Evolution Petroleum Corp S-3, filed Jun 3, 2022
Evolution Petroleum Corp (EPM)
S-3
2022-06-03
View Original
Added on
October 22, 2026
As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Nevada
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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41-1781991
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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Evolution Petroleum Corporation
1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425 Houston, Texas 77079 (713) 935-0122
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) |
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Jason E. Brown
President and Chief Executive Officer Evolution Petroleum Corporation 1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425 Houston, Texas 77079 (713) 935-0122
(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service) |
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Copy to:
William T. Heller IV
Jeff M. Dobbs
Mayer Brown LLP
700 Louisiana Street, Suite 3400
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 238-3000
Jeff M. Dobbs
Mayer Brown LLP
700 Louisiana Street, Suite 3400
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 238-3000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of securities to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462 (c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Emerging growth company
☐
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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Table of Contents
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Using this process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $500,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to or update other information contained in this prospectus.
In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement we may authorize to be delivered to you. This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. You may obtain a copy of this information, without charge, as described in the “Where You Can Find More Information” section. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If you receive any other information, you should not rely on it.
You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, reserves and prospects may have changed since that date.
We encourage you to read this entire prospectus together with the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus before making a decision whether to invest in our securities.
Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement to “EPM” and to the “Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Evolution Petroleum Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain information included in this prospectus may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Where any forward-looking statement includes a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement, we caution that, while we believe these assumptions or bases to be reasonable and made in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from the actual results, and the differences between assumed facts or bases and actual results can be material, depending upon the circumstances. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we or our management express an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and is believed to have a reasonable basis. We cannot assure you, however, that the statement of expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. These statements relate to analysis and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. These statements are contained in the section “Risk Factors” and other sections of this prospectus. These forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those suggested or described in this prospectus. These risks include the risks that are identified in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, and also include, among others, expectations regarding the following:
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amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures;
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drilling of wells and other planned exploitation activities;
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timing and amount of future production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids;
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increases in production growth and proved reserves;
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volatility in commodity prices for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids;
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operating costs such as lease operating expenses, administrative costs and other expenses;
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our future operating and financial results;
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our ability to raise capital when needed and on acceptable terms and conditions;
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cash flow and anticipated liquidity;
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our business strategy and the availability of acquisition opportunities;
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our hedging strategy;
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development and exploitation activities;
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our ability to identify and consummate property acquisitions, and our ability to successfully integrate and realize projected results from such acquisitions;
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marketing of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids;
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governmental and environmental regulations of the oil and gas industry;
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environmental liabilities relating to potential pollution arising from our operations;
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our ability to achieve our environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) goals or to meet investors’ ESG standards or investment or lending criteria;
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the impact of restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions or other legislation or regulations intended to address climate change;
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governmental and environmental regulation of the oil and gas industry;
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actions by the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and Russia (together with OPEC and other allied producing countries) with respect to oil production levels and announcements of potential changes in such levels;
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social unrest, political instability or armed conflict in major oil and natural gas producing regions outside the United States, such as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and acts of terrorism or sabotage;
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general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally or in the regional and local market areas in which we do business, may be less favorable than expected, including the possibility that economic conditions in the United States will worsen and that capital markets are disrupted, which could adversely affect demand for oil and natural gas and make it difficult to access capital;
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environmental liabilities relating to potential pollution arising from our operations;
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our results of and contingent liabilities from litigation;
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our title to our oil and gas properties;
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our level and terms of indebtedness;
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timing and amount of future dividends;
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industry competition, conditions, performance and consolidation;
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natural events such as severe weather, hurricanes, floods, fire and earthquakes;
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impacts and potential risks related to actual or anticipated outbreaks of illnesses, pandemics, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or any other public health crises; and
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war, acts of terrorism, and cybersecurity attacks.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or otherwise. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all other information contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K before investing in our securities. You should also consider similar information contained in any Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other document filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus before deciding to invest in our securities. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock or other securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.
The risks incorporated by reference in this prospectus are the material risks of which we are currently aware; however, they may not be the only risks that we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently view as immaterial may also impair our business operations. Any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In that case, you may lose all or part of your investment.
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OUR COMPANY
We are an oil and natural gas company focused on delivering a sustainable dividend yield to our stockholders through the ownership of and investment in oil and natural gas properties. In support of that objective, our long-term goal is to build a diversified portfolio of oil and natural gas properties primarily through acquisitions, while seeking opportunities to maintain and increase production through selective development, production enhancement, and other exploitation efforts on our oil and natural gas properties.
We are committed to health, safety, and environmental stewardship; supporting the professional development of our team of employees and contractors; making a positive difference in the communities where we live and work; and transparency in reporting on our progress in these areas with regard to which we publish an annual sustainability report.
Our producing properties consist of non-operated interests in the Barnett Shale located in North Texas, a natural gas producing shale reservoir; non-operated working interests in the Jonah field in Sublette County, Wyoming; interests in the Delhi Holt-Bryant Unit in the Delhi field in Northeast Louisiana, a CO2 enhanced oil recovery project; interests in the Williston Basin in North Dakota, a producing oil and natural gas reservoir; interests in the Hamilton Dome field located in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, a secondary recovery field utilizing water injection wells to pressurize the reservoir; and small overriding royalty interests in four onshore Texas wells.
We are a Nevada corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425, Houston, Texas 77079. Our telephone number is (713) 935-0122. We maintain a website at www.evolutionpetroleum.com, which contains information about us. Our website and the information contained on it and connected to it is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not otherwise constitute part of this prospectus. Our common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “EPM.”
