions.

“Closing Date” – as defined in Section 2.03.

“Code” – the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.001 par value per share of Buyer.

“Complete Remediation” – with respect to an Environmental Defect, a remediation or Cure of such Environmental Defect which is substantially completed in accordance with the Lowest Cost Response.

“Confidentiality Agreements” – the Ring Confidentiality Agreement and the Stronghold Confidentiality Agreement.

“Consent” – any approval, consent, ratification, waiver or other authorization (including any Governmental Authorization) from any Person that is required to be obtained in connection with the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.

“Contemplated Transactions” – all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including:

(a)            the sale of the Assets by Seller to Buyer;

(b)            the performance by the Parties of their respective covenants and obligations under this Agreement; and

(c)            Buyer’s acquisition, ownership and exercise of control over the Assets.

“Continuing Employees” – as defined in Section 12.02.

“Contract” – any written or oral contract, agreement or any other legally binding arrangement, but excluding, however, any Lease, easement, right-of-way, Permit or other instrument creating or evidencing an interest in the Assets or any real or immovable property related to or used in connection with the operations of any Assets.

“Cure” – as defined in Section 11.05(a)(i).

“Cut-off Date” – as defined in Section 2.05(e).

“Damages” – any and all claims, demands, payments, charges, judgments, assessments, losses, liabilities, damages, penalties, fines, expenses, costs, fees, settlements and deficiencies, including any attorneys’ fees, legal and other costs and expenses suffered or incurred with respect to the above.

“Debt Commitment Letter” – as defined in Section 4.08.

“Debt Financing” – as defined in Section 4.08.

“Debt Financing Sources” – as defined in Section 4.08.

“De Minimis Environmental Defect Cost” – One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000).

“De Minimis Title Defect Cost” – One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000).

“Deed” – the Deed from Seller to Buyer, pertaining to certain Mineral Interests and the Surface Fee Properties, substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E-2.

“Defect Escrow Account” – as defined in Section 11.05(c).

“Defensible Title” – title of Seller to the Leases described on Exhibit A-1 and to the Wells described in Exhibit B that, as of the Closing Date and subject to the Permitted Encumbrances, is deducible of record or title evidenced by unrecorded instruments or elections, in each case, made or delivered pursuant to joint operating agreements, pooling agreements or unitization agreements and:

“Deferred Cash Consideration” – as defined in Section 2.02(a).

“Definitive Financing Agreement” – as defined in Section 6.06(a).

“Deposit Amount” – as defined in Section 2.02.

“Disability Employee” – as defined in Section 12.02.

“Dispute Notice” – as defined in Section 2.05(d).

“Disputed Environmental Amount” – as defined in Section 11.11(b).

“Disputed Matter” – as defined in Section 11.15(a).

“Disputed Title Amount” – as defined in Section 11.05(c).

“DTPA” – as defined in Section 4.20.

“e-mail” – as defined in Section 13.03.

“Effective Time” – June 1, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. local time at the location of the Assets.

“Employee Letter” – as defined in Section 12.02.

“Employment Date” – as defined in Section 12.02.

“Encumbrance” – any defect, charge, burden, encumbrance, equitable interest, privilege, lien, mortgage, deed of trust, production payment, option, pledge, collateral assignment, security interest or other substantially equivalent arrangement.

“Environmental Condition” – any condition existing on the Execution Date that presently requires remediation or corrective action under (or if known, would presently require remediation or corrective action under), or that represents a current violation of, any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties, other than any obligations to plug, abandon or decommission any Wells or any matter disclosed on Schedule EC.

“Environmental Consultant” – as defined in Section 11.09(a).

“Environmental Defect” – an Environmental Condition discovered by Buyer or its Representatives as a result of any environmental diligence conducted by or on behalf of Buyer pursuant to Sections 11.08 and 11.09 of this Agreement; provided that any matters disclosed on Schedule EC or Schedule 3.12 shall not be considered an Environmental Defect.

“Environmental Defect Cure Period” – the date that is seventy-five (75) days after the Environmental Defect Notice Date.

“Environmental Defect Notice” – as defined in Section 11.10.

“Environmental Defect Notice Date” – as defined in Section 11.10.

“Environmental Defect Value” – with respect to each Environmental Defect, the amount of the Lowest Cost Response to remedy or cure such Environmental Defect.

“Environmental Information” – as defined in Section 11.09(b).

“Environmental Law” – means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 through 2629; the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq.; and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f through 300j, in each case as amended to the date hereof, and all similar Laws as of the date hereof of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the property in question addressing pollution or protection of the environment or biological or cultural resources and all regulations implementing the foregoing and any applicable Legal Requirement in effect as of the Execution Date relating to pollution or the protection of the environment or worker health or safety (solely to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials), including those Legal Requirements relating to the storage, handling and use of Hazardous Materials and those Legal Requirements relating to the generation, processing, treatment, storage, transportation, disposal or other management of such Hazardous Materials. The term “Environmental Law” does not include (a) prudent, good or desirable operating practices, policies, statements or standards that may be voluntarily employed or adopted by other oil and gas well operators or recommended, but not required, by a Governmental Body or (b) the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., as amended, or any other Legal Requirement governing worker safety or workplace conditions (except to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials).

“Environmental Liabilities” – all costs, Damages, expenses, liabilities, obligations and other responsibilities with respect to, relating to, or arising from or under Environmental Laws (including any Environmental Conditions), Third Party claims relating to the environment, or relating to Hazardous Materials, and which relate to the Assets or the ownership or operation of the same; provided that any matters disclosed on Schedule EC shall not be considered an Environmental Liability.

“Environmental Review” – as defined in Section 11.09(a).

“ERISA” – the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“ERISA Affiliate” – with respect to a Person, any Person that would be considered a single employer with such Person under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

“Escrow Agent” – Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

“Escrow Agreement” – a mutually agreeable Escrow Agreement among Seller, Buyer and the Escrow Agent entered into on or prior to the Execution Date with respect to the Deposit Amount, the Indemnity Holdback Amount and, if applicable, any Disputed Title Amounts or Disputed Environmental Amounts.

“Exchange Act” – the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Excluded Assets” – with respect to Seller,

“Excluded Records” – as set forth in the definition of “Excluded Assets”.

“Execution Date” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Existing Hedges” – those certain commodity hedges set forth on Schedule 5.06.

“Expert” – as defined in Section 11.15(b).

“Expert Decision” – as defined in Section 11.15(d).

“Expert Proceeding Notice” – as defined in Section 11.15(a).

“Final Amount” – as defined in Section 2.05(d).

“Final Indemnity Holdback Release Time” – as defined in Section 2.02(c)(iii).

“Final Settlement Date” – as defined in Section 2.05(d).

“Final Settlement Statement” – as defined in Section 2.05(d).

“Financing Parties” - as defined in Section 13.20.

“Form S-3 Eligibility” - as defined in Section 4.15.

“Fundamental Representations” – those representations set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 and 3.06.

“GAAP” – generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as interpreted as of the Execution Date.

“GAAS” – as defined in Section 6.05(a).

“Governmental Authorization” – any approval, consent, license, permit, registration, variance, exemption, waiver or other authorization issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or pursuant to any Legal Requirement.

“Governmental Body” – any (a) nation, state, county, city, town, village, district or other jurisdiction of any nature; (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official or entity and any court or other tribunal); (d) multi-national organization or body or (e) body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power of any nature.

“Group” – either Buyer Group or Seller Group, as applicable.

“Hazardous Materials” – any chemical, compounds, constituent, material, pollutant, contaminant, substance or waste, or material, hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substance, that is regulated by any Governmental Body or may form the basis of liability under any Environmental Law, including without limitation, petroleum products, Hydrocarbons and NORM and other substances referenced in Section 11.09.

“Hedge Contract” – any Contract to which Seller or any of its Affiliates is a party with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement, whether exchange traded, “over-the-counter” or otherwise, involving or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that “Hedge Contracts” shall not include transaction confirmations related to that certain Electric Energy Sales Agreement, dated March 5, 2019, by and between Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC and Stronghold OpCo (and the Parties acknowledge that such transaction confirmations are part of such Electric Energy Sales Agreement and shall be transferred to Buyer at Closing as part of the Applicable Contracts).

“Hedge Loss Amount” – as defined in Section 5.06(a).

“Hedge Loss Assumption Amount” – an amount equal to the absolute value of the net mark-to-market and realized losses for the Existing Hedges (calculated as the aggregate of the values set forth for each respective Existing Hedge in the columns labeled “Mark-to-Market” and “Realized” in Schedule 5.06), not to exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000).

“Hedge Settlement Amount” – as defined in Section 5.06(a).

“HSR Act” – The Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

“Hydrocarbons” – oil and gas and other hydrocarbons (including condensate) produced or processed in association with such hydrocarbons (whether or not such item is in liquid or gaseous form), or any combination of oil and gas and other hydrocarbons, and any minerals produced in association with such hydrocarbons.

“Imbalances” – over-production or under-production or over-deliveries or under-deliveries with respect to Hydrocarbons produced from or allocated to the Assets, regardless of whether such over-production or under-production or over-deliveries or under-deliveries arise at the wellhead, pipeline, gathering system, transportation system, processing plant or other location, including any imbalances under gas balancing or similar agreements, imbalances under production handling agreements, imbalances under processing agreements, imbalances under the Leases and imbalances under gathering or transportation agreements.

“Income Taxes” – income or franchise Taxes based upon, measured by or calculated with respect to net income, profits, capital or similar measures (or multiple bases, including corporate, franchise, business and occupation, business license or similar Taxes, if net income, profits, capital or a similar measure is one of the bases on which such Tax is based, measured or calculated).

“Indemnification Cap” – as defined in Section 10.05(a).

“Indemnity Escrow Account” – as defined in Section 2.02(c).

“Indemnity Escrow Account” – as defined in Section 2.02(c).

“Indemnity Holdback Amount” – as defined in Section 2.02(c).

“Indemnity Holdback Disbursement” – as defined in Section 2.02(c)(i).

“Indemnity Reference Price” – the volume weighted average share price of shares of Common Stock on the NYSE American (or any other exchange on which Common Stock is traded in the future) (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the function “VWAP”) for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days ending on and including the first (1st) Trading Day preceding the date of the applicable determination of value of any share of Common Stock for purposes of an Indemnity Holdback Disbursement, a release from the Indemnity Escrow Account or other applicable calculation pursuant to Section 2.02(c).

“Individual Claim Threshold” – as defined in Section 10.05(a).

“Initial Indemnity Holdback Release Time” – as defined in Section 2.02(c)(ii).

“Instruction Letter” – as defined in Section 2.02(c)(i).

“Instruments of Conveyance” – the Assignment and the Deed. Except for the special warranty of Defensible Title by, through and under Seller contained in such Instruments of Conveyance, the Instruments of Conveyance shall be without warranty of title, whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise, it being understood that Buyer shall have the right to conduct pre-Closing title due diligence as described in Article 11, and that the rights and remedies set forth in Article 11 shall be Buyer’s sole rights and remedies with respect to title.

“June 30, 2022 Unaudited Interim Financials” – as defined in Section 6.05(a).

“Knowledge” – an individual will be deemed to have “Knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if such individual is actually aware of such fact or other matter, without any duty of inquiry. Seller will be deemed to have “Knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if any of the following individual(s) has Knowledge of such fact or other matter: Steven Weatherl, Caleb Weatherl and Drew Hendricks. Buyer will be deemed to have “Knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if any of the following individual(s) has Knowledge of such fact or other matter: Paul D. McKinney, Travis T. Thomas and Stephen D. Brooks.

“Lands” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Leases” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Legal Requirement” – any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international or multinational law, Order, constitution, ordinance or rule, including rules of common law, regulation, statute, treaty or other legally enforceable directive or requirement.

“Lock-Up Agreement” – that certain Lock-Up Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit M.

“Lowest Cost Response” – the response required or allowed under Environmental Laws in effect on the date this Agreement is executed that addresses and resolves (for current and future use in the same manner as currently used) the identified Environmental Condition in the most cost-effective manner (considered as a whole) as compared to any other response that is required or allowed by a Governmental Body under Environmental Laws. The Lowest Cost Response shall include taking no action, leaving the condition unaddressed, periodic monitoring or the recording of notices in lieu of remediation, if such responses are allowed under Environmental Laws. The Lowest Cost Response shall not include (a) any obligations to plug, abandon or decommission any Wells; (b) the costs of Buyer’s or any of its Affiliate’s employees; (c) expenses for matters that are costs of doing business (e.g., those costs that would ordinarily be incurred in the day-to-day operations of the Assets, or in connection with permit renewal/amendment activities); (d) overhead costs of Buyer or its Affiliates; (e) costs and expenses that would not have been required under Environmental Laws as they exist on the Closing Date; and (f) costs or expenses incurred in connection with remedial or corrective action that is designed to achieve standards that are more stringent than those required for similar facilities or that fail to reasonably take advantage of applicable risk reduction or risk assessment principles allowed under applicable Environmental Laws.