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, the financing of capital expenditures, reduction or refinancing of debt or other corporate obligations, recapitalization transactions, acquisitions and additions to our working capital. The actual application of proceeds from the sale of any particular tranche of securities issued hereunder will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such tranche of securities. Until we use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for these purposes, we may place the net proceeds in temporary investments.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our capital stock summarizes general terms and provisions that apply to our capital stock. Since this is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. The summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (“Articles of Incorporation”), our Bylaws, as amended (“Amended Bylaws”), which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Our authorized capital consists of 105,000,000 shares of stock, $0.001 par value per share. Of the authorized capital, 100,000,000 shares are authorized to be issued as common stock, and 5,000,000 shares are authorized to be issued as preferred stock. As of May 31, 2022, 33,742,121 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
For all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share registered in his or her name on our books, and they do not have cumulative voting rights. Each share of our common stock is entitled to share equally with each other share of common stock in dividends from sources legally available therefore, when, as, and if declared by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) and, upon our liquidation or dissolution, whether voluntary or involuntary, to share equally in the assets that are available for distribution to the holders of our common stock. The Board of Directors instituted a quarterly cash dividend on common stock in the quarter ended December 2013. The Board of Directors reviews the quarterly dividend rate in light of our financial position and operations, forecasted results, including the outlook for commodity prices, the timing of further expansion of our producing assets and other potential growth opportunities. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The Board of Directors is authorized to issue additional shares of common stock within the limits authorized by our Articles of Incorporation and without stockholder action.
Our common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “EPM.”
Preferred Stock
The Board of Directors is authorized to designate and issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. The Board of Directors has discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.
If we offer series of preferred stock, we will file the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC, and the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will include a description of the specific terms of the offering, including the following specific terms:
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the series, the number of shares offered and the liquidation value of the preferred stock;
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the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;
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the dividend rate, the dates on which the dividends will be payable and other terms relating to the payment of dividends on the preferred stock;
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the liquidation preference of the preferred stock;
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the voting rights of the preferred stock;
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whether the preferred stock is redeemable or subject to a sinking fund, and the terms of any such redemption or sinking fund;
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whether the preferred stock is convertible or exchangeable for any other securities, and the terms of any such conversion; and
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any additional rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.
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It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any additional shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock until the Board of Directors determines the specific rights of the holders of the preferred stock. However, these effects might include:
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restricting dividends on our common stock;
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diluting the voting power of our common stock;
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impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock; and
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delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.
Anti-Takeover Provisions Under Nevada Law
Combinations with Interested Stockholder. Sections 78.411-78.444, inclusive, of the NRS contain provisions governing combinations with an interested stockholder. For purposes of the NRS, “combinations” include: (i) any merger or consolidation with any interested stockholder, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to any interested stockholder of corporate assets with an aggregate market value equal to more than 5% of the aggregate market value of the corporation’s consolidated assets, more than 5% of the aggregate market value of outstanding shares of the corporation or more than 10% of the earning power or net income of the corporation, (iii) the issuance to any interested stockholder of voting shares (except pursuant to a share dividend or similar proportionate distribution) with an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the corporation, (iv) the adoption of the dissolution of the corporation if proposed by or on behalf of any interested stockholder, (v) any reclassification of securities, recapitalization or corporate reorganization that will have the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares held by any interested stockholder and (vi) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit (except proportionately as a stockholder) of any loan, advance, guarantee, pledge or other financial assistance. For purposes of the NRS, an “interested stockholder” is defined to include any beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of the voting securities of a Nevada corporation and any person who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was at any time during the preceding two years the beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of the voting securities of the Nevada corporation.
Subject to certain exceptions, the provisions of the NRS statute governing combinations with interested stockholders provide that a Nevada corporation may not engage in a combination with an interested stockholder for two years after the date that the person first became an interested stockholder unless the combination or the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder is approved by the Board of Directors before the person first became an interested stockholder, or unless the combination is approved by the Board of Directors and sixty percent of the corporation’s voting power not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, its affiliates and associates.
Control Share Acquisitions. The NRS also contains a “control share acquisitions statute.” If applicable to a Nevada corporation this statute restricts the voting rights of certain stockholders referred to as “acquiring persons,” that acquire or offer to acquire ownership of a “controlling interest” in the outstanding voting stock of an “issuing corporation.” For purposes of these provisions, a “controlling interest” means with certain exceptions the ownership of outstanding voting stock sufficient to enable the acquiring person to exercise one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third or more but less than a majority, or a majority or more of all voting power in the election of directors; “issuing corporation” means a Nevada corporation that has 200 or more stockholders of record, at least 100 of whom have addresses in Nevada appearing on the stock ledger of the corporation at all times during the 90 days immediately preceding such date, and which does business in Nevada directly or through an affiliated corporation. The voting rights of an acquiring person in the affected shares will be restored only if such restoration is approved by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the corporation. The NRS allows a corporation to “opt-out” of the control share acquisitions statute by providing in such corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws that the control share acquisitions statute does not apply to the corporation or to an acquisition of a controlling interest specifically by types of existing or future stockholders, whether or not identified. The Company has not opted out of this statute.
Transfer Agent or Registrar
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the transfer agent and registrar of our common stock.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock or preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.
The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the warrant agreements.
Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement for the terms of and information relating to such warrants, including, where applicable:
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the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;
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the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
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United States federal income tax consequences applicable to such warrants;
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the amount of warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and
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any other terms of such warrants.
Warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by us, unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised shall be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.
Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, holders of such warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on our common stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes the general terms of debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to any debt securities to be offered in greater detail, and may provide information that is different from this prospectus. If the information in the prospectus supplement differs with respect to the particular debt securities being offered from this prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. The debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each series that are offered by a prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement.
We may conduct a portion of our operations through subsidiaries. As a result, the rights of the Company and our creditors, including holders of the debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against such subsidiary.
The debt securities will be either our senior debt securities or our subordinated debt securities. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities will be issued under separate indentures among us, and a trustee that meets certain requirements and is selected by us (the “Trustee”). Senior debt securities will be issued under a “Senior Indenture” and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a “Subordinated Indenture.” Together, the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are called “Indentures.”
We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below. The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to the provisions of the Indentures. The form of each Indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the Indentures for provisions that may be important to you. The Indentures will be subject to and governed by certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and we refer you to the Indentures and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.
General
We may offer debt securities under this prospectus. The Indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of debt securities, and we may issue debt securities up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Indentures provide that debt securities in separate series may be issued thereunder from time to time without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. We will determine the terms and conditions of the debt securities, including the maturity, principal and interest, but those terms must be consistent with the Indenture. The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations.
The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt as described under “Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities” and in the prospectus supplement applicable to any subordinated debt securities. If the prospectus supplement so indicates, the debt securities will be convertible into our common stock or preferred stock.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the price or prices at which the debt securities to be offered will be issued and will describe the following terms of such debt securities:
(1)
the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the debt securities;
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whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if subordinated debt securities, the related subordination terms;
(3)
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
(4)
the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;
(5)
the interest rate that the debt securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;
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(6)
the places where payments on the debt securities will be payable;
(7)
any terms upon which the debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;
(8)
any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;
(9)
the portion of the principal amount, if less than all, of the debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the debt securities;
(10)
whether the debt securities are defeasible;
(11)
any addition to or change in the Events of Default;
(12)
whether the debt securities are convertible into our common stock or preferred stock and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or conversion rate and any adjustments thereto and the conversion period;
(13)
any addition to or change in the covenants in the Indenture applicable to the debt securities; and
(14)
any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
Debt securities, including Original Issue Discount Securities, may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, special United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Senior Debt Securities
The senior debt securities will be our direct-unsecured obligations and will constitute senior indebtedness (in each case as defined in the applicable Supplemental Indenture) ranking on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
Subordinated Debt Securities
The indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities will, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to each series of subordinated debt securities, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt, including the senior debt securities, and it may also be senior in right of payment to all of our Subordinated Debt. The prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities will summarize the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture applicable to that series including:
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the applicability and effect of such provisions upon any payment or distribution respecting that series following any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up, or any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other marshaling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings;
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the applicability and effect of such provisions in the event of specified defaults with respect to any Senior Debt, including the circumstances under which and the periods in which we will be prohibited from making payments on the subordinated debt securities; and
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the definition of Senior Debt applicable to the subordinated debt securities of that series and, if the series is issued on a senior subordinated basis, the definition of Subordinated Debt applicable to that series.
The prospectus supplement will also describe as of a recent date the approximate amount of Senior Debt to which the subordinated debt securities of that series will be subordinated.
The failure to make any payment on any of the subordinated debt securities by reason of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture described in the prospectus supplement will not be
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construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the subordinated debt securities arising from any such failure to make payment.
The subordination provisions described above will not be applicable to payments in respect of the subordinated debt securities from a defeasance trust established in connection with any legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of the subordinated debt securities as described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”
Form, Exchange and Transfer
The debt securities of each series will be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples or divisions thereof.
At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, debt securities of each series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, debt securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in that connection. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Security Registrar and any other transfer agent initially designated by us for any debt securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for the debt securities of each series.
If the debt securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, we will not be required to (1) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such debt security that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (2) register the transfer of or exchange any debt security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such debt security being redeemed in part.
Global Securities
Some or all of the debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more Global Securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the debt securities they represent. Each Global Security will be registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deposited with such Depositary or nominee or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to below and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable Indenture.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Indentures or any debt security described in this prospectus, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless:
(1)
the Depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the applicable Indenture, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days;
(2)
an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities represented by such Global Security has
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occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a written request from the Depositary to issue certificated debt securities; or
(3)
other circumstances exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
All debt securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the Depositary may direct.
As long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a Global Security, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Security and the debt securities that it represents for all purposes under the debt securities and the applicable Indenture. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have such Global Security or any debt securities that it represents registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated debt securities in exchange for those interests and will not be considered to be the owners or Holders of such Global Security or any debt securities that is represents for any purpose under the debt securities or the applicable Indenture. All payments on a Global Security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of the security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of debt securities take physical delivery of such debt securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee (“participants”) and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. In connection with the issuance of any Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants’ interests) or any such participant (with respect to interests of persons held by such participants on their behalf). Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the Depositary from time to time. None of the Company, the Trustees or the agents of the Company or the Trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the Depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the Person in whose name such debt security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at our option payment of any interest on debt securities in certificated form may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Senior Indenture in the City of New York will be designated as sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to senior debt securities of each series, and the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture in the City of New York will be designated as the sole Paying Agent for payment with respect to subordinated debt securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
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All money paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the Holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to, any successor Person (a “successor Person”), and may not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:
(1)
the successor Person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the Indentures including the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium on and any interest on all of the outstanding debt securities and the performance of every covenant applicable to be performed or observed by us;
(2)
immediately before and after giving pro forma effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing;
(3)
we deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such Supplemental Indenture comply with the foregoing provisions relating to such transaction; and
(4)
several other conditions, including any additional conditions with respect to any particular debt securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture with respect to debt securities of any series:
(1)
failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due, whether or not, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;
(2)
failure to pay any interest on any debt securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days, whether or not, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;
(3)
failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any debt security of that series, whether or not, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such deposit is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;
(4)
failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;
(5)
failure to perform any of our other covenants in such Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice has been given by the applicable Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series, as provided in such Indenture; and
(6)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us or any Significant Subsidiary.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Evolution Petroleum Corporation described in clause (6) above) with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal
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amount of the debt securities of that series (or, in the case of any debt security that is an Original Issue Discount Security, such portion of the principal amount of such debt security as may be specified in the terms of such debt security) to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to Evolution Petroleum Corporation described in clause (6) above with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series (or, in the case of any such Original Issue Discount Security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by the applicable Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable Indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “Modification and Waiver” below.
A default under other indebtedness of the Company will not be a default under the Indentures and a default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under another series. Any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default which will apply to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
Under the Indentures, the Trustee must give to the Holders of each series of debt securities notice of all uncured defaults known to it with respect to such series within 90 days after such a default occurs (the term default to include the events specified above without notice or grace periods). However, except in the case of default in the payment of principal of, any premium on, or any interest on any of the debt securities, or default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligations, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series.
Subject to the provisions of the Indentures relating to the duties of the Trustees in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to such Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustees, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No Holder of a debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a Trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:
(1)
such Holder has previously given to the Trustee under the applicable Indenture written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series;
(2)
the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and
(3)
the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer.
However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a debt security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such debt security on or after the applicable due date specified in such debt security or, if applicable, to convert such debt security.
We will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers as to whether or not we, to their knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable Indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults.
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Modification and Waiver
We and the Trustee may, without the consent of the Holders of the debt securities, enter into one or more Supplemental Indentures for, among others, one or more of the following purposes, provided that in the case of clauses (2), (3), (4) and (6), the interests of the Holders of debt securities would not be adversely affected:
(1)
to evidence the succession of another corporation to us, and the assumption by such successor of our obligations under the applicable Indenture and the debt securities of any series;
(2)
to add covenants by us, or surrender any of our rights conferred by the applicable Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of debt securities of any or all series;
(3)
to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency in or make any other provision with respect to questions arising under the applicable Indenture;
(4)
to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities, including any subordinated securities;
(5)
to evidence and provide for the acceptance of any successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of debt securities or to facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by one or more Trustees in accordance with the applicable Indenture; and
(6)
to provide any additional Events of Default.
Modifications and amendments of an Indenture may be made by us and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding debt security affected thereby:
(1)
change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security;
(2)
reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security;
(3)
reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof;
(4)
change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security;
(5)
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due on or any conversion right with respect to any debt security;
(6)
modify the subordination provisions in the case of subordinated debt securities, or modify any conversion provisions, in either case in a manner adverse to the Holders of the subordinated debt securities;
(7)
reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture;
(8)
reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding debt securities of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; or
(9)
modify such provisions with respect to modification, amendment or waiver.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of any series may waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable Indenture.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium
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or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding debt security of such series.
Each of the Indentures provides that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities have given or taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under such Indenture as of any date:
(1)
the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of maturity to such date;
(2)
if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a debt security is not determinable (for example, because it is based on an index), the principal amount of such debt security deemed to be Outstanding as of such date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for such debt security; and
(3)
the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the United States-dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed for such debt security, of the principal amount of such debt security (or, in the case of a debt security described in clause (1) or (2) above, of the amount described in such clause).
Certain debt securities, including those owned by us or any of our other Affiliates, will not be deemed to be Outstanding.
Except in certain limited circumstances, we will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the applicable Indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by Holders of a particular series, only persons who are Holders of Outstanding debt securities of that series on the record date may take such action. To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of such debt securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such other period as may be specified by us (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180 days) from time to time.
Satisfaction and Discharge
Each Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Outstanding debt securities of any series issued thereunder, when:
(1)
either:
(a)
all Outstanding debt securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b)
all outstanding debt securities of that series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds money in an amount sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the entire indebtedness of such debt securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date;
(2)
we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series; and
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(3)
we have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee, each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series have been satisfied.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have our obligations discharged under the provisions relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, which we call “legal defeasance,” relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants applied to the debt securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series, which we call “covenant defeasance.”
Legal Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the legal defeasance provisions applied to any debt securities, we will be discharged from all our obligations, and, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, with respect to such debt securities (except for certain obligations to convert, exchange or register the transfer of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such debt securities of money or United States Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such debt securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other things:
(1)
we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and legal defeasance were not to occur;
(2)
no Event of Default or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with respect to any Event of Default described in clause (6) under “Events of Default,” at any time until 121 days after such deposit;
(3)
such deposit and legal defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound;
(4)
in the case of subordinated debt securities, at the time of such deposit, no default in the payment of all or a portion of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of our Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no Event of Default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any of our Senior Debt and no other Event of Default with respect to any of our Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting after notice or the lapse of time, or both, the acceleration thereof; and
(5)
we have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit shall not cause the Trustee or the trust so created to be subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Covenant Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the covenant defeasance provisions applied to any debt securities, we may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants (but not to conversion, if applicable), including those that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (5) (with respect to such restrictive covenants) and clause (6) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) under “Events of Default” and any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be deemed to either be or result in an Event of Default and, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such debt securities. In order to exercise such option, we must
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deposit, in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such debt securities, money or United States Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such debt securities. Such covenant defeasance may occur only if we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that in effect says that Holders of such debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance were not to occur, and the requirements set forth in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) above are satisfied. If we exercise this option with respect to any debt securities and such debt securities were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and United States Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of their respective Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such case, we would remain liable for such payments.