“Material Adverse Effect” – any change, inaccuracy, effect, event, result, occurrence, condition or fact (for the purposes of this definition, each, an “event”) (whether foreseeable or not) that has had or would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate with any other event or events, a material adverse effect on the ownership, operation or financial condition of the Assets, taken as a whole. The term “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include material adverse effects resulting from (a) entering into this Agreement or the announcement of the Contemplated Transactions; (b) any adverse change, event or effect on the global, national or regional energy industry as a whole, including any such change to energy prices or the value of oil and gas assets and properties or other commodities, goods or services, or the availability or costs of hedges; (c) any action or omission of Seller taken in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or with the prior consent of Buyer; (d) any effect resulting from general changes in industry, economic or political conditions in the United States; (e) civil unrest, any outbreak of hostilities, terrorist activities or war or any similar disorder (including the Russia-Ukraine conflict or any worsening or escalation thereof); (f) any set of facts, occurrences or conditions specified in reasonable detail in the Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement as of the Execution Date; (g) any failure to meet internal or Third Party projections or forecasts or revenue or earnings or reserve predictions, including as a result of the failure of any Third Party operator or Working Interest owner to develop all or a portion of any Assets, or any other action taken or failed to be taken by a Third Party operator or owner of Working Interests with respect to any Assets; (h) changes or developments in financial or securities markets or the economy in general; (i) the outbreak or continuation of any disease, epidemic or pandemic (including the continuation of COVID-19 or any variation of COVID-19); (j) acts or failures to act of any Governmental Body (including any new regulations related to the upstream industry), except to the extent arising from Seller’s action or inaction; (k) acts of God, including hurricanes and storms; (l) any reclassification or recalculation of reserves in the ordinary course of business; (m) natural declines in well performance; (n) general changes in (or changes in interpretation of) Legal Requirements, in regulatory policies, or in GAAP; (o) seasonal reductions in revenues or earnings of Seller in the ordinary course of its business; (p) matters that are cured or no longer exist by the earlier of Closing and the termination of this Agreement or (q) matters as to which an adjustment is provided for under Section 2.05(c) or for which Seller is required to indemnify Buyer.

“Material Contracts” – as defined in Section 3.09(a).

“March 31, 2022 Unaudited Interim Financials” – as defined in Section 6.05(a).

“Mineral Interests” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Net Acre” – with respect to (and as computed separately) each Lease identified on Exhibit A-1 as to the applicable Target Formation, (i) the gross number of mineral acres in the Lands covered by such Lease, multiplied by (ii) the undivided fee simple mineral interest (expressed as a percentage) in the Lands covered by that Lease (as determined by aggregating the fee simple mineral interests owned by each lessor of that Lease in the Lands), multiplied by (iii) Seller’s Working Interest in that Lease. However, if the items in clauses (i) or (iii), above, vary as to different tracts covered by that Lease, a separate calculation shall be done for each such tract. For example, if a Lease in which Seller owns an undivided fifty percent (50%) Working Interest covers a 20-acre tract in which the lessors of such Lease own an undivided one-half (1/2) fee mineral interest and a separate and distinct 40-acre tract in which the lessors of such Lease own an undivided one fourth (1/4) fee mineral interest, then the Lease would cover ten (10) Net Acres (i.e., (20 × 0.5 × 0.5) + (40 × 0.25 × 0.5) = 10).

“Net Revenue Interest” – with respect to any Lease or Well, the interest in and to all Hydrocarbons produced, saved and sold from or allocated to such Lease or Well (in the case of each Lease, within any portion of the applicable Target Formation, and in the case of each Well, limited to the Target Formation for any such Well), and in each case subject to any reservations, limitations or depth restrictions described in Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit B, as applicable, for any such Lease or Well, after satisfaction of all other Royalties.

“No-Recourse Party” – as defined in Section 13.17.

“Nomination Agreement” – as defined in Section 5.07.

“Non-Operated Assets” – Assets operated by any Person other than Seller or an Affiliate of Seller.

“NORM” – naturally occurring radioactive material.

“Novated Hedge” – as defined in Section 5.06(a).

“Novation Agreement” – as defined in Section 5.06(a).

“Novation Amount” – as defined in Section 5.06(b).

“Order” – any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena or verdict entered, issued, made or rendered by any court, administrative agency or other Governmental Body or by any arbitrator.

“Organizational Documents” – (a) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of a corporation; (b) the certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement or operating agreement; (c) the certificate of limited partnership and limited partnership agreement of a limited partnership and (d) any amendment to any of the foregoing.

“Overriding Royalties” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Party” or “Parties” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Permits” – all governmental (whether federal, state, local or tribal) certificates, consents, permits (including conditional use permits), licenses, Orders, authorizations, franchises and related instruments or rights solely relating to the ownership, operation or use of the Assets.

“Permitted Consent” – any Consent that is not a Required Consent.

“Permitted Encumbrance” – any of the following:

“Person” – any individual, firm, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, labor union or other entity or Governmental Body.

“Phase I” – as defined in Section 11.09.

“Post-Closing Date” – as defined in Section 2.05(d).

“Pre-Closing Stockholder Approval” means Stockholder Approval that the Company obtains prior to the Closing.

“Preferential Purchase Right” – any right or agreement that enables any Person to purchase or acquire any Asset or any interest in such Asset or portion of such Asset as a result of or in connection with the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.

“Preferred Stock” means Buyer’s 8.0% Series A preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, with an initial stated value of $1,000 per share, that is convertible into Common Stock having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the Certificate of Designation.

“Preliminary Amount” – the Purchase Price, adjusted as provided in Section 2.05(c), based upon the best information available at the time of the Closing.

“Preliminary Settlement Statement” – as defined in Section 2.03.

“Proceeding” – any proceeding, action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Body or arbitrator.

“Production Related IT Equipment” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Property” or “Properties” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Property Costs” – all operating expenses (including utilities, payroll, costs of insurance, rentals, title examination, curative and overhead costs) and capital expenditures (including rentals, options and other lease maintenance payments, broker fees and other property acquisition costs and costs of acquiring equipment), respectively, incurred in the ordinary course of business attributable to the use, operation and ownership of the Assets (without duplication), but excluding Damages attributable to (a) personal injury or death, property damage, torts, breach of contract or violation of any Legal Requirement, (b) obligations relating to the abandonment or plugging of Wells, dismantling or decommissioning facilities, closing pits and restoring the surface around such Wells, facilities and pits, (c) Environmental Liabilities, (d) costs incurred to Cure or remediate Title Defects or Environmental Defects, (e) obligations with respect to Imbalances, (f) obligations to pay Royalties or other interest owners revenues or proceeds relating to the Assets but held in suspense, including Suspense Funds, (g) Taxes and (h) claims for indemnification or reimbursement from any Third Party with respect to costs of the types described in the preceding clauses (a) through (g), whether such claims are made pursuant to contract or otherwise; provided that “Property Costs” will not include any compensation expenses attributable to increases in compensation rates or any bonuses, in either case, implemented for any employees of Seller or its Affiliates after the Execution Date and prior to the Closing, other than increases required by applicable Law or a Seller Benefit Plan in effect on the date of this Agreement.

“Proxy Statement” – as defined in Section 6.07(a).

“Purchase Price” – as defined in Section 2.02.

“Push-Out Election” – the election under Section 6226(a) of the Code, commonly known as the “push out” election, or any analogous election under state or local tax law, if applicable.

“Records” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Recourse Parties” – as defined in Section 13.17.

“Registration Rights Agreement” – the Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit I to be executed and delivered by and among Seller and Buyer at Closing.

“Representative” – with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, manager, employee, agent, consultant, advisor or other representative of such Person, including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors.

“Required Consent” – any Consent with respect to which (a) there is a provision within the applicable instrument that such Consent may be withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the holder, (b)(i) the applicable instrument does not contain language providing that such Consent is not to be unreasonably withheld (or language of similar effect) and (ii) such Consent is denied in writing by the holder of the Consent or (c) there is provision within the applicable instrument expressly stating that an assignment in violation of such instrument (i) is void or voidable, (ii) triggers the payment of specified liquidated damages or (iii) causes termination of the applicable Assets to be assigned.  For the avoidance of doubt, “Required Consent” does not include (A) any Consents or approvals of Governmental Bodies that are customarily obtained after Closing or (B) any Consents that by their terms cannot be unreasonably withheld (or language of similar effect).

“Restricted Commitment Letter Amendments” – as defined in Section 6.06(d).

“Retained Assets” – any rights, titles, interests, assets and properties that are originally included in the Assets under the terms of this Agreement, but that are subsequently excluded from the Assets or sale under this Agreement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement at any time before or after the Closing.

“Ring Confidentiality Agreement” – that certain confidentiality agreement dated as of May 27, 2022, by and between Buyer and Stronghold OpCo.

“Royalties” – royalties, overriding royalties, production payments, carried interests, net profits interests, reversionary interests, back-in interests and other burdens upon, measured by or payable out of Hydrocarbon production.

“Schedule Supplement” – as defined in Section 3.20.

“SEC” – the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“SEC Documents” – as defined in Section 4.11(a).

“SEC Filings” – (x) Buyer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 16, 2022 (including any disclosure incorporated by reference from Buyer’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 28, 2022 and excluding disclosure under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” thereto); (y) Buyer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, filed on May 10, 2022; or (z) Buyer’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC since April 1, 2022 (excluding disclosure included in the materials described in clauses (x) through (z) of this defined term constituting “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act).

“Securities Act” – the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Seller” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Seller Benefit Plans” – any “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, and all other retirement, pension, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive, severance, executive life insurance, vacation, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock, equity, employment, profit sharing, retention, stay bonus, change of control and other compensation or benefit plans, programs, agreements or arrangements maintained, sponsored or contributed to by Seller or any of its ERISA Affiliates for the benefit of any Available Employee as of the Execution Date.

“Seller Closing Documents” – as defined in Section 3.02(a).

“Seller Group” – Seller and its Affiliates, and their respective Representatives.

“Seller Party” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Seller Related Parties” – as defined in Section 13.18.

“Seller’s Counsel” – as defined in Section 13.18.

“SMOG Disclosures” – as defined in Section 6.05(a).

“Specified Obligations” – with respect to Seller, any Damages, liabilities and obligations arising out of (a) Third Party claims with respect to the disposal or transportation prior to Closing of any Hazardous Materials generated or used by Seller and taken from the Assets owned by Seller to any location that is not an Asset; (b) personal injury (including death) claims attributable to Seller’s or its applicable operating Affiliate’s operation of the Assets prior to the Effective Time; (c) Third Party claims with respect to the failure of Seller to properly and timely pay, in accordance with the terms of any Lease, Royalties with respect to the Assets that are due by Seller and attributable to Seller’s ownership of the Assets prior to the Effective Time; (d) any claim made by an employee of Seller or any Affiliate of Seller directly relating to such employment by Seller or its Affiliate; (e) any Damages attributable to Third Party claims against Seller arising from the actual fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of Seller with respect to the operation of the Properties during Seller’s ownership thereof prior to the Closing; (f) the Excluded Assets and the Retained Assets; (g) any Damages consisting of any civil or administrative fines or penalties or criminal sanctions imposed under applicable Legal Requirements as interpreted as of the Execution Date on Seller or its Affiliates and resulting from or relating to the ownership, use or operation of the Properties by Seller prior to the Closing, but excluding any Environmental Liabilities; and (h) the matters set forth on Schedule 3.05 (or, that should have been set forth on Schedule 3.05 in order for the representation in Schedule 3.05 to be true and correct as of the Execution Date). From and after the date that is twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date, all such Damages, liabilities and obligations arising out of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (g) shall no longer be Specified Obligations and shall be deemed Assumed Obligations.

“Stock Consideration” means (i) in the event Pre-Closing Stockholder Approval is obtained, 63,888,889 shares of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, or (ii) in the event that Pre-Closing Stockholder Approval is not obtained, 21,339,986 shares of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock and 153,176 shares of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock.

“Stockholder Approval” – as defined in Section 6.07(a).

“Stockholders Meeting” – as defined in Section 6.07(b).

“Stock Holdback Amount” – as defined in Section 2.02(c).

“Straddle Period” – any Tax period beginning before and ending after the Effective Time.

“Stronghold Confidentiality Agreement” – that certain confidentiality agreement dated as of October 19, 2021, by and between Buyer and Stronghold OpCo.

“Stronghold HoldCo” – means Stronghold Energy II Holdings, LLC.

“Stronghold OpCo” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Stronghold RoyaltyCo” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Surface Fee Properties” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Suspense Funds” – proceeds of production and associated penalties and interest in respect of any of the Wells that are payable to any Third Party and are being held in suspense by Seller or its Affiliate as the operator of such Wells.

“Target Area” – the geographic area set forth on Exhibit H.

“Target Formation” – with respect to (i) a Well, the currently producing formation for such Well and (ii) a Lease, the formation(s), depths or intervals set forth for such Lease in Exhibit A-1.

“Tax” or “Taxes” – any and all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign and other taxes, levies, fees, imposts, duties, assessments and other similar governmental charges in the nature of a tax imposed by any Governmental Body, including income, profits, franchise, alternative or add-on minimum, gross receipts, environmental (including taxes under Section 59A of the Code), registration, withholding, employment, social security (or similar), disability, occupation, ad valorem, property, value added, capital gains, sales, goods and services, use, real or personal property, capital stock, license, branch, payroll, estimated, unemployment, severance, compensation, utility, stamp, premium, windfall profits, transfer, gains, production and excise taxes, and customs duties, together with any interest, penalties, fines or additions.

“Tax Allocation” – as defined in Section 2.07(b).

“Tax Controversy” – as defined in Section 13.02(h)(i).

“Tax Partnership” – as defined in Section 3.04(g).

“Tax Returns” – any and all reports, returns, declarations, claims for refund, elections, disclosures, estimates, information reports or returns or statements supplied or required to be supplied to a Governmental Body in connection with Taxes, including any schedule, attachment, or amendment to such Tax documentation.

“Third Party” – any Person other than a Party or an Affiliate of a Party.

“Threatened” – a claim, Proceeding, dispute, action or other matter will be deemed to have been “Threatened” if any demand or statement has been made in writing to a Party or any of its officers, directors or employees that would lead a prudent Person to conclude that such a claim, Proceeding, dispute, action or other matter is likely to be asserted, commenced, taken or otherwise pursued in the future.

“Title Benefit” – as defined in Section 11.07(a).

“Title Benefit Amount” – as defined in Section 11.07(d).

“Title Benefit Properties” – as defined in Section 11.07(b).

“Title Benefit Value” – as defined in Section 11.07(a).

“Title Defect” – any Encumbrance, defect or other matter that causes Seller not to have Defensible Title; however, the following shall not be considered Title Defects:

“Title Defect Cure Period” – as defined in Section 11.05(a).

“Title Defect Notice” – as defined in Section 11.03.

“Title Defect Notice Date” – as defined in Section 11.03.

“Title Defect Property” – as defined in Section 11.03.

“Title Defect Value” – as defined in Section 11.03.

“Total AV” – with respect to a Lease or Well, the aggregate Allocated Value of the interest owned by the Seller Parties as set forth on Schedule 2.07.

“Trading Day” – a day on which (a) there is no VWAP Market Disruption Event; and (b) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

“Transfer Tax” – all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and similar Taxes (but excluding Income Taxes) and fees arising out of, or in connection with, the transfer of the Assets to Buyer or the filing or recording of any Assignments related to the transfer of the Assets to Buyer.

“Units” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Unresolved Claim” – as defined in Section 2.02(c)(iii).

“VWAP Market Disruption Event” – with respect to any date, (a) the failure by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded, to open for trading during its regular trading session on such date; or (b) the occurrence or existence, for more than one half hour period in the aggregate, of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock, and such suspension or limitation occurs or exists at any time before 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date.

“Warburg” – Warburg Pincus LLC, a New York limited liability company.

“WARN Act” – the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 or any similar Legal Requirement.

“Wells” – as set forth in the definition of “Assets”.

“Working Interest” – with respect to any Lease or Well, the interest in and to such Lease or Well that is burdened with the obligation to bear and pay costs and expenses of maintenance, development and operations on or in connection with such Lease or Well (in the case of each Lease, within any portion of the applicable Target Formation, and in the case of each Well, limited to the Target Formation for such Well), and in each case subject to any reservations, limitations or depth restrictions described in Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit B, as applicable, but without regard to the effect of any Royalties or other burdens.

Article 2
SALE AND TRANSFER OF ASSETS; CLOSING

2.01            Assets. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall sell and transfer (or shall cause to be transferred) the Assets, effective as of the Effective Time, to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase, pay for, and accept the Assets from Seller.

2.02            Purchase Price; Deposit; Holdback.

2.03         Closing; Preliminary Settlement Statement. Subject to Section 9.01, the Closing shall take place remotely and electronically on or before August 31, 2022, or if all conditions to Closing under Article 7 and Article 8 have not yet been satisfied or waived on such date, within five (5) Business Days after the date on which such conditions have been satisfied or waived, subject to the provisions of Article 9 (the “Closing Date”). Subject to the provisions of Articles 7, 8, and 9, failure to consummate the purchase and sale provided for in this Agreement on the date and time and at the place determined pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall not result in the termination of this Agreement and shall not relieve any Party of any obligation under this Agreement. Not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller will deliver to Buyer a statement setting forth in reasonable detail Seller’s reasonable determination of the Preliminary Amount based upon the best information available at that time (the “Preliminary Settlement Statement”). The Preliminary Settlement Statement may include estimates where actual amounts are not known at such time. As part of the Preliminary Settlement Statement, Seller shall provide to Buyer such data as is reasonably necessary to support any estimated allocation, for purposes of establishing the Preliminary Amount. Within three (3) Business Days after receipt of the Preliminary Settlement Statement, Buyer may submit to Seller in writing any objections or proposed changes to the Preliminary Settlement Statement, and Seller shall consider all such objections and proposed changes. The estimate agreed to by Seller and Buyer, or, absent such agreement, delivered in the Preliminary Settlement Statement prepared by Seller in accordance with this Section 2.03, will be the Preliminary Amount to be paid by Buyer to Seller at the Closing.

2.04         Closing Obligations. At the Closing:

2.05         Allocations and Adjustments. If the Closing occurs:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all adjustments to the Purchase Price described in Section 2.05 shall be made to the Cash Consideration (the Cash Consideration, as adjusted, the “Adjusted Cash Purchase Price”); provided, that such adjustments in Section 2.05(c) shall be calculated by netting all upward adjustments in Section 2.05(c)(i) against all downward adjustments in Section 2.05(c)(ii).

2.06            Assumption. If the Closing occurs, from and after the Closing Date, Buyer shall assume, fulfill, perform, pay and discharge the following liabilities arising from, based upon, related to, or associated with the Assets (collectively, the “Assumed Obligations”) subject to Seller’s indemnity obligations under Section 10.02 (further subject to the limitations and restrictions in Article 10), any and all Damages and obligations, known or unknown, allocable to the Assets prior to, at, or after the Effective Time, including any and all Damages and obligations:

Buyer acknowledges that:

2.07            Allocation of Purchase Price.

2.08            Withholding. Buyer and its Affiliates shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Legal Requirements; provided, however, that Buyer and its Affiliates shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Seller notice of any amounts otherwise payable that it intends to deduct and withhold at least three (3) days prior to making such withholding, and the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to reduce or eliminate such withholding. To the extent any amounts are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made.

Article 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

Each Seller individually represents and warrants to Buyer as of the Execution Date and the Closing Date, the following:

3.01            Organization and Good Standing. Stronghold OpCo is a limited liability company and Stronghold RoyaltyCo is a limited partnership and each are duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and, where required, each are duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the Assets are located, with full limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable, power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, and to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use.

3.02            Authority; No Conflict.

3.03         Bankruptcy. There are no bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership, or arrangement Proceedings pending or being contemplated by Seller or, to Seller’s Knowledge, Threatened against Seller.

3.04         Taxes.

3.05         Legal Proceedings. Other than as set forth on Schedule 3.05, Seller has not been served with any Proceeding, and, to Seller’s Knowledge, there is no pending or Threatened Proceeding (except for immaterial or frivolous claims) against Seller or any of its Affiliates, in each case, that (a) relates to Seller’s employment of the Available Employees and any notices, demands for settlement, and/or charges or claims with respect to any employees that could be binding on Buyer or the Assets after the Closing or Seller’s ownership or operation of any of the Assets, or (b) challenges, that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the Contemplated Transactions. Neither Seller nor the Assets are subject to any outstanding judgement, Order, or decree that would materially impair such Seller Party’s ability to consummate the Contemplated Transactions or materially affect the ownership, operation or value of the Assets.

3.06         Brokers. Neither Seller nor its Affiliates have incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for broker’s or finder’s fees with respect to the Contemplated Transactions, other than obligations that are and will remain the sole responsibility of Seller and its Affiliates.

3.07         Compliance with Legal Requirements. Except with respect to any representation and warranties regarding (a) Taxes, which are exclusively provided in Section 3.04 and (b) environmental matters, which are exclusively provided in Section 3.12, to Seller’s Knowledge, except as set forth in Schedule 3.07 or where lack of compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Execution Date, there is no uncured violation by Seller of any Legal Requirements with respect to Seller’s ownership and operation of the Assets.

3.08         Prepayments. Except for any Imbalances, Seller has not received payment under any Contract for the sale of Hydrocarbons produced from the Assets which requires delivery in the future to any Person of Hydrocarbons previously paid for and not yet delivered.

3.09         Material Contracts.

3.10            Consents and Preferential Purchase Rights. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10, none of the Assets is subject to any Preferential Purchase Rights or Consents required to be obtained by Seller which may be applicable to the Contemplated Transactions, except for (a) Consents and approvals of Governmental Bodies that are customarily obtained after Closing, (b) Contracts that are not Material Contracts and that are terminable upon not greater than ninety (90) days’ notice without payment of any fee, (c) Permitted Consents and (d) compliance with the HSR Act.

3.11            Current Commitments. Schedule 3.11 sets forth, as of the Execution Date, all approved authorizations for expenditures and other approved capital commitments that individually have an amount remaining equal to or greater than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) (net to Seller’s interest) (the “AFEs”) relating to the Assets to drill or rework any Wells or for other capital expenditures pursuant to any of the Material Contracts for which all of the activities anticipated in such AFEs have not been completed by the Execution Date. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 and except with respect to continuous drilling provisions contained in any Leases as set forth on Schedule 3.11, Seller has no unfulfilled drilling obligation or commitment affecting the Leases by virtue of any Contract (or the terms of the Leases themselves) relating to the Leases or the ownership or operation thereof. To Seller’s Knowledge, as of the Execution Date, all material expenses (for which Seller has received a written invoice, including bills for labor, materials and supplies used or furnished for use in connection with the Assets and amounts payable to co-owners of the Assets) required to be paid by Seller with respect to the ownership or operation of the Assets have been paid in the ordinary course of business except for any such expenses that are being disputed in good faith by Seller.

3.12            Environmental. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.12, (a) there are no Proceedings pending, or to Seller’s Knowledge, Threatened before any Governmental Body against Seller with respect to the Assets alleging material violations of Environmental Laws, (b) Seller has received no written notice from any Governmental Body of any material violation of or material non-compliance with any Environmental Law or of material non-compliance with the terms or conditions of any Permits required under Environmental Laws, arising from, based upon, associated with or related to the Assets or the ownership or operation of any thereof, in each case that remain unresolved, (c) Seller has not entered into any written agreements, orders, decrees, judgments or consents with any environmental Governmental Body and is not subject to any order, decree or judgment issued against Seller or any of its Affiliates by an environmental Governmental Body, in each case, in existence as of the Execution Date and based on any Environmental Laws that relate to the future use of any of the Assets or that presently require any remedial or corrective action and (d) to Seller’s Knowledge, there is no Hazardous Materials contamination of groundwater, surface water, soil or otherwise at, on, under or from the Assets with respect to which material remedial or corrective action by Seller is presently required under Environmental Laws. The representations and warranties in this Section 3.12 are the sole and exclusive representations of Seller with respect to matters arising under Environmental Law, Permits required under Environmental Laws or related to Hazardous Materials.

3.13            Wells. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13, (a) no Well operated by Stronghold OpCo (and to Seller’s Knowledge, no Well operated by a Third Party operator) is subject to material penalties on allowable production after the Effective Time because of any overproduction, (b) all of the Wells drilled and completed by Stronghold OpCo have been drilled and completed within the boundaries of the applicable Leases or within the limits otherwise permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, (c) no Well drilled and completed by Stronghold OpCo has been plugged and abandoned in a manner that does not comply in all material respects with requirements issued by a Governmental Body and (d) there are no Wells that Seller is currently obligated by applicable Legal Requirements or contract to plug or abandon or that are currently subject to exceptions to a requirement to plug or abandon issued by a Governmental Body. Each representation and warranty in this Section 3.13 with respect to Non-Operated Assets shall be deemed to be qualified by the phrase, “To Seller’s Knowledge”.