If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option, any subsidiary guarantees will terminate.
Notices
Notices to Holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register.
Title
We, the Trustees and any agent of us or a Trustee may treat the Person in whose name a debt security is registered as the absolute owner of the debt security (whether or not such debt security may be overdue) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.
Governing Law
The Indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
The Trustee
We will enter into the Indentures with a Trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and with any other Trustees chosen by us and appointed in a supplemental indenture for a particular series of debt securities. We may maintain a banking relationship in the ordinary course of business with our Trustee and one or more of its affiliates.
Resignation or Removal of Trustee. If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee must either eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable Indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor Trustee under the applicable Indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Indenture.
The Trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.
Limitations on Trustee if It Is Our Creditor. Each Indenture will contain certain limitations on the right of the Trustee, in the event that it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.
Certificates and Opinions to Be Furnished to Trustee. Each Indenture will provide that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of an Indenture, every application by us for action by the Trustee must be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by us.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
General
The securities offered by this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements may be sold from time to time in one or more of the following ways:
•
to or through underwriters or dealers;
•
through agents;
•
directly to purchasers;
•
in “at the market offerings” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, or a securities exchange or otherwise;
•
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
•
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
•
privately negotiated transactions;
•
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; or
•
through a combination of any such methods of sale or by any other legally available means.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities will set forth:
•
their offering terms, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
•
the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from such sale;
•
any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;
•
any public offering price;
•
any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers; and
•
any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.
The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement by us or the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:
•
at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
•
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, including in “at the market offerings”;
•
at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
•
at negotiated prices.
We may enter into derivative, hedging, forward sale, option or other types of transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties, through a stock exchange, including block trades or ordinary broker’s transactions, or through broker-dealers acting either as principal or agent, or through an underwritten public offering, through privately negotiated transactions or through a combination of any such methods of sale. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out or hedge any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.
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We will bear costs relating to all of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers
If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities if they purchase any securities. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include over allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, these activities may be discontinued at any time.
If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The dealers participating in any sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of the securities. We will include in any prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transactions.
Any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf that participate with us in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding between any broker or dealer and us with respect to the offer or sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus.
Pursuant to a requirement by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not be greater than 8% of the gross proceeds received by us for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act. If more than 5% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or its affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(h).
Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents
We may sell the securities directly. In that event, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time. In the prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities, and we will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of the securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.
21
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
Subscription Offerings
We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing stockholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our stockholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and underwriters may engage in transactions with us or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
We will bear costs relating to all of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
22
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of certain of the securities will be passed upon for us by Mayer Brown LLP, Houston, Texas. The validity of certain of the securities will be passed upon for us by Fennemore Craig, P.C., Reno, Nevada. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Evolution Petroleum Corporation incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021 have been audited by Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm and given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The Statement of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses of certain oil and gas properties of Foundation Energy Fund VII-A, L.P. and Foundation Energy Management, LLC acquired by Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the nine-months ended September 30, 2021, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus has been audited by Moss Adams LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report thereon. Such report is incorporated by reference in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Certain estimates of the oil and gas reserves for Evolution Petroleum Corporation and subsidiaries and related future net cash flows and the present values thereof incorporated by reference in this prospectus were based in part upon engineering reports prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, independent petroleum engineers. These estimates are included and incorporated herein in reliance on the authority of such firm as an expert in such matters.
The estimated reserve evaluations and related calculations of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., an independent reserve engineering firm, are included in this prospectus and have been incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K/A dated March 30, 2022, in reliance on the authority of that firm as experts in reserve engineering.
23
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. We also furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing our financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm and quarterly reports containing our unaudited financial information. We maintain a website at www.evolutionpetroleum.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC, free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after this material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on, or that is or becomes accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. The reference to our website or web address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at that site.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering these securities in states where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of these documents.
24
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
We are incorporating by reference in this prospectus the documents that we file with the SEC. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring to these filings. The information we incorporate by reference is considered a part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or considered to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be considered to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that is considered to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement.
We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC (in each case, other than any portions of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules):
•
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, filed on September 14, 2021, including information specifically incorporated by reference into our Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on October 28, 2021, for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on December 9, 2021;
•
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2021, filed on November 10, 2021; December 31, 2021, filed on February 10, 2022 and March 31, 2022, filed on May 12, 2022;
•
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2021, November 9, 2021, December 13, 2021, January 21, 2022 as amended on Form 8-K/A on March 30, 2022, February, 10, 2022, March 9, 2022, April 6, 2022 and May 11, 2022; and
•
In addition, we incorporate by reference into this prospectus, any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (i) following the date of the registration statement that contains this prospectus but prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement or (ii) after the date of this prospectus and prior to the time that we sell all the securities offered by this prospectus or each offering under this prospectus is otherwise terminated (in each case, other than any portions of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules).
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated in this prospectus by reference but not delivered with this prospectus. Requests for copies should be directed to Ryan Stash, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer — Evolution Petroleum Corporation, 1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425, Houston, Texas 77079, telephone (713) 935-0122.