3.14            Royalties. Except (a) for the Suspense Funds and (b) as set forth in Schedule 3.14, Seller (and to Seller’s Knowledge, the applicable Third Party operator) has duly and properly paid (or caused to be duly and properly paid) in all material respects all Royalties due by Seller during the period of such Seller’s ownership of the Assets.

3.15            Suspense Funds. Schedule 3.15 sets forth all Suspense Funds held by Seller as of the date indicated in Schedule 3.15.

3.16            Permits. To Seller’s Knowledge, except as set forth in Schedule 3.16: (a) with respect to Assets currently operated by Seller or any of its Affiliates, Seller or its Affiliate (as applicable) has acquired and maintained all material Permits necessary to conduct operations on such Assets; (b) all such Permits are in full force and effect and no Proceeding is pending or Threatened to suspend, revoke or terminate any such Permit or declare any such Permit invalid; and (c) Seller has not received a written notice from a Governmental Body claiming the lack of a Permit or any failure to comply with any such Permits.

3.17            Payouts. To Seller’s Knowledge, Schedule 3.17 contains a complete and accurate list of Wells that have not reached “payout” (as may be defined by the applicable Contract, Lease or Legal Requirement) and are subject to a reversion or other adjustment at some level of cost recovery or payout (or passage of time or other event other than termination of a Lease by its terms).

3.18            Equipment. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.18, to Seller’s Knowledge, the tangible property utilized by Seller as operator of the Properties, necessary for the physical operation of the Wells or the gathering systems, and located at, on or under any of the Properties has been maintained in working order and operating condition in all material respects and is adequate for normal operation of the Assets in all material respects consistent with current practices, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

3.19            Investment Representations.

3.20            Disclosures with Multiple Applicability; Materiality; Schedule Supplements. If any fact, condition or matter disclosed in Seller’s disclosure Schedules applies to more than one Section of this Article 3, a single disclosure of such fact, condition or matter on such disclosure Schedules shall constitute disclosure with respect to all Sections of this Article 3 to which such fact, condition or other matter applies, regardless of the section of such disclosure Schedules in which such fact, condition or other matter is described. Inclusion of a matter on Seller’s disclosure Schedules with respect to a representation or warranty that is qualified by “material” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any variant of such terms shall not necessarily be deemed an indication that such matter does, or may, be material or have a Material Adverse Effect. Matters may be disclosed on a Schedule to this Agreement for purposes of information only. From time to time prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall have the right (but not the obligation) to supplement or amend the Schedules hereto to correct any matter that would otherwise constitute a breach of any representation or warranty of Seller contained herein (each a “Schedule Supplement”), and each such Schedule Supplement shall be deemed to be incorporated into and supplement and amend the Schedules for all purposes hereunder; provided, however, that any such Schedule Supplement shall be disregarded for purposes of, and shall not affect Buyer’s conditions to Closing set forth in, Section 7.01. If Closing occurs, then such supplements shall be incorporated into Seller’s disclosure Schedules and any claim related to such matters disclosed in the supplement shall be deemed waived and Buyer shall not be entitled to make a claim under this Agreement or otherwise with respect to such matters.

Article 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

Buyer represents and warrants to Seller, except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, as of the Execution Date and the Closing Date, the following:

4.01            Organization and Good Standing. Buyer is a corporation and duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Nevada and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the Assets are located.

4.02            Authority; No Conflict.

4.03            Valid Issuance

4.04            Certain Proceedings. There is no Proceeding pending against Buyer that challenges, or may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with, any of the Contemplated Transactions. To Buyer’s Knowledge, no such Proceeding has been Threatened.

4.05            Knowledgeable Investor. Buyer is an experienced and knowledgeable investor in the oil and gas business. Prior to entering into this Agreement, Buyer was advised by its own legal, tax and other professional counsel concerning this Agreement, the Contemplated Transactions, and the Assets and their value, and it has relied solely on such advice and on the representations and obligations of Seller in this Agreement and the documents to be executed by Seller in connection with this Agreement at the Closing. Buyer is acquiring the Assets for its own account and not for sale or distribution in violation of the Securities Act, the rules and regulations under such act, any applicable state blue sky laws or any other applicable Legal Requirements.

4.06            Qualification. Buyer is an “accredited investor,” as such term is defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act. Buyer is not acquiring the Assets in connection with a distribution or resale in violation of federal or state securities laws or any related rules and regulations. Buyer is, or as of the Closing will be, qualified under applicable Legal Requirements to hold leases, rights-of-way and other rights issued or controlled by (or on behalf of) any applicable Governmental Body and will be qualified under applicable Legal Requirements to own and operate the Assets. Buyer has, or as of the Closing will have, posted such bonds as may be required for the ownership or, where applicable, operatorship by Buyer of the Assets. To Buyer’s Knowledge, no fact or condition exists with respect to Buyer or the Assets which may cause any Governmental Body to withhold its approval of the Contemplated Transactions.

4.07            Brokers. Neither Buyer nor its Affiliates have incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for broker’s or finder’s fees with respect to the Contemplated Transactions other than obligations that are or will remain the sole responsibility of Buyer and its Affiliates.

4.08            Financial Ability. Buyer has furnished Seller with true, correct and complete copies of an executed debt commitment letter, dated as of the date hereof, among Truist Securities, Inc., Truist Bank, Citizens Bank, N.A., KeyBank National Association, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Buyer (the “Debt Financing Sources”), together with all Contracts, fee letters, engagement letters, and other arrangements associated therewith (provided that provisions in the fee or engagement letter relating solely to fees and economic terms (other than covenants) agreed to by the parties may be redacted (none of which redacted provisions adversely affects the availability of, or impose additional conditions on, the availability of the Debt Financing at the Closing, (such commitment letter(s) and related term sheets, including all exhibits, schedules, and annexes, and each such fee letter and engagement letter, collectively, the “Debt Commitment Letter”) for the purpose of funding the Contemplated Transactions (such debt financing being referred to as the “Debt Financing”). The Debt Commitment Letter has not been amended, supplemented or modified, and no provision thereof has been waived, prior to the date hereof and to Buyer’s Knowledge, no such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification or waiver is contemplated or pending, and the respective commitments contained in the Debt Commitment Letter have not been withdrawn, terminated or rescinded in any respect, and to the Buyer’s Knowledge no such withdrawal, termination or rescission is contemplated. There are no side letters or other agreements or arrangements related to the Debt Financing other than as expressly set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter furnished to Seller pursuant to this Section 4.08. The Debt Commitment Letter is not subject to any conditions or other similar contingencies (including pursuant to any “flex” provisions in the related fee letter or otherwise) other than as expressly set forth therein and not redacted in the version provided to Seller, and is in full force and effect and is the legal, valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of Buyer and each of the other parties thereto, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). All commitments and other fees required to be paid under the Debt Commitment Letter prior to the date hereof have been paid in full, and Buyer is not aware of any fact or occurrence existing on the date hereof that would reasonably be expected to make any of the assumptions or any of the statements set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter inaccurate or that would reasonably be expected to cause the Debt Commitment Letter to be ineffective. Assuming the conditions set forth in Article 7 are satisfied at the Closing and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations on the Debt Commitment Letter, the conditions to the Debt Financing will be satisfied and the full amount of the Debt Financing will be available to Buyer on the Closing Date, and Buyer is not aware of the existence of any fact or event as of the date hereof that would be expected to cause such conditions to the Debt Financing not to be satisfied or the full amount of the Debt Financing to not be available on the Closing Date. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, at Closing, Buyer will have sufficient cash, available lines of credit or other sources of immediately available funds to enable it to deliver the amounts due from Buyer under this Agreement at the Closing. Buyer expressly acknowledges that the failure to have sufficient funds shall in no event be a condition to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, and in no event shall the Buyer’s failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement be excused by failure to receive funds from any source (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Debt Financing).

4.09            Securities Laws.

4.10          NYSE American Listing. The issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock are listed for trading on the NYSE American.  Buyer is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE American, and Buyer has no taken no action that is reasonably likely to result in material noncompliance with such rules and regulations. Buyer has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration under the NYSE American. Buyer has not received any notification from the NYSE American to the effect that Buyer is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such market or exchange (or any other notice of delisting).

4.11        SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11:

4.12        Affiliate Transactions. Except for Contracts (a) filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to an SEC Documents and (b) related to any benefit plan under which Buyer has any current or contingent liability or obligation, the Buyer is not a party to any transaction or arrangement under which (i) any present executive officer or director of Buyer or any Person that has served as an executive officer or director of Buyer since January 1, 2020, or any of such officer’s or director’s immediate family members, (ii) any record or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of Buyer’s equity securities as of the date of this Agreement or (iii) to Buyer’s Knowledge, any Affiliate of any such officer, director or owner (other than Buyer) is a party, that would be required to be disclosed by Buyer pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.

4.13        Information to be Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Buyer for inclusion or incorporation by reference, the Proxy Statement will, at the time such Proxy Statement is mailed to Buyer Stockholders and at the time of a Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or necessary to correct any statement of a material fact in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders Meeting which has become false or misleading. Each Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

4.14        Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance; Controls and Procedures. Buyer, its Subsidiaries and the Buyer Board are in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in all material respects. Buyer maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting, and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “Buyer Internal Controls”) that comply with the applicable federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (a) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (b) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of Buyer SEC Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (c) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (d) the recorded accounting for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Buyer Internal Controls are overseen by the Audit Committee (the “Buyer Audit Committee”) of the Buyer Board in accordance with rules and regulations of the NYSE American. Buyer has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Buyer Audit Committee or the Buyer Board, and within the next ninety (90) days Buyer does not reasonably expect to publicly disclose or report to the Buyer Audit Committee or the Buyer Board, a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Buyer Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in Buyer Internal Controls, any violation of, or failure to comply with, the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, or any matter which, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.15            Form S-3. As of the Execution Date, Buyer is eligible to register the resale of the securities comprising Stock Consideration on Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Form S-3 Eligibility”). Buyer does not reasonably expect to lose its Form S-3 Eligibility.

4.16            No Stockholder Approval. Other than the Stockholder Approval, the Contemplated Transactions do not require any vote of the equityholders of Buyer under applicable Legal Requirements, the rules and regulations of the NYSE American or the Buyer Organizational Documents.

4.17            Investment Company Act. Buyer is not, and after giving effect to the Contemplated Transactions, Buyer will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

4.18            Due Diligence. Without limiting or impairing any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Seller contained in this Agreement and the Seller Closing Documents, or Buyer’s right to rely on such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement, as of the Closing Date, Buyer and its Representatives have (a) been permitted access to all materials relating to the Assets, (b) been afforded the opportunity to ask all questions of Seller concerning the Assets, (c) been afforded the opportunity to investigate the condition of the Assets and (d) had the opportunity to take such other actions and make such other independent investigations as Buyer deems necessary to evaluate the Assets, understand the merits and risks of an investment in the Assets and to verify the truth, accuracy and completeness of the materials, documents and other information provided or made available to Buyer (whether by Seller or otherwise). Without limiting or impairing any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Seller contained herein and the Seller Closing Documents, or Buyer’s right to rely thereon and Buyer’s rights pursuant to Article 10, Buyer waives any claims arising out of any materials, documents or other information provided or made available to Buyer (whether by Seller or otherwise), whether under this Agreement, at common law, by statute or otherwise.

4.19            Basis of Buyer’s Decision. By reason of Buyer’s knowledge and experience in the evaluation, acquisition and operation of oil and gas properties, Buyer has evaluated the merits and the risks of purchasing the Assets from Seller and has formed an opinion based solely on Buyer’s knowledge and experience, Buyer’s due diligence, and Seller’s representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and the Seller Closing Documents, and not on any other representations or warranties by Seller. Buyer has not relied and shall not rely on any statements by Seller or Seller’s Representatives (other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Seller contained in this Agreement and the Seller Closing Documents) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement or to close the Contemplated Transactions. Buyer understands and acknowledges that neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other Governmental Body has passed upon the Assets or made any finding or determination as to the fairness of an investment in the Assets or the accuracy or adequacy of the disclosures made to Buyer, and, except as set forth in Article 9, Buyer is not entitled to cancel, terminate or revoke this Agreement, whether due to the inability of Buyer to obtain financing or pay the Purchase Price, or otherwise.

4.20            Business Use, Bargaining Position. Buyer is purchasing the Assets for commercial or business use. Buyer has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that enables it to evaluate the merits and the risks of transactions such as the Contemplated Transactions, and Buyer is not in a significantly disparate bargaining position with Seller. Buyer expressly acknowledges and recognizes that the price for which Seller has agreed to sell the Assets and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement has been predicated upon the inapplicability of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices - Consumer Protection Act, V.C.T.A. BUS & COMM Ann. § 17.41 et seq. (the “DTPA”), to the extent applicable, or any similar Legal Requirement, and the waiver of the DTPA, and any similar Legal Requirement, by Buyer contained in Section 13.04. Buyer further recognizes that Seller, in determining to proceed with entering into this Agreement, has expressly relied on the provisions of this Article 4.

4.21            Bankruptcy. There are no bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or arrangement Proceedings pending or being contemplated by Buyer or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, Threatened against Buyer. Buyer is, and will be immediately after giving effect to the Contemplated Transactions, solvent.

4.22            Outstanding Common Stock. As of the Execution Date, Buyer has 107,236,111 outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock.

Article 5
COVENANTS OF SELLER

5.01            Access and Investigation.

5.02            Conduct of Business. Except (y) as set forth on Schedule 5.02, or (z) as required by applicable Legal Requirements, between the Execution Date and the Closing, Seller shall operate its business with respect to its ownership and operation of the Assets in the ordinary course, and, without limiting the generality of the preceding, shall:

Buyer acknowledges that Seller owns undivided interests in certain of the Properties comprising the Assets, and Buyer agrees that the acts or omissions of the other working interest owners who are not Seller or an Affiliate of Seller shall not constitute a Breach of the provisions of this Section 5.02, nor shall any action required by a vote of working interest owners constitute such a Breach so long as Seller or its Affiliate has voted its interest in a manner that complies with the provisions of this Section 5.02. Further, no action or inaction of any Third Party operator with respect to any Asset shall constitute a Breach of this Section 5.02 to the extent Seller uses commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Third Party operator to operate such applicable Asset in a manner consistent with this Section 5.02. Seller may seek Buyer’s approval to perform any action that would otherwise be restricted by this Section 5.02, and Buyer’s approval of any such action shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and shall be considered granted ten (10) days (unless a shorter time is reasonably required by the circumstances and such shorter time is specified in Seller’s notice) after delivery of notice from Seller to Buyer requesting such consent, unless Buyer notifies Seller to the contrary during such ten (10)-day period. In no event will Seller have any liability to Buyer for any Damages resulting from its (or its Affiliates’) performance of any covenant set forth in this Section 5.02, insofar as it relates to the operations on the Wells, in its capacity as the “Operator” of any of the Assets, except to the extent resulting from Seller’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.02, in the event of an emergency, Seller may take such action as reasonably necessary and shall notify Buyer of such action reasonably promptly thereafter but no later than three (3) Business Days thereafter. Any matter approved (or deemed approved) by Buyer pursuant to this Section 5.02 that would otherwise constitute a Breach of one of Seller’s representations and warranties in Article 3 shall be deemed to be an exclusion from all representations and warranties for which it is relevant.

5.03            Consent and Waivers. Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the Closing, written waivers of all Preferential Purchase Rights and all Consents necessary for the transfer of the Assets to Buyer. In the event Seller is unable to obtain all such waivers of Preferential Purchase Rights and Consents after using such commercially reasonable efforts, such failure to satisfy shall not constitute a Breach of this Agreement. Seller shall not be required to make any payments to, or undertake any obligations for the benefit of, the holders of such rights in order to obtain the waiver of any Preferential Purchase Right or any Consents. Buyer shall cooperate with Seller in seeking to obtain such waivers of Preferential Purchase Rights and Consents.

5.04            Successor Operator. While Buyer acknowledges that it desires to succeed Seller (or Seller’s operating Affiliate) as operator of those Assets or portions of such Assets that Seller (or its applicable operating Affiliate) may presently operate, Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Seller cannot and does not covenant or warrant that Buyer shall become successor operator of such Assets because such Assets (or portions of such Assets) may be subject to operating or other agreements that control the appointment of a successor operator. Seller agrees, however, that as to the Assets that Seller or its Affiliate operates, Seller shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to support Buyer’s efforts to become successor operator of such Assets (to the extent permitted under any applicable operating agreement) effective as of the Closing (at Buyer’s sole cost and expense) and to designate or appoint, to the extent legally possible and permitted under any applicable operating agreement, Buyer as successor operator of such Assets effective as of Closing.

5.05            Insurance. Seller shall maintain in force during the period between the Execution Date and the Closing, all of Seller’s insurance policies pertaining to the Assets in the amounts and with the coverages currently maintained by Seller. The daily pro-rated annual premiums for insurance that accrue after the Effective Time and are attributable to the insurance coverage for the period after the Effective Time until the Closing will constitute Property Costs.

5.06            Hedges.

5.07            Nomination Agreement. At Closing, Buyer, and the other Persons set forth as parties thereto will enter into a Director Nomination Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K (the “Nomination Agreement”), pursuant to which each such Person will, among other things, agree to vote for certain director nominees to the Buyer Board as provided in the Nomination Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, at any time after the Execution Date, Buyer may propose director nominees to the ESG Committee (as such term is defined in the Nomination Agreement), and, within ten (10) days of any such proposal to the ESG Committee, the ESG Committee acting in good faith, will notify Buyer as to whether it approves of the designation of such nominee to be appointed as a director in accordance with the Nomination Agreement as a director, based on the ESG Committee’s review of such nominee’s credentials (such approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

Article 6
OTHER COVENANTS

6.01            Notification and Cure. Between the Execution Date and the Closing Date, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing and Seller shall promptly notify Buyer in writing if Seller or Buyer, as applicable, obtain Knowledge of any Breach, in any material respect, of the other Party’s representations and warranties or covenants as of the Execution Date, or of an occurrence after the Execution Date that would cause or constitute a Breach, in any material respect, of any such representation and warranty or covenant had such representation and warranty or covenants been made as of the time of occurrence or discovery of such fact or condition. If any of Buyer’s or Seller’s representations or warranties are untrue or shall become untrue in any material respect between the Execution Date and the Closing Date, or if any of Buyer’s or Seller’s covenants or agreements to be performed or observed prior to or on the Closing Date shall not have been so performed or observed in any material respect, and if such Breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement shall (if curable) be cured by the Closing (or, if the Closing does not occur, by the date set forth in Section 9.01(d))then such Breach shall be considered not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement.

6.02            Replacement of Insurance, Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guaranties.

6.03            Governmental Reviews. Seller and Buyer shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to), in a timely manner, make all other required filings (if any) with, prepare applications to, and conduct negotiations with Governmental Bodies as required to consummate the Contemplated Transactions. Each Party shall, to the extent permitted pursuant to applicable Legal Requirements, cooperate with and use all reasonable efforts to assist the other Party(ies) with respect to such filings, applications and negotiations. Buyer shall bear the cost of all filing or application fees payable to any Governmental Body with respect to the Contemplated Transactions, regardless of whether Buyer, Seller or any Affiliate of any of them is required to make the payment.

6.04            Satisfaction of Conditions. Between the Execution Date and the Closing Date (a) Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions in Article 7 to be satisfied, and (b) Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions in Article 8 to be satisfied.

6.05            Required Financial Information.

6.06            Buyer Financing.

6.07            Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholder Meeting.

Article 7
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

Buyer’s obligation to purchase the Assets and to take the other actions required to be taken by Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by Buyer, in whole or in part):

7.01            Accuracy of Representations. All of Seller’s representations and warranties in this Agreement must have been true and correct in all respects as of the Execution Date, and must be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, other than any such representation and warranty that refers to a specified date, which need only be true and correct in all respects on and as of such specified date, except in each case for those Breaches, if any, of such representations and warranties that in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that, only for purposes of this Section 7.01, any breach or failure that has or could reasonably be expected to result in Damages to the Assets (or after Closing, Buyer) in an amount greater than seventeen and one-half percent (17.5%) of the unadjusted Purchase Price shall be deemed to result in a “Material Adverse Effect”.

7.02            Seller’s Performance. All of the covenants and obligations that Seller is required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing must have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.

7.03            No Proceedings. Since the Execution Date, there must not have been commenced against Seller, or against any Affiliate of Seller, any Proceeding (other than any matter initiated by either Buyer or its Affiliates) seeking to restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit or make illegal, or seeking to recover material Damages on account of, any of the Contemplated Transactions.

7.04            No Orders. On the Closing Date, there shall be no Order pending or remaining in force of any Governmental Body having appropriate jurisdiction that attempts to restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, or that grants material Damages in connection with any such Order.

7.05            Necessary Consents and Approvals. All Consents and approvals from Governmental Bodies required for the Contemplated Transactions (other than Consents and approvals of assignments by Governmental Bodies that are customarily obtained after Closing) shall have been granted, or the necessary waiting period shall have expired, or early termination of the waiting period shall have been granted.

7.06            Closing Deliverables. Seller shall have delivered (or be ready, willing and able to deliver at the Closing) to Buyer the documents and other items required to be delivered by Seller under Section 2.04(a).

7.07            Certificate of Designation. If Pre-Closing Stockholder Approval is not obtained, Seller shall have filed the Certificate of Designation relating to the Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada.

Article 8
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SELLER’S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

Seller’s obligation to sell the Assets and to take the other actions required to be taken by Seller at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by Seller, in whole or in part):

8.01            Accuracy of Representations. All of Buyer’s representations and warranties in this Agreement must have been true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, true and correct in all respects) as of the Execution Date, and must be true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, other than any such representation and warranty that refers to a specified date, which need only be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, true and correct in all respects) on and as of such specified date.

8.02            Buyer’s Performance. All of the covenants and obligations that Buyer is required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing must have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.

8.03            No Proceedings. Since the Execution Date, there must not have been commenced against Buyer or against any of its Affiliates, any Proceeding (other than any matter initiated by Seller or an Affiliate of Seller) seeking to restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit or make illegal, or seeking to recover material Damages on account of, any of the Contemplated Transactions.

8.04            No Orders. On the Closing Date, there shall be no Order pending or remaining in force of any Governmental Body having appropriate jurisdiction that attempts to restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, or that grants material Damages in connection with any such Order.

8.05            Necessary Consents and Approvals. All Consents and approvals from Governmental Bodies required for the Contemplated Transactions (other than Consents and approvals of assignments by Governmental Bodies that are customarily obtained after Closing) shall have been granted, and any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall have expired or early termination of the waiting period shall have been granted.

8.06            Closing Deliverables. Buyer shall have delivered (or be ready, willing and able to deliver at the Closing) to Seller the documents and other items required to be delivered by Buyer under Section 2.04(b).

8.07         Qualifications. Buyer shall have obtained all authorizations, qualifications and approvals required to be obtained prior to Closing under Section 6.02(a).

8.08         Certificate of Designation. If Pre-Closing Stockholder Approval is not obtained, Seller shall have filed the Certificate of Designation relating to the Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada.

Article 9
TERMINATION

9.01         Termination Events. This Agreement may, by written notice given prior to or at the Closing, be terminated:

9.02         Effect of Termination; Distribution of the Deposit Amount.

9.03         Return of Records Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, (a) Buyer shall promptly return to Seller or destroy (at Seller’s option) all title, engineering, geological and geophysical data, environmental assessments and reports, maps, documents and other information furnished by Seller to Buyer in connection with its due diligence investigation of the Assets and (b) an officer of Buyer shall certify Buyer’s compliance with the preceding clause (a) to Seller in writing.

Article 10
INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES

10.01       Survival. The survival periods for the various representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be as follows: (a) Fundamental Representations shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations after Closing, (b) the representations and warranties in Section 3.04 and the covenants and agreements in Section 2.07(b) and Section 13.02(b)-(i) shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations plus sixty (60) days, (c) the special warranty of Defensible Title set forth in the Instruments of Conveyance shall survive for thirty-six (36) months after Closing, (d) the covenants and other agreements of Seller set forth in this Agreement to be performed on or before Closing shall expire at Closing, (e) the covenants and other agreements of Seller set forth in this Agreement to be performed after Closing shall survive until fully performed, (f) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.12 and Section 3.18 shall terminate at Closing, (g) all other representations and warranties of Seller shall survive for twelve (12) months after Closing, (h) Buyer’s Fundamental Representations shall survive until the expiration of the statute of limitations after Closing, (i) all other representations and warranties of Buyer shall survive for thirty-six (36) months after Closing and (j) all covenants and agreements of Buyer shall survive until fully performed. Representations, warranties, covenants and agreements shall be of no further force and effect after the date of their expiration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no termination of any bona fide claim asserted pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement prior to its expiration date. The indemnities in Sections 10.02(a), 10.02(b), 10.03(a) and 10.03(b) shall terminate as of the termination date of each respective representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that is subject to indemnification with respect to such indemnity, except in each case as to matters for which a specific written claim for indemnity has been delivered to the indemnifying Person on or before such termination date. The indemnities in Section 10.02(c) shall continue for twelve (12) months following the Closing Date. All other indemnities of Buyer and all other provisions of this Agreement shall survive the Closing without time limit except as may otherwise be expressly provided in this Agreement.