25
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth all expenses payable by the Company in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities.
| |
SEC registration fee
|
| | | $ | 50,350* | | |
| |
Legal fees and expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Printing expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Miscellaneous expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Total
|
| | | $ | ** | | |
*
The Registrant expects to carry forward to this registration statement the filing fee of $50,350 in connection with the registration of $500,000,000 in aggregate offering price of securities pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-3 (File Number 333-231412) filed on May 31, 2019, of which $500,000,000 remains unsold.
**
Estimated expenses are not presently known. The applicable prospectus supplement or one or more Current Reports on Form 8-K, which will be incorporated by reference, will set forth the estimated amount of such expenses payable in respect of any offering of the securities.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under Nevada law, a corporation shall indemnify a director or officer against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, to the extent the director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding. A corporation may indemnify a director or officer who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, unless:
•
the director’s or officer’s act or failure to act constitutes a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer, and his or her breach of those duties involves intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law; or
•
the director or officer does not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the director or officer has reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Our Amended Bylaws include an indemnification provision under which we have the power to indemnify our directors, officers and former officers and directors (including heirs and personal representatives) against all costs, charges and expenses actually and reasonably incurred, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment to which the director or officer is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Company or any of our subsidiaries.
Our Amended Bylaws also provide that our directors may cause us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of a person who is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of our subsidiaries (including heirs and personal representatives) against a liability incurred by him or her as our director, officer, employee or agent. We maintain, at our expense, a policy of insurance that insures our directors and officers, subject to customary exclusions and deductions, against specified liabilities that may be incurred by such individuals in those capacities.
II-1
The above discussion of Nevada law, our Amended Bylaws and the Company’s maintenance of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such law and each respective document.
ITEM 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) A list of the exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K to be filed as a part of the registration statement is set forth in the Index to Exhibits, which immediately precedes such exhibits.
ITEM 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that:
paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the
II-2
registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to the registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(6)
That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7)
If and when applicable, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
(8)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description
|
| |||
| | | 1.1* | | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock. | |
| | | 1.2* | | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Stock. | |
| | | 1.3* | | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Warrants. | |
| | | 1.4* | | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities. | |
| | | 4.1 | | | | | |
| | | 4.2 | | | | | |
| | | 4.3 | | | | | |
| | | 4.4 | | | |
Certificate of Designation of Rights and Preferences for the Company’s 8.5% Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 29, 2011). |
|
| | | 4.5 | | | | | |
| | | 4.6 | | | | Specimen form of the Company’s Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, filed on June 19, 2013 (File No. 333-188705)). | |
| | | 4.7 | | | | | |
| | | 4.8 | | | | | |
| | | 4.9 | | | | | |
| | | 4.10 | | | | | |
| | | 4.11 | | | | | |
| | | 4.12 | | | |
Form of Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under 2016 Equity Incentive Plan as Revised
on July 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of the Company’s Form 10-K on September 13, 2019). |
|
| | | 4.13 | | | | | |
| | | 4.14 | | | | | |
| | | 4.15* | | | | Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement (including form of Common Stock Warrant Certificate). | |
| | | 4.16* | | | | Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement (including form of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate). | |
| | | 4.17* | | | | Form of Debt Securities. | |
| | | 5.1** | | | | | |
| | | 5.2** | | | | | |
| | | 23.1** | | | | | |
| | | 23.2** | | | | | |
|
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description
|
| |||
| | | 23.3** | | | | | |
| | | 23.4** | | | | | |
| | | 23.5** | | | | | |
| | | 23.6** | | | | | |
| | | 24.1** | | | | | |
| | | 25.1*** | | | | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to Senior Debt Securities. | |
| | | 25.2*** | | | | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities. | |
| | | 107** | | | | | |
*
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant.
**
Filed with this registration statement.
***
To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Houston, Texas, on June 3, 2022.
EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:
/s/ JASON E. BROWN
Jason E. Brown
President and Chief Executive Officer
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jason E. Brown and Ryan Stash, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-3, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on June 3, 2022.
| |
Signature
|
| |
Title
|
|
| |
/s/ Jason E. Brown
Jason E. Brown
|
| |
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
| |
/s/ Ryan Stash
Ryan Stash
|
| |
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
| |
/s/ Robert S. Herlin
Robert S. Herlin
|
| | Chairman of the Board | |
| |
/s/ Edward J. DiPaolo
Edward J. DiPaolo
|
| | Lead Director | |
| |
/s/ Marjorie A. Hargrove
Marjorie A. Hargrove
|
| | Director | |
| |
/s/ William Dozier
William Dozier
|
| | Director | |
| |
/s/ Kelly W. Loyd
Kelly W. Loyd
|
| | Director | |
Exhibit 5.1
 | Mayer Brown LLP 700 Louisiana Street Suite 3400 Houston, TX 77002-2730 United States of America |
| T: +1 713 238 3000 F: +1 713 238 4888 |
mayerbrown.com
June 3, 2022
Evolution Petroleum Corporation
1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425
Houston,
Texas 77079
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Evolution Petroleum Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the general rules and regulations promulgated under the Act, of the following securities:
(i) shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”);
(ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), which may be issued in one or more series;
(iii) warrants for the purchase of shares of Common Stock or shares of Preferred Stock (“Warrants”), which may be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and one or more warrant agents to be named therein;
(iv) debt securities of the Company (“Debt Securities”), which may be issued in one or more series under an indenture proposed to be entered into by the Company and the trustee to be named therein, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Indenture”);
Mayer Brown is a global services provider comprising an association of legal practices that are separate entities including
Mayer Brown LLP (Illinois, USA), Mayer Brown International LLP (England), Mayer Brown (a Hong Kong partnership)
and Tauil & Chequer Advogados (a Brazilian partnership).