10.02       Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Seller. Except as otherwise limited in this Article 10, from and after the Closing, Seller shall defend, release, indemnify and hold harmless Buyer Group from and against, and shall pay to the Buyer Group the amount of, any and all Damages, whether or not involving a Third Party claim or incurred in the investigation or defense of any of the same or in asserting, preserving or enforcing any of their respective rights under this Agreement arising from, based upon, related to or associated with:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, after the Closing, the remedies provided in this Article 10 and Article 11, along with the special warranty of Defensible Title set forth in the Instruments of Conveyance, are Buyer Group’s exclusive legal remedies against Seller with respect to this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including Breaches of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement or the affirmations of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations and agreements contained in the certificates delivered by Seller at Closing pursuant to Section 2.04. Buyer, except for those remedies provided in this Article 10 and Article 11 and for actual fraud, along with the special warranty of Defensible Title in the Instruments of Conveyance, releases Seller Group from any and all claims, causes of action, Proceedings or other legal rights and remedies of Buyer Group, known or unknown, which Buyer might now or subsequently have, based on, relating to or in any way arising out of this Agreement, the Contemplated Transactions, the ownership, use or operation of the Assets prior to the Closing or the condition, quality, status or nature of the Assets prior to the Closing (including any and all claims related to environmental matters or liability or violations of environmental laws and including rights to contribution under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, breaches of statutory or implied warranties, nuisance or other tort actions, rights to punitive damages, common law rights of contribution and rights under insurance maintained by Seller or any of Seller’s Affiliates).

10.03       Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Buyer. Except as otherwise limited in this Article 10 and Article 11, from and after the Closing, Buyer shall assume, be responsible for, pay on a current basis and shall defend, release, indemnify and hold harmless Seller Group from and against, and shall pay to Seller Group the amount of any and all Damages, whether or not involving a Third Party claim or incurred in the investigation or defense of any of the same or in asserting, preserving or enforcing any of their respective rights under this Agreement arising from, based upon, related to or associated with:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, after the Closing, and without limiting Seller’s termination rights under Article 9, the remedies provided in this Article 10 are Seller Group’s exclusive legal remedies for Buyer’s Breaches, all other legal rights and remedies being expressly waived by Seller Group. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, without limiting the remedies described in this Agreement, Seller is entitled to any equitable remedies available under applicable Legal Requirements in connection with any Breach by Buyer of Article 13. Buyer shall have no obligation to indemnify any member of the Seller Group for any Damages for which Seller is obligated to indemnify Buyer Group pursuant to Section 10.02(c).

10.04       Indemnity Net of Insurance. The amount of any Damages for which an indemnified Party is entitled to indemnity under this Article 10 shall be reduced by the amount of insurance or indemnification proceeds realized by the indemnified Party or its Affiliates with respect to such Damages (net of any collection costs, and excluding the proceeds of any insurance policy issued or underwritten, or indemnity granted, by the indemnified Party or its Affiliates).

10.05       Limitations on Liability.

10.06       Procedure for Indemnification – Third Party Claims.

10.07       Procedure for Indemnification – Other Claims. A claim for indemnification for any matter not involving a Third Party claim may be asserted by notice to the Party from whom indemnification is sought.

10.08       Indemnification of Group Members. The indemnities in favor of Buyer and Seller provided in Section 10.02 and Section 10.03, respectively, shall be for the benefit of and extend to Buyer’s and Seller’s (as applicable) respective present and former Group members. Any claim for indemnity under this Article 10 by any Group member other than Buyer or Seller must be brought and administered by the relevant Party to this Agreement. No indemnified party other than Buyer and Seller shall have any rights against the other Party(ies) under the terms of this Article 10 except as may be exercised on its behalf by Buyer or Seller, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 10.08. Each of Seller and Buyer may elect to exercise or not exercise indemnification rights under this Section on behalf of the other indemnified party affiliated with it in its sole discretion and shall have no liability to any such other indemnified party for any action or inaction under this Section.

10.09             Extent of Representations and Warranties.

10.10            Compliance With Express Negligence Test. The Parties agree that any indemnity, defense or release obligation arising under this Agreement shall apply without regard to the negligence, strict liability or other fault of the indemnified party, whether active, passive, joint, concurrent, comparative, contributory or sole, or any pre-existing condition, any breach of contract or breach of warranty, or violation of any Legal Requirement, except to the extent such Damages were occasioned by the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party or any applicable group member of such indemnified party, it being the Parties’ intention that Damages to the extent arising from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party or any applicable group member of such indemnified party not be covered by the release, defense or indemnity obligations in this Agreement. The foregoing is a specifically bargained for allocation of risk among the Parties, which the Parties agree and acknowledge, satisfies the express negligence rule and conspicuousness requirement under Texas law.

10.11            Limitations of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in no event shall Seller or Buyer ever be liable for, and Seller and Buyer release the other from, any consequential, special, indirect, exemplary or punitive damages or claims relating to or arising out of the Contemplated Transactions or this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any consequential, special, indirect, exemplary or punitive damages recovered by a Third Party (including a Governmental Body, but excluding any Affiliate of any Group member) against a Person entitled to indemnity pursuant to this Article 10 shall be included in the Damages recoverable under such indemnity, and (b) lost profits shall not be excluded by this provision to the extent constituting direct Damages.

10.12            No Duplication. Any liability for indemnification under this Agreement shall be determined without duplication of recovery by reason of the state of facts giving rise to such liability constituting a Breach of more than one representation, warranty, covenant, obligation or agreement in this Agreement. Neither Buyer nor Seller shall be liable for indemnification with respect to any Damages based on any sets of facts to the extent the Purchase Price is being or has been adjusted pursuant to Section 2.05 by reason of the same set of facts.

10.13            Disclaimer of Application of Anti-Indemnity Statutes. Seller and Buyer acknowledge and agree that the provisions of any anti-indemnity statute relating to oilfield services and associated activities shall not be applicable to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions.

10.14            Waiver of Right to Rescission. Seller and Buyer acknowledge that, following the Closing, the payment of money, as limited by the terms of this Agreement, shall be adequate compensation for Breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or for any other claim arising in connection with or with respect to the Contemplated Transactions. As the payment of money shall be adequate compensation, following Closing, Seller and Buyer waive any right to rescind this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions.

10.15            Disclaimer of Reliance on Seller’s Methodologies. For the avoidance of doubt, Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Buyer cannot rely on or form any conclusions from Seller’s methodologies for the determination and reporting of any Asset Taxes that were utilized for any Tax period (or portion of such Tax period) beginning prior to the Effective Time for purposes of calculating and reporting Asset Taxes attributable to any Tax period (or portion of such Tax period) or beginning after the Effective Time, it being understood that Buyer must make its own determination as to the proper methodologies that can or should be used for any such later Tax Return.

Article 11
TITLE MATTERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS; PREFERENTIAL PURCHASE RIGHTS; CONSENTS

11.01            Preferential Purchase Rights.

11.02            Consents. Seller shall initiate all procedures required to comply with or obtain all Consents required for the transfer of the Assets in accordance with Section 5.03.

11.03            Title Defects. Buyer may notify Seller of Title Defects (“Title Defect Notice(s)”) promptly after the discovery of such Title Defects, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on August 15, 2022 (the “Title Defect Notice Date”). To be effective, each Title Defect Notice shall be in writing and include (a) a description of the alleged Title Defect and Well or Lease affected by such alleged Title Defect (each such Well or Lease, individually, a “Title Defect Property”), (b) the Allocated Value and Total AV (if different) of the Title Defect Property, (c) supporting documents reasonably necessary for Seller to verify the existence of the alleged Title Defect, (d) Buyer’s preferred manner of curing such Title Defect and (e) the amount by which Buyer reasonably believes the Allocated Value and Total AV (if different) of the Title Defect Property is reduced by such alleged Title Defect and the computations upon which Buyer’s belief is based (the “Title Defect Value”). To give Seller an opportunity to commence reviewing and curing Title Defects, Buyer agrees to use reasonable efforts to give Seller, on or before the end of each calendar week prior to the Title Defect Notice Date, written notice of all alleged Title Defects (as well as any claims that would be claims under the special warranty of Defensible Title set forth in the Instruments of Conveyance) discovered by Buyer during the preceding week, which notice may be preliminary in nature and supplemented prior to the Title Defect Notice Date consistent with the requirements of this Section 11.03; provided, that the failure to provide any such notice shall not affect Buyer’s right to assert Title Defects at any time prior to the Title Defect Notice Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, without limitation to Buyer’s rights under the special warranty of Defensible Title set forth in the Instruments of Conveyance and Buyer’s express rights set forth in Article 10, Buyer forever waives, and Seller shall have no liability for, Title Defects not asserted by a Title Defect Notice meeting all of the requirements set forth in the preceding sentence on or before 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the Title Defect Notice Date.

11.04            Title Defect Value. The Title Defect Value shall be determined pursuant to the following guidelines, where applicable:

In no event, however, shall the total of the Title Defect Values related to a particular Title Defect Property exceed the Total AV of such Title Defect Property. The Title Defect Value with respect to a Title Defect shall be determined without any duplication of any costs or losses included in any other Title Defect Value, or for which Buyer otherwise receives credit in the calculation of the Purchase Price. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of determining the existence of a Title Defect or the Title Defect Value of a single Title Defect Property in which both Seller Parties have an interest (including for purposes of determining whether a Title Defect meets the De Minimis Title Defect Cost), the Seller Parties’ aggregate ownership interests and the Total AV shall be used in the applicable calculation.

11.05            Seller’s Cure or Contest of Title Defects. Seller, in its sole discretion, (x) may elect to exclude at Closing any Lease or Well, as applicable (together with any other associated Assets to the extent pertaining to such Lease or Well, as applicable, which will become Retained Assets) affected by an asserted Title Defect(s) if the aggregate of any or all Title Defect Values with respect to such Lease or Well, as applicable, equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of its Total AV, and reduce the Cash Consideration by the Total AV of such Lease or Well, as applicable, (y) may contest any asserted Title Defect or Buyer’s good faith estimate of the Title Defect Value as described in Section 11.05(b) or (z) may seek to cure any asserted Title Defect as described in Section 11.05(a); provided that if Seller elects to exclude an Asset under clause (x) above, then Buyer shall have the right to waive such Title Defect and such Asset shall be conveyed to Buyer at Closing with no adjustment to the Purchase Price.

11.06            Limitations on Adjustments for Title Defects. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 11.03, 11.04 and 11.05, Seller shall not be obligated to adjust the Cash Consideration to account for uncured Title Defects unless and until the sum of (x) the aggregate Title Defect Values of all individual uncured Title Defects (after taking into account any offsetting Title Benefit Values) (the “Aggregate Title Defect Value”), plus (y) the Aggregate Environmental Defect Value, exceeds the Aggregate Defect Deductible and then only by such amount that exceeds the Aggregate Defect Deductible. In addition, Buyer shall have no recourse for any individual Title Defect if the Title Defect Value for such Title Defect (determined separately for each affected Title Defect Property) is less than the De Minimis Title Defect Cost (which value shall not be considered in calculating the Aggregate Title Defect Value). For the avoidance of doubt, if Seller retains any Asset(s) related to any Title Defect pursuant to Section 11.05, then (x) the Cash Consideration shall be reduced by the Total AV of such Retained Asset(s) and (y) the Title Defect Value for the Title Defect relating to such Retained Asset(s) will not be counted towards the Aggregate Title Defect Value.

11.07            Title Benefits.

11.08            Exclusive Remedies. Except for the special warranty of Defensible Title in the Instruments of Conveyance, and without limiting Buyer’s remedies for Title Defects set forth in this Article 11, Seller makes no warranty or representation, express, implied, statutory or otherwise with respect to Seller’s title to any of the Assets, and Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Buyer’s sole remedy for any defect of title, including any Title Defect, with respect to any of the Assets (a) before Closing, shall be as set forth in Section 11.05 or if applicable, Section 9.01(g) and (b) after Closing, shall be pursuant to the special warranty of Defensible Title in the Instruments of Conveyance. Buyer shall not be entitled to protection under Seller’s special warranty of Defensible Title in the Assignment against any Title Defect reported by Buyer under Section 11.03.

11.09            Environmental Assessment.

11.10            Environmental Defect Notice. Buyer shall notify Seller in writing of any Environmental Defect (an “Environmental Defect Notice”) promptly after the discovery of such Environmental Defect, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on August 15, 2022 (the “Environmental Defect Notice Date”). To give Seller an opportunity to commence reviewing and remediating or curing alleged Environmental Defects asserted by Buyer, Buyer agrees to use reasonable efforts to give Seller, on or before the end of each calendar week prior to the Environmental Defect Notice Date, written notice of all alleged Environmental Defects discovered by Buyer during such calendar week, which notice may be preliminary in nature and supplemented prior to the Environmental Defect Notice Date consistent with the requirements of this Section 11.10. To be effective, an Environmental Defect Notice shall include: (a) the Lease(s) or Well(s) affected, in each case by the alleged Environmental Defect, including the Total AV of each affected Lease or Well; (b) a complete and detailed description of the alleged Environmental Defect and the basis for such assertion under the terms of this Agreement, including the Environmental Laws that Buyer asserts have been violated in connection with such alleged Environmental Defect; (c) Buyer’s good faith estimate of the Environmental Defect Value with respect to such Environmental Defect and a description of the method used to calculate the Environmental Defect Value; and (d) appropriate documentation reasonably necessary for Seller to substantiate Buyer’s claim and calculation of the Environmental Defect Value. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, without limitation to Buyer’s express rights pursuant to Article 10 for the Specified Obligations, Buyer forever waives any Environmental Liabilities, including Environmental Defects not asserted by an Environmental Defect Notice meeting all of the requirements set forth in the preceding sentence on or before 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the Environmental Defect Notice Date. Buyer’s calculation of the Lowest Cost Response included in the Environmental Defect Notice must describe in reasonable detail the Lowest Cost Response proposed for the Environmental Condition that gives rise to the asserted Environmental Defect and identify all assumptions used by Buyer in calculating the Lowest Cost Response amount, including the standards that Buyer asserts must be met in order to comply with Environmental Laws.

11.11            Seller’s Exclusion, Cure or Contest of Environmental Defects. With respect to any Environmental Defect asserted by Buyer in an Environmental Defect Notice, Seller, in its sole discretion, may (x) elect to exclude at Closing any Well or Lease, as applicable (together with any other associated Assets to the extent pertaining to such Well or Lease, as applicable, which will become Retained Assets) affected by an asserted Environmental Defect if the Environmental Defect Value with respect to such Environmental Defect equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the Total AV of the affected Lease(s) or Well(s), as applicable, and reduce the Cash Consideration by such Total AV, (y) contest any asserted Environmental Defect or Buyer’s good faith estimate of the Environmental Defect Value as described in Section 11.11(b) or (z) seek to remediate or cure any asserted Environmental Defect to the extent of the Lowest Cost Response as described in Section 11.11(a).

11.12            Limitations. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 11.10 and 11.11, no adjustment to the Cash Consideration for Environmental Defect Values shall be made unless and until the sum of (x) the aggregate value of all Environmental Defect Values (the “Aggregate Environmental Defect Value”), plus (y) the Aggregate Title Defect Value, exceeds the Aggregate Defect Deductible and then only by such amount that exceeds the Aggregate Defect Deductible. In addition, Buyer shall have no recourse under this Agreement for any individual Environmental Defect if the Environmental Defect Value with respect to any single Environmental Defect is less than the De Minimis Environmental Defect Cost, and such cost shall not be considered in calculating the Aggregate Environmental Defect Value; provided, that to the extent any Environmental Defect pertaining solely to a single Asset gives rise to any other Environmental Defect(s) at any other Assets, then the Environmental Defect Values of such Environmental Defects may be aggregated for purposes of meeting the De Minimis Environmental Defect Cost. For the avoidance of doubt, if Seller retains any Asset(s) related to any Environmental Defect pursuant to Section 11.10, then (x) the Purchase Price shall be reduced by the Total AV of such retained Asset(s) and (y) the Environmental Defect Amount for the Environmental Defect relating to such retained Asset(s) will not be counted towards the Aggregate Environmental Defect Value.

11.13            Exclusive Remedies. The rights and remedies granted to Buyer in this Article 11, Buyer’s right to indemnification for the Specified Obligations in Section 10.02(c) and, if applicable, Section 9.01(g) are the exclusive rights and remedies against Seller related to any Environmental Liability or Environmental Condition or Damages related thereto. Buyer expressly waives, and releases Seller Group from, any and all other rights and remedies it may have under Environmental Laws against Seller regarding Environmental Liabilities and Environmental Conditions, whether for contribution, indemnity or otherwise. The foregoing is a specifically bargained for allocation of risk among the Parties, which the Parties agree and acknowledge satisfies the express negligence rule and conspicuousness requirement under Texas law.

11.14            Casualty Loss and Condemnation. If, after the Execution Date but prior to Closing Date, any portion of the Assets is destroyed by fire or other casualty or is expropriated or taken in condemnation or under right of eminent domain (a “Casualty Loss”), this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and Buyer shall nevertheless be required to close the Contemplated Transactions. In the event that the amount of the costs and expenses associated with repairing or restoring the Assets affected by such Casualty Loss exceeds Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000) net to Seller’s interest, Seller must elect by written notice to Buyer prior to Closing either to (a) cause the Assets affected by such Casualty Loss to be repaired or restored, at Seller’s sole cost, as promptly as reasonably practicable (which work may extend after the Closing Date), (b) indemnify Buyer under an indemnification agreement mutually acceptable to the Parties against any costs or expenses that Buyer reasonably incurs to repair or restore the Assets subject to such Casualty Loss or (c) reduce the Cash Consideration by the cost to repair or restore such Casualty Loss. In each case, Seller shall retain all rights to insurance and other claims against Third Parties with respect to the applicable Casualty Loss except to the extent the Parties otherwise agree in writing. Seller shall have no other liability or responsibility to Buyer with respect to a Casualty Loss, even if such Casualty Loss shall have resulted from or shall have arisen out of the sole or concurrent negligence, fault, or violation of a Legal Requirement of Seller or any member of Seller Group.

11.15            Expert Proceedings.

Article 12
EMPLOYEE MATTERS

12.01            Seller Compensation and Benefit Plans. Effective by the Closing Date, Seller shall retain all of the Seller Benefit Plans.

12.02            Available Employees’ Offers and Post-Closing Date Employment. Within five (5) Business Days following the Execution Date, Seller shall deliver to Buyer a schedule that includes a list of all Available Employees who are primarily engaged in the operation or management of the Assets (the “Employee Letter”), which Employee Letter shall include the name, job title, active/leave status and hire date of each such Available Employee. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Buyer in its sole and absolute discretion, may make offers of employment in compliance with applicable Legal Requirements, which offers will be effective as of the Closing Date (“Employment Date”), to one or more of the Available Employees identified in the Employee Letter, subject to the requirements of this Article 12. Not later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing Date, Buyer shall provide drafts of such written offers to Seller for Seller’s review and approval, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Employees who commence employment with Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer on the Employment Date are referred to individually and collectively as “Continuing Employees”; provided, however, if an Available Employee is receiving short-term or long-term disability benefits as of the Closing Date (each, a “Disability Employee”), Buyer or Buyer’s Affiliate’s employment offer to such Available Employee shall be effective as of the date on which the applicable Available Employee returns from such leave of absence, provided that such Available Employee returns from leave of absence within six (6) months following the Closing Date (or such longer period provided by law). With respect to each such Disability Employee who commences employment with Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer, such Disability Employee shall be deemed a Continuing Employee on, and references to the Employment Date in this Article 12 shall be deemed to refer to, the date that such Disability Employee commences employment with Buyer or its Affiliate. Buyer shall comply with all applicable Legal Requirements with respect to the employment offer process and the hiring of (or decision not to hire) Available Employees. From and after the Closing, Buyer shall bear all liabilities and costs relating to, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Seller and its Affiliates with respect to all claims and Damages relating to or arising out of Buyer’s employment offer process described in this Article 12 (including any claim of discrimination or other illegality in such offer process, including any decision not to make an offer of employment to an Available Employee) and Buyer making an offer to an Available Employee that does not meet the requirements of Article 12).

12.03            Post-Closing Date Employment Claims. Buyer shall bear all liabilities and costs relating to, and shall indemnify, defend and hold Seller and its Affiliates harmless from and against any and all liability of any kind or nature involving or related to the hiring, employment or termination of employment of the Continuing Employees by Buyer, including (but not limited to) (i) any liability related to any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by Buyer or its ERISA Affiliates after the Closing Date, (ii) Buyer’s breach of its obligations under this Article 12, including any failure of Buyer or its Affiliates to provide to Continuing Employees the compensation and benefits described in Article 12, and (iii) any claims for severance or other separation payments or other benefits in connection with the termination of employment by Buyer or its Affiliates of any Continuing Employee after the Closing Date.

12.04            WARN Act. Buyer agrees that it or its Affiliate will make offers of employment, as described in Article 12, to a sufficient number of Available Employees and on terms and conditions of employment such that there will be no notice or other obligations required under the WARN Act as a result, in whole or in part, of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If circumstances trigger the WARN Act, then Buyer shall be solely responsible for any liabilities and obligations arising under the WARN Act for any actions taken by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates on or after the Closing. For a period of ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, Buyer and its Affiliates shall not engage in any conduct that would result in an employment loss or layoff for a sufficient number of employees of Buyer and its Affiliates which, if aggregated with any such conduct on the part of Seller or its Affiliates, would trigger the WARN Act.

12.05            No Third Party Beneficiary Rights. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall confer upon any Available Employees (or any of their beneficiaries or alternate payees) any rights or remedies (including any right to employment or continued employment, or any right to compensation or benefits for any period) of any nature or kind whatsoever, under or by reason of this Agreement or otherwise. In addition, the provisions of this Article 12 are for the sole benefit of the Parties and are not for the benefit of any Third Party. Nothing contained in this Article 12 shall be considered or deemed to establish, amend, or modify any benefit or compensation plan, program, policy, agreement, arrangement, or contract.

Article 13
GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.01            Records. As soon as reasonably practicable after Closing, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days following the Closing Date, Seller, at Buyer’s cost and expense, shall deliver originals of all Records (which may be delivered in electronic format, if originals are maintained in such format by Seller) to Buyer (FOB Seller’s office). With respect to any original Records delivered to Buyer, (a) Seller shall be entitled to retain copies of such Records, and (b) Buyer shall retain any such original Records for at least seven (7) years beyond the Closing Date, during which seven (7)-year period Seller shall be entitled to obtain access to such Records, at reasonable business hours and upon prior notice to Buyer, so that Seller may make copies of such originals, at its own expense, as may be reasonable or necessary for Tax purposes or in connection with any Proceeding or Threatened Proceeding against Seller or its Affiliate.

13.02            Expenses and Tax Matters.

13.03            Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by electronic mail (“E-mail”) with receipt acknowledged, with the receiving Party affirmatively obligated to promptly acknowledge receipt, or (c) when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate recipients, addresses, and e-mail addresses set forth below (or to such other recipients or addresses as a Party may from time to time designate by notice to the other Party):

NOTICES TO BUYER:

Ring Energy, Inc.
1725 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 900
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Attention: Paul D. McKinney, Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: pmckinney@ringenergy.com

With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Jones & Keller, P.C.

1675 Broadway, 26^th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80202

NOTICES TO SELLER:

Stronghold Energy II Operating, LLC

508 W. Wall St., Suite 550

Midland, TX 79701
Attention: Caleb Weatherl
E-mail: caleb.weatherl@strongholdoperating.com ___

__________

With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street, 45^th Floor

Houston, TX 77002

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

401 Congress Avenue, 25^th Floor

Austin, TX 78701

Attention: Adam D. Larson, P.C.

E-mail: adam.larson@kirkland.com

13.04            Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Jury Waiver. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the rights, duties and the legal relations among the Parties shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any conflicts of law rule or principle that might refer construction of such provisions to the laws of another jurisdiction, except for, any matters related to real property which shall be governed by the laws of the state where such real property is located. Without limiting the Parties’ agreement to arbitrate in Section 11.15 or the dispute resolution procedures provided in Section 2.05(d) and Section 11.15, with respect to disputes arising under or properly subject to this Agreement, the Parties consent to the exercise of jurisdiction in personam by the federal courts of the United States located in Houston, Texas or the state courts located in Houston, Texas for any action arising out of this Agreement, any transaction documents or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or any transaction documents. All actions or Proceedings with respect to, arising directly or indirectly in connection with, out of, related to, or from this Agreement, any transaction documents or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or any transaction documents shall be exclusively litigated in such courts described above having sites in Houston, Texas and each Party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts solely in respect of any Proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement. Each Party voluntarily, intentionally and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any action, suit or Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any transaction documents or any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or any transaction document. The Parties further agree, to the extent permitted by law, that a final and nonappealable judgment against a Party in any action or Proceeding contemplated above shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the judgment, a certified or exemplified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment. To the extent that a Party or any of its Affiliates has acquired, or hereafter may acquire, any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, such Party (on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates) irrevocably (i) waives such immunity in respect of its obligations with respect to this Agreement and (ii) submits to the personal jurisdiction of any court described in this Section 13.04.

13.05            Further Assurances. The Parties agree (a) to furnish upon request to each other such further information, (b) to execute, acknowledge and deliver to each other such other documents and (c) to do such other acts and things, all as the other Party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement.