(v) such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock as may be issued upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement, as applicable, of any shares of Preferred Stock, Warrants or Debt Securities that provide for such conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement, including such shares of Common Stock or shares of Preferred Stock as may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments determined at the time of offering (collectively, “Indeterminate Securities”). The shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities and Indeterminate Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”
As used herein, “Transaction Documents” means the Warrant Agreements, the Indenture and any applicable underwriting or purchase agreement.
The board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has taken and will take from time to time corporate action relating to the offer, sale and issuance of any Securities (the “Corporate Proceedings”). Certain terms of any class or series of Securities may be established by certain officers of the Company who will be authorized by the Corporate Proceedings.
This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) a copy of the Indenture, and (iii) the opinion of Fennemore Craig, P.C., special Nevada counsel to the Company, dated as of the date hereof and filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement.
In addition, we have examined such other documents, certificates and opinions and have made such further investigation as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the opinions expressed below. In expressing the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, the authenticity and completeness of all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form and the legal competence of each individual executing any document. As to all parties, we have assumed the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents, and we have assumed the validity and enforceability of all documents against all parties thereto, other than the Company, in accordance with their respective terms.
We have also assumed that (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be declared effective by the Commission and remain effective under the Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement, pricing supplement and/or term sheet will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws; (iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate prospectus supplement, pricing supplement and/or term sheet; (iv) a definitive Transaction Document and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Securities offered and sold will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (v) any Securities offered and sold will be sold and delivered at the price and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Transaction Document and as set forth in the Registration Statement and the appropriate prospectus supplement, pricing supplement and/or term sheet; (vi) the Indenture, and any supplemental indenture relating to a particular series of Debt Securities, will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto in substantially the form reviewed by us; (vii) the applicable Indenture will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Indenture Act”); (viii) the issue price for any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, including upon any exercise of Warrants or upon conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities, will be at a price not less than the par value of such Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be; (ix) the certificates, if required, evidencing any Securities offered and sold have been duly executed and delivered; (x) the Corporate Proceedings with respect to any Securities offered and sold and their offering and issuance will have been completed; (xi) New York law will be chosen to govern the applicable Transaction Document for any offer and sale of Securities, and that such choice in each case is a valid and legal provision; (xii) the terms of the Securities offered and sold will not violate any applicable law or the organizational documents of the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and such terms will comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (xiii) the Company will have obtained any legally required consents, approvals, authorizations and other orders of the Commission and any other regulatory authorities necessary to issue and sell the Securities being offered and to execute and deliver the applicable Transaction Document.
As to matters of fact material to our opinions, we have, to the extent we deemed such reliance appropriate, relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials with respect to the Company.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and having regard for legal considerations that we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
(1) with respect to any Warrants offered by the Company (the “Offered Warrants”), assuming (a) the due authorization thereof; (b) the completion of the Corporate Proceedings with respect thereto; (c) the consistency of the terms thereof with the description of the Warrants contained in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement; (d) the due authorization of the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock underlying the Offered Warrants; and (e) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the applicable Warrant Agreement by the parties thereto, the Offered Warrants, when duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and delivered in accordance with the applicable Transaction Document approved by the Board, against payment therefor in accordance with such authorization and applicable law and in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable Transaction Document, the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, will be entitled to the benefits provided by the applicable Warrant Agreement and will be enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforceability, to any bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to court decisions with respect thereto and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
(2) with respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company (the “Offered Debt Securities”), assuming (a) the due authorization thereof; (b) the completion of the Corporate Proceedings with respect thereto; (c) the consistency of the terms thereof with the description of the Debt Securities contained in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement; and (d) the Indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture thereto has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by the parties thereto, the Offered Debt Securities, when duly executed and delivered and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and when payment therefor is received, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforceability, to any bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to court decisions with respect thereto and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
In rendering the opinion in paragraph (2), we have assumed that the trustee is or, at the time the applicable Indenture is signed, will be qualified to act as trustee under the applicable Indenture and the Indenture Act, and that the trustee has or will have duly executed and delivered the applicable Indenture.
We express no opinions concerning (i) the validity or enforceability of any provisions contained in the Indenture that purport to waive or not give effect to rights to notices, defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law; or (ii) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.
The foregoing opinions expressed herein are limited to matters governed by the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of New York and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign. In rendering the foregoing opinions, we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in the Registration Statement or any related prospectus supplement, pricing supplement, term sheet or other offering material regarding the Company or the Securities or their offering and sale.
The opinions and statements expressed herein are as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in applicable law that may hereafter occur.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Mayer Brown LLP |
Exhibit 5.2
| 7800 Rancharrah Parkway Reno, NV 89511 PH (775) 788-2200 | FX (775) 786-1177 fennemorecraig.com |
June 3, 2022
Evolution Petroleum Corporation
1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425
Houston, Texas 77079
| Re: | Shelf Registration on Form S-3 for Evolution Petroleum Corporation |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special Nevada counsel to Evolution Petroleum Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) relating to the offering from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by the Company of the following securities of the Company with an aggregate offering price of up to $500,000,000: (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more series (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more series (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities in one or more series(“Debt Securities”); and (iv) warrants for the purchase of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”). The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, and the Warrants are collectively referred to as the “Securities.” The offering of the Securities will be as set forth in the base prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and supplements to such prospectus (collectively, the “Prospectus”).