13.06            Waiver. The rights and remedies of the Parties are cumulative and not alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by either Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege shall preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirement, (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one Party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the other Party, (b) no waiver that may be given by a Party shall be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given, and (c) no notice to or demand on one Party shall be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such Party or of the right of the Party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.

13.07            Entire Agreement and Modification. This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions, communications and agreements (whether oral or written) between the Parties with respect to its subject matter and constitutes (along with the documents referred to in this Agreement, including the Confidentiality Agreements (as modified and provided in this Agreement)) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement between the Parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified except by a written agreement executed by both Parties. No representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement has been made by either Party that is not embodied in this Agreement together with the documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and neither Party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention not so set forth. In the event of a conflict between the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the terms and provisions of any Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall govern, control and prevail.

13.08            Assignments, Successors and Restrictions on Third Party Rights. Neither Party may assign any of its rights, liabilities, covenants or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party (which consent may be granted or denied at the sole discretion of the other Party), and (a) any assignment made without such consent shall be void, and (b) in the event of such consent, such assignment nevertheless shall not relieve such assigning Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall apply to, be binding in all respects upon, and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties. Except for (a) the No-Recourse Parties solely with respect to the terms of Section 13.17 (b) the Seller Related Parties and Seller’s Counsel solely with respect to the terms of Section 13.18, and (c) the Financing Parties solely with respect to Section 13.20, nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Person other than the Parties or any other agreement contemplated in this Agreement (and Buyer Group and Seller Group who are entitled to indemnification under Article 10), any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated in this Agreement, and all provisions and conditions in this agreement or any other agreement contemplated in this Agreement, are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Parties and such other agreements (and Buyer Group and Seller Group who are entitled to indemnification under Article 10), and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

13.09            Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

13.10            Article and Section Headings, Construction. The headings of Sections, Articles, Exhibits and Schedules in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and shall not affect its construction or interpretation. All references to “Section,” “Article,” “Exhibit,” or “Schedule” refer to the corresponding Section, Article, Exhibit or Schedule of this Agreement. Each definition of a defined term in this Agreement shall be equally applicable both to the singular and the plural forms of the term so defined. All words used in this Agreement shall be construed to be of such gender or number, as the circumstances require. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the word “including” does not limit the preceding words or terms and (in its various forms) means including without limitation. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. If a date specified for giving any notice or taking any action is not a Business Day (or if the period during which any notice is required to be given or any action taken expires on a date which is not a Business Day), then the date for giving such notice or taking such action (and the expiration date of such period during which notice is required to be given or action taken) shall be the next day which is a Business Day. Each Party has had substantial input into the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and has had the opportunity to exercise business discretion in relation to the negotiation of the details of the Contemplated Transactions. This Agreement is the result of arm’s-length negotiations from equal bargaining positions. This Agreement shall not be construed against either Party, and no consideration shall be given or presumption made on the basis of who drafted this Agreement or any particular provision in this Agreement or who supplied the form of Agreement.

13.11            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by e-mail transmission) in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.

13.12            Press Release, News Media and External Statements. Except as required by applicable Legal Requirements, neither Party shall issue or make any press release or any other public announcement or statement, in any form of media concerning this Agreement (or otherwise publicly disclose the terms of this Agreement) or the Contemplated Transactions without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may be withheld for any reason or without reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer may provide information about this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions to its member companies and their respective officers, employees, agents or Representatives. At least three (3) Business Days prior to issuing or making any press release or any other public announcement or statement, in any form of media concerning this Agreement (or otherwise disclosing the terms of this Agreement) or the Contemplated Transactions, in each case, in accordance with this Section 13.12, the publishing Party shall provide the non-publishing Party with such release, announcement or disclosure and shall incorporate any reasonable comments requested by the non-publishing Party into such release, announcement or disclosure. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither Buyer nor Seller shall disclose the name of the other Party or Parties, or the names of any of such other Party’s Affiliates in any public release or announcement without the prior written consent of the other Party (which consent may be withheld for any reason or without reason). Seller and Buyer shall each be liable for the compliance of their respective Affiliates with the terms of this Section 13.12.

13.13            Confidentiality. Except as to the Excluded Assets, the Confidentiality Agreements shall terminate on the Closing Date and will thereafter, except as to the Excluded Assets, be of no further force or effect. Each Party shall keep confidential, and cause its Affiliates and instruct its Representatives to keep confidential, all terms and provisions of this Agreement, except (a) as required by Legal Requirements or any standards or rules of any stock exchange to which such Party or any of its Affiliates is subject, (b) for information that is available to the public on the Closing Date, or thereafter becomes available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Section 13.13, (c) to the extent required to be disclosed in connection with complying with or obtaining a waiver of any Preferential Purchase Right or Consent and (d) to the extent that such Party must disclose the same in any Proceeding brought by it to enforce its rights under this Agreement. This Section 13.13 shall not prevent either Party from recording the Instruments of Conveyance delivered at the Closing or from complying with any disclosure requirements of Governmental Bodies that are applicable to the transfer of the Assets. The covenant set forth in this Section 13.13 shall terminate two (2) years after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.12 or this Section 13.13, nothing herein shall restrict the ability of Seller or Warburg to disclose the Contemplated Transactions (including the identity of the Parties or confidential information related to the Contemplated Transactions) to its direct or indirect investors, limited partners or other financing sources.

13.14            Name Change. As promptly as practicable, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the Closing Date, Buyer shall eliminate, remove or paint over the use of the names “Stronghold Energy II Operating LLC”, “Stronghold Energy” and variants of such names from the Assets and change all emergency phone numbers, and, except with respect to such grace period for eliminating the existing usage, shall have no right to use any logos, trademarks, trade names or emergency phone numbers belonging to Seller or any of their Affiliates. Buyer shall be solely responsible for any direct or indirect costs or expenses resulting from the change in use of names and any resulting notification or approval requirements.

13.15            Preparation of Agreement. Seller and Buyer and each of their respective counsel participated in the preparation of this Agreement. In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption shall arise based on the identity of the draftsman of this Agreement.

13.16            Appendices, Exhibits and Schedules. All of the Appendices, Exhibits and Schedules referred to in this Agreement are incorporated into this Agreement by reference and constitute a part of this Agreement. Each Party to this Agreement and its counsel has received a complete set of Appendices, Exhibits and Schedules prior to and as of the execution of this Agreement.

13.17            No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement or any document, agreement, or instrument delivered contemporaneously with this Agreement, and notwithstanding the fact that Seller may be a partnership or limited liability company, and the Parties by their acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, covenants, agrees and acknowledge that no Persons other than the named Seller Parties and the Buyer to this Agreement (and each Seller Party’s and Buyer’s respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Recourse Parties”) shall have any obligation under this Agreement and that it has no rights of recovery under this Agreement against, and no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents, agreements, or instruments delivered contemporaneously with this Agreement or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection with this Agreement or any documents, agreements, or instruments delivered contemporaneously with this Agreement against (a) any former, current or future director, officer, agent, Affiliate, manager, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, Representative or employee of each Seller Party and Buyer (or any of the foregoing Persons’ successors or permitted assignees), (b) any former, current, or future general or limited partner, owner, manager, stockholder or member of each Seller Party and Buyer (or any of the foregoing Persons’ successors or permitted assignees) or any Affiliate of each Seller Party, Buyer or (c) any former, current or future director, owner, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate, manager, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, Representative, general or limited partner, stockholder, manager or member of any of the foregoing, but in each case not including each Seller Party and Buyer (each, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, the Recourse Parties, a “No-Recourse Party”), whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by or through a claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) by or on behalf of either Seller Party or Buyer against the No-Recourse Parties, by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other Legal Requirement, or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on, or otherwise be incurred by any No-Recourse Party, as such, for any obligations of either Seller Party or Buyer under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, under any documents or instruments delivered contemporaneously with this Agreement, in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection with this Agreement or any transactions contemplated under this Agreement, or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.

13.18            Conflict Waiver; Privilege. Buyer, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (collectively, the “Buyer Related Parties”), hereby waives, and agrees not to allege, any claim that Kirkland & Ellis LLP (“Seller’s Counsel”) has a conflict of interest or is otherwise prohibited from representing Seller, Warburg, or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives (“Seller Related Parties”) in any post-Closing matter or dispute with any of the Buyer Related Parties related to or involving this Agreement (including the negotiation hereof) or the transactions contemplated hereby, even though the interests of one or more of the Seller Related Parties in such matter or dispute may be directly adverse to the interests of one or more of the Buyer Related Parties. Buyer, on behalf of itself and all other Buyer Related Parties, acknowledges and agrees that Seller’s, and each of its Affiliate’s, attorney-client privilege, attorney work-product protection and expectation of client confidence involving any proposed sale of the Assets or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, and all information and documents covered by such privilege, protection or expectation shall be retained and controlled by Seller and its Affiliates, and may be waived only by Seller. Buyer and Seller acknowledge and agree that (a) the foregoing attorney-client privilege, work product protection and expectation of client confidence shall not be controlled, owned, used, waived or claimed by any of the Buyer Related Parties upon consummation of the Closing, and (b) in the event of a dispute between any of the Buyer Related Parties, on the one hand, and a Third Party, on the other hand, or any other circumstance in which a Third Party requests or demands that any of the Buyer Related Parties produce privileged materials or attorney work-product of Seller or its Affiliates, Buyer shall cause the applicable Buyer Related Parties to assert such attorney-client privilege on behalf of Seller or its Affiliates to prevent disclosure of privileged materials or attorney work-product to such Third Party. Buyer and Seller acknowledge and agree that the attorney-client privilege, attorney work-product protection and expectation of client confidence involving general business matters related to the Assets and arising prior to the Closing for the benefit of Seller and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Buyer Related Parties, on the other hand, shall be subject to a joint privilege and protection between such parties, which parties shall have equal right to assert all such joint privilege and protection and no such joint privilege or protection may be waived by (i) Seller or its Affiliates without the prior written consent of Buyer, or (ii) any of the Buyer Related Parties without the prior written consent of Seller; provided, however, that any such privileged materials or protected attorney-work product information, whether arising prior to, or after the Closing Date, with respect to any matter for which a party has an indemnification obligation hereunder, shall be subject to the sole control of such party, which shall be solely entitled to control the assertion or waiver of the privilege or protection, whether or not such information is in the possession of or under the control of such party. This Section 13.18 is for the benefit of Seller, the Seller Related Parties and Seller’s Counsel, and Seller Related Parties and Seller’s Counsel are express third-party beneficiaries of this Section 13.18. This Section 13.18 shall be irrevocable, and no term of this Section 13.18 may be amended, waived or modified, except in accordance with Section 13.07, as the case may be, and with the prior written consent of Seller’s Counsel and the Seller Related Party affected thereby. This Section 13.18 shall survive the Closing and shall remain in effect indefinitely.

13.19            Specific Performance. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Parties will be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached and that any non-performance or Breach of this Agreement by any Party could not be adequately compensated by monetary damages alone and that the Parties would not have any adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, in addition to any other right or remedy to which any Party may be entitled, at law or in equity (including monetary damages), Buyer and, following Closing, Seller shall be entitled to enforce any provision of this Agreement by a decree of specific performance and to seek temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent Breaches or Threatened Breaches of any of the provisions of this Agreement without posting any bond or other undertaking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parties agree that Buyer shall be entitled to enforce specifically Seller’s obligation to consummate the Contemplated Transactions (including the obligation to consummate the Closing), if the conditions set forth in Article 8 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) or waived. The Parties agree that they will not contest the appropriateness of specific performance as a remedy.

13.20            No Recourse to Financing Sources. Each Seller Party agrees, on behalf of itself and the Seller Related Parties, (a) that the financial institutions (including the Debt Financing Sources) that have agreed to provide the Debt Financing (“Buyer’s Financing Sources”), their Affiliates and each of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, incorporators, members, partners, equity holders, agents, attorneys (collectively, the “Financing Parties”) shall be subject to no liability to or claims by any Seller Party or any Seller Related Party in connection with the Financing or in any way relating to this Agreement, whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise, (b) not to seek to enforce commitments or other rights under the Debt Commitment Letter or any contract entered into with respect to the Debt Financing against, or make any claims for breach of such commitments, or such other rights against, or to seek to recover monetary damages from, the Financing Parties, or otherwise sue the Financing Parties for any reason related to the Debt Commitment Letter or any contract entered into with respect to the Debt Financing, and (c) that it waives any and all claims and causes of action against the Financing Parties relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, or any contract entered into with respect to the Debt Financing or the performance of any services thereunder, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise. No amendment or modification to this Section 13.20, and no amendment or modification to Section 13.08 that would be adverse to any Financing Party, shall be effective without the prior written consent of Buyer’s Financing Sources. Each Financing Party shall be an express third party beneficiary of, and shall have the right to enforce, this Section 13.20.

[Signature Page Follows]