For the purpose of rendering this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of such records, documents, instruments and certificates as, in our judgment, are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions set forth below, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Registration Statement, including the Prospectus contained therein;
B. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, each as amended to date (collectively, the “Governing Documents”); and
June 3, 2022
Page 2
C. Such corporate records and proceedings, minutes, consents, actions and resolutions of the board of directors as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
We have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. We have also obtained from officers and agents of the Company and from public officials, and have relied upon, such certificates, representations and assurances as we have deemed necessary and appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in our examination, we have, with your permission, assumed without independent verification, that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, the signatures on all documents that we examined are genuine, and all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies conform to the original document; (ii) all corporate records made available to us by the Company and all public records we have reviewed are accurate and complete; and (iii) at the time the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock being registered under the Registration Statement are issued, there will be sufficient authorized but unissued Common Stock and Preferred Stock, as the case may be, available to allow for such issuance.
Nothing herein shall be deemed an opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of Nevada. We express no opinion concerning any securities law or rule.
Based on the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | When and to the extent (a) the board of directors of the Company or an authorized and duly formed committee thereof (collectively, the “Board of Directors”) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and sale of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (and, with respect to Preferred Stock, to approve a certificate of designations), (collectively, the “Offered Stock”); (b) with respect to Preferred Stock the relevant certificate of designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) has been filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Nevada; (c) stock certificates of the Company representing the shares of Offered Stock, in a form approved by the Board of Directors and otherwise compliant with law have been delivered to the subscribers for or purchasers of such Offered Stock; and (d) the Company has received such consideration per share of Offered Stock as has been prescribed by the Board of Directors, such shares of Offered Stock including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon the due and proper conversion of any validly issued Preferred Stock or Debt Securities that constitute binding obligations of the Company, or in connection with the exercise of validly issued Warrants that constitute binding obligations of the Company, will be validly issued, fully paid and, with respect to shares of Preferred Stock, except to the extent provided to the contrary in the applicable Certificate of Designations creating the relevant series of Preferred Stock, nonassessable. |
June 3, 2022
Page 3
| 2. | Assuming (i) any indentures (including any Debt Security issued thereunder) under which Debt Securities are to be issued (“Indentures”), and Warrants to be entered into by and between the Company and any purchasers or subscribers have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors; (ii) the trustee (“Trustee”) under an Indenture is qualified to act as Trustee under any Indenture; (iii) any Indenture (including any Debt Security issued thereunder), or Warrant has been duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto to the extent due execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof; (iv) any applicable Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (v) the obligations of each party (other than the Company) set forth in any Indenture (including any Debt Security issued thereunder), or Warrant is such party’s valid and binding obligations, and are enforceable against each party thereto in accordance with their respective terms; and (vi) the Debt Securities are issued in accordance with the terms of the relevant Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, each as applicable: |
| a. | The Debt Securities will be validly issued and will constitute binding obligations of the Company; and |
| b. | The Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute binding obligations of the Company. |
This opinion is issued in the State of Nevada. By issuing this opinion, Fennemore Craig, P.C. (i) shall not be deemed to be transacting business in any other state or jurisdiction other than the State of Nevada and (ii) does not consent to the jurisdiction of any state other than the State of Nevada. Any claim or cause of action arising out of the opinions expressed herein must be brought in the State of Nevada. Your acceptance of this opinion shall constitute your agreement to the foregoing.
June 3, 2022
Page 4
We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm contained under the heading “Legal Matters.” We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this opinion and consent in any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act with respect to the Securities. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, or Item 509 of Regulation S-K. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date first written above and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which may alter, affect or modify the opinion expressed herein. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company or the Securities.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Fennemore Craig, P.C. | |
| Fennemore Craig, P.C. |
| CDOL/CETE |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on FormS-3 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, of our report dated September 14, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”), appearing in the Annual Report on Form10-K of the Company for the year ended June 30, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Moss Adams LLP
Houston, Texas
June 3, 2022
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statements on Form S-3 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation of our report dated March 30, 2022, relating to the Statement of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses of certain oil and gas properties of Foundation Energy Fund VII-A, L.P. and Foundation Energy Management, LLC acquired by Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the nine-months ended September 30, 2021, which report appears in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Evolution Petroleum Corporation filed on March 30, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Moss Adams LLP
Houston, Texas
June 3, 2022
Exhibit 23.5
Degolyer And Macnaughton
5001 Spring Valley Road
Suite 800 East
Dallas, Texas 75244
June 3, 2022
Evolution Petroleum Corporation
1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425
Houston, Texas 77079
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby consent to the use of the name DeGolyer and MacNaughton, to references to DeGolyer and MacNaughton, to the inclusion of our report of third party dated August 2, 2021, and to the inclusion of information taken from our report entitled “Report as of June 30, 2021 on Reserves and Revenue of Certain Properties with interests attributable to Evolution Petroleum Corporation” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON | |
| DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON | |
| Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-716 |
Exhibit 23.6
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS
As independent petroleum engineers, we hereby consent to the inclusion of information included or incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) with respect to the information from our firm’s reserves report as of September 30, 2021, included in or made a part of the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of the Company, dated March 30, 2022, as well as in the notes to the financial statements included therein, in reliance upon the report of this firm and upon the authority of this firm as experts in petroleum engineering. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
| NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Richard B. Talley, Jr. | |
| Richard B. Talley, Jr., P.E. | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
Houston, Texas
June 3, 2022